Seven Dragons
03-26-2011, 11:57 PM
Hello everyone, Seven here from ES forums. I am a big fan of game music and I have been working to compile a list of tracks that I believe would fit well into the new Elder Scrolls game called Skyrim. If you are unfamiliar with the series I recommend a quick glance at the new trailer for ES:V.
The music has been composed by Jeremy Soule (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremy_Soule) since Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, and he is an excellent composer to say the least.
One of the more difficult problems (and I use the word loosely) about composing music for a video game is the overall tenor of the piece. It cannot be too strong so as to get the attention of the player (you don't want them to be abruptly reminded music is playing by a dynamic forte), but you don't want to make a weak cue that clings to a melody of pianissimo throughout and resembles some sort of elevator music. In other words, balancing an emotionally moving piece while not drawing attention to itself. A difficult task indeed.
With this problem the composer tackles melody and harmony and gets paid appropriately, while we enjoy the fruitage. But what about adding more music to a game? It might sound easy at first, to just cut/copy paste music from another video game and put it into the one you are playing. But to find music that fits appropriately, that fits the atmosphere and score that has already been composed for it hasn't really been easy (for me).
So I enlist all who have a repertoire of music in their mind and heart to help me find music that will fit Skyrim. This is really the best place for this request, seeing as many here are fans of VGM and listen to it with appreciation.
Firstly I will post a few videos of music we already know about that will be in Skyrim:
First Trailer Music (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plKhvbljmwY&feature=related) (Incomplete)
Second Trailer Music (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEVfhdFEVJY) (Incomplete) Can't seem to find a video with just the music, so this link is the trailer with a voice over.
Atmosphere Music (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcgkzXpBawg&feature=related) (Incomplete)
Also here is a video with an interview of the primary Sound Artist working for Bethesda concerning the music here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoSV1CERCr0&feature=related). I recommend you watch this video as it talks about what sort of theme Skyrim music is going for.
What do I have so far? Well even after a few months of listening to music on Pandora and grabbing music from my favorite games through this wonderful site not much yet :(. I have a few cues that will actually fit great, but they are not VGM and I found them through Pandora. I suppose I could really use the help of others, and hopefully somebody else is interested in this idea too.
The primary purpose for doing this is just to add more variety and make the game as expanded and deep as possible. Music that fits well into the game will only complement the experience.
A few notes:
Drums and deep bass will be a prominent feature in Skyrim. It will also be less melodic and carry a more swarthy and darker feeling than its predecessors.
In the past ES games the music has been divided into different categories that I will try to define below.
Special.
This includes the main theme that has the dynamic highs and lows that isn't heard while playing.
Wilderness.
This category tries to portray an uplifting and adventurous emotion. Something to be heard while beginning the journey and looking into the horizon beyond. Example (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPw1nJxMvS0&feature=related).
Dungeon.
A minor cue that plays on the sense of danger and imminent surprise. The emotion here is to rouse the senses to the edge of their seat, waiting for probable attacks. Example (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlJYrPPToCA&feature=related).
Town (Atmosphere).
A cheerful relaxed cue. This one gives the player a feeling of security. Sometimes the piece can portray populated civilization by using instruments that a soloist might play in town (like a violin or guitar)*. Example (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHwSyavKZKo&feature=related).
Battle
A fast paced cue that portrays the swiftness and finality of battle. Sometimes this cue start abruptly with forte dynamics (but I don't personally enjoy that beginning). This category is more lively and it is easier to find music for it.
*On this note the Lute (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lute) is an instrument commonly used in the Elder Scrolls universe.
Here are some tracks I believe would fit within the game:
Dungeon Sounds:
Agony - Klaus Schulze (http://www.pandora.com/music/song/klaus+schulze/agony)
Divya's Theme - Ayurveda (http://www.pandora.com/music/song/cyril+morin/divyas+theme)
I don't like one of the instruments though (the one prominent in the beginning, a sort of Xylophone sound).
Felbomlaszst Mentokocsi - Venetian Snares. (http://www.pandora.com/music/song/venetian+snares/felbomlaszt+mentokocsi)
Metamorphosis - Attrition (http://www.pandora.com/music/song/attrition/metamorphosis)
Wilderness Sounds:
Kazimain's Gift - Jeff Johnson and Brian Dunning (http://www.pandora.com/music/song/jeff+johnson+brian+dunning/kazimains+gift)
Legions (War) - Zoe Keating (http://www.pandora.com/music/song/zoe+keating/legions+war)
I really like this piece and think it fits well.
The Photo Of Santiago McKinn - Harold Budd (http://www.pandora.com/music/song/harold+budd/photo+of+santiago+mckinn)
Town (Atmosphere) Sounds:
Perma's Theme - Cyril Morin (http://www.pandora.com/music/song/cyril+morin/pemas+theme)
Battle Sounds:
We Insist - Zoe Keating (http://www.pandora.com/music/song/zoe+keating/we+insist)
The Battle - Master and Commander OST (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KGspJyoX2E&feature=related)
A personal favorite I used in Oblivion, it worked rather well.
Into the Fog - Master and Commander OST (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogHUNhevD20&feature=related)
Smoke N' Oakum - Master and Commander OST (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56aMmbq0_4M&feature=related)
There are other possible categories in Skyrim, and some songs might fit best in certain regions or areas. I welcome all potential songs and ideas, and please feel free to use this thread to contribute what you believe would fit well into Skyrim!
