Urizen music

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Urizen has music. At the moment there's a note about art in the culture section that might be relevant or offer some inspiration.

Artistic Urizen love poetry, but their work tends to follow strict structural rules. Urizen poets are expected to be technically excellent, and are applauded for their clever use of structure and meter. They also value sculpture and painting, again preferring a technically pleasing piece that appeals to the reason and is aesthetically pleasing. The only art form they are a little suspicious of is theatre – there is something unsettlingly and deceptive about the business of pretending to be someone else portraying false emotions. Urizen theatrical events tend more towards political or philosophical dialogues than entertainment as such, but a small number of Urizen have begun to embrace the theatrical traditions of the other Nations and are exploring ways to develop their own Urizen style.

The Music of Urizen

Style summary

The Urizen musical tradition mirrors their tranquil, philosophical approach to life. More in meditation than performance, traditional Urizen musicians gather to improvise fluid, shifting melodies and harmonies around a series of repetitive themes, usually choosing a theme such as 'tranquility', 'hope' or 'grief'. They favour picked strings, tuned percussion and light, breathy woodwind, though any instrument can be played as part of the soundscape.

Real world inspiration includes gamelan, minimalists such as Phillip Glass and Ludivico Ianoudi, Vangelis and Mike Oldfield, though with acoustic rather than electric instruments.

Commonly known songs

Pick a few examples from the list below to specifically promote as well-known within that nation. Provide lyrics and score/chords. Preferably in a range of difficulties.

A musical tradition

Urizen does not have a popular concert tradition. However improvised musical themes are sometimes included in philosophical meditation sessions or magical rituals with the wizard either playing or surrounding herself with players if she is not a musician, in order to focus the mind and senses on the task at hand.

Further examples

More examples for keen bards.

Songs

Urizen does not have its own song tradition, although bards will happily purloin the songs of other nations to sing in bars and around campfires. See Music for songs known throughout the Empire.

Instrumentation

Bells, glockenspiels, hammer dulcimer, soft pipes, long notes from bowed instruments or drone instruments such as singing bowls or wine glasses.

Our sources

Credits, links to artists, further material etc.