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The Elder Scrolls Vs Skyrim

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What separates music from regular sound is organization. Music is broadly just organized sound, but there is more to it than just having beats and notes placed at specific intervals. Apart from noise, music is defined by its emotional appeal: why the artist made the song, how it affects listeners, and what goes on within the song to make it special. Music is used as the "Universial Language" because anyone can distinguish a particular emotion, even when the language is different or absent. One particular song that utilizes this idea is "Sons of Skyrim" from The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. This piece features an orchestra accompanied by a large choir; the lyrics are sung in the game's fantasy language of the dragons. "Sons of Skyrim" is a barbaric …show more content…

Every other measure pulls the listener in further with three shouts, each increasing in intensity and anticipation for the next phrase to begin. When the chords of a powerful brass section come in, the choir splits into chords as well, forming this build up into the chorus. The chorus, sung in the game's "Dragon Language", is lead by the melody and continues the pulse of the original rhythm. The amount of immersion that the chorus contains is dedicated to fit the open-ended, epic adventure that The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim brings the player into. The lyrics of the opening chorus are as followed: "Dovahkiin Dovahkiin, Naal ok zin los vahriin, Wah dein vokul mahfaeraak ahst vaal, Ahrk fin norok paal graan, Fod nust hon zindro zaan, Dovahkiin fah hin kogaan mu draal." This translates roughly into, "Dragonborn Dragonborn, By his honor is sworn, To keep evil forever at bay, And the fiercest foes rout, When they hear triumph's shout, Dragonborn for your blessing we …show more content…

The lyrics tell a story that plays out in detail as you go through the main quest. In short, the player is already tied into the story as soon as he/she hears "Sons of Skyrim", but without knowledge of his/her role as the fabled "Dragonborn". The lyrics progress into the counter melody, which is actually the main melody from other games of the series but in a barbaric viking style. After half of the second chorus, the intensity settles down but does not allow the flow to rest. During this brief phrase, a female choir enters and shows contrast from the heavy pulses of the original male part. This form of contrast illustrates that, with all of the conflict going on, there is still beauty and peace in the world. After the light break, the male choir opens back up into the original rhythm and chorus again, bringing the player back into the glorious feeling of saving the world's beauty from destruction and chaos. The structure of the choir is held in emotion by the chord

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