The music has been composed by Jeremy Soule (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremy_Soule) since Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, and he is an excellent composer to say the least.
One of the more difficult problems (and I use the word loosely) about composing music for a video game is the overall tenor of the piece. It cannot be too strong so as to get the attention of the player (you don't want them to be abruptly reminded music is playing by a dynamic forte), but you don't want to make a weak cue that clings to a melody of pianissimo throughout and resembles some sort of elevator music. In other words, balancing an emotionally moving piece while not drawing attention to itself. A difficult task indeed.
With this problem the composer tackles melody and harmony and gets paid appropriately, while we enjoy the fruitage. But what about adding more music to a game? It might sound easy at first, to just cut/copy paste music from another video game and put it into the one you are playing. But to find music that fits appropriately, that fits the atmosphere and score that has already been composed for it hasn't really been easy (for me).
So I enlist all who have a repertoire of music in their mind and heart to help me find music that will fit Skyrim. This is really the best place for this request, seeing as many here are fans of VGM and listen to it with appreciation.
Firstly I will post a few videos of music we already know about that will be in Skyrim:
First Trailer Music (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plKhvbljmwY&feature=related) (Incomplete)
Second Trailer Music (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEVfhdFEVJY) (Incomplete) Can't seem to find a video with just the music, so this link is the trailer with a voice over.
Atmosphere Music (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcgkzXpBawg&feature=related) (Incomplete)
Also here is a video with an interview of the primary Sound Artist working for Bethesda concerning the music here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoSV1CERCr0&feature=related). I recommend you watch this video as it talks about what sort of theme Skyrim music is going for.
What do I have so far? Well even after a few months of listening to music on Pandora and grabbing music from my favorite games through this wonderful site not much yet :(. I have a few cues that will actually fit great, but they are not VGM and I found them through Pandora. I suppose I could really use the help of others, and hopefully somebody else is interested in this idea too.
The primary purpose for doing this is just to add more variety and make the game as expanded and deep as possible. Music that fits well into the game will only complement the experience.
A few notes:
Drums and deep bass will be a prominent feature in Skyrim. It will also be less melodic and carry a more swarthy and darker feeling than its predecessors.
In the past ES games the music has been divided into different categories that I will try to define below.
Special.
This includes the main theme that has the dynamic highs and lows that isn't heard while playing.
Wilderness.
This category tries to portray an uplifting and adventurous emotion. Something to be heard while beginning the journey and looking into the horizon beyond. Example (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPw1nJxMvS0&feature=related).
Dungeon.
A minor cue that plays on the sense of danger and imminent surprise. The emotion here is to rouse the senses to the edge of their seat, waiting for probable attacks. Example (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlJYrPPToCA&feature=related).
Town (Atmosphere).
A cheerful relaxed cue. This one gives the player a feeling of security. Sometimes the piece can portray populated civilization by using instruments that a soloist might play in town (like a violin or guitar)*. Example (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHwSyavKZKo&feature=related).
Battle
A fast paced cue that portrays the swiftness and finality of battle. Sometimes this cue start abruptly with forte dynamics (but I don't personally enjoy that beginning). This category is more lively and it is easier to find music for it.
*On this note the Lute (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lute) is an instrument commonly used in the Elder Scrolls universe.
Here are some tracks I believe would fit within the game:
Dungeon Sounds:
Agony - Klaus Schulze (http://www.pandora.com/music/song/klaus+schulze/agony)
Divya's Theme - Ayurveda (http://www.pandora.com/music/song/cyril+morin/divyas+theme)
I don't like one of the instruments though (the one prominent in the beginning, a sort of Xylophone sound).
Felbomlaszst Mentokocsi - Venetian Snares. (http://www.pandora.com/music/song/venetian+snares/felbomlaszt+mentokocsi)
Metamorphosis - Attrition (http://www.pandora.com/music/song/attrition/metamorphosis)
Wilderness Sounds:
Kazimain's Gift - Jeff Johnson and Brian Dunning (http://www.pandora.com/music/song/jeff+johnson+brian+dunning/kazimains+gift)
Legions (War) - Zoe Keating (http://www.pandora.com/music/song/zoe+keating/legions+war)
I really like this piece and think it fits well.
The Photo Of Santiago McKinn - Harold Budd (http://www.pandora.com/music/song/harold+budd/photo+of+santiago+mckinn)
Town (Atmosphere) Sounds:
Perma's Theme - Cyril Morin (http://www.pandora.com/music/song/cyril+morin/pemas+theme)
Battle Sounds:
We Insist - Zoe Keating (http://www.pandora.com/music/song/zoe+keating/we+insist)
The Battle - Master and Commander OST (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KGspJyoX2E&feature=related)
A personal favorite I used in Oblivion, it worked rather well.
Into the Fog - Master and Commander OST (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogHUNhevD20&feature=related)
Smoke N' Oakum - Master and Commander OST (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56aMmbq0_4M&feature=related)
There are other possible categories in Skyrim, and some songs might fit best in certain regions or areas. I welcome all potential songs and ideas, and please feel free to use this thread to contribute what you believe would fit well into Skyrim!