Music for the World Conquest Game

[swashbuckler332]

Art, Brad, Nate, Russ and I were supposed to get together and play Risk this weekend, but there were too many scheduling conflicts. However, over the course of the week I had started working on this project, which was an idea I had been playing with for many years.



Providing music for Risk, a project I've been working on since 1995, has always been both a fun and frustrating task; fun in that it was an context that friends of mine not normally disposed towards film music could enjoy some of what I like, but frustrating in that a typical game of Risk lasted much longer than the 110 minute tape that I had initially put together. Another problem is that putting too much battle music together ends up creating a listening experience that is more trying than it is entertaining (this was a problem with my Road Rage: The Orchestral Album concept I have not yet solved). However, Risk is not just about fighting, although the music would have to predominantly reflect the aggressive nature of the game. It's about politics, deals and treaties. It's about playing the people, not the game, and so in coming up with a two disc mix I opened the door to a somewhat wider variety of music. I then expanded on that by creating a third disc that was meant to be played between the other two.

However, between the fact that while these were fun discs to play (and I got many complements on them), it was inconvenient to lug around three CDs that were always getting scratched (and I didn't have back-ups for). However, bouyed with the success of my Jenga mp3 CD project, I therefore resolved at some point in the past to begin working on making a Risk mp3 CD. the added advantage there being that as long as I made sure all the tracks were properly closed off (i.e., no crossfades), the disc could be played at random to avoid hearing the same music each time. Furthermore, if I keep the music as file folder on the computer, I can add to it over time, which is something I'd been doing with the Jenga mp3 CD as well (which is as of the initial writing of this piece at version 6.0).

I wanted to make sure, however, that the disc played out in an entertaining manner even if it wasn't played at random. This was bourne out of necessity as much as aesthetics; while my Toshiba DVD-Audio player plays mp3s at random, it can only display the DOS file names, and while the Sony SACD/DVD changer will show the full file name, it won't play mp3s at random. And since the game is played at different places, it is unclear as to whether the disc will be played in an outfitted CD player or a computer, so having a pleasing default playlist can't possibly hurt.

Many pieces have been here since the very first incarnation, including the North piece from 2001 introducing the set, "Peregrinus Expectavi" from Alexander Nevsky (one of my favorite bits of film music ever), "Hot Water" from Outland, the El Cid March and so on... but this was also a case where I included other genres of music. Everything here is orchestral, but I also included some tracks for their popularity; "Siegfried's Death and Funeral March," selections from Carmina Burana, "Mars, the Bringer of War" and "In the Hall of the Mountain King." I also included "The Ride of the Valkyries," though I used the Solti version with the vocal (I'm interested in seeing how my friends react to hearing the "laughing" parts) which was, coincidentally, the same recording that was used in Apocalypse Now.

Working in the mp3 format freed me from a lot of the work I'd normally do while making a compilation. There are no crossfades (necessary more for the random option than for the format itself), so I didn't have to pull out Soundtrax except for the suites I edited. In some cases, I did fade out cues that would tail into or out of the adjacent track on the album, but many tracks I could just copy directly from Artoo (Cowon iAudio X5). It also took away most of the temporal restrictions that working in the audio CD format place, which meant that I could contain a wider variety of music from a single source, as well as including longer pieces. The tracks I composited myself are "The Balrog of Morgoth," which consists of a combination of the Khazad-Dûm material from the The Fellowship of the Ring album and Complete Recordings leading into the opening of The Two Towers. "The Adventures of Den" is a short suite from the "Den" sequence of Heavy Metal. "The Battle of Helm's Deep" is an excerpt sequence from The Two Towers I put together in preparation for my eventual Lord of the Rings 2 CD set. "Dark Phoenix's Power" is an edit consisting of the confrontations occuring at the Grey household from X-Men: The Last Stand and the finale of the film.

I will be adding to this folder and updating this entry periodically.

R I S K
mp3 CD
Version 2.4 - Updated 8/26/07

104 Tracks - 7:37:13

1. ALEX NORTH: Main Title (2001: A Space Odyssey, 1968) 1:39
   National Philharmonic Orchestra of London Conducted by Jerry Goldsmith
   
   
2. SERGEI PROKOFIEV: Peregrinus Expectavi (Alexander Nevsky, 1938) 6:09
   St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra Conducted by Yuri Temirkanov
   Featuring the Chorus of St. Petersburg Teleradio Company, the Chamber Chorus of St. Petersburg and the St. Petersburg Chorus Capella "LIK"
   
