Music in the Civilization video game series

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.

Romans – "Rise of Rome" (original)

Babylonians – "Hammurabi's Code" (original)

Germans – DOS version: "Variatio 4: Lo stesso movimento" from Goldberg Variations (Johann Sebastian Bach); Amiga version: "Rondo alla Turca" (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart)

Egyptians – "Harvest Of the Nile" (original)

Americans – "Battle Hymn of the Republic"

Greek – "Aristotle's Pupil" (original)

Mongols – "Mongol Horde" (original)

Russians – "Song of the Volga Boatmen" (traditional)

Zulus – (original)

French – "La Marseillaise"

Aztecs – "Tenochtitlan Revealed" (original)

Chinese – "The Shining Path" (traditional)

English – "Rondeau" from Symphonies and Fanfares for the King's Supper (Jean-Joseph Mouret)

Indians – "Gautama Ponders" (original)

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

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:

King Richard's Crusade – Dance of the Furies, Christoph Willibald Gluck

Leonardo's Workshop – Cantaloupe Island, Herbie Hancock

Michelangelo's Chapel – Credo, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina

J.S. Bach's Cathedral – Toccata and Fugue in D minor, Johann Sebastian Bach

Shakespeare's Theatre – taken from the prologue to Henry V

Statue of Liberty – El Capitan March, John Philip Sousa

Isaac Newton's College – Concerto For 4 Violins & Strings in B minor, Antonio Vivaldi

Adam Smith's Trading Company – The Entrance of the Queen of Sheba from the oratorio Solomon, George Frideric Handel

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

Pyramids – "The Feeling Begins"

Great Wall of China – "Gethsemane"

Sun Tzu's War Academy – "Gethsemane"

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

Colossus – main title

Great Lighthouse – "Elk Hunt"

Marco Polo's Embassy – "Promontory"

Magellan's Expedition – "Fort Battle"

United Nations – "The Glade"

Or various other sources:

Oracle – Theme from Harry's Game by Clannad

Women's Suffrage – Swinging at the Daisy Chain by the Count Basie Orchestra

Hoover Dam – a remix version of "Arkham Bridge" from the soundtrack of the PC game Mechwarrior 2 Ghost Bears Legacy by Gregory Alper & Jeehun Hwang.

Manhattan Project – I Had My Chance by Morphine

Apollo Program – Telegraph Road by Dire Straits

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.

Civilization IV

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 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.

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.

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.

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. The track listing of the soundtrack is:

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:

Genghis Khan – Mongolia – "Traditional Mongolian Long Song (Urtiin Duu)"

Harald Bluetooth – Denmark – "Drømte mig en drøm i nat" and "Nobilis Humilis"

Hiawatha – Iroquois – "Ho, Ho, Watanay"

Isabella – Spain – "Ay Carmela"

Kamehameha – Polynesia – "Hole Waimea"

Montezuma – Aztec – "Cora Mitote Song"

Nebuchadnezzar II – Babylon – "Hurrian Hymn"

Pachacuti – Inca – "Traditional Inca Melody Fragments"

Ramkhamhaeng – Siam – melody in "The Garland Handbook of Southeast Asian Music"

Sejong – Korea – "Arirang"

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:

Civilization V: Brave New World – Opening Movie Music

Civilization V: Brave New World Theme – Opening Menu Music (lyrics based on the Latin text of chapter 21 of the Book of Revelation as found in the Vulgate)

Assyria – Ashurbanipal – "Ancient Assyrian Chant"

Indonesia – Gajah Mada – "Udan Mas"

Brazil – Pedro II – "Chega de Saudade"

Poland – Casimir – "Bóg się rodzi"

Portugal – Maria I – "Saudades de Coimbra"

Morocco – Ahmad Al-Mansur – "Mawal Gnawi"

Shoshone – Pocatello – "Shoshone Sun Dance Songs"

Venice – Enrico Dandolo – "Rotta Ò Sonata"

Zulu – Shaka – "Inhliziyo Yami"

Scramble for Africa Scenario – "Ujuba na takaburi"

The Civil War (this song came bundled with the Gods and Kings expansion as well, but was not used in the game)

Conquest of the New World – Orchestral Version

Civilization: Beyond Earth

The soundtrack for "Civilization: Beyond Earth" was composed entirely by Geoff Knorr, Michael Curran, Griffin Cohen and Grant Kirkhope. The soundtrack was critically acclaimed and won the 2014 IFMCA Best Original Score for a Video Game or Interactive Media, in addition to many other accolades.

