Classical Music for DnD...

[Harlequin]

Hi

I was just wondering what Classical Music would fit the DnD atmosphere...

Id like to hunt down some cool Classical Compositions for some DnD Inspiration.

So far i have two cool soundtracks:

Conan the Barbarian Soundtrack by Basil Poledouris

and of course

Fellowship of the Ring by Howard Shore

I know the above are Movie Soundtracks but i am also after Clasical Compositions from the Masters


Harlequin

 

[SonOfLilith]

Well, only depressing music comes into mind right now, so if the players are ever getting there asses kicked...

First, Agnus Dei, really really cool song. Mozart's Lacanthros is also very good, so is the entire Jin-Roh soundtrack (badass movie)

 

[Falcon]

Here is a thread on D&D music I started a while ago.

http://www.enworld.org/messageboards/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3015

Hope this helps.

 

[dvvega]

Wagner, the Ring Cycle comes to mind immediately. Especially Ride of the Valkyries for heroic inspiration.

The advantage of classical music is twofold:

1) you can leave it playing constantly in the background and it won't interfere with play.

2) classical music sets up alpha cycles in brain patterns and people concentrate more. At first I thought this was mumbo-jumbo designed to sell products to people on late night TV, however I experiemented with my own classical collection. I found my gaming group actually avoided cross talk more often when something classical was playing in the background.

A lot of modern movie soundtracks have been written following a little classical style, and work just as well. Some of the pieces from The Phantom Menace are examples (the battle music for Darth Maul vs the Jedi).

 

[Old One]

Monte has a great list:

Monte's Gaming Music

One not mentioned is Orff (sp?) Carmin Burana, especially the Overture.

Others that I am particularly fond of include:

• Last of the Mohicans Soundtrack
• The Wind and the Lion Soundtrack (very Arabic feel)
• Glory and Gettysburg Soundtracks
• Crimson Tide Soundtrack

~ Old One

 

[BadMojo]

I can't seem to get enough of these music threads. Gustav Holst's "The Planets" is always a popular selection. Stravinky's "Rite of Spring" would probably be good battle music and "Firebird Suite" has a triumpant, noble feel. Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition" and "Night on Bald Mountain" are good. Berlioz's "Symphonie Fantastique" would also be useful.

It really depends on the mood you are trying to create, but there is probably a piece of classical music perfect for just about any mood you would ever want to foster.

 

[mkletch]

The Conan sound tracks are good, as are thee soundtracks for LotR, 13th Warrior, and Gladiator. I just saw the Disney Atlantis, and except for the pop song, the soundtrack should be good for D&D (I don't have it yet).

What really worked best for me in sessions where I used music was to use sparingly and to fit a particularly important scene. In the 1st Ed. Ravenloft module, there was a room where you could encounter Strahd playing the organ, so it was impossible to pass up Toccatta and Fuge in D minor by Bach.

I would also look for Royal Brass by the Empire Brass (Baroque), or other sorts of chamber music, as they are not as deep musically, and IMO less distracting than something with a full orchestra; at low volume it is not simply a wavering hum but distinct.