Music in the Civilization video game series

Civilization is a 4x turn-based strategy video game series created by Sid Meier. The music in the series was composed by various composers.

Civilization

The soundtrack of the original Civilization game was available in digital MIDI format. Most of original tunes were composed by Jeff Briggs, while others were taken from traditional or classic compositions, referring to each national culture (civilization) represented in the game. The same music used for the Aztecs was also applied to the Barbarians whenever they invaded a city.

Besides the main theme, sometimes known as "Civilization Opening Theme", other tunes used in the game were Beethoven's Ode to Joy in the "leader's day" celebration in cities, as well as the Funeral March.

Civilization II

Civilization II‍ '​s music is in the Red Book CD-audio format, the same as that found on normal music CDs. The songs are quite varied; some are from the 19th century classical era, such as the Blue Danube Waltz, while others have a tribal, tropical sound to them. The music can be played back through any CD-ROM drive. Over 200 MB of space on the Civilization II CD is taken up by the music, 280 MB is occupied by the videos (many of them are historical footages), whereas the actual program data takes up less than 30 MB.

The five different releases of Civilization II have added and subtracted tracks from the mix, with Fantastic Worlds containing the largest number of tracks of all releases.

Wonders of the World Music

Whenever a player builds a Wonder of the World, a short video with music is played. The music is often taken from other sources:

Most videos, however, feature original compositions with often discernible inspiration,[1] either from Peter Gabriel's soundtrack to The Last Temptation of Christ'':

Trevor Jones' and Randy Edelman's soundtrack to The Last of the Mohicans (1992):

Or various other sources:

Civilization III

Civilization III is a 2001 strategy game from Firaxis Games. As the game progresses, the music changes to reflect the era. There are five different mixes that represent the five major cultural groupings of the Civs in the game (European, North American, Middle Eastern, Greco-Roman, and Asian).

During diplomatic negotiations with leaders of other civilizations, there are both aggressive and passive tracks for each culture grouping that play depending on the mood of the civilization the player negotiates with. All the music in the game is stored in MP3 format.[2]

Civilization IV

Civilization IV Soundtrack
Soundtrack album

The music of the computer game Civilization IV features a large variety of tracks both original and historical, from Gregorian chants to modern minimalism, and makes extensive use of classical music as well as both world music and folk music. Such a focus on the soundtrack and the inclusion of classical, world and folk music are rare among games, though relatively common for strategy games. Original music was created for the expansion Civilization IV: Warlords and includes specifically themed music for each of the several scenarios, and several new Leader pieces. Civilization IV: Warlords also uses music from Civilization III to fill out some of the areas overlooked in the original Civilization IV, such as music for the "classical" period, and adds eastern music for the Asian scenarios. All tracks are stored on the hard drive in mp3 format, making them perfectly usable outside the game.

Overview

Original music was composed by Jeff Briggs, Mark Cromer, Michael Curran and Christopher Tin. Featured composers include John Adams, Gregorio Allegri, Johann Sebastian Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven, Johannes Brahms, Antoine Brumel, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, Francisco de la Torre, Josquin des Prez, Antonín Dvořák, Orlande de Lassus, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Johannes Ockeghem, Michael Praetorius, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Camille Saint-Saëns and John Sheppard.

Each of the game's time periods has its own set of background music appropriate for the period. The Ancient and Classical ages are limited to four original tracks that mostly focus on ambience and primitive instruments such as drums and the flute. The Middle Ages feature medieval and renaissance music, both instrumental and chants, such as Kyrie by Ockeghem. The renaissance era uses baroque and classical music music by Mozart, Beethoven and Bach. The soundtrack to the industrial period focuses on romantic music by Brahms, Dvořák and Beethoven, with one track each from Saint-Saëns and Rimsky-Korsakov. The modern age's music is composed exclusively of music by American minimalist composer John Adams. Orchestral samples in the game are from the Vienna Symphonic Library, which features recordings of classical music by members of the Vienna Philharmonic.[3]

Each leader has his or her own theme music as well, and each leitmotif has three variants, corresponding to different periods in the game. These are shorter and simpler pieces, from just under 40 seconds to three minutes. Each reflects the leader or country in question: Roosevelt's music is the Marines' Hymn, and Napoleon's is based on La Marseillaise. Some are renditions of famous pieces of classical music, such as Frederick's piece, which is a paraphrase of the fourth of the Goldberg Variations, or Bismarck's, which is the opening theme of the second movement of Beethoven's Symphony No. 3. Others, such as Mao Zedong and Alexander the Great have music that has been modified from earlier games, such as Civilization III.