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

Rising Tide

1. Reunited – Geoff Knorr – 2:14
2. Rising Tide – Geoff Knorr – 4:56
3. The Abyss – Geoff Knorr – 3:10
4. The Abyss – Ambient Early – Griffin Cohen Geoff Knorr – 4:54
5. Upon the Expanse – Geoff Knorr – 4:05
6. Ebb and Flow – Geoff Knorr – 4:06
7. The Abyss – Ambient Middle – Griffin Cohen – 4:03
8. Dive – Geoff Knorr – 3:56
9. Tide Hunter – Geoff Knorr – 3:31
10. The Abyss – Ambient Late – Griffin Cohen – 3:52
11. Neptune's Glory – Geoff Knorr – 5:00
12. The Old World – Griffin Cohen – 3:13
13. The Old World – Ambient Early – Griffin Cohen – 4:36
14. Holocene – Grant Kirkhope – 4:19
15. Terra Incognita – Grant Kirkhope – 4:49
16. The Old World – Ambient Middle – Griffin Cohen – 3:57
17. Ice and Conquest – Grant Kirkhope – 4:59
18. The Dendrite Frontier – Grant Kirkhope – 5:15
19. The Old World – Ambient Late – Griffin Cohen – 4:13
20. Fractal Aquilon – Grant Kirkhope – 4:21
21. The Young World – Geoff Knorr – 3:21
22. The Young World – Ambient Early – Griffin Cohen – 3:36
23. Immortal – Geoff Knorr – 5:18
24. Mobius Horn – Geoff Knorr – 3:32
25. The Young World – Ambient Middle – Griffin Cohen – 3:27
26. Lahar – Geoff Knorr – 5:27
27. Primordial Majesty – Geoff Knorr – 5:08
28. The Young World – Ambient Late – Griffin Cohen – 3:55
29. Hybrid Champion – Geoff Knorr – 5:52

Civilization VI

Christopher Tin again wrote Civilization VI's main theme, "Sogno di Volare" (translated as "The Dream of Flight"). The theme was written to capture the spirit of exploration not only in "seeking new lands, but also the mental exploration of expanding the frontiers of science and philosophy". Tin has premiered the song at a London concert in July 2016. The game's original score was written and orchestrated primarily by Geoff Knorr, who was assisted by Roland Rizzo and Phill Boucher. The themes of each civilization are played as different variations of the same song throughout the eras. In every playable civilaztion, simple single instrument melodies in the Ancient era turn into orchestra versions of the same melodies in later eras, symbolizing the evolution and growth of one's civilization throughout the ages. The score was nominated for 2016 Music of the Year by the Game Audio Network Guild.

America - Hard Times Come Again No More

Arabia - Talama Ashku Gharami

Australia - Waltzing Matilda (DLC)

Aztec - Original Melody

Brazil - Brejeiro

China - Mo Li Hua, Mei Hua San No (lt. Three Movements on Mumeplant Flower)

Egypt - El Helwa Di

England - Scarborough Fair, Greensleeves, The Bold Grenadier

France - Tourdion

Germany - Ich hab die Nacht geträumet, Wenn ich ein Vöglein wär

Greece - Song of Seikilos

India - Vaishnava Jana To

Japan - Lullaby of Itsuki

Kongo - Banaha

Norway - Gjendines Bådnlåt

Rome - Magna Mater

Russia - Kalinka

Poland - Hej Ide W Las (DLC)

Scythia - Original Melody

Spain - Recuerdos de la Alhambra

Sumeria - Original Melody