Civilization 7 Soundtrack/Music discussion
- Thread starter Guandao
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Well, yes and no to it being European. Of course, the civ VI soundtrack was all European music, and as I said above, the theme in question is very reminiscent of civ VI's medieval themes (and even if you can argue that some antiquity themes in VI were less European, the medieval and later themes clearly are all European music). So, musically, sure, Trung Trac's theme has a European approach to music and for sure not a South East Asian one. But the more important question here is whether it is meant to represent a European civ - and I doubt it. So it's European music but it is not a European theme as understood in civ.
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I think we're really needlessly splitting hairs by trying to distinguish between "European music" and "European themes." It comes off as apropos of nothing at all. It's not adding to the discussion at hand (specifically the question of what kind of civ the music could represent), and few reasonable people would look at the Civ soundtrack and say "Yes, it's all European music."
I don't really quite get the point that's being driven at here -- I assume that the point trying to be made is that the music is "European" because most of it follows popular meter which has its origin in European music? (And I'm not even sure that's true across the board). Then what of popular music from Japan and Korea and elsewhere across the world that is also 4/4? Are these artists only making "European music" too?
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Late to the party, but the Maya theme is the unexpected standout. The Shawnee and Mississippian themes are also great. Egypt's theme is the biggest disappointment to me--very generic. Especially disappointing after getting Civ6's Babylonian themes with reconstructed instruments...
Guandao
Rajah of Minyue, Hlai and Langkasuka
I guess Geoff Knorr should stop composing the themes for Egypt then. 
I bet you guys love the Civ5 Egypt themes. I do too. But even that's based on music from Roman times, not pharaonic Egypt.
If the music playing in Trung Trac's video is actually European music, why did they pick it to represent her? They could've easily gone with the Khmer theme, but chose not to. Were they afraid of offending Vietnamese people by playing Khmer music for a Vietnamese leader?
I bet you guys love the Civ5 Egypt themes. I do too. But even that's based on music from Roman times, not pharaonic Egypt. If the music playing in Trung Trac's video is actually European music, why did they pick it to represent her? They could've easily gone with the Khmer theme, but chose not to. Were they afraid of offending Vietnamese people by playing Khmer music for a Vietnamese leader?
I would say Civ5's Egypt theme has been their best so far. Unfortunately, we know very little of Egyptian music except the instruments they used. I don't dislike the Civ7 theme--it's pretty enough--but it feels less thoughtful than some of the other themes.I guess Geoff Knorr should stop composing the themes for Egypt then.
Guandao
Rajah of Minyue, Hlai and Langkasuka
Even having something that sounds like a sistrum would help. I long to hear Ancient Egyptian singing too. But it seems like Knorr was working with modern Egyptian musicians again.
I stick with my guns on it being a battle theme, which would fit someone only known for war. It would suggest there aren't special battle themes for everyone which sounds plausible, but we'll see.
As far as offenses go, Khmer and Trung Trac (because modern Vietnam contains a large portion of conquered Cambodian land) is like Niger-Congo peoples and George Washington (because modern African Americans mostly come from those populations). Of those who do complain, neither side finds it acceptable.
Morningcalm
Keeper of Records
It doesn't sound as Spanish as the Civ 5 theme to my ears. What do the rest of you think? Had I heard it blind without knowing it was Spanish I might have mistaken it for a different civ's theme.
It sounds like a lot of the Medieval/Baroque Spanish music from Jordi Savall/Hesperion XXI to my ears.
Morningcalm
Keeper of Records
Do you have links to your favorite renditions of those? I would be keen to listen to them.
These feature theorbo in place of Spanish guitar and the tempo is slower, but these pieces remind me of the general spirit. The first is closer in instrumentation, the second a little closer in tempo:Do you have links to your favorite renditions of those? I would be keen to listen to them.
(And a link for the entire Folías de España concert because why not.)
ETA: He also has some Spanish music on his Mare Nostrum and both Orient and Occident albums, which are a mixture of Spanish, Italian, French, Turkish, Syrian, and North African music.
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That one sounds great. Same Egyptian musicians as in Egypt's theme, but the music has a more Eastern vibe to me, almost Persian if the instrumental texture was a bit different. I wonder if it is a Persian or at least Iraqi tune. It doesn't sound Egyptian to me aside from the instruments (but I can't claim to know all the styles there). This is probably as good as it gets for Abbasid music.