   
3. JERRY GOLDSMITH: Main Title (Capricorn One, 1978) 1:15
   Orchestra Conducted by Jerry Goldsmith
   
   
4. BEAR McCREARY: Prelude to War (Battlestar Galactica:Pegasus, Resurrection Ship, Parts I & II, 2006) 8:26
   Orchestra Conducted by Bear McCreary
   
   
5. TAN DUN: At Emperor's Palace (Hero, 2004) 3:58
   China Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus Conducted by Tan Dun
   
   
6. JOHN BARRY: Main Title (The Last Valley, 1970) 3:08
   Orchestra and the Voices of Accademia Monteverdiana Conducted by John Barry
   
   
7. FRANZ WAXMAN The Ride to Dubno (Taras Bulba, 1962) 4:58
   MGM Studio Orchestra Conducted by Franz Waxman
   
   
8. ELLIOT GOLDENTHAL: Victorious Titus (Titus, 2000) 2:58
   London Metropolitan Orchestra Conducted by Jonathan Sheffer
   English Chamber Choir Conducted by Tim Mercurio
   
   
9. JOHN WILLIAMS: The Executor (The Empire Strikes Back, 1980) 2:22
   London Symphony Orchestra Conducted by John Williams
   
   
10. GUSTAV HOLST: Mars, the Bringer of War (The Planets: Op.32, 1918) 7:42
    London Symphony Orchestra Conducted by Geoffrey Simon
    
    
11. BASIL POLEDOURIS: Riddle of Steel and Riders of Doom (Conan the Barbarian, 1982) 5:36
    Members of the Orchestra and Chorus of Santa Cecelia and the Radio Symphony of Rome Conducted by Basil Poledouris
    
    
12. DAVE GRUSIN: Swordfight (The Goonies, 1985) 2:27
    Orchestra Conducted by Dave Grusin
    
    
13. ELMER BERNSTEIN: Taarna Summoned (Heavy Metal: Taarna, 1981) 2:49
    Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and London Voices Conducted by Elmer Bernstein
    
    
14. MIKLÓS RÓZSA: Caesar and His Train (Julius Caesar, 1953) 0:51
    Sinfonia of London Conducted by Bruce Broughton
    
    
15. JAMES HORNER: Inside the Black Fortress (Krull, 1983) 6:15
    London Symphony Orchestra and Ambrosian Singers Conducted by James Horner
    
    
16. RICHARD WAGNER: The Ride of the Valkyries (Die Walkure, 1870) 6:26
    Wiener Philharmoniker Conducted by Sir Georg Solti
    
    
17. HOWARD SHORE: Ghosts (Looking for Richard, 1996) 4:05
    London Philharmonic Orchestra and London Voices Conducted by Howard Shore
    
    
18. ELMER BERNSTEIN: Glory (Zulu Dawn, 1979) 2:32
    Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Conducted by Elmer Bernstein
    
    
19. JERRY GOLDSMITH: The Fire Serpent (The Thirteenth Warrior, 1999) 4:53
    Orchestra Conducted by Jerry Goldsmith
    
    
20. WOJCIECH KILAR: Dracula: The Beginning (Bram Stoker's Dracula, 1992) 6:41
    Orchestra Conducted by Anton Coppola
    Los Angeles Master Chorale Conducted by Paul Salumnovich
    
    
21. HOWARD SHORE: The Wolves of Isengard (The Two Towers, 2002) 5:10
    London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Voices and the London Oratory School Schola Conducted by Howard Shore
    
    
22. TAN DUN: Night Fight (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, 2000) 3:10
    Shanghai Symphony Orchestra Conducted by Tan Dun
    Shanghai Percussion Ensemble Conducted by Chen Xie Yang
    
    
23. BASIL POLEDOURIS: Wagon Attack (Flesh + Blood, 1985) 2:39
    Members of the London Symphony Orchestra Conducted by Basil Poledouris
    
    
24. MARCO BELTRAMI: Suckheads Infiltrate (Blade II, 2002) 2:21
    Orchestra Conducted by Marco Beltrami
    
    
25. JOHN BARRY: Media Vita in Morte Sumus [In the Midst of Life We Are In Death] (The Lion in Winter, 1968) 2:18
    Orchestra and Voices of Accademia Monteverdiana Conducted by John Barry
    
    
26. ALAN SILVESTRI: My First Bus Ride (The Mummy Returns, 2001) 7:45
    Sinfonia of London Conducted by Alan Silvestri
    
    
27. ALEX NORTH: Formations (Spartacus, 1961) 2:48
    Orchestra Conducted by Alex North
    
    
28. JERRY GOLDSMITH: Entr'acte (Patton, 1970) 1:53
    Orchestra Conducted by Jerry Goldsmith
    
    
29. HARRY GREGSON-WILLIAMS: The Battle (The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, 2005) 7:08
    Orchestra Conducted by Harry Gregson-Williams
    Choir Conducted by Alastair King
    
