Dwarves: You might think they'd like drums...but to me, they'd prefer the clear chiming ring of metal on metal...the music of the forge. So, somewhat incongruously, they might prefer things like xylophones, metallophones and bells. Wind chimes- installed in a quiet space near a ventilation shaft- and triangles might be their choice for lighter moods. Instead of war drums, they'd prefer gongs and big bells.
In addition, they might favor certain wind instruments whose action & movement is reminiscent of the Soulforge's bellows- bagpipes, accordions, concertinas, harmoniums and the like.
The organ, with its bellows, would also be an instrument that dwarves would find appealing. A master musician might even use the fire-organ.
(
Fire Organs )
Gnomes: Their taste in music might be somewhat similar to
Dwarves, but they might add more wind instruments. However, I bet they'd gravitate more towards the whimsical and lighter wind instruments- panpipes, harmonicas, ocarinas, kazoos, whistles (esp. slide whistles), piccolos and the ever-popular bladder pipe (
http://www.music.iastate.edu/antiqua/Bladderp.wav).
In addition, they would be one of only 3 races- besides
humans and
Elves- who would use bull-roarers (an instrument consisting of a piece of wood which is twirled on the end of a rope, producing an eerie whistle, throbbing hum, or howl (depending upon its shape and speed of rotation) or twirling tubes- (a simple hollow tube that varies its pitch dependent upon its cross-section, length, and speed of rotation).
In addition, if they're technologically minded, you'd find "one-man-bands" among them, along with calliopes and "player" versions of any number of instruments.
Elves: Celtic music is an obvious quality choice. Less obvious but no less appropriate would be something like Japanese flute or even singing bowls (
Singing bowl - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) or crystallophones (like the
Glass harmonica - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia). Elves might also enjoy the simplicity of bull-roarers and twirling tubes.
Goblinkind: they might favor drums and the louder brass instruments. The more intelligent goblinkind like
Hobgoblins might favor complex drums and percussion, like the Tycho Drums of the group Kodo (check out their albums
Mondo Head,
Live at the Acropolis, or the soundtrack to
The Hunted). For extra points, throw in Tibetan Throat singing.
Halflings: Bluegrass, Blues, C&W and Folk. No question. They, like the gnomes, would favor the lighter wind instruments (see above).
Orcs: They invented opera. The more tortured, the better- try Wagner. Like goblinkind, they may also go for Tibetan Throat singing. With drums. And bagpipes.
Humans: You know they'll listen to
anything.
