Instruments and Symphonies

SilverQuill

SilverQuill

New Member
I don't know if this question has been asked or not on the forums; but I'm curious to know if someone/s have some idea as to the type of musical instruments used during the First and Second Age.  Does the instruments used on the Blessed Isle differ from those commonly found/heard in the Scavenger Lands for example?  Is there such a thing as violin, piano, harpsicord, etc in these times.  If so--are they called something else?  What can we relate First/Second age music to in relation to our own musical timeline/period (i.e. Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Modern, etc).
 
I would stay away from piano--it's pretty specific, same with harpsichord.


Winds definitley. Flutes and all sorts of things similiar.  Horns of all types and kinds.  Drums, certainly.  Strings and bowed strings have popped up across lots of cultures.  


I'd avoid specifics, like fiddle contests in the Threshold, unless you're running a Modernis game, but that's because it's already so chock full of anachronisms already.


Think samisan.  Think some of the odd Brazilian strings.  Think horns.  Think flutes.  Think lots of drums and precussion.  Chimes.  Bells.  Things with really weird resonating chambers.  Not so much guitars, but certainly stringed instruments based on harps.  Finger chimes.


There hasn't been much touched on in the Core about music.  Which is kind of sad, but there you go.  


I'm of the idea that the "cultured" societies roll out with lots of flutes and winds, with drums, chimes, and bells to weave some complex tunes, maybe with some horn mixed in as well.   The North gets drums and things that don't have to worry about cold snapping.  The East has lots of wood, so you're getting strings, winds, and drums.  To the South you've got drum and horns, and less on strings, and the prized winds.  The West has drums and the odd wind--maybe no strings, save those imported from the Realm.
 
The First Age seems to have a definite Mayan feel going for it. What kinds of music did the Maya make?


-S
 
Drums and flutes are the main instruments of those cultures. strings tend not to be a good idea in humid areas.
 
Shouldn't the term "saxophone" denote a speaker of Saxon, rather than a brass instrument?


-S
 
Since several characters in my game started as a traveling music group, this has become relatively important in my game. Here's what I use:


The North: Drums. Lots and lots of drums. Some strings in there too, especially the violin. The heavier the music, the better. Especially stuff that's great for sitting around a warm fire with some ale, women, and good friends. I always kind of imagined the northern cultures to be close to a Viking culture.


The East: Strings and woodwinds, due to the prevalent materials. For forest tribes, drums, pan flutes, and recorders. If you want something cool that'll reverberate through the forest, a digeridoo is perfect. Wooden percussion instruments as well.


Scavenger Lands:Mostly clay instruments, such as ocarinas and the like. Also, drums, and quite possibly guitars, sitars, banjos, etc. At least, that's what they use in my game.


The South: Mostly brass instruments. Horns, trumpets, trombones, etc. Clay instruments as well, as the occasional drum.


The West: Taking a bit from our island culture in the world today. Metal wind instruments, and steel drums.


The Blessed Isle: EVERYTHING! They've got the resources, and they use it. It's not simply a slapped together mix though. They're the culture in my game with the huge operas and symphonies, where the Mozarts and Beethovens of Creation try to make a name in. Being a favored composer or conductor of a Dynast is a high position in my game, although it doesn't pay very well (After all, Mozart died starving and drunk in a ditch)


Hopefully that helps!
 
There are organs' date=' since it shows one in the WotLA.[/quote']
True, but I think the Exalted may have given them more a divine blessing seeing as they were essentially used to build their Wonders.
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Since several characters in my game started as a traveling music group, this has become relatively important in my game. Here's what I use:
The North: Drums. Lots and lots of drums. Some strings in there too, especially the violin. The heavier the music, the better. Especially stuff that's great for sitting around a warm fire with some ale, women, and good friends. I always kind of imagined the northern cultures to be close to a Viking culture.


The East: Strings and woodwinds, due to the prevalent materials. For forest tribes, drums, pan flutes, and recorders. If you want something cool that'll reverberate through the forest, a digeridoo is perfect. Wooden percussion instruments as well.


