Music in the PE universe

[Rostere]

In past games such as BG most parts of the soundtrack have been slightly anachronistic "modern classical" music, with the exception of for example the tavern music, which I think added a lot of atmosphere to the game. In addition to this the tavern tunes were also really catchy.

 

From what I've heard in the PE pitch video I have really high expectations on the music in the game.

 

So my question are:

 

First, how does PE compare with historical periods with regards to music? Is music mostly sacral or is there a rich tradition of profane music (in the different cultures)? Does music have an important place at all in them?

 

Second, how much will the in-game music be inspired by real historical music? I'm perfectly fine with modern music as well, but it would be interesting to hear instruments such as the cembalo which sadly gets little room in modern RPG music. Other instruments of past time periods to be inspired by include the hurdy-gurdy and the keyed fiddle. I definitely would like something like this as part of a soundtrack.

 

Some examples of European profane music from around the 16th century:

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ckUIUcL_8g

 

 

 

http://youtu.be/yzBf7YnE_9c?t=1m16s

 

 

 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4ifpTNw29g

 

 

 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxfiCtvE4ng 

 

 

But of course there are other parts of the world to take inspiration from as well, and also sacral music which I don't know much about myself.

 

What do you think?

[Gumbercules]

Great thread! I don't think I had ever heard of the nyckelharpa before. Very interesting instrument.

 

Given the Renaissance feel they're going for with many of the cultures, the intermedio/intermezzo, which was the predecessor of the opera, would make for a good fit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GPpm5eZW5o

[centurionofprix]

I would love to hear something like the embedded sacral chant in a medieval game, and it would go nicely with the themes proposed for Eternity, as well. The music (or the general spiritual/intellectual climate) of course doesn't have to correspond to that of our Renaissance even if the technology vaguely does, but it can be evocative of a certain atmosphere (as it is in Arcanum).

 

Edited June 15, 2013 by centurionofprix

[Rostere]

I would love to hear something like the embedded sacral chant in a medieval game, and it would go nicely with the themes proposed for Eternity, as well. The music (or the general spiritual/intellectual climate) of course doesn't have to correspond to that of our Renaissance even if the technology vaguely does, but it can be evocative of a certain atmosphere (as it is in Arcanum).

 

 

There are also lots of truly unique other cultures to draw inspiration from. Here is a UNESCO video of Georgian traditional singing which could be an inspiration, for example.

 

With the "siberian" influenced dwarves, we might also make use of some khomus thrown into the soundtrack.

[TrashMan]

J-POP.

[brownypoints]

Well i dont know about J-pop but I do think there shouldn't be this automatic   Fantasy must  have  European  medieval/classical music straight-jacket either.

 

I want to suggest   that different ethnic.races have very different music

Like for example Sagani? people could be south american wind pipes while  another race might like japanese   drumming

 

 

 

Edited June 17, 2013 by brownypoints

[Gumbercules]

For the boreal dwarves, they should look into Inuit throat singing. It's usually a duet/competition between two women standing face to face, and it can produce some very unnerving rhythms and sounds:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnGM0BlA95I

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8QuNdfb-Yw

 

Although, for all I know it might be difficult to find performers of this type of music for a game made in southern California for a $4 million budget. If you cast a wider net and include Tuvan (Siberian) and Mongolian throat singing, you get a wider range of possible sounds and maybe a greater likelihood of finding a performer:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zZainT9v6Q

[Rostere]

For the boreal dwarves, they should look into Inuit throat singing. It's usually a duet/competition between two women standing face to face, and it can produce some very unnerving rhythms and sounds:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnGM0BlA95I

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8QuNdfb-Yw

 

Although, for all I know it might be difficult to find performers of this type of music for a game made in southern California for a $4 million budget. If you cast a wider net and include Tuvan (Siberian) and Mongolian throat singing, you get a wider range of possible sounds and maybe a greater likelihood of finding a performer:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zZainT9v6Q

 

Here's one of my favourite Tuvan songs.