This is a pretty far reaching concept, because documentaries, culture and art can be of pretty much anything at all, but we've tried to put music in this area that you would expect to hear in documentaries about real world issues, as well as art and culture. The music in this area will be -background- music; music that is meant to just stay in the background, almost unnoticed, to provide a subtle atmosphere while the viewer concentrates on the matter discussed. Often used behind voiceover / narration and interviews, this music will not have any outstanding, loud, or attention grabbing melodies or effects. The music you find here should also go well with historical and cultural subjects.
A 16th century renaissance music dance that originated in France; originally composed by Claude Gervaise (1525–1583). Danced at courts all over Renaissance Europe. Performed live in studio by Fleurdelis, featuring traditional percussion, Rabab Kashgar (An Arabic long-necked Lute), bagpipe and renaissance recorders. [Tempo: Medium, Fast / 102 BPM]
This track features traditional African instruments along with bass guitar. It has a positive and uplifting vibe and can work in both traditional African and modern African settings. [Tempo: Medium, Fast / 110 BPM]
All live performed, genuine African drum ensemble. Recorded live in one take by the Shabani Jabiri Bakari ensemble from Bagamoyo, Tanzania. "Tembea" means Walk, and this music is inspired by the sound and feel of walking. [Tempo: Fast, Very fast / 175 BPM]
A live performed recording of this traditional Celtic / Irish folk tune. Old Town / Medieval Village / Tavern Music. [Tempo: Medium, Fast / 118 BPM]
This track is created in documentary style. It features Acoustic Guitars, flute, indian percussion, mandolin, gamelan bells, strings, organ and drums. Suspense and mystery lead to a feeling of hopefulness and positive Himalayan Spirituality. Section three feels upbeat, positive and a feeling of finality. Plenty of underscore to work with. [Tempo: Slow, Medium, Fast / 110 BPM]
A traditional historical/heritage, medieval folk music dance that originated in Italy, and was popular in the 15th and 16th century all over Europe. Performed live in a studio setting by the Fleurdelis ensemble playing on authentic live instruments modeled on the actual instruments of the time. Percussion, renaissance recorder, bouzouki and Rabab Kashgar (a long-necked Lute instrument). The tempo picks up from about 00:55. [Tempo: Fast, Very fast / 88 BPM]
An exotic and passionate World fusion / Eastern / Greek / Mediterranean / Gulf / Oriental music track. Features a live performed Greek Bouzouki instrument. Great music for culture and travel, holiday and vacations, exploring and enjoying new countries and cultures. [Tempo: Medium / 96 BPM]
An intense Japanese piece. Heavy, grooving percussion combines with traditional wind and string instruments to create a dark, adventurous, and dangerous overall vibe. [Tempo: Medium, Fast / 70 BPM]
A slightly quirky and tense piece with ethnic percussion and piano. [Tempo: Medium, Fast / 132 BPM]
Authentic world pop features African percussion and melodies. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 104 BPM]
A Renaissance court music dance that originated in Renaissance England and was popular throughout Europe. One of several country dance tunes taken from The Dancing Master by John Playford (1623-1686). Performed live in a studio by the Fleurdelis ensemble using authentic live instruments modeled on the instruments of the original era. Hand percussion, renaissance recorder, Irish Bouzouki and Rabab Kashgar (a long-necked Lute instrument). [Tempo: Medium, Fast / 135 BPM]
Passionate Latin music composition with authentic acoustic guitars, percussion, bass and drums. Great for films and videos, exotic dance, music for holiday and vacation, travel and fun. [Tempo: Medium, Fast / 108 BPM]
Traditional Indian instruments combine with an electronic flair to create this adventurous, grooving Middle Eastern piece. [Tempo: Medium / 104 BPM]
A traditional orchestral arrangement of the British national anthem 'God Save the Queen'. Arr. Lee Pritchard. This instrumental orchestral arrangement is reminiscent of the BBC's version used in association with The Proms, which is an annual celebration in British culture that encompasses many Classical music performances over a number of events. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 73 BPM]
Joyful, exciting trip into the jungle. Uplifting african chants and instruments (cora, percussion, kalimba) mixed with strings, occasional guitar and flute. Upbeat and motivating. [Tempo: Fast / 133 BPM]
This track starts with a dreamy flute and saz instrument. The scales & harmonies, which are used widely in all of the middle eastern region from Iran to Lebanon, are called "hijaz tune" and is very familiar to all that region. [Tempo: Medium / 105 BPM]
A wonderfully exotic track mixing traditional sounds of Africa and its islands in the Indian Ocean with a light, contemporary beat. Features gambri, marimba, electric kalimba, upright bass, ethereal vocals and drums. [Tempo: Medium / 110 BPM]
In the Hall of the Mountain King, from the Peer Gynt suite by the Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg. Recorded exclusively for Shockwave-Sound.com by D Hamilton. [Tempo: Slow, Fast, Very fast / 0 BPM]
Uplifting, exciting future bass music with Hip Hop influences and a subtle Oriental / Asian flavour. Strong punchy beats, layered tremolo synths, occasional guitar licks. Catchy hooks, builds, risers and ear candy effects such as sudden pauses, beat skipping or stutters. [Tempo: Medium, Fast / 140 BPM]
Traditional percussion instruments combine with an electronic flair and mysterious background vocal tracks to create this grooving piece. [Tempo: Medium / 106 BPM]
A light, positive and uplifting World / Africa track. Nice for documentaries, safari, discovery, travel and enjoyment. [Tempo: Medium / 125 BPM]
