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 positive and inspiring track featuring world / ethnic elements from many parts of the world. Can be African, Middle East, South American or other ancient / tribal world cultures. Use for travel, discovery, amazing journeys, world harmony. Uplifting and celebratory. Hang Drum, Mbira, Flutes, piano, nylon guitar, various percussion including Taiko, Tamborine and african drums. Available with or without ethnic vocals. [Tempo: Medium / 90 BPM]
A rousing and energetic track with various World / Ethnic / Cultural elements. Uptempo, emotional and passionate, with orchestral strings, Hang Drum, Mbira, both contemporary and ethnic drums. Influenced by African, Eastern and historic / East European elements. Use for world celebration, cultural events, amazing journeys. Available with or without the vocals. [Tempo: Medium, Fast / 110 BPM]
An inspirational and passionate track featuring world / ethnic elements from many parts of the world. Can be African, Middle East, South American or other ancient / tribal world cultures. Use for travel, discovery, amazing journeys, world harmony. Uplifting and celebratory. Hang Drum, Mbira, Flutes, piano, nylon guitar, various percussion including Taiko, Tamborine and african drums. Available with or without female vocal chants. [Tempo: Medium, Fast / 107 BPM]
World / Mystery track with a sense of hope and mysticism. Features Hang Drum, classic nylon guitar, ethnic percussion. Can be Africa / African, but can also be ancient tribes / world heritage sites / ancient Latin America / Maya / Inca, or even Eastern / Orient. Use for discovery, amazing journeys, world travels, ancient cultures, World Harmony etc. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 130 BPM]
Glorious, majestic and grand orchestral track. Slow building with an increasing sense of power, courage, pride and heroism. Features horns, strings, woodwinds, choir and percussion. Great for movies, commercials, ceremonies, live presentations and trailers. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 65 BPM]
Oriental new age music, played on a delicate harp. Meditative, joyful and inspirational tune. [Tempo: Slow / 88 BPM]
A dark, gloomy, emotional and sorrowful underscore for sci-fi, thriller, mystery, or action drama. Conflict, unease, with an ethnic / world mystery undertow. Available with or without drums, and with or without a wailing, sorrowful, ethnic solo vocal. Desolate / Tense / Uncertain. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 90 BPM]
Survivors of an epic event come to terms with what their world has now become. Atmospheric drones, and foreboding textures circulate as they uncover the remnants of a shattered past. [Tempo: Very slow, Slow / 0 BPM]
Wistful strings are accompanied by the steady strumming of an acoustic guitar. Epic percussion soon joins in, as does a heroic horn line. This huge orchestral track is perfect for capturing the excitement and thrill of being out in the great outdoors. [Tempo: Medium / 141 BPM]
An expansive track with delicate piano and uplifting orchestral strings and brass, suitable for inspirational dramas or corporate videos. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 65 BPM]
Dreamy, atmospheric, with a slight air of mystery and the supernatural. Imagine being alone in the outback of Australia shrouded in fog... who (or what) is out there? Suitable for travel documentaries or any scene needing an atmospheric, surreal bed with a slight edge to it. [Tempo: Very slow, Slow / 55 BPM]
A solo violin plays a pronounced minor melody with a touch of the piano's saddness. [Tempo: Slow / 55 BPM]
An emotional composition for string section, Wonderment and love / memories / life's big moments. [Tempo: Very slow, Slow / 0 BPM]
Impressionistic solo piano piece; neo classical. Busy, hurried, chased. For films / cultural / special interest. Also good for historical / retro project; can be silent movie soundtrack. [Tempo: Fast / 0 BPM]
A solo piano piece with some reminiscences of impressionist music period [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 50 BPM]
Mysterious and dreamy, electric guitar gently plays over a rich soundscape. Perfect for creating a mood of mystery, intrigue and sadness. [Tempo: Very slow, Slow / 0 BPM]
Strings and relentless edgy drums lead the way, building tension to a contemplative, dreamy middle section. It would be perfect for documentaries, films and advertising. Big ending would be great as a finale to a montage or action scene. The ending could also work well in an elimination scene in a reality show like Survivor or The Amazing Race. [Tempo: Slow / 91 BPM]
