Last week I did a topic on cuisine for the different D&D races. This week, I wanted to explore the idea of how different races would express themselves through music. Obviously this would be more relevant to a Bard-- so a bard of a certain race might put some thought into why their character might be drawn to one kind of instrument over another. Also, if one has written off the idea of a race being a Bard because they have trouble imagining them with an instrument, it might help one reconsider.
Of course, music is a big part of all people's lives and so it is relevant to all characters. What might a race from their default culture think of a particular kind of musical performance? What would they request be played by the bard or band in the local tavern? How should the Siren appeal to them to coax them off the boat? Well, after giving it some consideration, here are my ideas..
Dwarfs Dwarfen music is generally designed to take advantage of the echo effect of their underground chambers. Although the Dwarfen orchestra with their heavy percussion and loud brass instruments can perform on the surface, one only gets the true experience of the arrangement of their music in their specially shaped underground chambers where the music reflects off the walls and fills the chamber. So much of it involves telling the musical story by creating those echos then responding to those same echos in a way that echos again. The greatest of the Dwarfen musicians perform precisely just so or else the effect would be lost and the band plays together as though it were all a single instrument. Singing is generally not part of Dwarfen music, however spoken poetry along with the music is not unusual.
Elves Elven music involves a lot of stringed and woodwind instruments, shaped from wood rather than being crudely carved. Each Elf's personal musical instrument is a unique creation, and is often altered and reshaped over the lifetime of the owner. The greatest of the Elven musicians never entirely play the same song twice, instead using their music to express precisely how they feel in that particular moment and letting out into the world-- whether to remain within the minds of those who hear it or to drift away on the wind. It is always a deeply personal and spiritual song and most true Elven music is played either entirely solo or with each person in the group playing alone only for the next to respond. Singing is often an important part of Elven music and often will be utilized without any accompanying musical instruments at all.
Gnomes Gnomes love making brilliantly complicated instruments. Organs or wind instruments with a large number of keys such as clarinettes and accordians. They are, of course, sized appropriately for the Gnomes meaning that their woodwinds often have quite high pitched tones, but their organs can have considerable more range. Their music is a mix of precision and experimentation, always trying to create newly sounds, but also wishing to be able to perfectly replicate those sounds in future performances. Gnomish music often also involves choirs that sing at different octives to add to the music.
Goblins Goblins prefer simple percussion instruments that do not take too much effort to create nor skill to get a sound out of. Bells and castanets are popular instruments as are make-shift ones which utilize objects designed for other purposes. Everyone plays their instruments together in what may sound like a horrid, chaotic cacophony to anyone else, but to them expresses the vibe of their community. Ideally, rather than any particular individual standing out, everyone should feel brought together and connected by the music. Chanting and hollaring are often done during these tribal musical festivals.
Halflings Halflings like to use simple woodwind instruements that they can carry around on their person and pull out whenever the mood might strike them. Panflutes, piccollos and harmonicas are popular. Because of their small size, their instruments are usually fairly high-pitched. When it comes to parties, they might make use of a wider variety of instruments and usually they form a small band that plays together in a corner while feasting, dancing and merriment take the true center stage. Others may clap along to the performance as well. Although singing is not usually done along with Halfling music, they do have quite the appreciation for an acapella ballad.
Hobgoblins Hobgoblins prefer to use large drums and variety of stringed instruments, often those that cannot be carried. Their stringed performances are often solo with perhaps a drummer in accompaniment. They are often high speed and quite difficult to replicate. The Hobgoblin musician takes great pride in being able to perform a often needlessly fast, complicated and intense piece of music designed to get people's blood rushing that no one else can replicate. After all-- they need to prove their mastery of the instrument. Even their slower, moodier songs are not without dramatic flare. The drummers, however, are paradoxically quite the opposite. Often a large number of drummers will get together and play identically, perfectly in synch. Traditionally they would spread the drummers out across legions of troops and they would help everyone keep a marching beat. Although over time they have moved from simplistic beats to more complicated rhythms. Singing is strictly kept out of Hobgoblin music, however they may use music in accompaniment with an epic poem or a stage performance.
