The Epic/Action/Trailer/Orchestral Music thread

[Fenn]

Because it deserves its own thread.

What is epic music? The term is pretty board and far-reaching, but generally it refers to a bransh of classical music often heard in action movie tralers and soudtracks. It is incredibly powerful music for stimulating emotion. Although some epic music has lyrics, most scores are either purely instrumental or include a chorus of vocalists. All in all, the musical elements of the genre are far more emphasized than the lyrics. (Correct me if I'm off guys)

Never heard of epic music, and don't know where to start? The best way to get into music is to look into the soundtracks to your favorite action movies. Chances are that music is part of the reason you love those movies so much; you just didn't realize it because music often takes a back seat to visuals and plot.

If you want to start checking out some of the big names in the industry, here are some links:

- Hanz Zimmer: http://www.hans-zimmer.com/
- Immediate Music: http://immediatemusic.com/
- Epic Score: http://www.epicscore.com/
- Two Steps from Hell: http://www.twostepsfromhell.com/index-home.php

I'll add more links as the topic grows. Post your favorite epic songs, albums, and composers so we can all expand our knowledge of this awesome art form!

[GunZet]

TSFH is definitely the best thing.

[digitek]

I'm a bit of a Hans Zimmer fangirl tbh


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BX_dyTkFbG0&feature=related

[ClockHand]

I'm tired of everything that is Epic (after knowing someone who mix the theme song of pirates of the caribbean, skyrim and oblivion, the world has enough of epic shit)

But


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBzqOa9y02I


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-h-n43xOqg

Most epic music doesn't have to much brain on it, it almost pure alegretto and some rondos to keep the intensity.

[CypressDahlia]

Shadow of the Colossus OST is pure epic:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_F-vB9RudQs

Literally. There are probably only two songs on this album that don't fall into that category and they're loading screen/menu/credit songs.

On video games: last boss themes are always epic.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_ghYuPzvqE

Oh, and how could I forget. The final negotiation:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRFcITgWzfw

[Fenn]

Great songs guys. Even Clocks, those were some unique songs, but very much epic music. I totally understand how you feel about the genre, even though it doesn't really affect my fandom.

[CypressDahlia]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1uO5bfOVto

Bahamut Lagoon had some of the best music for any SNES game.

[Son44]

Wow, sweet thread! I listen to a lot of stuff, but I gotta say a lot of "epic" music has a special place in my heart.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOB4q01VCVg&feature=related

One of my favourite intros. It's the updated version, though. The original is linked in the video.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LC0SrHZhTHI&feature=related

My favourite version of Clash on the Big Bridge


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8c6ZqMkqpI&feature=related

Not entierly sure if this one fits in the thread, but oh well~~

[Fenn]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9e7B1pOasW4


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6Cdjuvu0JQ

[CypressDahlia]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCUdhcRQMC4

One of the most unique and absolutely fitting boss themes. Really sells the atmosphere.

[Fenn]

^Very cool, and original. I would've crapped myself with fear trying to fight that boss.

[Matt]

*Slides in*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zovOPTaOX8Q
*Slides out*

[Rio]

One of my fave's:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edV2p68mB4Q

[Fenn]

*Slides in*

EPICNESS ENSUES

*Slides out*

Thank you for improving my quality of life.

Rio's is very cool as well.

[Delphinus]

*Slides in*
*Slides out*

Kekeke

[Fenn]

Kekeke

Thank you. Thank you for your productive and substantial contribution to this thread.

[Ozzaharwood]

You can't have an epic orchestral music thread and not have UN Owen Was Her.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jJZA-O_B78

Rock Remix:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9m-MjL3_63Y&feature=related

[Matt]

Those have both been on my iPod since the first day I heard them (yay for Youtube converters). Flan's laugh in the end of the first one is awesome (I've opened the song and listened to just that laugh quite a few times). And in the second, the notes added into the chorus sound amazing.

