Music of Civ VI

[TeddyMain]

Full Gaul Soundtrack is up on the Official Civ Youtube Channel:

 

[Guandao]

Here's Geoff Knorr's reply to my question regarding the origins of Gaul's themes. Looks like it's mainly an original creation, with a bit of the Belgian National Anthem.

It's great to hear you're enjoying the music for Byzantium and Gaul!

Unfortunately, we have no surviving melodies or songs that can be confidently attributed to the Gauls, and so my music for them comes from reading descriptions of the instruments they played and taking a best guess in terms of what their music might have sounded like. There are theories that some of the music of the Gauls was absorbed into the Greco/Roman empire, and that the tradition of Byzantine chant may even be connected to Gallic chant. There is even mention of Charlemagne commissioning a collection of Gallic songs, but it has not been found and has likely not survived.

The most defining instrument of the Gauls was the carnyx, used in battles, which you'll hear making war calls in all of the eras. We also have descriptions of an entirely different kind of music played by the "bards." I found this quote attributed to Diodorus when researching the music of the Gauls:
"The Gallic poets possess harmony grace: they are called bards. They enjoy such credit with these people that when, after the first discharge of arrows and darts, the soldiers are ready to charge the enemy, should it happen that one of these children of Parnassus introduces himself between the combatants, immediately entering into negotiation, they lay down their arms. It is thus that in nations even the most ferocious anger submits to reason, and Mars shows his respect for the muses."

And so alongside the calls of the carnyx, you'll hear an original melody I composed intended to allude partially to the music of the Gallic bards and partially the heroic qualities of Ambiorix. As part of this melody, I included one musical phrase from the Belgium national anthem, "La Brabançonne," since Ambiorix is a celebrated hero of their past.

All the best,
Geoff

 

[Zaarin]

Byzantine chant may even be connected to Gallic chant

I have to dispute this part. Byzantine and Gregorian chant both derive from Syriac chant and, ultimately, Jewish chant. This is pretty well documented. Not to say Gallic chant couldn't be an influence in there as well, but as far as direct descent goes...

 

[Uberfrog]

If anyone is interested, something I’ve been updating for my own listening pleasure is an unofficial combined soundtrack playlist for Civ VI. This has each Civ’s theme, picked for the relevant era, played in order of when each leader lived (or rather the year they died). I find it good to listen to while working!

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuXWclZnSIDq4lDzy63NqvU6uJO0ZcFKb

It’s up to date for Gaul and Byzantium thanks to Peaches Lamb’s super speedy uploads!

 

[Luxerne]

If it interests anybody, I put together a playlist of the Great Works of Music that GM produce in-game:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYcbL3t-x6wMMkS2LklkaIk7yZQGiuHoE

It's definitely a different experience compared to the short MIDI recordings in-game—especially the pieces with vocals like Leontovych or Lili'uokalani's works. (Of course, that's due to copyright on recordings.)

 

[tarronzeng]

I am still figuring out which part of the Byzantine's theme was "Kontakion of the Mother of God", it syncs so well with Ti Ipermaho.

 

[Basileus Rhomaion]

I am still figuring out which part of the Byzantine's theme was "Kontakion of the Mother of God", it syncs so well with Ti Ipermaho.

"Kontakion of the Mother of God" is kind of a misnomer. "Kontakion" is a type of hymn that is generally short and of a certain style which the Akathist ("Ti Hypermacho") is as well. So "Kontakion of the Mother of God" could really be referring to a wide variety of hymns, depending on the specific liturgy (when it's chanted, on which occasions, at what part of the service etc).

In this case, the "Kontakion" is none other than the Akathist itself, simply sung in a slightly different composition. It has the exact same lyrics as "Ti Hypermacho" and has obvious tonal similarities (they are both in plagal 4th mode), which is why it blends so well. To tell the 2 different versions apart, the most obvious difference is in the Ancient theme: The initial choir is the "normal" Akathist, while the following piece played on the Byzantine lyra is the other "Kontakion".

