Windows 95 reboot chime, Minecraft soundtrack added to National Recording Registry

What just happened? Sounds from Microsoft and Minecraft were among the 25 recordings recently inducted into the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress based on their historical, cultural, or aesthetic importance. The Microsoft Windows 95 start-up / reboot chime was composed by Brian Eno. Among the 84 sound elements Eno created for the project, the now-familiar six-second chime – which was nearly twice as long as what Microsoft had originally requested – was selected. Hilariously enough, Eno composed the piece on a Macintosh computer. In an interview on the BBC Radio 4 show The Museum of Curiosity in 2011, Eno said he's never used a PC in his life and doesn't even like them. Also joining the National Recording Registry is the soundtrack for Minecraft. Created by German composer Daniel Rosenfeld for the 2011 sandbox game, it's only the second video game soundtrack ever to join the registry following the 2023 induction of the theme from Super Mario Bros. Most of the ot ... Read full article.