Music of Civ VI

[King William I]

I loved the version they played at the opening ceremonies. Haven't heard any other one though

 

[Eagle Pursuit]

Ah, I just found that catchy tune.

I never would have thought it is Norwegian.

 

[Katakanja]

I never would have thought it is Norwegian.

I thought it was Chinese, personally. At the very least a more eastern civ than Norway

 

[TahamiTsunami]

I've been looking around iTunes for the themes of the DLC civs like Persia, Indonesia, etc. but I haven't been able to find them. Will they be added to an album later on or are we just not able to get them for the foreseeable future?

 

[Thormodr]

I never would have thought it is Norwegian.

You have never heard the Norwegian zither (Langeleik) before, I presume?

 

[Eagle Pursuit]

You have never heard the Norwegian zither (Langeleik) before, I presume?

I thought it is a harpsichord.

 

[Siptah]

You have never heard the Norwegian zither (Langeleik) before, I presume?

To be fair it‘s an instrument that is used all over the old world, from Europe to Persia, Arabia, India and the Far East. Differences are mostly in tuning (and if you use fingers or some sticks). Since it’s tuning here is western and it is played by hand, I always thought it would be a secondary theme for Germany.

 

[God of Kings]

Has anyone else been watching the winter Olympics over the last week? I'm only asking because I'm beginning to get really sick of hearing the various upbeat ez-listening versions of Arirang they seem to play over the podiums and then going to play Civ and hearing even more of Arirang because Korea has been in quite a few of my games

If you watch Olympic curling, before every match, Scotland the Brave is played as the bagpipers lead the curlers into the rink.

 

[Grotius]

I like the music a lot, but I wish there were a way to choose more tracks! (Er, there isn't, is there? Is there a mod for this?) fEspecially in the late game, I long to hear the early-age variants on my theme. Also, it'd be nice to hear music from civs not in the current game at all, just for variety.

 

[nzcamel]

Scottish & Georgian Industrial themes Oh my!!

 

[Grotius]

I enjoyed the Scottish music, but after hours and hours of it, I was ready to hear the ancient version, or some other civ's version, or anything else! Is there a mod that lets us broaden the playlist?

 

[Uberfrog]

After a bit of hunting, I found a scan of the sleeve notes for the album Shaka Zulu: Songs of King Shaka, which has many of the Zulu songs incorporated into their various themes and ambient tracks. I wouldn't be surprised if it was the source for the composer, as the arrangements seem similar (not the same, though, and a few lyrical changes). The songs are all listed as traditional, arranged by Amagugu Akwazulu, who I believe is providing the background in each case. The source is here: http://docplayer.org/14475215-.html

Here's the relevant notes on the songs included in the game, including lyric extracts:

UTHE UBHUTI ASIZOMLANDA

Uthe ubhuti asizomlanda umkoti uhyahluhpeka.

A traditional Zulu wedding song.The words state 'We must fetch this lady's husband-to-be because she is suffering without him

HAYISA

Amanqa akithi ayajabula amanga ayodlathina...

A war song which talks of the Amanqakithi people: "vultures will be happy to eat our bodies if we fall in battle. (The Amanqakithi were old enemies of the Zulu). If we go to war, there will be a feast for the vultures, but if I fall in battle I will be honoured, and die proudly".

SHAKA MAMBA

Sizwile bekusho weshaka wayindlondlo Dingaan wandlondlo ubhanqe amasokisi

A song of praise to the Zulu Kings. The song likens King Shaka to a mamba (the old very dangerous mamba snake that lives in a tree, and has atype of ridge or crown on its head). The song extols the powers of the ancient leaders and kings, including Dingane and Cetshwayo.

There is a line about wearing socks: this is probably because this is an adapted song and someone came back from the city wearing socks and was admired because of them.

ENCOME

Kuyini, sizwe sarna Afrika, hlanganani nomke, nihambe nithi nqo niyeke izimpi.

Encome is the name of a river, the Zulu name for Blood River. The song is from the time of the battle of Blood River, telling of the battle between the Boers (South African, Afrikaans-speaking farmers) and Zulus. This song is 'Umsindo'- literally, 'noise'. Today it is sung whenever there is reason to slaughter an animal as a sacrifice to the ancestors.

ANIBOYIZOBEKHA

Aniboyizobheka intandane kababa

A song about peace, sung at weddings. The song states one should make peace with ones relatives, and is about an orphan lady getting married.

What's in the game soundtrack as "Bayisa" is called "Hayisa" on the album.

I have to say I'm disappointed that the version of Shaka Mamba in game omits the line about socks...