 

[tarronzeng]

"Kontakion of the Mother of God" is kind of a misnomer. "Kontakion" is a type of hymn that is generally short and of a certain style which the Akathist ("Ti Hypermacho") is as well. So "Kontakion of the Mother of God" could really be referring to a wide variety of hymns, depending on the specific liturgy (when it's chanted, on which occasions, at what part of the service etc).

In this case, the "Kontakion" is none other than the Akathist itself, simply sung in a slightly different composition. It has the exact same lyrics as "Ti Hypermacho" and has obvious tonal similarities (they are both in plagal 4th mode), which is why it blends so well. To tell the 2 different versions apart, the most obvious difference is in the Ancient theme: The initial choir is the "normal" Akathist, while the following piece played on the Byzantine lyra is the other "Kontakion".

So what I'm getting here, the is the same but in a different played melody? Also is "Ti Ipermaho" is just the only Byzantine Akathist theme since its just called "The Akathist Hymn" or is there more?

 

[Basileus Rhomaion]

So what I'm getting here, the is the same but in a different played melody?

Effectively yes.

Ti Hypermacho in the most commonly sung melody:

The "Kontakion to the mother of God" version:

Also is "Ti Ipermaho" is just the only Byzantine Akathist theme since its just called "The Akathist Hymn" or is there more?

The Akathist Hymn in its entirety is consisted of multiple Oikoi (kind of like stanzas) and parts of Kontakia. "Ti Hypermacho" is simply the Prooimion (an "opening" kind of Kontakion) with which the hymn begins. Because of the popularity of this part of the hymn and the general Byzantine tradition of naming hymns, kontakia etc after their first spoken words, "Akathist Hymn" has come to mainly reference "Ti Hypermacho" in common parlour.

 

[japanesesamurai]

While at the end of a Gaul game, their theme apparently is the Belgian anthem.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Brabançonne

 

[bite]

Babylon is here

 

[Kimiimaro]

Babylon is here

What are you saying?

 

[Duke William of Normandy]

What are you saying?

View attachment 575553

Oops...

 

[fatalitod]

It vaguely reminds me of Assyria's Civ V theme. According to the credits it seems to be an original composition, though.

 

[Uberfrog]

It vaguely reminds me of Assyria's Civ V theme. According to the credits it seems to be an original composition, though.

It’s the Hurrian Hymn to Nikkal, the same basis as the Sumerian and Phoenician themes in Civ 6, and the Babylonian theme in Civ 5.

It’s a testament to Geoff Knorr’s skill as a composer that his variations on the same basic melody can sound so distinct!

 

[OmegaDestroyer]

I'm really enjoying the ancient theme.

 

[Zaarin]

It’s the Hurrian Hymn to Nikkal, the same basis as the Sumerian and Phoenician themes in Civ 6, and the Babylonian theme in Civ 5.

Called it.

It's nice, but I think it's the first NFP theme I haven't been thrilled with. Needs an oud and more percussion.

 

[Kimiimaro]

Called it.

It's nice, but I think it's the first NFP theme I haven't been thrilled with. Needs an oud and more percussion.

Still improvement over Civ V Babylonian peace theme by me

 

[Uberfrog]

I really like the lyre that opens the Ancient theme. It is a reconstruction of the Golden Lyre of Ur played by the guy who reproduced it: http://www.lyre-of-ur.com/ (forgive the, uh... vintage web design!)

 

[Zaarin]

Still improvement over Civ V Babylonian peace theme by me

Maybe, but at least Civ5's brought the percussion.

I really like the lyre that opens the Ancient theme. It is a reconstruction of the Golden Lyre of Ur played by the guy who reproduced it: http://www.lyre-of-ur.com/ (forgive the, uh... vintage web design!)

Yeah, the ancient version is nice.