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.
Soft, light and gentle music with an Oriental / Far East influence. Soothing and pretty; suitable for relaxation, yoga, chilled-out background music, travel and documentary, etc. Piano and oriental Koto instrument. Available with or without the choir and 'Agnus Dei' phrases. [Tempo: Slow / 65 BPM]
A classic Tango melody, performed on accordeon with light acoustic backing band. Traditional accordeon music, with a flavor of Europe, France / Paris. Could also be Italy / general European. [Tempo: Medium, Fast / 130 BPM]
A set of Irish jigs on solo fiddle. Lively and authentic. 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: Fast / 120 BPM]
A moody and flowing pop/soundtrack piece, with dramatic acoustic guitar, cinematic drums, and emotional string. Serious, Powerful, Inspiring music. [Tempo: Medium / 120 BPM]
All live performed, genuine African drum ensemble. Recorded live in one take by the Shabani Jabiri Bakari ensemble from Bagamoyo, Tanzania. "Lipango" is a hunting dance music from the Pangwa tribe. [Tempo: Fast / 161 BPM]
A haunting female vocalist glides over this dark EDM piece. Heavy electronic drums, bass, and synth combine with touches of orchestral instrumentation and background vocals to create a smooth, steady and driving groove. Also available as an instrumental version. [Tempo: Medium / 115 BPM]
Piano in the style of Thomas Newman (American Beauty, Lemony Snicket, Finding Nemo, Wall-E). Feels like running, perfect for a montage, or about kids. Could also work well for hi tech or biotech companies, as it has a feeling of motion and discovery. [Tempo: Medium / 148 BPM]
Middle eastern, Indian and Egyptian sounds are fused in this modern remix-style track, which includes fresh beats and organic sounds in fusion. [Tempo: Medium / 116 BPM]
Emotive, strong, deep and very characteristic of Argentina's folk music. Originally from the central part of the country (Santiago del Estero) is usually played by guitars violin, and Bombo Leguero (Percussion). Can also be general South American / Latin. 100% authentic & live performed. No computers, no samples. [Tempo: Medium / 105 BPM]
A driving and energizing track that takes off into a fast drum rhythm after the intro part. A sense of world, travel, exploration, foreign countries, amazing discoveries. Exciting, uplifting, with a feeling of history and culture too. [Tempo: Medium, Fast / 146 BPM]
An energetic music track that has a feeling of the beginning of a great adventure or the start of a big journey. Its moderate rhythm pulsates from start to finish while the overall music track builds up to a spirited climax. [Tempo: Medium / 100 BPM]
Colorful classical mid-tempo string arrangement, with a nostalgic, romantic, and passionate feel to it. It brings to mind classical nineteenth-century music. Suitable for period pieces, and also for productions that require a refined, stylish backdrop. Great for commercials, movies and TV shows. [Tempo: Medium / 104 BPM]
Ethnic soundtrack was made in ambient style featuring marimba, percussive instruments, bells, pan flute, ambient sfx, piano, strings, airy pads. Will work well as a music for documentary films about travel, nature, wild animals, river and jungle virgin world. [Tempo: Medium / 138 BPM]
A bright and festive track featuring traditional Peruvian instruments such as the charango, ocarina and of course the panpipes. Conveys a very South American flavor. [Tempo: Medium, Fast / 165 BPM]
A typical gulf oriental sound normally played in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain etc., with hand claps and a modern pop beat. Eastern / Travel / Discovery Music. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 95 BPM]
Gentle and graceful traditional Celtic track with a Scottish touch. Features bagpipes. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 86 BPM]
An exotic and simple music track made with various ethnic Chinese instruments in ancient Chinese opera style. Simple structure, without any stops. Exotic / Asia / Far East / Ethnic music. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 80 BPM]
Thumb-piano and percussion ensemble. Middle east, north Africa, Arabic. Mystical and hypnotic. [Tempo: Medium / 130 BPM]
Dark American drama music with strings, guitars and drums with a menacing and foreboding mood. [Tempo: Very slow, Slow / 125 BPM]
Lovely elegant string quartet in a Classical setting. [Tempo: Medium / 132 BPM]
Typical Egyptian / Eastern folk music with synth and accordion, cool rhythm of folkloric "SAIDY" style from the region of "al said", in between features a synth bridge. [Tempo: Fast / 135 BPM]
A dramatic track featuring string orchestra, piano, choir, percussion, electric bass synth, and pads. Beginning with a flourished opening, the track is reflective and then builds with brighter harmonies and faster tempos. [Tempo: Slow / 70 BPM]
Traditional Polish song performed with female vocals, violins, accordion and frame drum. Available as a vocal version, and an instrumental versions with suka biłgorajska lead. [Tempo: Slow / 73 BPM]
Sexy, Romatic, Edgy, Ambient Electronica. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 100 BPM]
A set of Irish jigs on solo fiddle. Lively and authentic. 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: Fast, Very fast / 200 BPM]
Atmospheric, moody, cinematic, ethereal, magical, enchanted music with an exotic world flavour to it. Rhythmic, sublime, sedate, hypnotic, wondrous, dreamy, spacious & beautiful. Would suit nature / documentary / discovery / travel / filmic type projects. [Tempo: Medium / 110 BPM]
