Mist's earlier thread reminded me that I had this list saved up for a while; might as well share it!
_
The Civilization series' music has long been one of its most lauded elements, and the recent games' use of interpretations of existing cultural melodies to represent each civilization stands out. I've found it a fun little anthropological exercise to compare the themes in the game to their inspirations, so I've compiled a list matching each civilization's Atomic era theme to its original cultural reference(s) to share with everyone. Special thanks to the Civfanatics forum for the more obscure pieces.
America --- Hard Times Come Again No More
Arabia --- Banat Iskandaria (also known by its Turkish version as Kâtibim)
Australia --- Waltzing Matilda
Aztec --- Original improvisations based on traditional Nahua music
Brazil --- Brejeiro
Canada --- Vive la Canadienne / O Canada
China --- Mò Lì Huā
Cree --- Selected songs from Drums of the Poundmaker by the Tootoosis family
Egypt --- El Helwa Di
England --- Scarborough Fair
France --- Tourdion: Quand je bois du vin clairet
Georgia --- Shen Khar Venakhi / Tsaiqvanes Tamar Kali
Germany --- Ich hab die Nacht geträumet / Wenn ich ein Vöglein wär
Greece --- Song of the Seikilos Epitaph (the oldest known surviving complete musical composition)
Hungary --- Hej Dunáról fúj a szél / Cinege, Cinege
Inca --- Siempre Macho
India --- Vaishnava Jana To
Indonesia --- Rejang Dewa / Bapang Selisir
Japan --- Lullaby of Itsuki (here's a cool video of the song being broadcast in Itsuki Village in Kumamoto Prefecture, where the song originated)
Khmer --- Khmer Rourm Sam Mawgee
Kongo --- Banaha
Korea --- Arirang
Macedon --- Tino Mori
Maori --- Pōkarekare Ana / Ka Mate
Mali --- Mali Sadio / Masana Cisse
Mapuche --- Ostensibly an original composition based on traditional Mapuche music; Chilean commenters have noted a resemblance to the song Arauco tiene una pena
Mongolia --- Ukhert Khuiten Khoyor / Bor Boriin Byalzuuhai
Netherlands --- Gaillarde e L'esmerillone, Merck toch hoe sterck
Norway --- Gjendines Bådnlåt
Nubia --- Allah Musau
Ottomans --- Yelkenler Biçilecek / Ey büt-i nev edâ olmuşum müptelâ
Persia --- Kereshmeh, Reng-e Shalakhu
Phoenicia --- Marcelle Duchesne-Guillemin's interpretation of the Hurrian Hymn to Nikkal no. 6 (the earliest known melody)
Poland --- Hej idę w las
Rome --- Magna Mater
Russia --- Kalinka (probably best known internationally from its use in Tetris)
Scotland --- Scotland the Brave / Bonnie Dundee
Scythia --- Original composition based on traditional duduk melodies
Spain --- Recuerdos de la Alhambra
Sumeria --- Richard Drumbrill's interpretation of the Hurrian Hymn to Nikkal no. 6
Sweden --- Slängpolska efter Byss-Calle / Polska efter Pelle Fors / Helan Går
Zulu --- Uthe Ubhuti Asizomlanda / Halala / Shaka Mamba / Hayisa
Feel free to issue any corrections or share any better renditions!
_
The Civilization series' music has long been one of its most lauded elements, and the recent games' use of interpretations of existing cultural melodies to represent each civilization stands out. I've found it a fun little anthropological exercise to compare the themes in the game to their inspirations, so I've compiled a list matching each civilization's Atomic era theme to its original cultural reference(s) to share with everyone. Special thanks to the Civfanatics forum for the more obscure pieces.
America --- Hard Times Come Again No More
Arabia --- Banat Iskandaria (also known by its Turkish version as Kâtibim)
Australia --- Waltzing Matilda
Aztec --- Original improvisations based on traditional Nahua music
Brazil --- Brejeiro
Canada --- Vive la Canadienne / O Canada
China --- Mò Lì Huā
Cree --- Selected songs from Drums of the Poundmaker by the Tootoosis family
Egypt --- El Helwa Di
England --- Scarborough Fair
France --- Tourdion: Quand je bois du vin clairet
Georgia --- Shen Khar Venakhi / Tsaiqvanes Tamar Kali
Germany --- Ich hab die Nacht geträumet / Wenn ich ein Vöglein wär
Greece --- Song of the Seikilos Epitaph (the oldest known surviving complete musical composition)
Hungary --- Hej Dunáról fúj a szél / Cinege, Cinege
Inca --- Siempre Macho
India --- Vaishnava Jana To
Indonesia --- Rejang Dewa / Bapang Selisir
Japan --- Lullaby of Itsuki (here's a cool video of the song being broadcast in Itsuki Village in Kumamoto Prefecture, where the song originated)
Khmer --- Khmer Rourm Sam Mawgee
Kongo --- Banaha
Korea --- Arirang
Macedon --- Tino Mori
Maori --- Pōkarekare Ana / Ka Mate
Mali --- Mali Sadio / Masana Cisse
Mapuche --- Ostensibly an original composition based on traditional Mapuche music; Chilean commenters have noted a resemblance to the song Arauco tiene una pena
Mongolia --- Ukhert Khuiten Khoyor / Bor Boriin Byalzuuhai
Netherlands --- Gaillarde e L'esmerillone, Merck toch hoe sterck
Norway --- Gjendines Bådnlåt
Nubia --- Allah Musau
Ottomans --- Yelkenler Biçilecek / Ey büt-i nev edâ olmuşum müptelâ
Persia --- Kereshmeh, Reng-e Shalakhu
Phoenicia --- Marcelle Duchesne-Guillemin's interpretation of the Hurrian Hymn to Nikkal no. 6 (the earliest known melody)
Poland --- Hej idę w las
Rome --- Magna Mater
Russia --- Kalinka (probably best known internationally from its use in Tetris)
Scotland --- Scotland the Brave / Bonnie Dundee
Scythia --- Original composition based on traditional duduk melodies
Spain --- Recuerdos de la Alhambra
Sumeria --- Richard Drumbrill's interpretation of the Hurrian Hymn to Nikkal no. 6
Sweden --- Slängpolska efter Byss-Calle / Polska efter Pelle Fors / Helan Går
Zulu --- Uthe Ubhuti Asizomlanda / Halala / Shaka Mamba / Hayisa
Feel free to issue any corrections or share any better renditions!
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