Orcs Orcs create drums and other percussion instruments from the skin and bones of the creatures they kill. Although Orcs can absolutely create horns from the well-- horns of the animals, the large tusks protruding from most Orc's mouths means they tend to shy away from instruments that they would need to use their lips to play. No Orc instrument is identical as they do not have a tradition dictating percise construction of their instruments. Instead, each Orc musician usually creates their own instrument that they use until it breaks or they tire of it and then create a new one utilizing the lessons they learned from the last. Orc music is also quite simplistic-- no concept of tone or melody, only of beat. The Orc musician opens their spirit up to the natural spirits around them, those of the sky, the trees, the mountain and the people and then lets it flow through them to create their song. Chanting and clapping are often done as a major part of the Orcs tribal musical performances, with all but the gruffest and most stalwart members of the tribe joining in.
Anyway, those are my ideas. Please let me read yours! I am quite sure people are going to disagree with me on several points here.
As for Sirens, I imagine (being a magical thing) might sound different to different people.
Of course, each race will likely have a range of styles as they all have a range of emotions that drive them to create art.
What would a traditional Dwarven ballad sound like? What about a Dwarven reel? How would those differ from an Orc ballad and reel?
...and don't forget this piece of cultural heritage... (...including Commander Shepard giving some insight into Wizarding musical influences...)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Human. Male. Possibly. Don't be a divider. My characters' backgrounds are written like instruction manuals rather than stories. My opinion and preferences don't mean you're wrong. I am 99.7603% convinced that the digital dice are messing with me. I roll high when nobody's looking and low when anyone else can see.🎲 “It's a bit early to be thinking about an epitaph. No?” will be my epitaph.
I agree with most. I think goblins would use some strange woodwind instruments. Take a listen to the song 'Goblinized' by Adrian Von Ziegler and you'll get the idea.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
'The Cleverness of mushrooms always surprises me!' - Ivern Bramblefoot.
Last week I did a topic on cuisine for the different D&D races. This week, I wanted to explore the idea of how different races would express themselves through music. Obviously this would be more relevant to a Bard-- so a bard of a certain race might put some thought into why their character might be drawn to one kind of instrument over another. Also, if one has written off the idea of a race being a Bard because they have trouble imagining them with an instrument, it might help one reconsider.
Of course, music is a big part of all people's lives and so it is relevant to all characters. What might a race from their default culture think of a particular kind of musical performance? What would they request be played by the bard or band in the local tavern? How should the Siren appeal to them to coax them off the boat? Well, after giving it some consideration, here are my ideas..
Dwarfs
Dwarfen music is generally designed to take advantage of the echo effect of their underground chambers. Although the Dwarfen orchestra with their heavy percussion and loud brass instruments can perform on the surface, one only gets the true experience of the arrangement of their music in their specially shaped underground chambers where the music reflects off the walls and fills the chamber. So much of it involves telling the musical story by creating those echos then responding to those same echos in a way that echos again. The greatest of the Dwarfen musicians perform precisely just so or else the effect would be lost and the band plays together as though it were all a single instrument. Singing is generally not part of Dwarfen music, however spoken poetry along with the music is not unusual.
Elves
Elven music involves a lot of stringed and woodwind instruments, shaped from wood rather than being crudely carved. Each Elf's personal musical instrument is a unique creation, and is often altered and reshaped over the lifetime of the owner. The greatest of the Elven musicians never entirely play the same song twice, instead using their music to express precisely how they feel in that particular moment and letting out into the world-- whether to remain within the minds of those who hear it or to drift away on the wind. It is always a deeply personal and spiritual song and most true Elven music is played either entirely solo or with each person in the group playing alone only for the next to respond. Singing is often an important part of Elven music and often will be utilized without any accompanying musical instruments at all.
Gnomes
Gnomes love making brilliantly complicated instruments. Organs or wind instruments with a large number of keys such as clarinettes and accordians. They are, of course, sized appropriately for the Gnomes meaning that their woodwinds often have quite high pitched tones, but their organs can have considerable more range. Their music is a mix of precision and experimentation, always trying to create newly sounds, but also wishing to be able to perfectly replicate those sounds in future performances. Gnomish music often also involves choirs that sing at different octives to add to the music.