The theme song is Coronation by Christopher Tin, and the menu music is Baba Yetu, also by him. The latter features lyrics based on a Swahili adaptation of the Lord's Prayer by Chris Kiagiri. Vocals were performed by Stanford Talisman.[4]

Music

Stanford Talisman performs all the pieces written by Christopher Tin. The other tracks (especially the polyphony from the Medieval section) are performed by a variety of groups, who are not credited on the original soundtrack.[5]

This list of songs or music-related items is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
Music in Civilization IV
TitleArtist/ComposerOther Information
Coronation Christopher Tin Intro video theme song
Baba Yetu Christopher Tin Menu theme (sung in Swahili). Won the 2011 Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)
Al Nadda Rahbani brothers Warlords menu theme (Lebanese, sung in Arabic)
Asoka Jeff Briggs, Mark Cromer Indian leader theme
? Jeff Briggs, Roger Briggs, Mark Cromer Alexander the Great's theme
? Michael Curran Mansa Musa's theme
? Mark Cromer Saladin's theme
? Ancient folk tune, Jeff Briggs, Mark Cromer Huang Shi Ti's theme
? Jeff Briggs, Michael Curran Huayna Capac's theme
Washington's Artillery Retreat Michael Curran, Mark Cromer, Jeff Briggs Washington's theme
Harvest of the Nile Hatshepsut's and Ramesses's theme
? Joao II's theme
Tenochtitlan Revealed Montezuma's theme
Hammurabi's Code Cyrus's and Darius's theme
The Shining Path Jeff Briggs, Mark Cromer Mao Zedong's theme
Augustus Rises Julius Caesar's theme
Marines' Hymn Roosevelt's theme
Malagueña Ernesto Lecuona, Mark Cromer Isabella's theme
La Marseillaise Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle Napoleon's and De Gaulle's theme
Harpsichord Sonata K.380 "The Hunt" Domenico Scarlatti Louis XIV's theme
Sakura Sakura Traditional Japanese (Edo period), Jeff Briggs, Mark Cromer Tokugawa's theme
The fourth of the Goldberg Variations Johann Sebastian Bach Frederick's theme
The second movement of Beethoven's Symphony No. 3 Ludwig van Beethoven Bismarck's theme
The Song of the Volga Boatmen Mily Balakirev, Jeff Briggs Peter the Great's and Stalin's theme
Fanfare-Rondeau Jean-Joseph Mouret Elizabeth's theme
Rule Britannia Thomas Arne Victoria's and Churchill's theme
Mongol Internationale Magsarshawyn Durgarshaw (Mongol National Anthem), Jeff Briggs Kublai Khan's and Genghis Khan's theme
Fear an Dùin Mhòir ? [6] Brennus and Boudica's theme
Polonaise Johann Sebastian Bach Barbarian theme
"Rock & Roll" Lou Reed/The Velvet Underground 'Rock and Roll' wonder construction theme
The Minuet from the Water Music Suite in D Major George Frideric Handel "Default Peace Music"
The White-Haired Woman Yan Jinxuan "Chinese Unification" theme music
Promenade from Pictures at an Exhibition Modest Mussorgsky Hall of Glory theme music
Conquests Fantasy 1 & 2 unknown Warlords soundtrack music
Miserere Gregorio Allegri "Medieval Age" background music
Ay Santa Maria Anonymous "Medieval Age" background music
La Gamba Anonymous "Medieval Age" background music
Missa Et ecce terrae motus. Gloria Antoine Brumel "Medieval Age" background music
Deus Judex Justus Chant "Medieval Age" background music
Laudate Chant "Medieval Age" background music
Regem cui omnia vivunt Chant "Medieval Age" background music
La Spagna: Danza alta Francisco de la Torre "Medieval Age" background music
El grillo Josquin des Prez "Medieval Age" background music
Lamentatio super morte Josquin des Pres (O mors inevitabilis) Jheronimus Vinders "Medieval Age" background music
Alma Redemptoris Mater Orlande de Lassus "Medieval Age" background music
Intemerata Johannes Ockeghem "Medieval Age" background music
Kyrie Johannes Ockeghem "Medieval Age" background music
Recercada Tercera Diego Ortiz "Medieval Age" background music
Missa Papae Marcelli: II. Gloria Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina "Medieval Age" background music
Missa Papae Marcelli: III. Credo Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina "Medieval Age" background music
Ballet du Roy from Terpsichore Michael Praetorius "Medieval Age" background music
Bransle Gay / Bransle de Montirade from Terpsichore Michael Praetorius "Medieval Age" background music
Volte from Terpsichore Michael Praetorius "Medieval Age" background music
Media Vita John Sheppard "Medieval Age" background music. Performed by the Tallis Scholars.
Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F Major, BWV 1047: III. Allegro assai Johann Sebastian Bach "Renaissance Age" background music
Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G Major, BWV 1048: I. Allegro Johann Sebastian Bach "Renaissance Age" background music
Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G Major, BWV 1049: I. Allegro Johann Sebastian Bach "Renaissance Age" background music
Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 in B-Flat Major, BWV 1051: I. Allegro Johann Sebastian Bach "Renaissance Age" background music
Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 in B-Flat Major, BWV 1051: III. Allegro Johann Sebastian Bach "Renaissance Age" background music
Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007: II. Allemande Johann Sebastian Bach "Renaissance Age" background music
Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007: IV. Sarabande Johann Sebastian Bach "Renaissance Age" background music
Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007: V. Menuet I and II Johann Sebastian Bach "Renaissance Age" background music
Cello Suite No. 4 in E-Flat Major, BWV 1010: V. Bouree I and II Johann Sebastian Bach "Renaissance Age" background music
Cello Suite No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011: VI. Gigue Johann Sebastian Bach "Renaissance Age" background music
Concerto for Two Violins in D Minor, BWV 1043: II. Largo ma non tanto Johann Sebastian Bach "Renaissance Age" background music
Concerto for Two Violins in D Minor, BWV 1043: III. Allegro Johann Sebastian Bach "Renaissance Age" background music
Violin Concerto in A Minor, BWV 1041: III. Allegro assai Johann Sebastian Bach "Renaissance Age" background music
Romance No. 1 for Violin and Orchestra in G Major, Op. 40 Ludwig van Beethoven "Renaissance Age" background music
Symphony No. 1 in C Major, Op. 21: II. Andante Cantabile Con Moto Ludwig van Beethoven "Renaissance Age" background music
Symphony No. 8 in F Major, Op. 93: II. Allegretto scherzando Ludwig van Beethoven "Renaissance Age" background music
Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor, K. 466: II. Romance Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart "Renaissance Age" background music
Serenade No. 10 in B-flat Major, K. 361 - "Gran Partita": III. Adagio Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart "Renaissance Age" background music
Symphony No. 41 in C Major, K. 551 - "Jupiter": II. Andante Cantabile Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart "Renaissance Age" background music
Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67: II. Andante con moto Ludwig van Beethoven "Industrial Age" background music
Symphony No. 6 in F Major "Pastoral", Op. 68: I. Awakening of Cheerful Feelings Upon Arrival in the Country, Allegro Ma Non Troppo Ludwig van Beethoven "Industrial Age" background music
Symphony No. 6 in F Major "Pastoral", Op. 68: II. Scene by the Brook, Andante Molto Mosso Ludwig van Beethoven "Industrial Age" background music
Hungarian Dance No. 1 in G Minor Johannes Brahms "Industrial Age" background music
Hungarian Dance No. 16 in F Minor Johannes Brahms "Industrial Age" background music
Hungarian Dance No. 3 in F Major Johannes Brahms "Industrial Age" background music
Symphony No. 3 in F Major, Op. 90: II. Andante Johannes Brahms "Industrial Age" background music
Symphony No. 3 in F Major, Op. 90: III. Poco Allegretto Johannes Brahms "Industrial Age" background music
Slavonic Dances, Op. 46, B 83 (after piano 4-hands version): No. 3 in A Flat Major Antonín Dvořák "Industrial Age" background music
Slavonic Dances, Op. 46, B 83 (after piano 4-hands version): No. 7 in C Minor Antonín Dvořák "Industrial Age" background music
Slavonic Dances, Op. 72, B 147: No. 2 (10) in E Minor Antonín Dvořák "Industrial Age" background music
Slavonic Dances, Op. 72, B 147: No. 4 (12) in D Flat Major Antonín Dvořák "Industrial Age" background music
Suite in A Major "American", Op. 98b, B 190: I. Andante con moto Antonín Dvořák "Industrial Age" background music
Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, Op. 95, B 178, "From the New World": II. Largo Antonín Dvořák "Industrial Age" background music
Scheherazade, Op. 35: III. The Young Prince and the Young Princess Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov "Industrial Age" background music
Cello Concerto No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 33: II: Allegretto con moto Camille Saint-Saëns "Industrial Age" background music
Christian Zeal and Activity John Adams "Modern Age" background music
Common Tones in Simple Time John Adams "Modern Age" background music
Grand Pianola Music: Part IA John Adams "Modern Age" background music
Grand Pianola Music: Part IB John Adams "Modern Age" background music
Harmonielehre: Part I John Adams "Modern Age" background music
Harmonielehre: Part II. The Anfortas Wound John Adams "Modern Age" background music
Harmonielehre: Part III. Meister Eckhardt and Quackie John Adams "Modern Age" background music
Shaker Loops: I. Shaking And Trembling John Adams "Modern Age" background music
Shaker Loops: II. Hymning Slews John Adams "Modern Age" background music
Shaker Loops: III. Loops And Verses John Adams "Modern Age" background music
The Chairman Dances: Foxtrot for Orchestra John Adams "Modern Age" background music, also heard during credits
The People Are The Heroes Now (from Nixon in China) John Adams "Modern Age" background music, also heard during credits
Two Fanfares: Tromba Lontana John Adams "Modern Age" background music
Violin Concerto: II. Chaconne: Body Through Which The Dream Flows John Adams "Modern Age" background music

