David Arkenstone
David Arkenstone | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 1, 1952 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Composer, musician |
| Known for | New age music, video game soundtracks, instrumental compositions |
David Arkenstone (born July 1, 1952) is an American composer and musician primarily recognized for his instrumental contributions within the new age genre. His extensive body of work also incorporates elements from electronic, ambient, Celtic, and even heavy metal music, exemplified by his soundtrack for the video game Emperor: Battle for Dune. Often praised as a creator of "soundtracks for the imagination," Arkenstone has produced more than 50 albums and composed music for video games such as World of Warcraft, as well as television programs including NBC's coverage of the Kentucky Derby. He has received five Grammy Award nominations throughout his career.
Biography
Born in Chicago and relocating to California at the age of ten, Arkenstone began playing guitar and keyboards in several high school bands before pursuing formal music education in college. He initially led a progressive rock group named after himself but soon transitioned to crafting a unique instrumental style influenced by fantasy authors like J. R. R. Tolkien and musicians including Emerson, Lake & Palmer and Deep Purple.
Arkenstone embraced the new age genre, attributing advances in technology to his ability to fully orchestrate and polish his musical creations. Many of his albums feature fantasy-inspired themes accompanied by related literature and visual art. Together with fantasy author Mercedes Lackey and his former wife Diane Arkenstone, he co-established the Neo Pacifica record label, which also supports artists such as Earth Trybe and Enaid.
His compositional work extends to television networks like the History Channel, Discovery Channel, and NBC Sports. In film, he has contributed to independent productions including PRISM. His video game credits encompass titles such as World of Warcraft, Lands of Lore II and III, Earth and Beyond, Emperor: Battle for Dune, and Space Siege. Additionally, he is featured on the compilation album 20 Years of Narada Piano.
Arkenstone’s Grammy nominations honor albums like In the Wake of the Wind (1992), Citizen of the World (2000), Atlantis (2004), Fairy Dreams (2020), and Pangaea (2022).
A versatile multi-instrumentalist, Arkenstone plays bouzouki, mandolin, guitar, bass, harp, cello, flute, keyboards, piano, saz, pennywhistle, melodica, pan pipes, drums, percussion, and occasionally provides vocals.
He is also a member of the band Troika, whose musical style reflects his solo work; although the other members remain unnamed, all compositions are credited to Arkenstone.
Notably, his piece "The Journey Begins/Kyla's Ride" was utilized by Mexican broadcaster Azteca during their coverage of the FIFA World Cup France '98. His tracks "Papillon (On the Wings of the Butterfly)" and "The Palace" have been incorporated into attractions at Disney parks such as Epcot's Future World and Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom and Tokyo Disneyland.
In 2010, Arkenstone entered into an agreement with Domo Records to reissue the album Echoes of Light and Shadow. He also contributed alongside composers Derek Duke, Glenn Stafford, and Neal Acree to Blizzard Activision’s soundtrack for the World of Warcraft: Cataclysm expansion.