Musical score for "Alexander"

Stefan Härtel · August 6, 2001, 18:36

As I am proceeding with my scenario on Alexander the Great, I have come to realize that the one thing that really adds atmosphere is a well-chosen musical score, as most will agree.
I'm not sure, however, what type I should use (This is my first poll, so be patient if something doesen't work).

Fiera · August 6, 2001, 19:13

Do you plan to add it as a WAV file for Civ2, like the other sounds? Those take too much space and don't really sound that good...

Or maybe you're thinking about anything else? Mp3?

Stefan Härtel · August 6, 2001, 19:41

Well, MP3 would be an optimal choice, but you'd have to hear them sepperately. Now, that's not the problem, as I know that MP3 players will work when Civ2 is running, but then, no sound would ever fit (and having messages popping up saying "Please play ...*.mp3 now" would be annoying). A general soundtrack would be nice as well, but then I could simply give recommendations on what to hear while playing... If there would be ANY way to alter *mp3 files to *.wav files in the game that would be great...

MagyarCrusader · August 6, 2001, 22:11

I voted for classical/orchestral. While some rock may make for a better choice, most rock songs are cheesy pop-cultral gingle fads with a popularity that may sky rocket for a month or so then fade away into a forgotten abyss (where most of them belong). Although some (very few) rock groups produced in my opinion some of the best music I've ever heard, the genre as a whole really stinks, so I can't really trust someone elses music tastes. However, classical music are pieces of timeless classics.

It's all good, you can't go wrong.

Prometeus · August 7, 2001, 09:47

i voted for rock - because of "Alexander" cartoon.

Mercator · August 7, 2001, 10:03

Don´t add any music, it´s a waste of time and space. Stick to good sound effects, they´re much more important. If you really feel the need to have music, just add the names of some songs in your readme that you find appropriate. People could then (download and) play those if they feel like it.

Stefan Härtel · August 7, 2001, 11:01

Well, classical music is ahead right now, so I already started looking for something appropriate. But in any way, here's what I would consider choosing for each category:
[*] Rock Music: Would be instrumental sections of melodic pieces. I would definately include the introduction solo of Iron Maiden's song about Alexander the Great (from the "Somewhere in Time" album), but then... Iron Maiden's a good choice for some guitar solos, I would propably use something from "The Nomad" on the "Brave New World" album. Other than that, propably something from Queen, particularily from the "Innuendo" album.
One other choice might be Jimi Hendrix...?
[*] Classical Music: It's quite tough. I decided against Wagner because his pieces are just too-well known, but I have some runners up. Dvorak would be excellent if I hadn't used his best for "Artaxerxes" already (however I could re-use them, dunno). Other than that, Tchaikovsky's intro from "1812", or perhaps also the rest, I haven't really gone into that. Any suggestions?
Maybe I could include some Oriental Music at places where they fit...
[*] Movie Soundtrack: Anything by John Williams would be good, though as complete soundtracks by him I only have "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade". These are good, but if anyone has seen these movies a couple of times he just knows the music, and besides, they were composed for action movies and thus wouldn't really fit. "Gladiator" is the only other Soundtrack I have in whole, and while the music is partially quite good, it's a bit too sentimental at some times.
Other than that, I have some excerpts from other movies, like "Ben Hur", "Spartacus", plus some Science Fiction films like "Star Wars", "Superman" and so on.

Quote:

I voted for classical/orchestral. While some rock may make for a better choice, most rock songs are cheesy
pop-cultral gingle fads with a popularity that may sky rocket for a month or so then fade away into a forgotten abyss
(where most of them belong). Although some (very few) rock groups produced in my opinion some of the best music
I've ever heard, the genre as a whole really stinks, so I can't really trust someone elses music tastes. However,
classical music are pieces of timeless classics.

It's all good, you can't go wrong.

I agree wih you, particularily because Rock Music is a matter of taste. I'm already expecting the first anti-Iron Maiden voices

Quote:

i voted for rock - because of "Alexander" cartoon.

Quote:

Don´t add any music, it´s a waste of time and space. Stick to good sound effects, they´re much more important. If
you really feel the need to have music, just add the names of some songs in your readme that you find appropriate.
People could then (download and) play those if they feel like it.

Well, yes, that's an option I've thought of myself. I will keep the game sounds and music sounds in sepparate files, so that everyone who feels like it can download them.

Jay Bee · August 7, 2001, 11:08

I would say Classic, although my reasons are totally different from those given by Mike. But in all, I agree with Mercator. Adding these sound files seems quite unnecessary.

Prometeus · August 7, 2001, 11:14

Quote:

Originally posted by Stefan Härtel

Quote:

i voted for rock - because of "Alexander" cartoon.

"Alexander's war chronicles", drawned by Peter Chung - a lot of fantasy, but great atmosphere... It was on MTv a couple of years ago or so.

Mr. Oobir · August 7, 2001, 13:32

For the times when your troops are marching into battle, a good classical song would be "March to the Scaffold" from Symphonie Fantastique by Berlioz. It always reminds me of war newsreels for some reason. It may sound a bit too early-20th century, though.

Stefan Härtel · August 7, 2001, 13:37

Oh. Last time I tuned in MTV was for Beavis&Butt-Head and that was a couple of years ago.

Mr. Oobir:
Don't worry, Dvorak's symphony From the New World is from the end of the 19th century, and one of my favourites.
I'll see if I can find the one you suggested somewhere... thanks for the advice.