Posts Tagged ‘music’

Sounds of the Past

Posted: May 5, 2013 in History, Music
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It amazing what you can find when you aren’t looking for it. The other day I was perusing youtube when I noticed something in the suggested video lists – something called The Oldest Known Melody (Hurrian Hymn no. 6 – c.1400BC)

Intrigued, I clicked on the video and was met with the following.

As always I did a bit of looking up on it, and discovered a bit more. In 1950 in the ancient port city of Ugarit (preset day Syria), a series of clay cuneiform tablets were discovered which contained fragments of noted music, the Hurrian Songs. The most complete was the Hurrian Hymn to Nikkal, or Hymn no 6, the oldest surviving substaitally complete noted music in the world. It turns out that while it is notated, no one can agree as to how exactly to translate it, and their are at least 5 rival, substantially different interpretations of it.

Even so, listening to something that may have been played 3400 years ago is an amazing thing.

The oldest complete musical composition in the world is the Seikilos Epitath, from somewhere between 200BC and 100 AD.

In the image of it, you can see the notations above the lyrics that accompanied it.

It sounds like this.

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Doctor Who Meets Metal

Posted: April 19, 2013 in Games, Movies, tv shows
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I went to school during the 80s, so as a result I heard a fair bit of Metal – I even have a collection of it still on my old cassettes, which haven’t been played for years.

Yesterday I came across this – Doctor Who Meets Metal.

Needless to say I was deeply impressed – one of my favourite TV shows with the music of it done in metal style.

Took a further look at the guy doing it, and he has over 100 videos of various metalised versions of TV shows, movies, games and of course other forms of music.

Some of my other favourites so far are Skyrim, Lord of the Rings and BBC Sherlock.

Musical Interlude

Posted: May 25, 2010 in musical interlude
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After a bit of a break, the next musical interlude is winging its way to you.

Both these pieces – The End Run and Suicide Mission – come from the Mass Effect 2 soundtrack.

Suicide Mission

The End Run

Both pieces are suitable epic for the ME2 game. The odd thing is that I’m still trying to judge the game itself. It made some marked improvements over the first game, especially with the removal of the elevators, and has one of the best computer game characters you’ll meet, the awesome Mordin Solus, but I am still uncertain as to which of the two I prefer. I’m not sure of the exact problem I may or may not have with ME2, but a big part is probably due to working with Cerberus, whose actions in the first instalment of the game had them marked for death with extreme prejudice.

Musical Interlude

Posted: August 17, 2009 in musical interlude
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Back in the mid-90s there was a game released that I played a lot – probably the only game I played more was Master of Orion 2. The game was called Emperor of the Fading Suns, a 4X game based on the Fading Suns RPG universe. It was a fairly grim, gothic setting. Consider it the Dark Ages in Space and you get the idea; knights and nobles and peasants and superstition and the inquisition. Not as grimdark as WH40K, but certainly not the happiest of settings.

If any game could have a sequel/remake done, this game tops my list.

Part of the appeal of the game was the soundtrack. It fitted perfectly. The other day on a forum elsewhere, the question arose of favourite game soundtracks and I remembered EFS. So I got out the old CD, ripped the music off it and started listening to it again. It makes great music to write too.

I also found the tracks on youtube so as a musical interlude I’ll start working the way through them.

Fading Suns

Battle

For the Fallen

I also discovered a copy of the introduction to the game, though with Spanish subtitles. The CGI may look dated now, but back in its day it was good.

Musical Interlude

Posted: March 19, 2009 in musical interlude
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A return to the musical interludes, and this one was brought about by a youtube video clip.  Don’t ask me how they do it.

Yep, the familiar strains of the Doctor Who theme – but done via tesla coils and electrical arcs.

As you do, I went looking at links to related videos and found this one, which is a compilation of every Doctor Who over its forty years.

Then there was this small clip, which is of one of my favourite bits of music from the new Doctor Who series.  The tune is called All the Strange, Strange Creatures.  Kind of fitting for Dr Who.

I went looking for a full version of this one and came across a recording done at Doctor Who at the Proms.  This was done in front of an audience, so you can hear them in bits, but it is certainly an awesome peace of music when played out loud.

Musical Interlude

Posted: February 3, 2009 in musical interlude
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Continuing on with exploring the songs from Fallout3 we have two more on offer for your listening pleasure.

The Ink Spots – Maybe

Billie Holiday – Easy Living

Musical Interlude

Posted: January 21, 2009 in musical interlude
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After a short break, we return once more with a couple more tracks from Fallout 3.

Jack Shaindlin – I’m Tickled Pink

Jack Shaindlin – Lets Go Sunning

Musical Interlude

Posted: December 27, 2008 in musical interlude
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Two more bits of music for this interlude, once more continuing the playlist from Galaxy News Radio from Fallout 3.

Andrew Sisters & Danny Kaye – Civilisation

Cole Porter – Anything Goes

Musical Interlude

Posted: December 21, 2008 in musical interlude
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Another musical interlude for you to enjoy, once again from the amazing sounds of Galaxy News Radio from Fallout 3.

Roy Brown – Butcher Pete (Part 1)

Bob Crosby and the Bobcats – Happy Times

Musical Interlude

Posted: December 18, 2008 in musical interlude
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We interrupt your regular schedule to bring you this musical interlude, the first of a semi-regular posts sharing whatever I happen to be listening too at the time.

The music for today comes from the recently released game, Fallout 3, set in the post apocalyptic irradiated ruins of Washington DC, where you battle to live against raiders, mutants and other such dangers.

While this is going on, a radio station plays on in the background, with its DJ, Three Dog (Because one dog isn’t enough, and two dogs is too low, its Three Dog, arrrooowww).

Now the music that comes across is what you would never expect.  It comes from the 40s and 50s.  Yes, that is correct.  It may sound incongruous, but for those who have played the game, they know just how well it fits.

It is also turning a generation onto the music of their grandparents and great grandparents and many are finding, strangely, that they like it.

So here are two of those songs for your entertainment and edification.

The Ink Spots – I Don’t Want To Set The World On Fire

Bob Crosby and the Bobcats – Way Back Home