Maestro Mario | Andrew Schartmann
ÒPa-dum-pum-pa-dum-pumÑPUM!Ó Super Mario Bros. for the NES contains some of the most recognizable tunes in popular culture, and yet itÕs safe to say that only a handful of people have thought beyond the musicÕs entertaining surface. After all, what could possibly be art-worthy about an early Mario score? Or any early game sound for that matter?In search of answers to these questions, Andrew Schartmann takes us on a journey from the primitive ÒpongsÓ of arcade machines to the complex musical fabrics woven by composers of the NES era. Where does that distinctly Nintendo-flavored sound come from? What sets NES music apart from its predecessors? And how has that iconic Ô80s videogame sound ÒinvadedÓ popular culture?