    
30. HENRY MANCINI: Call of the Wild (Lifeforce, 1985) 2:01
    London Symphony Orchestra Conducted by Henry Mancini
    
    
31. JOHN WILLIAMS: Duel of the Fates (The Phantom Menace, 1999) 4:13
    London Symphony Orchestra and London Voices Conducted by John Williams
    
    
32. MORTON STEVENS: Battering Ram and Rebel Preparations (Masada, 1981) 9:28
    Orchestra Conducted by Morton Stevens
    Incorporates Themes Composed by Jerry Goldsmith
    
    
33. RON GOODWIN: The Chase (Where Eagles Dare, 1968) 7:38
    Orchestra Conducted by Ron Goodwin
    
    
34. CRAIG ARMSTRONG: Escape (Plunkett and MacLeane, 1999) 1:15
    Orchestra and Choir Conducted by Cecelia Weston
    
    
35. MIKLÓS RÓZSA: Caesar's Procession (Julius Caesar, 1953) 2:46
    Sinfonia of London Conducted by Bruce Broughton
    
    
36. JERRY GOLDSMITH: Raisuli Attacks (The Wind and the Lion, 1975) 3:15
    Graunke Symphony Orchestra Conducted by Jerry Goldsmith
    
    
37. FREDERIC TALGORN: Julie's Journey (Heavy Metal 2000) 7:44
    Munich Symphony Orchestra Conducted by Frederic Talgorn
    
    
38. HOWARD SHORE: March to Victory (Soul of the Ultimate Nation, 2005) 2:11
    National Philharmonic Orchestra of Russia and Academy of Choral Arts Conducted by Howard Shore
    
    
39. BASIL POLEDOURIS: Elite Guard Attacks (Conan the Destroyer, 1984) 2:25
    El Unione Musicisti di Roma Conducted by Basil Poledouris
    
    
40. GABRIEL YARED: Approach of the Greeks (Troy, 2003) 2:27
    Orchestra and Choir Conducted by Harry Rabinowitz
    
    
41. HOWARD SHORE: The Balrog of Morgoth (The Fellowship of the Ring, 2001; The Two Towers, 2002) 7:24
    New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra and Maori Choir Conducted by Howard Shore
    
    
42. PATRICK DOYLE: The Arrival (Needful Things, 1993) 2:56
    Orchestra and Choir Conducted by David Snell
    
    
43. BASIL POLEDOURIS: The Kitchen (Conan the Barbarian, 1982) 2:16
    Members of the Orchestra and Chorus of Santa Cecelia and the Radio Symphony of Rome Conducted by Basil Poledouris
    
    
44. JOHN BARRY: First Zulu Appearance and Assault (Zulu, 1964) 5:12
    Orchestra Conducted by John Barry
    
    
45. DON DAVIS: Ontological Shock (The Matrix, 1999) 4:15
    Orchestra Conducted by Don Davis
    
    
46. WOJCIECH KILAR: Vampire Hunters (Bram Stoker's Dracula, 1992) 3:06
    Orchestra Conducted by Anton Coppola
    
    
47. MASARU SATÔ: Titles (Yojimbo, 1961) 2:32
    Orchestra Conducted by Masaru Satô
    
    
48. CARL ORFF: Fortune Plango Vulnera (Carmina Burana, 1936) 2:40
    Philadelphia Orchestra and Rutger's University Choir Conducted by Eugene Ormandy
    
    
49. JERRY GOLDSMITH: Hot Water (Outland, 1981) 4:51
    National Philharmonic Orchestra of London Conducted by Jerry Goldsmith
    
    
50. BASIL POLEDOURIS: Crystal Palace (Conan the Destroyer, 1984) 6:14
    El Unione Musicisti di Roma Conducted by Basil Poledouris
    
    
51. HOWARD SHORE: Preparations for War (The Two Towers, 2002) 1:31
    London Philharmonic Orchestra Conducted by Howard Shore
    
    
52. JAMES NEWTON HOWARD: Tarawa (Snow Falling on Cedars, 1999) 4:09
    Orchestra Conducted by Artie Kane
    Los Angeles Master Chorale Conducted by Paul Salumnovich
    
    
53. ANNE DUDLEY: Playing to Win (American History X, 1998) 3:55
    Orchestra Conducted by Anne Dudley
    
    
54. JOHN WILLIAMS: Into the Trap (Return of the Jedi, 1983) 2:39
    London Symphony Orchestra Conducted by John Williams
    