Festive and celebratory traditional African background music. Bright and uplifting. Available in several different mixes/versions with various instruments included or removed from the mix. [Tempo: Fast / 190 BPM]
A classic Bedouin mood combined with more modern variety of sounds and instruments. Sincere and loving, nostalgic mood from the ancient world of the Orient / Gulf region. The quarter tones have been replaces with normal minor/major chords, the kanun and flute define the emotional parts. Eastern beauty and grace. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 85 BPM]
Symphonie fantastique in G minor, Op. 14 IV. Marche au supplice (March to the Scaffold), by Hector Berlioz. Recorded exclusively for Shockwave-Sound.com by D Hamilton. [Tempo: Slow, Medium, Fast / 0 BPM]
A folk pop/sea shanty song that draws upon vivid imagery. Available as a vocal version and an instrumental version. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 80 BPM]
Middle East, Ethnic, Choral, Intimate, Emotive, Melancholy Music. [Tempo: Slow / 120 BPM]
An original composition stylized as a medieval battle song. Performed live in a studio by the Fleurdelis ensemble featuring authentic, live performed instruments modeled on the instruments of medieval music times: Bouzouki, Rabab Kashgar (A long-necked Lute instrument) and percussion. [Tempo: Fast / 130 BPM]
Historically accurate, light and flavorful Medieval music, Middle Ages music, Irish / Celtic folk music style, to take you back in time featuring live frame drums, classical guitar and baglama. [Tempo: Medium / 214 BPM]
Spacey, dreamy,ethereal, trancey, exotic, beaty,dancey track with and Indian / Arabian vibe to it. Ethnic percussion fuses with atmospheric vocal samples to form a groovy & hypnotic ethno-pop. [Tempo: Medium / 122 BPM]
Moritz Moszkowski Etude No. 6 in F Major, Op. 72, Presto. Performed and recorded by Abigail Mettry exclusively for Shockwave-Sound.com. [Tempo: Fast / 0 BPM]
Dramatic and dark solo piano composition. Tragic but beautiful music full of nostalgia and dramatism about the memories of the past, reminscence of lost loved ones. This emotional composition can greatly enhance dramatic trailers, films, documentaries and videos. [Tempo: Very slow, Slow / 62 BPM]
Beautiful and evocative melody played on bansuri and dilruba accompanied by Indian percussion. This track has a very rural and folklike feel to it. Travel and culture. [Tempo: Very slow, Slow / 86 BPM]
Featuring traditional African instruments, such as Cora and Kalimba this track is in a world fusion style and is very evocative and charged with an African spirit. [Tempo: Medium / 120 BPM]
Beethoven's 5th Symphony, 1st movement. Recorded exclusively for Shockwave-Sound.com by D Hamilton. [Tempo: Slow, Medium, Fast / 0 BPM]
India, modern meets traditional. Corporate, technology, with tabla, percussion and orchestra. [Tempo: Fast / 119 BPM]
A music track that celebrates the diversity, the singularity and the joy of the different peoples, countries, and customs of the world. Motivating, optimistic and hopeful. Authentic & live performed. [Tempo: Medium / 100 BPM]
Inspired by the Salburun Eagle Hunting Festival of Kyrgyzstan, this music track begins solemnly but has a lively mid section that feel like a true celebration of the festival and all that surrounds it. Oriental / World / Travel Music. [Tempo: Slow, Fast / 96 BPM]
Dark, scary and mysterious Cinematic music track with deep and gloomy vibe. Great for trailers, films and documentaries in Drama and Sci-Fi genres. [Tempo: Slow / 55 BPM]
A live performed recording of this traditional Celtic / Irish folk tune. Medieval / Pirate / Ballad Music. [Tempo: Fast / 114 BPM]
Mysterious, dark and ethereal soundscapes with a hypnotic, tribal influenced, repetitive drum beat. Dark / Eerie / Mystical. [Tempo: Slow / 0 BPM]
Calm and positive music featuring traditional Japanese / Oriental instruments. Meditative and cultural. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 58 BPM]
Peaceful, calm ambient track blending japanese instruments (koto, erhu, shakuhachi, percussion) with electronics. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 100 BPM]
An original piece stylized as a medieval era Eastern European folk music dance. Performed live in a studio by the Fleurdelis ensemble featuring authentic instruments of the time; the Hurdy-Gurdy, Bouzouki, Recorder and percussion instruments. Excited, busy, happy, celebratory. Early music / Medieval music. [Tempo: Fast, Very fast / 130 BPM]
An eerie voice calls from a distance, drum hits keep us on our toes. A shadowy figure moves through the desert like a ghost; forsaken, alone. Would work great leading up to a military conflict in a middle east setting. [Tempo: Very slow, Slow / 72 BPM]
Chinese pop music with a traditional edge. Features traditional Chinese instruments bawu and pipa. Happy and uplifting music. [Tempo: Medium / 120 BPM]
Influenced by the sights and sounds of China with a driving yet curious and mysterious feel, this track features an array of melodic and non melodic percussion, hulusi, strings and guzheng. Great for films, documentaries, travel, martial arts, history, culture and cuisine. [Tempo: Medium, Fast / 125 BPM]
A short koto piece that captures the essence of Japanese musical improvisation. [Tempo: Very slow, Slow / 0 BPM]
Picture a sleepy town in Mexico, it’s hot, the sun is high in the sky, and the Spanish girl walking by is beautiful, romance is in the air. Nylon Guitars strum, piano melody plays, percussion elements glide in the background. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 112 BPM]
A Khaligy style track that brings a fusion mode between world music, and khaligy (emirates, saudi, kuwait, Bahrain) it has a dynamic chorus, then it goes back to to a reflective ambient dream. [Tempo: Medium / 110 BPM]
An ambient dramatic track of strings, piano, and pads, reminiscent of the American Beauty and Road to Perdition soundtracks. [Tempo: Very slow, Slow / 68 BPM]
