Rank the music

[PibbZ]

I like it the way it appears in game, really, and i dont like the modern music that much. Feels like the spices fade out of the game and it becomes a rush to complete it asap and start all over again in the ancient era.

Too bad warfare is so sweet in the modern age, after all its what im usually aiming for during all the other eras

 

[Stylesrj]

Some Civ III Modern Era songs would accompany it as well...
I remember in Civ III hearing the modern era music. It was a big change from the quiet tunes of the Industrial Era!

Hmm, Ride of the Valkyries while tank rushes are going...

 

[Angst]

Medieval uber alles!!! Funky Monks!!

 

[Paideia]

I have to go with:

1. Medieval
2. Renaissance
3. Classical
4. Industrial
5. Ancient
6. Modern

But all of it is fairly good. I have actually started making it my winamp playlist. I agree with some of the complaints earlier about the modern era music. It's not that it's bad (I actually like Nixon in China a lot), it's just too homogenous compared to the variety of the other eras. I miss Rachmaninov, Prokofiev, Arvo Pärt, even Britten or Sibelius would be a welcome change. Some jazz would be fantastic. Do any of you know Jan Johansson? He would be perfect.

 

[Peng Qi]

It'd be nice if modern age actually had some more mainstream music in it, I'd be happy if they put in some Velvet Underground.

I wouldn't.

 

[Wolf52]

1. Renaissance
2. Medieval
3. Industrial
4. Classical
5. Ancient
6. Modern

I try not to play games that get to the modern era, as the music tends to depress the hell out of me starting in the industrial age. As an aside, what the heck is that "the people are the heroes" track supposed to be anyway? It seems really out of place to me, and its also just plain strange.

 

[Cornhog]

Yeah, the Modern era doesn't feel "modern." It's like the game jumped from classical music to some weird, orchestral world music, which, needless to say, isn't the most popular genre in the modern world. It woulda made sense to include some jazz, folk, blues, r&b, and rock n' roll, ya know, the music of the 20th century. Nothing too bombastic like Madden. Wouldn't it have been cool if The Times They Are A'Changing started every time you entered the modern era?

And I too always wondered why they didn't go ahead and throw the Velvet Underground on the soundtrack since they seem to have the rights.

 

[Bushface]

1. Tied - Renaissance and Industrial at 100% each.
3. Medieval, 70%
4. Tied - Classical and Ancient at 30% each
Disqualified as not music - Modern, -5000%.
When I am forced into the modern era, my first action is to turn the "music" off. I accept that it portrays the lifestyle of an unskilled worker on a production line, being unpleasant, monotonously repetitive, discordant and boring, but these are all things that I have striven vigorously to avoid in the past and have no wish to experience now. Frankly, I am at a loss to know why this stuff was ever written, performed, recorded, or (above all) selected.

 

[Paideia]

As an aside, what the heck is that "the people are the heroes" track supposed to be anyway?

It's from John C. Adams' opera Nixon in China. It is one of the most well received modern operas and has already achieved the status of a "modern classic".

 

[Psyringe]

Frankly, I am at a loss to know why this stuff was ever written, performed, recorded, or (above all) selected.

It may have been selected because (much to my surprise) Adams is actually a critically acclaimed composer who won several awards for his, erm, "music". So having a critically acclaimed composer contribute some of his works to the game does sound like a good deal - in theory.

The problem is that modern composers seem to live, together with the critics that acclaim them, in some kind of ivory tower, well secluded from the unwashed masses that are far too barbaric to appreciate the great tunes of post-minimalist music. It's a bit like modern art. Artists and critics spin away into some starnge universe of their own, while people like you and me simply look at their works (or listen to them) and go "what the heck?!".

Sorry for the rant.

 

[Figaro]

If you guys think the Modern music is unpleasant then you ain't heard nothing! You should be glad it's tonal at least.

Most of the music is WAY off the period it's supposed to represent, though. 99% of the Medieval music ought to be in the Renaissance period, and ALL the renaissance stuff would be better put into the Industrial period. There's also a great big gap in the first half of the 20th century from which they haven't taken any music at all, which is a shame really as there's loads of good stuff to be had there.

