Someone made a reddit post and I went on and on about period music. I wanted to post this here, because no one will probably see what I wrote! But this is for anyone who is tired of paradox's original music after hearing it looped 1000 times! And may Paradox one day think of adding period tunes to their game!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The cool thing about Paradox games is for many of them there are available PERIOD music from the time you are playing, and sometimes even FROM the culture you are playing. So why not break away from the old repeated paradox tunes, or modern music, and go back in time! (And save on money!)
All it takes is a little research (googling), and knowing how to create youtube playlists or downloading music files!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Victoria 2
From 1836 (startdate) onward, there is a huge selection of possible period music. Every year there is music you can listen to. For example on this site, clicking song eras, http://www.pdmusic.org/ has a huge list of compositions during the Victoria 2 Timeline (mostly American), just google/youtube the compositions (and also include who composed) and there will probably be a recording somewhere, either for phonograph or modern try at the piece.
During and past the Civil War the amount of pieces to listen to skyrockets.
I love this site as well for finding period music for America and England:
http://www.contemplator.com/bycount.html
You can find *European period* music just as easily. There are lots of sites out there, a few hidden gems sites I should try to find again.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you are lazy you can just go to wikipedia and sort by date for compositions, or by date of composers! (This is actually best for when going to medieval period)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Crusader Kings 2
For anything Catholic, you will not find too many secular pieces. Usually just go with any composer close to the period and find as many songs as I can from them. See this list as an example, pick composer, and google/youtube any composition you want: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_medieval_composers
This youtube channel has tons of good pieces if you are too lazy to make your own playlist (some Orthodox too): https://www.youtube.com/user/Callixtinus
For Orthodox, very easy to find anything just google. If playing Russian Orthodox try to find older types (example zanemmy) try to find more authentic period, rather than the more modern western influenced music. Example:
Might have to search in other languages
For Muslims, give up. Traditionally Islam forbids music. But if you are desperate, what I did was just take music from Civ 5 that was arabic sounding and it helped a lot.
For Pagans, again, will not find much besides neo-pagans pretending they know what it would sound like (bullshit) and metal music. So there I just look again to Civ 3, 4, and 5, which at least have some pieces that might fit.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EU3/EU4
This is similar to Victoria 2, but there will be a lot more European music. I like to find composers within say 50-100 years of when I am playing and just listen to everything they composed. Plenty of secular and sacred music by now.
Something nice about this period is some groups like to play with period instruments as well!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hearts of Iron 3
If you cannot find period music for this for any major or minor power then... just stick with default ok? Germany has for example hundreds of period recordings
---
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The cool thing about Paradox games is for many of them there are available PERIOD music from the time you are playing, and sometimes even FROM the culture you are playing. So why not break away from the old repeated paradox tunes, or modern music, and go back in time! (And save on money!)
All it takes is a little research (googling), and knowing how to create youtube playlists or downloading music files!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Victoria 2
From 1836 (startdate) onward, there is a huge selection of possible period music. Every year there is music you can listen to. For example on this site, clicking song eras, http://www.pdmusic.org/ has a huge list of compositions during the Victoria 2 Timeline (mostly American), just google/youtube the compositions (and also include who composed) and there will probably be a recording somewhere, either for phonograph or modern try at the piece.
During and past the Civil War the amount of pieces to listen to skyrockets.
I love this site as well for finding period music for America and England:
http://www.contemplator.com/bycount.html
You can find *European period* music just as easily. There are lots of sites out there, a few hidden gems sites I should try to find again.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you are lazy you can just go to wikipedia and sort by date for compositions, or by date of composers! (This is actually best for when going to medieval period)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Crusader Kings 2
For anything Catholic, you will not find too many secular pieces. Usually just go with any composer close to the period and find as many songs as I can from them. See this list as an example, pick composer, and google/youtube any composition you want: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_medieval_composers
This youtube channel has tons of good pieces if you are too lazy to make your own playlist (some Orthodox too): https://www.youtube.com/user/Callixtinus
For Orthodox, very easy to find anything just google. If playing Russian Orthodox try to find older types (example zanemmy) try to find more authentic period, rather than the more modern western influenced music. Example:
For Muslims, give up. Traditionally Islam forbids music. But if you are desperate, what I did was just take music from Civ 5 that was arabic sounding and it helped a lot.
For Pagans, again, will not find much besides neo-pagans pretending they know what it would sound like (bullshit) and metal music. So there I just look again to Civ 3, 4, and 5, which at least have some pieces that might fit.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EU3/EU4
This is similar to Victoria 2, but there will be a lot more European music. I like to find composers within say 50-100 years of when I am playing and just listen to everything they composed. Plenty of secular and sacred music by now.
Something nice about this period is some groups like to play with period instruments as well!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hearts of Iron 3
If you cannot find period music for this for any major or minor power then... just stick with default ok? Germany has for example hundreds of period recordings
---
Last edited: