role playing music

I'm thinking of adding music to my rpg sessions, I've never used music before but think it would enhance the sesson. What I'm looking for are suggestions ( besides lord of the rings). I play a fantasy D&D campaign. Any suggestions about what music to use would be welcome.
Darryl

Computer game music, say from NWN or Morrowind, is appropriate. Also check out the band Manowar.

Loreena McKennitt
Dead Can Dance
Clandestine
"Conan" soundtrack
"Last of the Mohicans" soundtrack

Gladiator
Sleepy Hollow
Bram Stoker's Dracula
Interview with a Vampire
Blackmore's Night (Under a Violet Moon)
Dungeon Keeper tracks
Some ballads from Blind Guardian
King of the Last Days
Army of Darkness (Evil Dead III)
Clannad

Music...

Estampie
Qntal
Corvus Corax
In Extremo

...always be sure, though, that the music also doesn't get on your players nerves, no matter how much you like it


Dougal

As much as I like Manowar, Blind Guardian, and Rhapsody, most of their stuff isn't really all that appropriate if you are trying for the "mideval" feel. Of the three, Rhapsody is probably your best bet... They have a lot of semi orchestral/operatic music that would work OK.

If you want to go for the "bardic" feel, try Heather Alexander, Leslie Fish... go to www.firebirdarts.com and check their music index for some good bardic folk type stuff (A lot of it was made for fantasy worlds anyhow), or www.heatherlands.com to check out Heather Alexander. Both have samples you can listen to. Check out on Heather's site a peice called "March of Cambreadth".

I also like Elven Drums (www.elvendrums.com), but they are most definetly not for everyone. Their site has samples, though, so check it out if you like.

For just general background stuff, most of the major ones have been mentioned... Though, for the record, the soundtrack for the DnD movie isn't bad, if you can get it. I'll also second Conan, and if you can find them, the Final Fantasy soundtracks are pretty good... So is the Ultima one... It's great, in fact... (There might have been two), but they are pretty hard to come by.

For Fantasy games:
Mila Mar
Dead Can Dance

For Western games:
Marty Robbins - Gunfighter Ballads and Trailsongs

Dark Dragon said:

Gladiator
Sleepy Hollow
Bram Stoker's Dracula
Interview with a Vampire
Blackmore's Night (Under a Violet Moon)
Dungeon Keeper tracks
Some ballads from Blind Guardian
King of the Last Days
Army of Darkness (Evil Dead III)
Clannad

Click to expand...

I use a lot of these same ones. Add to that:
Signs
From Hell
Braveheart
Harry Potter
A few tracks from End of Days
A few tracks from Hook
Minority Report

I think it's important to look for stuff that's not too recognizable, though -- otherwise it can tend to bring players back out of the game world.

For fantasy, the soundtrack to 'Conan the Barbarian' can't be beat.

soundtrack to Indiana Jones and theTemple of Doom [Especailly if you ever play Monte Cook's Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil

Carl Orf - Carmina Burana

Conan

Soundtrack to Last of the Mohicans is VERY good for an overland feel