(Frederic Chopin) Chopin Preludes, Prelude No. 8 in f-sharp minor, Op. 28, Molto agitato. Performed and recorded exclusively for Lynne Publishing by Abigail Mettry. [Tempo: Fast / 0 BPM]
A live performed recording of this traditional Celtic / Irish folk tune. World / Medieval / Historical Music [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 101 BPM]
An elegant, minimal, modern, and sophisticated Piano and Strings track that morphs into a dynamic and building groove with modern drums. Should be a perfect fit for sophisticated advertising projects that need to make a bold impact of "cool" and "elegance". Should compliment a vo message that has confidence and swagger. The emotional feeling is powerful and hip. [Tempo: Slow / 104 BPM]
An introspective and lonely track featuring guitars, bass and electric piano. Suitable for drama, story telling, and more. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 110 BPM]
A set of Irish jigs on solo fiddle. Lively and authentic. 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 / 180 BPM]
Johann Sebastian Bach - Two and Three-Part Inventions: Invention No. 2 in C minor, BWV 773. Solo piano. Music performed and recorded exclusively for Lynne Publishing by Abigail Mettry. [Tempo: Medium / 0 BPM]
Unmistakably Indian in mood and style but enveloped in contemporary production. There's a undercurrent of magic and mystery throughout the whole track which features a variety of lead instruments. World / Travel / Ethnic Music. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 90 BPM]
Smetana Vltava (The Moldau) JB 1.112/2 in E minor (Excerpt). Arranged and recorded by Bryan Chi. Starts with winds solo, the beautiful, lyrical theme starts at 1:08, played by the violins. [Tempo: Slow, Medium, Fast / 0 BPM]
Percussive, heartening, and with a touch of exoticism, this is a warm, mid-tempo jazzy track, with flutes, synths and organic percussion. Suitable for productions that require a heart-warming, yet somehow exciting backdrop. Great for commercials, features and shows with a touch of freshness and exhilaration. [Tempo: Medium / 112 BPM]
A rich, lush soundtrack that combines various ethnic / ancient / earthy type sounds with warm pads and a positive, inspirational feel. Discovery, amazing journeys, exploration, vast oceans or forests etc. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 87 BPM]
Violin, Mandolin, Trombone all feature in this macabre song that has an edgy folk twist. The rhythm is driving and the melody is sung with a frustrating powerful male vocal part. [Tempo: Medium / 0 BPM]
An original composition of music played on the Hurdy Hurdy, reminiscent of a misty bay in medieval times. Early music / world tradition / historical music / authentic. [Tempo: Medium / 98 BPM]
Imaginative, pulsing and repeating atmospheric music mood with string and kalimba. Bright / Creative / Light / Unique music. Neo-classical influence. [Tempo: Medium / 126 BPM]
Solo piano. Light, reflective, mellow, pretty. [Tempo: Slow / 0 BPM]
The famous grand piano piece, "Fur Elise" (for Elise) by Beethoven. Recorded exclusively for Shockwave-Sound.com by D Hamilton. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 0 BPM]
The finale of Act 1 of the Swan Lake ballet by Piotr Tchaikovsky. Recorded exclusively for Shockwave-Sound.com by D Hamilton. [Tempo: Very slow, Slow, Medium / 0 BPM]
Calm, spacious, tranquil, peacefully cinematic piano & strings piece with a sense of wonder & tension. Sedate, serene, contemplative, hypnotic, thoughtful & dreamy. Would suit dramatic / romantic / historic / documentary type projects where space is needed for evaluation. [Tempo: Slow / 89 BPM]
Traditional Polish folk song performed with female vocals, violins, accordion and frame drum. Available as a vocal version, and an instrumental versions with accordion lead, or violin lead. Instrumental versions can refer to Ukraine, Hungary, the Balkans, Russia, Slavic, etc. Polish spelling: W moim ogródecku. [Tempo: Medium, Fast / 128 BPM]
India / Bollywood / Indian and Eastern / Oriental pop culture. Tabla, Sitars, Eastern flutes and India style string sections combined with Western / modern drums and synths. Confident / Funky / Exotic. [Tempo: Medium / 110 BPM]
Exotic and dark Middle East / Arabic vocal (non-verbal) ominous, foreboding, deep pads and Eastern strings combined with a dark, edgy and minimalistic Trap / Hip-Hop beat. World / Arabian / Middle Eastern with a dark and edgy urban twist. (Stem files available.) [Tempo: Medium / 95 BPM]
An emotional soundtrack with an Eastern / Middle Eastern or Slavic feel. Available with or without fragile female vocalizations. Melodic, passionate, combining elements of sorrow and melancholy with those of light and hope. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 105 BPM]
Pomp and Circumstance, March no. 1, by Elgar. There is also an "Alternative entry point" version which starts where the most famous melody first comes in. Recorded exclusively for Shockwave-Sound.com by D Hamilton. [Tempo: Slow, Medium, Fast / 0 BPM]
Rhythmic didgeridoo with flute. Percussive end evocative. Pulsating / Moody / Ethnic / Mystical / Exotic. [Tempo: Medium / 94 BPM]
An ethereal, arpeggiated synth line floats over an electro baseline and gives a feeling of confidence and assertiveness. Great for use in communications technology or to give any corporate presentation a lively soundtrack. [Tempo: Medium, Fast / 120 BPM]
