On this page I am going to be analysing a battle theme from a fantasy game called Skyrim, this video game is similar to the game I am composing music too, as they both have a magical fantasy setting. This music plays when the player is engaged in combat while exploring the world of Skyrim. I believe analysing this piece of music will teach me many useful techniques in battle music composition which can inspire my own battle music for my final project.
Tooth and Claw (6:16)
Foundations; Chord Progression, Time Signature and Tempo
This piece of music is written in the key of C minor, which gives the music a dark and foreboding atmosphere, The harmony in this piece of music is only moving between two chords throughout the whole piece, except for the B section. These two chords are C minor and C minor augmented. The use of the augmented chord from the C minor gives the music a mysterious mood, which gives the music a sense of uncertainty as we don’t know where it is going. This in my opinion works very well as a battle theme as it reflects on the uncertain outcome of the battle. The use of these two minor chords also give the music a dark mood which represents the danger of the fight. The rhythm of this music follows a simple 4/4 beat, making it very easy to follow when listening to it. in this 4/4 time signature the music also follows a moderate tempo, making it sound very relaxed for a battle theme. This may be because the enemies the player is fighting might not be much of a threat.
Intro
Before going into the A section of the music the theme plays a very short intro. In this intro the music builds up intensity into the A section, to this the music plays the harmony (droning brass) and string melody. The melody in this section is played by the violin in a staccato articulation, the melody in this piece is playing within the chords with the notes (D#, F and C). This makes the melody naturally fit into the harmony of the music. The rhythm of the melody in this piece consitantly plays in double 16th notes with a rest in between each phrase. This creates intensity in the music reflecting on the combat scenario, furthermore the staccato articulation gives the music a sharp and aggressive edge also reflecting on the combat within the game. The final instrument playing in the intro is a timpani, this instrument is played at a pianissimo level, making it very hard to hear in the music. Furthermore this instrument provides the music with a strong rhythmic foundation, however does not provide intensity due to it’s quit dynamics. Before the intro goes into the A section of the music all the instruments play a crescendo, this drives the music with energy furthermore leading it into the next section of music.
A section
in the A section more instruments come into the music such as a bass trombone, double bass and French horn. The double bass, trombone and timpani play all on the first beat of each bar on a forte dynamic level which creates an emphasised down beat within the music, furthermore providing the music with a dark and powerful beat in the music. The French horn plays a legato melody over the top of the A section, furthermore giving the music a heroic and triumphant tone in the battle theme. The staccato violin instrumental remains the same during the A section, furthermore creating a memorable melody within the battle theme. Before leading into the A section the music builds up in tension by making the harmony of the music change every two beats instead of every bar, furthermore making the downbeat also play at half the speed. In conclusion this quickened pace of the music provides the battle theme with rhythmic energy, which naturally drives the music into the next section of music.
B section
In the B section all the strings such as the violas and the 2 violins are all playing the same motif in unison, this motif is just moving down the C minor scale from the note of F. This unified motif creates a bold and huge sound in the music, creating an almost heroic and triumphant tone in the music. However on the first beat of every bar the brass and timpani still play, this creates a feeling of danger and darkness within the music. Before going into the outro of the music the unison strings do not resolve on the bottom of the scale and instead move up in pitch, this builds creates tension within the music which leads the piece into the outro of the music.
Outro
In the outro of the music the strings and brass play at a mezzo forte level, however of these instruments a high string drones over the arrangement. This creates tension in the music as the note lingers in the air of the music, over the course of the music clashing notes are added to the high string creating dissonance in the music. Furthermore building tension within the music, another way the music builds tension is by playing a crescendo on the high strings which makes us think something is going to happen within the music. However when the music reaches this crescendo most of the instruments drop out, furthermore teasing the listener by not delivering a climax to the crescendo. After the string crescendo the low brass drone over the 2 chords within the harmonic progression, which furthermore creates a relaxing harmonic bed within the music. ON the last 2 bars of the piece a low timpani tremolo plays beneath the brass, this creates a relentless and disturbing rumble within the music. Furthermore reflecting on the danger of the combat the player is in.
In conclusion this composition works very well as battle music, as the staccato strings and percussion deliver a sharp and aggressive texture within the music. Furthermore relating to the gory and intense combat on screen.The timpani tremolo also creates a disturbing rumble within the music, creating a sense of uncertainty within the battle theme. All these techniques immerse the player in combat using imagery in music to reflect on the visuals of a battle. Therefore the composer has been very successful in composing this battle theme for Skyrim in my personal opinion.
Source List
Soule, J., 2017. Tooth and Claw. Available at: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivRmwJFQfmU> [Accessed 2 June 2022].
o.jani7789, 2016. Skyrim – Battle themes (synthesia). [image] Available at: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gw-Ft9PhJfo> [Accessed 2 June 2022].