Also, continuing the Touhou hijack (still fits in the "epic" genre):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Un7E3SNB7GI

And the classic:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XstrpkqT6dw

[CypressDahlia]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJDwBTB2lu0

*rides into sunset*

[Matt]

Ah, I loved Dynasty Warriors 4. I've heard complaints that the electric guitar breaks immersion, but I don't see why it's such a big deal in a game where a single warrior can take out multiple armies without taking a hit.

[CypressDahlia]

Yeah. The electric guitar really goes hand-in-hand with the general design theory behind DW anyway, cuz it's like oldschool literature meets newschool design principles and action.

[Hayashida]

Does the music in this thread have to be from trailers or video games?
If not:
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/bBsKplb2E6Q" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/PgGMix4vVYw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Gu77Vtja30c" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/J2woKV30UJs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
If it is supposed to be from a movie/game:
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kf1Vt6r-sj8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ngUqrWu0lY8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/BNAgkKHM67I" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/pblRAO6J8iQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[ClockHand]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2zCn7VsDgM&feature=fvst


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENBX_v1Po1Y&feature=related

[Matt]

@Hayashida - That Cannibal Holocaust track was awesome.

@Clock - Speaking of songs with prominent rhythms:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDIClNPT7YU
You're right about a whole lot of production music being same-y and insubstantial. The average epic track, at least to me, is better than one of the best pop songs (the kind your workplace plays on the radio all day--the same overplayed songs on a 20-track loop).

EDIT: Forgot this one -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZPixtukfig

[Delphinus]

I don't understand you people. You have some niche pieces but none of the most obvious ones.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKLpJtvzlEI


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdt74rarv4g

[Sylux]

Stopper Chopper (http://www.newgrounds.com/audio/listen/298633)

[Ozzaharwood]

I wonder if this counts... The voices are epic if that is any justification.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxCazhgL6s4

[Hayashida]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/o_1a7mn-Hac" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[GunZet]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AEU5pBxY6E
I chill to this shit all day.

[Fenn]

Yes, most epic music is orchestral, but if you think it's epic, post it. There's no need to ask "does this count."

Great stuff guys and gals.

[CypressDahlia]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XOV2L-eM38

[Fenn]

Interesting production company I just came across: http://8dawn.com/

[Bacon_Barbarian]

Hmmmm. Some stuff I like that I'm pretty sure qualifies ...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRe3h1iQ1Os

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mH0008o-6cs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mG57tjQTtBY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oI_mDPIj4IA

Also, The Medallion Calls, The Black Pearl, Will and Elizabeth, To The Pirate's Cave!, One Last Shot, and He's a Pirate all from the first Pirates OST and all by Klause Baldet. They are all (partially) featured in the following video, which is epic for multiple reasons. (Yes, I know I posted this in the Youtube thread not 2 days ago, it's that epic.)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-NB190-4tA&list=FLPHPLqF-nLI05vnHVtjBb7g&index=1&feature=plpp_video

[Sylux]

Eh dont spam - Mod Edit

[GunZet]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICMma-jXkPY&feature=related

[Sylux]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZcNZx-N5X4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7TfaBTmBA0&feature=related

[Bacon_Barbarian]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2mu5e1D7ZI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=dfL-umG6OqQ#t=34s

[GunZet]

Forgot this one too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQYaVlRuH4Y&feature=related

[Renzokuken]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPPXnU4vR2k

I always did enjoy the Killzone music.

[Fenn]

Many reasons why I love video games are posted above.

[Delphinus]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GusLypfx7OQ


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8JLy1Yqt7M


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jghXEJerj_s

Yeah, not getting your music from video games is probably better.

[Fenn]

^"Pompeii" is awesome!

[GunZet]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuKcl8e_7J0

[Bacon_Barbarian]

Yeah, not getting your music from video games is probably better.

Probably not. Scars of Time is the best song in this thread. That isn't to say movies are bad though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSx_N18TWjs

[Sylux]

Yeah Jack Wall is my favorite composer of all time I'm actually really depressed he left BioWare to be replaced by that silly guy Clint Mansell I mean has he even heard of Mass Effect come on yeesh