That aside,

1. Renaissance
2. Industrial
3. Medieval
4. Modern
5. Aincient
6. Classical (what the heck do these have to do with that period?)

 

[Cornhog]

...appreciate the great tunes of post-minimalist music.

I don't really like the Opera or even "get" it. Seems rather silly and melodramatic to me. So, I don't really know what "post-minimalism" entails, but I will say the modern music to me sounds anything but minimalistic It actually takes me out of the game - especially that one song that slowly builds up to a big crescendo. Seems awfully loud and obnoxious to be considered minimalistic Maybe "post" is a fancy way of saying "not."

 

[Gre_Magus]

First of all, the music in Civ4 is awesome. Every time Baba Yetu starts playing and the sun rises on the opening menu right at the first crescendo, I think "this game is awesome. It's not some stupid shooter or action game: it's about humanity and history and the rise of civilization and it rocks." And then I see the cartoony leaderheads and I'm brought back to reality (which still rocks).

Anyway, I'd rank the music as follows:
1. Medieval
2. Renaissance
3. Industrial
4. Classical(i.e. Ancient)
5. Modern

I love medieval music in general (in real life) and I adore the "El Grillo" song. The Renaissance and Industrial music is just good, classic classical music - what more can I say?
There's only one ancient song I really like - the "AncientSoundTrack2." The other ones are just slow drums and bells as far as I can tell.
I actually like that "the people are the heroes" song, but it's just so disappointing that the modern soundtrack has no jazz, blues, big-band, rock, or even hip-hop (not that I like all those kinds of music, but they are representative of modern times!) that I can't put modern anything but last. I guess copyright and royalty fees have led to the limited selection we have now. Does anyone have any ideas for good 20th century mix I can put in my "modern" folder?

I really didn't like the ancient music in Civ3, so much so that I turned the music off in that game and never turned it back on. Apparently I missed some good modern music doing so!

Finally, one critique that could be made of Civ4's music that I haven't seen in this thread is that from Medieval on the music is VERY euro-centric. I mean, like I said, I love medieval European music and can't get enough of a good Gloria or Psalm 95 or whatever, but when I'm playing as the Aztecs and I'm Buddhist, it's a little funny to be listening to Christian music...

But I guess Ethnically Diverse Music Styles is a little too much to ask for!

 

[Jabarto]

The other ones are just slow drums and bells as far as I can tell.

That's actually why I like Classical era music the most; all of the eras have good music, but I like the relative quiet that comes in that one.

 

[Transkar]

That's actually why I like Classical era music the most; all of the eras have good music, but I like the relative quiet that comes in that one.

In BTS the classical age actually has music. Go to the folder and check it out, its mediteranean music.

 

[Common Sensei]

In BTS the classical age actually has music. Go to the folder and check it out, its mediteranean music.

Some of it is music from Civilization III.

I modded in some extra music to the eras myself, including a few references to Civ II (the music used for Adam Smith's Trading Company and Isaac Newton's University movies) for the Renaissance era, Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries and Verdi's Anvil Chorus (very apropriate when you stop and watch the Worker's animation for building railroads) for the Industrial Era, and Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue for the Modern era.

 

[Figaro]

slowly builds up to a big crescendo.

the sun rises on the opening menu right at the first crescendo

Seriously, why do people always misuse this word?

A Crescendo is a gradual increase in volume over a period of time, not a high point in volume. The word you're looking for is climax.

 

[Psyringe]

Seriously, why do people always misuse this word?

Just be glad that you're not trying to do scientific work in an area where everyone and his dog deem themselves an expert, like psychology ... if you do so, and allow yourself to get worked up by people misusing scientific terms, you'll go mad in no time.

But thanks for the explanation anyways - I had a wrong definition of "crescendo" memorized as well. Although, on second thought, it *should* have been pretty obvious considering the latin roots ... but perhaps people associate the term more with "crashing" than with "growing"

 

[Daily Barrage]

The music was so awful and annoying I turned it off after my first few games.
I can't really remember what it's like now. I think I liked the early tribal vibe music but the rest was truly horrible.

 

[Draknith]

Come on with Bach's First Minuetto in G Major from the first cello suite (which I believe is in the industrial age section) the industrial age's full orchestra arrangements kick it better than any other age.