    
55. JERRY GOLDSMITH: Breakout [LP Imitation] (Capricorn One, 1978) 3:05
    Orchestra Conducted by Jerry Goldsmith
    
    
56. HOWARD SHORE: The Ride of the Rohirrim (Return of the King, 2003) 2:08
    London Philharmonic Orchestra Conducted by Howard Shore
    
    
57. JOHN SCOTT: Lady Kong Gets Gassed (King Kong Lives, 1986) 4:38
    Graunke Symphony Orchestra Conducted by John Scott
    
    
58. MIKLÓS RÓZSA: Fight for Calhorra (El Cid, 1961) 3:37
    Graunke Symphony Orchestra Conducted by Miklós Rózsa
    
    
59. WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART: Introitus and Dies Irae (Requiem in D Minor: K.626, 1791) 2:51
    Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields Conducted by Sir Neville Marriner
    
    
60. CHRISTOPHER YOUNG: Hellbound: Second Sight Séance (Hellbound: Hellraiser II, 1988) 7:30
    Graunke Symphony Orchestra and Chorus Conducted by Allan Wilson
    
    
61. JOHN BARRY: Main Title (The Lion in Winter, 1968) 2:43
    Orchestra and Voices of Accademia Monteverdiana Conducted by John Barry
    
    
62. WOJCIECH KILAR: Roberto's Last Chance (Death and the Maiden, 1994) 3:25
    English Chamber Orchestra Conducted by Harry Rabinowitz
    Incorporates Music from "Death and the Maiden" Written by Franz Schubert
    
    
63. ELLIOT GOLDENTHAL: Louis' Revenge (Interview with the Vampire, 1995) 2:35
    Orchestra Conducted by Jonathan Sheffer
    
    
64. ENNIO MORRICONE: The King is Dead (Hamlet, 1990) 4:45
    El Unione Musicisti di Roma Conducted by Ennio Morricone
    
    
65. JOHN POWELL: Dark Phoenix's Power (X-Men: The Last Stand) 8:25
    Hollywood Studio Symphony Orchestra Conducted by Pete Anthony
    Choir Conducted by Edie Lehmann Boddicker
    
    
66. ALAN SILVESTRI: Block War (Judge Dredd, 1995) 4:39
    Sinfonia of London Conducted by Alan Silvestri
    
    
67. PATRICK DOYLE: Battle for Varden (Eragon, 2006) 9:59
    London Symphony Orchestra Conducted by James Shearman
    
    
68. MICHAEL KAMEN: The Final Battle (The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, 1988) 4:27
    Graunke Symphony Orchestra Conducted by Michael Kamen
    
    
69. HOWARD SHORE: The Triumph (Soul of the Ultimate Nation, 2005) 2:08
    National Philharmonic Orchestra of Russia and Academy of Choral Arts Conducted by Howard Shore
    
    
70. ELLIOT GOLDENTHAL: Zeus Cannon (Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within, 2001) 3:24
    London Symphony Orchestra Conducted by Dirk Brossé
    
    
71. JOEL McNEELY: Requiem (The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles: Verdun 1916, 1992) 3:30
    Munich Symphony Orchestra and Chorus Conducted by Joel McNeely
    
    
72. BASIL POLEDOURIS: Whiskey Outpost Rescue (Starship Troopers, 1997) 4:46
    Orchestra Conducted by Basil Poledouris
    
    
73. EDWARD SHEARMUR: Field Attack (Reign of Fire, 2002) 4:12
    Orchestra Conducted by Edward Shearmur
    
    
74. GABRIEL YARED: The Battle of the Arrows (Troy, 2003) 7:08
    Orchestra and Choir Conducted by Harry Rabinowitz
    
    
75. PATRICK DOYLE: End Title (Indochine, 1992) 4:32
    Orchestra Conducted by William Kraft
    
    
76. DON DAVIS: Burly Brawl [Alternate] (The Matrix Reloaded, 2003) 1:30
    Orchestra Conducted by Don Davis
    
    
77. RICHARD WAGNER: Siegfried's Death and Funeral Music (Götterdämmerung, 1876) 12:01
    London Symphony Orchestra Conducted by Leopold Stokowski
    
    
78. BEAR McCREARY: Battle on the Asteroid (Battlestar Galactica: The Hand of God, 2005) 6:51
    Orchestra Conducted by Bear McCreary
    
