Building a less Euro-centric Soundtrack starting with the middle ages.

[Sword_Of_Geddon]

Currently going threw the soundtrack of my mod, now that I've long since solved the problems that prevented it from playing properly.

Now I'm going threw and improving things, and I'm now at the Middle Ages part of the soundtrack. Anyone know of any good music from Eastern Europe, Medieval Greece and such areas that would work for this period?

Also, for the Renaiissance I'd really like to capture the excitement of the Age of Discovery and Age of Piracy, so if anyone could suggest good music that sounds like(or is) from this time period that captures this feeling I'd be thrilled.

 

[Horatius]

Also, for the Renaiissance I'd really like to capture the excitement of the Age of Discovery and Age of Piracy, so if anyone could suggest good music that sounds like(or is) from this time period that captures this feeling I'd be thrilled.

So, I assume you don't liturgical music or the melancholy driven style of the English?

If you want delightful songs and dances - and no weird esoteric interpretations - you must search then for arrangements from groups like Capella Monacensis, Broceliande/Margaret Davis. They know what they are doing and are very pleasant.

If you just want general compilations - Panorama: Dances of the Renaissance is one I've had for years. You can find other compilations on piratebay as well.

 

[Sword_Of_Geddon]

Thankyou for the suggestions. I appreciate it.

I don't mind the existing music, but I think it strange that I have represented in the Ancient and Classical eras music in ancient Egyptian, Sumerian, Greek and Arabia and suddenly jump to a purely Eurocentric soundtrack with the Middle Ages.

 

[Horatius]

The problem regarding music before the Renaissance is that it demands more subjective interpretation. For example, we'll never know exactly how any Troubadour songs were played since there was a lot of improvisation and variation for sure.

If, by chance, you're serious about finding good examples, you may find the "eurocentric" label a small one for early music development in europe.
The "Andalusian" Troubadours transmitted more of the Arabian influence, of course, than, for example, the french ones. Indeed, Arabian music examples should not be that difficult to find.
Regarding "eastern europe", you should not be shy about going for examples of folk music, instead of making searches with the label "middle ages". Let go of that label (that works better for church music), as Folk music/style is stuff of lasting centuries.
Don't forget the epic oral tradition of eastern europe areas, that still exists even today, in particulary Serbia.
In that search for "eastern europe" music you can't, of course, neglect turkish music. It encapsulates a lot of music influences.

If you like it or if it fits the mod, its another thing altogether, of course.

 

[Sword_Of_Geddon]

I most definitely will be searching for all of that, thankyou Horatius you have been very helpful.

I agree that looking for more folk-type music will net more results. I've learned by experience that if you search medieval, you get looks of chant for the most part.

 

[Horatius]

So that you have a notion and don't think that all old folk and medieval songs are dull (you'll find many dull interpretations), here's some free excerpts from a Broceliande album:http://payplay.fm/re0e9-broceliande-gathering-may

 

[Sword_Of_Geddon]

Thankyou you've been very helpful Horatus I can't stress that enough.

I'm going threw what I can find and looking for the best for the mod soundtrack. I think I have some idea of what the Medieval and Renaiissance periods will sound like.

The Industrial era(18th century mostly) is a different matter though. In the normal soundtrack they have European composers for this era from that time period, nothing wrong with that, but what about elsewhere music-wise...

 

[Horatius]

The music evolution and history in other parts of the world is simply different than that from europe's. It may not work to try to pinpoint, for example, a particular african music style to a particular century. The so called traditional music styles of the world can encapsulate many centuries.

You don't make a search for, let's say, 18th century chinese music or a particular composer (your searching problem is probably related to this). You search for folk or traditional chinese music and go from there. You'll find pieces lasting hundreds of years. In what era to put it in your mod? That's up to your judgment, but you can put such pieces in any era really.

Speaking of chinese music, this blog is not bad:http://chinablog.cc/2009/01/top-10-chinese-classical-music-part-i/

If you're in a better search mindset now, just keep it simple and pick the most joyful interpretations of the most famous traditional tunes and you'll do well.

 

[Sword_Of_Geddon]

Yeah that is the conundrum. Unlike Europe other cultures did not change as much in those time periods, at least music wise.

So my challenge is two-fold. First, try to represent more parts of the world in a given time period. and

Two, to try to represent each era in terms of music. Not always easy.

I learned a lot reading that blog btw, thankyou.