A lonely piano melody gently plays out on top of dark strings and synths. A sense of moving on from a terrible past, but not without scars. [Tempo: Very slow, Slow / 62 BPM]
Atmospheric and suspenseful, perfect for a scene in the wild west, or modern day countryside. Subtle references to different locales - didgeridoo (Australia), mandolin (American frontier, Appalachians) but could work for any rural environment. [Tempo: Slow / 79 BPM]
Piano, acoustic guitar, acoustic bass, vibes and conga work quickly to put a plan into action... although it may not be the ideal plan. Creates a great sense of movement and motion! In the eclectic style of scores by Thomas Newman, like American Beauty. [Tempo: Medium / 123 BPM]
Oriental / Eastern music combines with Western influence, as a fusion into in one language, describing mood, narrative (emotions). [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 114 BPM]
Classical Arabic / Persian music with authentic instruments. Serious, honorable, stately music. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 94 BPM]
A melodic, suspenseful, mystical and Asian sounding lead line dances over oscillating filtered break beats and classical sounding strings to create an atmosphere of space and light, works well for far-east adventures as well as sports and action scenes, underscore works well for travel, trips and also good for water sports. Drum 'n Bass feel. [Tempo: Medium, Fast / 128 BPM]
Emotional and Dramatic Cinematic music piece great for films, trailers and documentaries in the drama genre. Featuring instruments like solo Cello, Orchestral Strings, Acoustic guitar and Piano. [Tempo: Slow / 90 BPM]
Relaxed, exotic and mysterious African track with traditional instrumentation and cinematic strings. Suitable for movies and documentaries. [Tempo: Medium / 89 BPM]
A fun set of Irish reels performed 100% live on banjo, fiddle, box and flute. Bird in the Bush is performed first, followed by Jenny's Chicken's at 1:13 as the flute enters. A very old set of tunes, first recorded in 1934, but most likely hundreds of years old. This track has two titles because this is traditionally how many Irish pub tunes are performed, as a double set of short tunes, the first leading directly into the second. [Tempo: Medium, Fast / 106 BPM]
A sad and lamentive march performed by fiddle, mandolin and bodhran. Guitar enters at 01:54 as Johnny Cope begins - this is a more upbeat and faster tune in the form of a Hornpipe. Both tunes are very old and popular in Irish pubs. Live musicians on acoustic instruments. This track has two titles because this is traditionally how many Irish pub tunes are performed, as a double set of short tunes, the first leading directly into the second. [Tempo: Medium / 102 BPM]
A jolly, fun and driving Irish hornpipe set. Bodhran, fiddle, mandolin and guitar perform together on Byrne's (a hornpipe), which then leads into Liverpool Hornpipe at 1:29, with the flute joining in also. This track has two titles because this is traditionally how many Irish pub tunes are performed, as a double set of short tunes, the first leading directly into the second. [Tempo: Medium, Fast / 89 BPM]
Mandolin, fiddle and bodhran play this set of Irish reels. Light instrumentation compared to most reels, this is a very old tune - collected first by Michael Coleman in "Past Masters of Irish Fiddle Music" in 1923. Live recording. [Tempo: Medium, Fast / 106 BPM]
A popular set of Irish hornpipes played in Irish pubs. Fiddle begins, with bodhran joining in to provide rhythm and guitar providing accompaniment from 0:45 onwards. Leads into O'Callaghan's at 1:30. This track has two titles because this is traditionally how many Irish pub tunes are performed, as a double set of short tunes, the first leading directly into the second. [Tempo: Medium / 86 BPM]
It's night time and you're deep in the outback of Australia under the stars. There's something in that drink that you were just given by the local aborigine tribe, and you start to feel yourself floating off...this is going to be a wild trip. Atmospheric beds, didgeridoo, ethnic flute. For travel documentaries, yoga videos or any scenes involving mind altering drugs and dream sequences. [Tempo: Very slow, Slow / 0 BPM]