    
79. JERRY GOLDSMITH: Arthur's Farewell (First Knight, 1995) 5:26
    Orchesta and Choir Conducted by Jerry Goldsmith
    
    
80. BASIL POLEDOURIS: Riders of Taramis (Conan the Destroyer, 1984) 3:38
    El Unione Musicisti di Roma Conducted by Basil Poledouris
    
    
81. HOWARD SHORE: Minas Tirith (Return of the King, 2003) 3:37
    London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Voices and the London Oratory School Schola Conducted by Howard Shore
    
    
82. MIKLÓS RÓZSA: Thirteen Knights (El Cid, 1961) 3:37
    Graunke Symphony Orchestra Conducted by Miklós Rózsa
    
    
83. ELMER BERNSTEIN: The Adventures of Den (Heavy Metal: Den, 1981) 4:59
    Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Conducted by Elmer Bernstein
    
    
84. MARK McKENZIE: The Battle Has Just Begun (Warlock: The Armadeddon, 1993) 4:59
    Southwest Symphony Orchestra and Chorus Conducted by Mark McKenzie
    
    
85. FREDERIC TALGORN: Tyler's Rage (Heavy Metal 2000, 2000) 7:11
    Munich Symphony Orchestra Conducted by Frederic Talgorn
    
    
86. EDVARD GRIEG: In the Hall of the Mountain King (Peer Gynt, 1867) 2:14
    Orchestra and Choir Conducted by David Snell
    
    
87. JERRY GOLDSMITH: Lord of the Riff (The Wind and the Lion, 1975) 2:41
    Graunke Symphony Orchestra Conducted by Jerry Goldsmith
    
    
88. HENRY MANCINI: Web of Destiny [Part II] (Lifeforce, 1985)
    London Symphony Orchestra Conducted by Henry Mancini
    
    
89. MIKLÓS RÓZSA: Torquilstone Castle (Ivanhoe, 1952) 3:18
    Sinfonia of London Conducted by Bruce Broughton
    
    
90. HOWARD SHORE: Menace of the Army Wings (Soul of the Ultimate Nation, 2005) 7:53
    National Philharmonic Orchestra of Russia and Academy of Choral Arts Conducted by Howard Shore
    
    
91. ENNIO MORRICONE: The Battle (Red Sonja, 1983) 3:32
    El Unione Musicisti di Roma Conducted by Ennio Morricone
    
    
92. BASIL POLEDOURIS: The Box (Flesh + Blood, 1985) 5:13
    Members of the London Symphony Orchestra Conducted by Basil Poledouris
    
    
93. JERRY GOLDSMITH: Escape from Torture (Rambo: First Blood, Part II) 3:42
    National Philharmonic Orchestra Conducted by Jerry Goldsmith
    
    
94. CARL ORFF: O! Fortuna! (Carmina Burana, 1936) 2:44
    Philadelphia Orchestra and Rutger's University Choir Conducted by Eugene Ormandy
    
    
95. JOHN SCOTT: Revenge on the Hunters (King Kong Lives) 1:48
    Graunke Symphony Orchestra Conducted by John Scott
    
    
96. GABRIEL YARED: The Sacking of Troy (Troy, 2003) 7:45
    Orchestra and Choir Conducted by Harry Rabinowitz
    
    
97. DON DAVIS: Neodämmerung (The Matrix Revolutions, 2003) 5:58
    Orchestra and Choir Conducted by Don Davis
    
    
98. ROBERT DUNCAN: Slayer Victory (Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Chosen, 2004) 5:04
    Directed by Robert Duncan
    
    
99. TAN DUN: Swift Sword (Hero, 2004) 3:37
    China Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus Conducted by Tan Dun
    
    
100. JOHN BARRY: The Village Attack (The Last Valley, 1970) 2:54
     Orchestra and Voices of Accademia Monteverdiana Conducted by John Barry
     
     
101. BASIL POLEDOURIS: Battle of the Mounds (Conan the Barbarian, 1982) 4:52
     Members of the Orchestra and Chorus of Santa Cecelia and the Radio Symphony of Rome Conducted by Basil Poledouris
     
     
102. HOWARD SHORE: The Battle of Helm's Deep (The Two Towers, 2002) 9:59
     London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Voices and the London Oratory School Schola Conducted by Howard Shore
     
     
103. JERRY GOLDSMITH: Valhalla and Viking Victory (The Thirteenth Warrior, 1999) 10:33
     Orchestra and Choir Conducted by Jerry Goldsmith
     
     
104. MIKLÓS RÓZSA: Intermezzo: The El Cid March (El Cid, 1961) 3:37
     Graunke Symphony Orchestra Conducted by Miklós Rózsa