Civilization V

The soundtrack of Civilization V was written by Geoff Knorr and Michael Curran, and features new compositions as well as folk songs and famous compositions. Some of the songs in the game were released as a 2-disc soundtrack as part of the Deluxe Edition.[7] The tracklisting of the soundtrack is:[8]

  1. Alexander Peace - Greece - "Epitaph of Seikilos" 6:44
  2. Alexander War - Greece - "Epitaph of Seikilos" 5:06
  3. Askia Peace - Songhai - "Gambia Folk Song" 3:47
  4. Askia War - Songhai - "Gambia Folk Song" 5:02
  5. Bismarck Peace - Germany - "Ode to Joy" 5:35
  6. Bismarck War - Germany - "Ode to Joy" 4:52
  7. Caesar Peace - Rome - "Ancient Roman Melody Fragments" 4:37
  8. Caesar War - Rome - "Ancient Roman Melody Fragments" 5:43
  9. Catherine Peace - Russia - "Montagues and Capulets" 4:07
  10. Catherine War - Russia - "Montagues and Capulets" 4:17
  11. Darius I Peace - Persia - "Morghe Sahar" 5:16
  12. Darius I War - Persia - "Morghe Sahar" 5:49
  13. Elizabeth Peace - England - "I Vow to Thee, My Country" 5:23
  14. Elizabeth War - England - "I Vow to Thee, My Country" 5:05
  15. Gandhi Peace - India - "Raga Asa" 5:15
  16. Gandhi War - India - "Raga Asa" 3:48
  17. Harun al-Rashid Peace - Arabia - "Thikriati; Hijaz Maqam" 6:23
  18. Harun al-Rashid War - Arabia - "Thikriati; Hijaz Maqam" 4:47
  19. Napoleon Peace - France - "Cancan" 3:06
  20. Napoleon War - France - "Cancan" 4:25
  21. Oda Nobunaga Peace - Japan - "Rokudan no Shirabe" 5:44
  22. Oda Nobunaga War - Japan - "Rokudan no Shirabe" 5:56
  23. Civilization V Opening Movie Music 3:31
  24. Civilization V Opening Menu Music 5:17
  25. Ramesses II War - Egypt - "Ancient Egyptian Melody Fragments" 3:50
  26. Suleiman Peace - Ottoman Empire - "Ceddin Deden" 5:05
  27. Suleiman War - Ottoman Empire - "Ceddin Deden" 5:08
  28. Washington Peace - America - "America the Beautiful" 3:13
  29. Washington War - America - "America the Beautiful" 3:42
  30. Wu Zetian Peace - China - "Gao Shan Liu Shui" 4:40

However, some leader themes, city state themes, and the ambient music are omitted from the soundtrack.

Leaders themes not included in soundtrack:

Gods & Kings

The Civilization V expansion, Gods & Kings, includes the soundtrack within the game files.

