Highguard music

Choristers of Cantiarch's Hold.

The Music of Highguard

Style summary

Highguard's music draws its inspiration from Western church choral music, plainsong and shapenote music (also known as Sacred Harp). Of these, the last probably best exemplifies the musical style - Highguard music is robust and enthusiastic, and accessible to all levels of talent. They enjoy rich harmonies and proudly devotional texts, although amongst themselves a wicked sense of humour occasionally emerges in some soldiers' songs and there are also some surprisingly tender lullabies.

Commonly known songs

Virtues Anthem - usually led by one singer with everyone joining in the refrain
Circle March - very easy repeating song
Hymn to Vigilance - usually led by one singer with everyone joining in the refrain

Popular with all strata of Highguard society, these three songs are heard in chapters, the necropolis, and the fields. It is when the army marches to war with its battle choir, however, that the full majesty of Highguard music is best displayed.

Highguard's music is robust and enthusiastic, accessible to all levels of talent.

A musical tradition

The Highguard Battle Choirs are a great imperial tradition - no nation marches to battle with the same holy fervour in their singing. Usually accompanied by a single drumbeat, the sound of the Highguard army in full voice is an awe-inspiring and intimidating sound. Often a small number of more confident singers lead the chant in a call-and-response pattern. At least in this context the choirsters are warriors first and musicians second - the singers need not be particularly talented, as it is holy fervour and their indomitable will that characterises the battle choir.

One for the kids

Circle March - very easy repeating song
Nursery Rhyme about Lineage- a very naughty chant, not to be repeated in front of anyone with Lineage!

Songs about notable people and entities in Highguard

Enoch and Levi - romantic ballad, Highguard style...
Pride of the Highborn - anthem of Adina's Charge
Silent Tide- anthem of the Chapter of the same name.
Anthem of Cantiarch's Hold
Vigilance Guide Our Faithful Watch -A song commemorating the founder of Felix's Watch.

Further examples

Songs

For Once I Was A Young Man - cautionary tale about the virtuous life
The Ritual for the Departed - haunting funerary song
Gone - another song for partings and funerals
Virtues Anthem - shapenote song with chorus
The Navigators - shapenote song, medium
Circle March - very easy repeating song
Hymn to Vigilance - medium call and response plainsong
Idumea - medium shapenote song about reincarnation
O Oriens - easy plainsong
Virtue Never Falter - rousing song with chorus, also popular in the Brass Coast
Least of my Kind - stirring battle song
Farewell Farewell - rousing funeral song from Highguard but also popular in the Brass Coast due to boat references
Highguard Go To War - Battle anthem
All Come Listen - a well known, simple song that can be sung as a round
The Waystone Anthem - a song celebrating Virtue and The Way
The Solace of Bells - a choral piece of remembrance; written for the Day of the Dead

Instrumentation

Highborn musical traditions favour the flute and other wind instruments. On days when the wind is high, a chapterhouse resounds with the song of wind chimes, aeolian harps and bells.
Trumpets and bugles are often blown before a battlefield charge.

Other performance traditions

How to adapt your repertoire

If singing in harmony, try to sing in consecutive 4ths or 5ths. This gives a fantastic 'plainchanty' sound perfect for Highguard. An example is Circle March (arranged by Katy Cooper) which starts in unison then goes into 4ths before full harmony.
Many songs can be made to sound plainchanty by just pulling the rhythm all over the place. Have a listen to some church psalms and simply substitute your own lyrics.

Our sources

Shape note/Sacred Harp singings (Northern or Southern Harmony), any plainchant choir,

Here is a youtube playlist of appropriate or inspiring music.