Scavenger Lands:Mostly clay instruments, such as ocarinas and the like. Also, drums, and quite possibly guitars, sitars, banjos, etc. At least, that's what they use in my game.


The South: Mostly brass instruments. Horns, trumpets, trombones, etc. Clay instruments as well, as the occasional drum.


The West: Taking a bit from our island culture in the world today. Metal wind instruments, and steel drums.


The Blessed Isle: EVERYTHING! They've got the resources, and they use it. It's not simply a slapped together mix though. They're the culture in my game with the huge operas and symphonies, where the Mozarts and Beethovens of Creation try to make a name in. Being a favored composer or conductor of a Dynast is a high position in my game, although it doesn't pay very well (After all, Mozart died starving and drunk in a ditch)


Hopefully that helps!
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Me likes this a lot. I spare you from the grand daiklaive of my warstrider.
 
Safim said:
Drums and flutes are the main instruments of those cultures. strings tend not to be a good idea in humid areas.
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This is true, but the Blessed Isle isn't as humid as the area that the Maya lived in, so there's a very good chance that it does have strings.
 
Safim said:
Since several characters in my game started as a traveling music group, this has become relatively important in my game. Here's what I use:
The North: Drums. Lots and lots of drums. Some strings in there too, especially the violin. The heavier the music, the better. Especially stuff that's great for sitting around a warm fire with some ale, women, and good friends. I always kind of imagined the northern cultures to be close to a Viking culture.


The East: Strings and woodwinds, due to the prevalent materials. For forest tribes, drums, pan flutes, and recorders. If you want something cool that'll reverberate through the forest, a digeridoo is perfect. Wooden percussion instruments as well.


Scavenger Lands:Mostly clay instruments, such as ocarinas and the like. Also, drums, and quite possibly guitars, sitars, banjos, etc. At least, that's what they use in my game.


The South: Mostly brass instruments. Horns, trumpets, trombones, etc. Clay instruments as well, as the occasional drum.


The West: Taking a bit from our island culture in the world today. Metal wind instruments, and steel drums.


The Blessed Isle: EVERYTHING! They've got the resources, and they use it. It's not simply a slapped together mix though. They're the culture in my game with the huge operas and symphonies, where the Mozarts and Beethovens of Creation try to make a name in. Being a favored composer or conductor of a Dynast is a high position in my game, although it doesn't pay very well (After all, Mozart died starving and drunk in a ditch)


Hopefully that helps!
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Me likes this a lot. I spare you from the grand daiklaive of my warstrider.
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Does your hatred know no bounds?   :P


But seriously though, I heartily approve this thread. Music in Exalted for the win! They do mention music and song for the Seventh Legion in Outcastes to a degree but essentially the same as mentioned here.
 
You know, I was a bitter person before this exaltation thing... and the memories of someone murdered by his servants over a millenium ago didn't really help to make me a calm person. :P
 
Feehhhhhh, it's a running theme in Exalted. First the Primordials, then the Solars and bitch, bitch, bitch. LoL


Just because you dream so vividly you can feel you skin buring away and the knives of Fate itself clove your heart in two, nah not so bad >.>
 
I don't care for the problems of the others, I am going to get my revenge... and faster than any primodial :P
 
In my northern campaign I have horns and flutes as the most common instruments. They are typically made from bones and bull horns. This seems appropriate as the north is the seat of the elemental pole of Air . I think this should be reflected in the northern cultures.
 
Safim said:
I don't care for the problems of the others, I am going to get my revenge... and faster than any primodial :P
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Yes, by gleefully running to the slaughter whilst jetting along with your Royal's flight pack. I swear you Exalts...like teenagers with Dad's car keys.
 
Safim said:
I don't care for the problems of the others' date=' I am going to get my revenge... and faster than any primodial :P [/quote']
Yes, by gleefully running to the slaughter whilst jetting along with your Royal's flight pack. I swear you Exalts...like teenagers with Dad's car keys.
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Wait until you see my shoulder mounted micro rocket launcher!
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