In addition, Peaches Lamb posted in the comments that there is a video where another commenter has posted the lyrics to the song Halala:

Halala
[Congratulations]
Halala siyan'bongela
[Congratulations, we're thankful for you]

San'bona maZulu!
[Hello Zulu people]
San'bona maZulu amahle!
[Hello you beautiful Zulu people]

Awu ithi nje "Dear Mntanami"
[Oh it just says' "My Dear Baby"]
Nam' angazi, nam' angazi
[I don't know either, I don't know either]

Ukuth' uban' obhale lencwadi
[Who wrote this letter]
Ithi nje "Dear Mntanami"
[It just says "My Dear Baby"]

The last verse isn't in-game, but gives (I think) a tiny bit of context for the otherwise cryptic verse about "Dear Mntanami".

 

[Guandao]

I asked Roland Rizzo about the origin of the Mapuche themes in Civ6. It's not Arauco tiene una pena by Violeta Parra.

No (my first name ), it's some un-named traditional (I assume) piece that I found a Mapuche playing and singing when I was doing my research. I could only find that one reference, which could mean that it's traditional or possibly improvised by the musician. But I'm glad you're enjoying the music. Geoff and I love working on these projects.

It's a shame that Mr. Rizzo doesn't remember the name of the video for this song. It's like Gambia Folk Song (Songhai's theme in Civ5), the composer (Michael Curran) encountered a video of a Gambian musician performing and based the Songhai themes on it. The name of the video is lost to history....

 

[God of Kings]

I asked Roland Rizzo about the origin of the Mapuche themes in Civ6. It's not Arauco tiene una pena by Violeta Parra.

No (my first name ), it's some un-named traditional (I assume) piece that I found a Mapuche playing and singing when I was doing my research. I could only find that one reference, which could mean that it's traditional or possibly improvised by the musician. But I'm glad you're enjoying the music. Geoff and I love working on these projects.

It's a shame that Mr. Rizzo doesn't remember the name of the video for this song. It's like Gambia Folk Song (Songhai's theme in Civ5), the composer (Michael Curran) encountered a video of a Gambian musician performing and based the Songhai themes on it. The name of the video is lost to history....

Don't forget about how "The Drums of Poundmaker" isn't the actual name of the Cree theme.

 

[Guandao]

@Zaarin @God of Kings, funny thing is Mr. Rizzo replied to me on the same day I submitted my question to his website. I asked Geoff Knorr about the Zulu themes and Tsaiqvanes Tamar Kali in Georgia's themes, and he hasn't yet replied.

 

[Two Stepper2098]

Don't forget about how "The Drums of Poundmaker" isn't the actual name of the Cree theme.

It's the name of the album since Geoff used multiple songs from it and the songs don't seem to have actual titles (there's like 5 Grass Dance Songs). Here's the album btw

@Zaarin @God of KingsI asked Geoff Knorr about the Zulu themes and Tsaiqvanes Tamar Kali in Georgia's themes, and he hasn't yet replied.

Tsaiqvanes Tamar Kali shows up if you search with its Georgian title. Here's a live rendition of it.

 

[Katakanja]

On the topic of Georgia's themes, since I know nothing about Georgian music I've been calling their ambient tracks the "Ab-a-dab-a-day" song and the "Dee-Dah-Hoooi-Dah" song when they start playing. It's really great music but that's honestly all I can hear in my head when they come on

 

[Guandao]

It's the name of the album since Geoff used multiple songs from it and the songs don't seem to have actual titles (there's like 5 Grass Dance Songs). Here's the album btw
Tsaiqvanes Tamar Kali shows up if you search with its Georgian title. Here's a live rendition of it.

I don't know how to type in Georgian. Is the song about King/Queen Tamar?

 

[Two Stepper2098]

I don't know how to type in Georgian. Is the song about King/Queen Tamar?

Lol me neither, somebody on one of the Georgia videos found it. My past 15 minutes of googling haven't turned up anything other than that the song was likely written during the late 1700s in the Kingdom of Kartli-Kakheti. A Google Translate of the title (მოიტაცეს თამარ ქალი) gives "She was kidnapped by Tamar." Nothing on Queen Tamar's wikipedia page mentions a kidnapping so I'm guessing it's not about her.

 

[Zaarin]

Lol me neither, somebody on one of the Georgia videos found it. My past 15 minutes of googling haven't turned up anything other than that the song was likely written during the late 1700s in the Kingdom of Kartli-Kakheti. A Google Translate of the title (მოიტაცეს თამარ ქალი) gives "She was kidnapped by Tamar." Nothing on Queen Tamar's wikipedia page mentions a kidnapping so I'm guessing it's not about her.

Could be some kind of idiom, because otherwise that title seems a little suspect.