1. Opening Movie Music

2. Gods & Kings Theme, based on Te Deum

3, 4. Gustavus Adolphus - Sweden - "Du Gamla, Du Fria"

5, 6. Boudicca - The Celts - "Lord Gregory, The Lass of Aughrim"

7, 8. William of Orange - The Netherlands - "In Naam van Oranje"

9, 10. Maria Theresa - Austria - "Requiem Mass" in D minor; "Still Still Still"

11, 12. Attila - The Huns - "Li Ling Si Han"

13, 14. Dido - Carthage - "Hymn to Nikkal"

15, 16. Theodora - Byzantium - "Phos Hilaron"

17, 18. Haile Selassie - Ethiopia - "Traditional melody"; Selassie's National Anthem

19, 20. Pacal - The Maya - "Traditional melody fragments"

21. Fall of Rome

22. The Medieval World - "Messe de Notre Dame"

23. Smoky Skies

Brave New World

The second Civilization V expansion, Brave New World, contains the following original music:[9][10]

Civilization: Beyond Earth

The soundtrack for "Civilization: Beyond Earth" was composed entirely by Geoff Knorr, Michael Curren, Griffin Cohen and Grant Kirkhope.

Music in Civilization: Beyond Earth includes:

  1. The Seeding -- (trailer theme) -- Geoff Knorr
  2. Beyond Earth -- (menu theme) -- Geoff Knorr
  3. The Lush Planet -- Geoff Knorr
  4. The Lush Planet - Ambient Early -- Griffin Cohen
  5. Beauty in the Eye of the Orbiter -- Geoff Knorr
  6. Destroyer -- Geoff Knorr
  7. The Lush Planet - Ambient Middle -- Griffin Cohen
  8. Lux Perpetua -- Geoff Knorr
  9. Benedicite -- Geoff Knorr
  10. The Lush Planet - Ambient Late -- Griffin Cohen
  11. Our New World -- Geoff Knorr
  12. The Fungal Planet -- Geoff Knorr
  13. The Fungal Planet - Ambient Early -- Griffin Cohen
  14. Acclimation -- Geoff Knorr
  15. Promethean -- Geoff Knor
  16. The Fugal Planet - Ambient Middle - Griffin Cohen
  17. Xenomalleum -- Geoff Knorr
  18. The Fungal Planet - Ambient Late -- Geoff Knorr
  19. A New Beginning -- Geoff Knorr
  20. The Arid Planet -- Michael Curran
  21. The Arid Planet - Ambient Early -- Griffin Cohen
  22. Solar Collector -- Grant Krikhope
  23. Dogmatic Engineering -- Grant Kirkhope
  24. The Arid Planet - Ambient Middle -- Griffin Cohen
  25. Xeno Titan -- Grant Kirkhope
  26. The Signal -- Grant Kirkhope
  27. The Arid Planet - Ambient Late -- Griffin Cohen
  28. Deep Memory -- Grant Kirkhope
  29. Planetfall -- Michael Curran
  30. Planetfall - Ambient Early 1 -- Griffin Cohen
  31. Alien Shores -- Michael Curran
  32. Sky Mine -- Michael Curran
  33. Planetfall - Ambient Early 2 -- Griffin Cohen
  34. Earth's Ambassadors -- Michael Curran
  35. O Muse -- Michael Curran
  36. Planetfall - Ambient Middle -- Griffin Cohen
  37. Deep Space -- Michael Curran
  38. Planetfall - Ambient Late 1 -- Griffin Cohen
  39. Xenomancer -- Michael Curran
  40. Planetfall - Ambient Late 2 -- Griffin Cohen
  41. Solid State Citizen -- Griffin Cohen
  42. The Future of Mankind -- Geoff Knorr

References

  1. ↑ Wonder Music Revealed - Civilization Fanatics' Forums
  2. ↑ http://www.civ3.com/asktheteam_082201.cfm
  3. ↑ Civilization IV manual, page 224
  4. ↑ Talisman featured on Civilization 4
  5. ↑ Sid Meier's Civilization IV Official Soundtrack, VGMdb
  6. ↑ Puirt a beul,or Scottish peasant music
  7. ↑ de Matos, Xav (9 July 2011). "Civilization 5 Special Edition Includes Two-Disc Soundtrack, Artbook and Unit Figurines [Updated]". Shacknews. Retrieved 5 June 2011.
  8. ↑ admin (13 September 2010). "Civilization V Soundtrack (Geoff Knorr, Michael Curran)". Download Soundtracks. Retrieved 5 June 2011.
  9. ↑ "Civ5BraveNewWorld (Michael Curran)". Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  10. ↑ "Geoff Knorr (Video Games)". Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  11. ↑ "Assyrian Chant by lostorigins on SoundCloud". Retrieved 11 November 2013.

External links