World of WarCrafts: Music to our ears
by Lisa Poisso 
Aug 31st 2009 at 11:00AM
World of WarCrafts spotlights art and creativity by WoW players, including fan art, cooking, comics, cosplay, music and fan fiction. Show us how you express yourself by contacting our tips line (attention: World of WarCrafts) - not-for-profit work only, please.
Despite its name, World of WarCrafts isn't only about crafts. We feature all sorts of creative endeavors fueled by your passion for the World of Warcraft. This week, we hope to inspire all you WoW-playing musicians out there (hey! send us your stuff!) by sharing three of our older favorite fan performances of WoW music on the web today.
The Stormwind theme above is played by ObsidianLord, a Hungarian pianist who interprets with obvious passion and depth. Join us after the break for another popular (from 2007) but moving rendition of Song of Elune.
We leave you with my personal warm fuzzy of the day, a flute rendition of the tavern song from Lindz of Terenas-US.
Musicians, show us your stuff via the news tips line, or contact me directly at lisa (at) wow (dot) com.
World of WarCrafts spotlights art and creativity by WoW players, including fan art, cooking, comics, cosplay, music and fan fiction. Show us how you express yourself by contacting our tips line (attention: World of WarCrafts) - not-for-profit work only, please.Filed under: Fan stuff, Features, Fan art, World of WarCrafts
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Elilara Aug 31st 2009 11:11AM
As much as I hate to admit this, his interpretation of the Stormwind theme almost makes me want to pick up one of my Alliance characters again!
Chukie Aug 31st 2009 11:18AM
Ditto. I say they just dont make music like that over in ogrimmar :S
Charlie Aug 31st 2009 3:46PM
Since i already play alliance, it just makes me want to make it my ringtone.
Alas, the murloc "MRGLRLGRGLRLGRLGL" is already my text sound, thats enough geek for one phone.
Barinthos Aug 31st 2009 11:18AM
Makes me wish I knew how to play the piano :(
Awesome talents some people have.
Azukazil Aug 31st 2009 11:23AM
Wonderful! Your piano needs tuned though!!
Dave Aug 31st 2009 11:26AM
The SW interpretation is interesting. So minimalist compared to what I'm used to hearing every time I run through there. This is almost what I'd expect the game to be playing if I was walking through a burned out husk of the city...maybe if the zombie invasion didn't end so well for the denizens of Azeroth, maybe.
Tori Aug 31st 2009 11:31AM
Very beautiful, I love the gentle and moving mood that the piano creates with this piece of music. He's very talented and I would love to hear more Warcraft themes done by him!
Terethall Aug 31st 2009 11:42AM
Pretty much just a can of condensed win here. I really wish I had the sheet music for these, because I think I'm a little lazy to actually arrange these by ear. I did figure the tavern song out a long time ago, however.
Lisa Poisso Aug 31st 2009 11:49AM
If you'll click through to the YouTube of the girl doing the tavern song on her flute, you can follow her links to her notes on what musical notes she's playing in her arrangement. Wait -- here it is: http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z146/ember0001/tavernsongsheet.jpg.
(Thanks for "making" me watch it again ... As a parent, there's nothing better than seeing how hobbies like WoW can inspire our kids!)
Terethall Aug 31st 2009 1:37PM
Hey, turns out the Stormwind theme is on ObsidianLord's website. It's not readily apparent if you don't do a little looking around, so here's his site and the link to the page with the sheet music, for any interested pianists.
http://obsidianlord.extra.hu/
http://obsidianlord.extra.hu/?page_id=22
Khremloc Aug 31st 2009 11:44AM
For a second I thought the guy was playing the theme music to Age of Empires.
AAAH, MEMORIES! =)
Vandersveldt Aug 31st 2009 12:05PM
OMG.... She is sooo cute. I'm a sucker for a girl with a real smile like that ^_^
trig565 Aug 31st 2009 12:20PM
never playing an ally my only expierence with that first piece is when im in battle with the fools who reside there but i now certainly would like to hear it.
one thing about the article itself: should the last line before the jump really have a "but" in it? it seems to imply that since the song is popular you would first assume it wont be moving but i dont see why that logically is an automatic assumption. just seems to me that it should be an "and" instead but im not the one who gets paid here so what do i know? :-P
Anom Aug 31st 2009 2:17PM
fools who reside there?
Excuse me but anyone who listens to the Alliance town music and is not emotionally moved to roll Alliance is the fool.
We have the most moving and emotional pieces, representing our pride and determination. IF has the trombones and brass, reflective of the Stalwart Dwarves. The Nightelves get their own beauty of Elune and nature. Gnomes get their funky weirdo xylophone stuff. And humans get this.
What do you horde get? Uh Uh grunting! Drums! Bam Bam! War Cry! Very typical of your violent and barbaric natures. *QQWeepyslityourwrists* Undercity music. The only complex piece you get are the Bloodelves, the most cultured and civilized race of your side.
Don't get me wrong I do enjoy Ogrimmar music you do have the best battle, to war music, a very gutteral/base feeling.
You just lack the *Halo*Angelic music* Glory of the Alliance feeling.
And that is more than enough to play Alliance
.
Remember only Alliance have true paladins (BEs steal the light)
We are the defenders of the light, the holy, all that is right.
*Angelic Music*
So we are good. And you are bad. =P
Anom Aug 31st 2009 12:38PM
Very nice. Such passion. His interpretation is very accurate and captures the true essence of the Stormwind theme. Others add in little flairs that spoil the purity of the original.
You hordies out there lack true appreciation for how he's doing it. You haven't spent hours in SW. He's getting all the moments spot on. You have the WoW Disneyland moment when you enter Stormwind at 0:05, the running around town at 0:18 , the monotonous hanging around townsquare/bank/AH at :047, and the Grand Cathedral moment at 1:31. That part right there, SPOT ON! Its that part which makes me feel like a proud member of the Alliance.
Moments would be the best way to describe each mini theme, as the Blizzard sound files within the MPQ files themselves are labeled Stormwind_moment_01, 02, 03 etc etc.
Similiar praises on the of Elune, you get the emotional parts celebrating the beauty of the forests right, as well as the repeating section for the walking/enjoying scenery.
Keep up the good work.
For the Alliance!
Sarabande Sep 1st 2009 7:30AM
1:31!! LOL. When we heard that part, my roommate and I just laughed. NOT that it was funny but that it was SOOOO Stormwind.
It all reminds me of the awe I first felt upon walking into the city. While I've always loved the music, I've noticed it less in-game as I concentrate on other things or shake my head at the "ghetto" like atmosphere of the city, with all the dead body graffiti, players constantly begging for various handouts, and gold spammers bothering people.
It makes me wish once more that SW could have more of its glory back.
And the SONG OF ELUNE!! That's probably my favorite piece anyway. He does a great job on both pieces. I hope, with Cataclysm, they keep much of the old music, at least SOMEWHERE in the game. And in fact, it would be nice if they added the entire "Song of Elune."
And the Tavern theme was very well done! Great music to play on the flute :D
I'd love to see more such talented people playing music from World of Warcraft. :D
Camo Aug 31st 2009 12:51PM
*fan of ctrl-m*
ambermist Aug 31st 2009 12:55PM
I'm so used to hearing these songs as I'm playing that I tend to tune it out; it's really nice to sit back and appreciate them as music, and not just a soundtrack.
Drakkenfyre Aug 31st 2009 1:11PM
Nice.
Ducrush Aug 31st 2009 2:12PM
Once again, I feel compelled to point out this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aq4La2sOTYY
I still think Outlands had the overall best music.