Goblins
Goblins prefer simple percussion instruments that do not take too much effort to create nor skill to get a sound out of. Bells and castanets are popular instruments as are make-shift ones which utilize objects designed for other purposes. Everyone plays their instruments together in what may sound like a horrid, chaotic cacophony to anyone else, but to them expresses the vibe of their community. Ideally, rather than any particular individual standing out, everyone should feel brought together and connected by the music. Chanting and hollaring are often done during these tribal musical festivals.
Halflings
Halflings like to use simple woodwind instruements that they can carry around on their person and pull out whenever the mood might strike them. Panflutes, piccollos and harmonicas are popular. Because of their small size, their instruments are usually fairly high-pitched. When it comes to parties, they might make use of a wider variety of instruments and usually they form a small band that plays together in a corner while feasting, dancing and merriment take the true center stage. Others may clap along to the performance as well. Although singing is not usually done along with Halfling music, they do have quite the appreciation for an acapella ballad.
Hobgoblins
Hobgoblins prefer to use large drums and variety of stringed instruments, often those that cannot be carried. Their stringed performances are often solo with perhaps a drummer in accompaniment. They are often high speed and quite difficult to replicate. The Hobgoblin musician takes great pride in being able to perform a often needlessly fast, complicated and intense piece of music designed to get people's blood rushing that no one else can replicate. After all-- they need to prove their mastery of the instrument. Even their slower, moodier songs are not without dramatic flare. The drummers, however, are paradoxically quite the opposite. Often a large number of drummers will get together and play identically, perfectly in synch. Traditionally they would spread the drummers out across legions of troops and they would help everyone keep a marching beat. Although over time they have moved from simplistic beats to more complicated rhythms. Singing is strictly kept out of Hobgoblin music, however they may use music in accompaniment with an epic poem or a stage performance.
Orcs
Orcs create drums and other percussion instruments from the skin and bones of the creatures they kill. Although Orcs can absolutely create horns from the well-- horns of the animals, the large tusks protruding from most Orc's mouths means they tend to shy away from instruments that they would need to use their lips to play. No Orc instrument is identical as they do not have a tradition dictating percise construction of their instruments. Instead, each Orc musician usually creates their own instrument that they use until it breaks or they tire of it and then create a new one utilizing the lessons they learned from the last. Orc music is also quite simplistic-- no concept of tone or melody, only of beat. The Orc musician opens their spirit up to the natural spirits around them, those of the sky, the trees, the mountain and the people and then lets it flow through them to create their song. Chanting and clapping are often done as a major part of the Orcs tribal musical performances, with all but the gruffest and most stalwart members of the tribe joining in.
Anyway, those are my ideas. Please let me read yours! I am quite sure people are going to disagree with me on several points here.
As for Sirens, I imagine (being a magical thing) might sound different to different people.
Of course, each race will likely have a range of styles as they all have a range of emotions that drive them to create art.
What would a traditional Dwarven ballad sound like? What about a Dwarven reel? How would those differ from an Orc ballad and reel?
...and don't forget this piece of cultural heritage... (...including Commander Shepard giving some insight into Wizarding musical influences...)
Human. Male. Possibly. Don't be a divider.
My characters' backgrounds are written like instruction manuals rather than stories. My opinion and preferences don't mean you're wrong.
I am 99.7603% convinced that the digital dice are messing with me. I roll high when nobody's looking and low when anyone else can see.🎲
“It's a bit early to be thinking about an epitaph. No?” will be my epitaph.
I agree with most. I think goblins would use some strange woodwind instruments. Take a listen to the song 'Goblinized' by Adrian Von Ziegler and you'll get the idea.
'The Cleverness of mushrooms always surprises me!' - Ivern Bramblefoot.
I'll worldbuild for your DnD games!
Just a D&D enjoyer, check out my fiverr page if you need any worldbuilding done for ya!