An energetic, upbeat piece utilizing layers of percussion, piano and strings. Evokes a feeling of tension and determination. [Tempo: Medium / 67 BPM]
Soothing, tranquil, peaceful, ethereal & atmospheric track. beautiful piano lines interweaving with serene radiohead-esque guitars. A slow steady, sedate beat plays over in the background, ticking like a clock, repetitive & hypnotising. Would suit dramatic/romantic/cinematic/documentary type projects. [Tempo: Very slow, Slow / 111 BPM]
Cognitive and minimalist. A thinking and adept piece of music with a deep sense of creativity and artistry. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 120 BPM]
With a hint of crystal castles, this minimalist dub tune has elements of love, intelligence, creativity and style. Will work well in creative environments. Will also work well with technology, design, gaming, dance and fashion. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 120 BPM]
Organic splinters of sound weaving patterns over deep tones & fractured chords. [Tempo: Very slow, Slow / 0 BPM]
Baraka, Koyaanisqatsi, Powaqqatsi, landscape, soundscape, desert, deserted, Carl Sagan, Mystery, Cosmos, Universe, Big Bang, Godfrey Reggio, Philip Glass, Ron Fricke, Dead Can Dance, Contemplative, Slow, Intense, Maya, Mayans, 2012, End of the world, Mayan Calendar, Nostradamus, Prediction, Prophecy, Prophecies, Shaman, Ayahuasca, Mind Travel, ESP, Alien, UFO, ET, Extra-Terrestrial, Buddha, Buda, Nepal, Tibet, dark, darkness, scifi, sci fi, sci-fi, science fiction, desolate, space, emptiness, vacuum, aliens, mind control, meditation, meditate, yoga, mystery, mysterious, mystical, apocalypse, post apocalyptic, nuclear winter, underwater, under water, sorcery, sorceror, witch, pensive, scary, horror, tibetan, monk, monks, Ancient soundscape with some oriental influences, especially the Tibetan tuvan monk singing, typical from Nepal. Great for history documentaries and specials. Also for sci-fi and horror. [Tempo: Very slow, Slow / 0 BPM]
Minimalist and quirky tune, good for accomplishments and thinking outside the box subjects. Intimate and emotional, yet with a strong "doers" aura. Minimal, Minimalist, Motivational, Optimistic, Corporate, Advertising. Also good for Culture / Art / Installations / Technology / Innovation / New Ideas. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 78 BPM]
Mysterious, exotic and delving into the unknown. An eastern theme played by Duduk and Dombra with underlying synth pads and hand percussion. Great for movies, tv, mystery, curiousity, history and documentaries. [Tempo: Very slow, Slow / 0 BPM]
Ambient and dreamy yet urban and speedy this track mixes emotional piano and strings with a fast Drum & Bass groove. Great for time lapses, commercials, late night cityscapes and corporate projects blending traditional and modern ideas. [Tempo: Fast / 160 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]
Piano and strings start small and build gradually to a big inspirational ending with brass. A feeling of soaring, coming home, this track would be suitable for an inspirational video or for the closing scene of a film. [Tempo: Slow / 59 BPM]
You enter a mysterious and slightly odd shop fill of curiosities and ancient art. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 99 BPM]
Middle eastern ska. Arabian pipes over a ska beat. [Tempo: Medium / 115 BPM]
Tuned percussion plays simple lines as fat bass notes wobble underneath. Then, sparse industrial style drums join in with choir. Thoughtful, reflective & contemplative music to suit documentary type projects. Calm, dreamy, tranquil, peaceful & serene. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 98 BPM]
Hypnotic, innocent, ethereal, delicate, atmospheric, peaceful track mixing tuned percussion, harp & a tiny, ticking drum beat. Beautiful, mellow, subtle, sublime, serene, whimsical & relaxing. Would suit art / culture and cinematic projects. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 70 BPM]
Authentic Puerto Rican music gets you on your feet. Ref. Tito Puente, Celia Cruz [Tempo: Medium, Fast / 120 BPM]
Lovely elegant string quartet in a Classical setting. [Tempo: Medium / 132 BPM]
A mandolin and strings powered look into a dark and dirty world. The space created by the atmospheric music is reminiscent of films like Babel and Syriana. Tortured flute amplifies the tension; whatever is about to happen can't be good! [Tempo: Slow / 135 BPM]
Atmospheric, subtle drama. Could also work for yoga DVDs. [Tempo: Very slow, Slow / 55 BPM]
