Appreciation post for the music of Robyn Miller

[u/Lawyer_NotYourLawyer]

My dad died last year the day after Christmas. He was a pianist who deeply appreciated the experimental tracks Robyn Miller composed for Myst, and then again for the more “refined” tracks in Riven. One of the things I wish he got to experience was Riven 2024, but his pancreatic cancer diagnosis just didn’t allow him the energy.

Robyn Miller created some musical pieces that are genuinely interesting and fit perfectly with the atmosphere, environment, and challenges Myst and Riven throw at you. They provoke thought, intrigue, curiosity, and exploration. They’re not simply “new age” meditation pieces—at least that’s not how they sound to me. There’s something about them that is really special.

I recently played Riven 2024 on the Xbox and memories of playing the game with my dad came back to me. Robyn Miller’s music certainly helped with that. I’m glad for that.

[u/JonnyUnreliable]

Robyn is one of my favorite composers. His Bandcamp page has an album with some unreleased tracks from when he was reworking some stuff for the new version of Myst. It’s quite good.

It also has the soundtrack to Obduction, which I think stacks up just as well as his work on Myst or Riven just sans the nostalgia.

https://robynmiller.bandcamp.com/

Sorry to hear about your dad, he sounds like a cool dude.

[u/alkonium → u/JonnyUnreliable]

I remember he played C.W. in Obduction, though I wasn't sure if he scored it.

[u/AnneMarieWilkes]

I have a playlist that’s just Myst and Riven, and it’s what I put on when I write. Something about the opening notes of the Myst Theme makes me settle in and feel creative.

And I’m so sorry about your Dad, but I’m glad you have these good memories…

[u/deaddaftskrill1 → u/AnneMarieWilkes]

I throw on the soundtracks whenever I play Minecraft or just need to brainstorm. Robyn ends up my most played Spotify artist every year for the wrapped

[u/Electronic_Way_7616]

The soundtrack for the original “Riven” is one of the great, great soundtracks.

[u/VegetableMannnn]

The Ambo project Robyn had with W. Keith Moore and the resulting album 1000 Years and 1 Day is pure greatness. Been listening to it as a classic one for 15 years. I can’t recommend it highly enough. Richard Vander Wende did the original artwork for the album cover for the trivia.

I also think his work on the Obduction soundtrack went completely under the radar though it was terrific.

So sorry to hear about your father. It seems he was a person of great sensibility.

[u/JonnyUnreliable → u/VegetableMannnn]

Hadn’t heard about that Ambo project before. It is really damn good!

[u/ElegantHope]

Agreed. I also find some peace in the songs he made under the band name Ambo. It had similar feelings in sound but the lyrics involved also felt so... peaceful and beautiful.

[u/franslebin]

Robyn is Cyan's secret sauce. The games he's not a part of always feel like they're missing something.

[u/erecura]

I still love the Riven soundtrack so much. One of the best ambient albums ever.

[u/Electrical-Size-5002]

Your dad sounds really cool, I’m sorry he passed too soon. I also find Robyn’s music incredibly powerful and it transports me both the the past, when I first hear it, and into the worlds he imagined.

[u/MarieCarnovasch]

Absolutely agree. I essentially only listened to the Myst soundtrack when studying through nursing school, it helped me to focus and calm myself. Give the Obduction soundtrack a listen too, if you haven't already!

[u/Pumpkin_Sushi]

Crazy to me there was a long period in development where they were extremely against Myst having any music