Royalty-Free Music

Title: Danse Macabre
Genre: Classical
Length: 6:46
Instrumentation: Full orchestra

Written by Saint Saens in 1874. This is a quite well known and epic piece of music. 005 See the wikipedia article on the piece for more information. Epic, Intense, Mysterious 2009

Title: Danse Macabre - Finale
Genre: Classical
Length: 0:22
Instrumentation: Full orchestra

Just the finale from the "Danse Macabre". This is the highest energy portion of the piece in isolation. 005 Action, Aggressive, Dark, Driving, Epic 2009

Title: Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G, Movement I (Allegro), BWV 1049
Genre: Classical
Length: 7:17
Instrumentation: Orchestral - Flute, Violin, Viola, Cello, Harpsichord

Bach. Violin, 2 Flutes (standard C Flute in this case), a mess of strings, and harpsichord. The primary violin is obviously sampled in a few of the faster passages, but the sweet tone shines through nicely on the slower notes. This is my first attempt at a Brandenburg... I suspect I'll revisit this one after I get a few more recorded. Still, it is probably the best free and digital recording available. 008 Bright, Uplifting 2005

Title: Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy
Genre: Classical
Length: 2:00
Instrumentation: Orchestra, Celesta
Tempo: 53

Tchaikovsky's piece, amped up a little bit and slightly arranged for more punch and bass. Bright, Humorous 2009

Title: Sugar Plum Dark Mix
Genre: Classical
Length: 2:06
Instrumentation: Orchestra, Celesta, Choir, Percussion, Synths
Tempo: 52

Tchaikovsky's dance from the Nutcracker with lots of percussion and extra choirs. Dark, Humorous 2009

Title: Sugar Plum Breakdown
Genre: Classical
Length: 0:46
Instrumentation: Orchestra, Celesta, Percussion, Synths
Tempo: 53

Just the final part of Tchaikovsky's piece with giant percussion and synths. Dark, Humorous 2009

Title: Schmetterling
Genre: Classical
Length: 1:03
Instrumentation: Pipe Organ, Choir

A giant cavernous mix of pipe organ and classical choir. German. 043 Dark, Eerie, Intense, Somber 2009

Title: Ghost Dance
Genre: Classical
Length: 1:13
Instrumentation: Piano,

6/8 piece with piano intro that leads into a sparse orchestral, and ends with piano again. 042 Dark, Epic, Mysterious 2009

Title: Danse Macabre - No Violin
Genre: Classical
Length: 6:46
Instrumentation: Full orchestra

This is the same as the other "Danse Macabre" on this site - but without the solo violin part... in case you're a violinist, and you want to play along at home. 005 Dark, Eerie, Epic, Intense 2009

Title: Danse Macabre - Isolated Harp
Genre: Classical
Length: 0:33
Instrumentation: Harp

This is just the harp part from section E of Danse Macabre (measure 205). I think the beauty of this part is often overlooked in the full piece, so I pulled it out for everyone to enjoy here. 005 Calming, Dark, Mysterious 2009

Title: Danse Macabre - Busy Strings
Genre: Classical
Length: 0:26
Instrumentation: Strings, trumpet, horns, winds

An interesting section of Danse Macabre from around measure 145. There is a particularly nice viola trill with ornament. 005 Dark, Driving, Epic, Mysterious 2009

Title: Danse Macabre - Violin Hook
Genre: Classical
Length: 0:34
Instrumentation: Violin and orchestra

This is the most famous section of Danse Macabre, and features a very nice violin line. 005 Bouncy, Dark, Eerie, Epic, Mysterious 2009

Title: Danse Macabre - Light Dance
Genre: Classical
Length: 0:28
Instrumentation: Full orchestra

A small section of Danse Macabre that features the basses, cellos, and violas each taking one beat out of the measure with a triplet. Light melody on the top. 005 Bouncy, Dark, Intense, Mysterious 2009

Title: Danse Macabre - Sad Part
Genre: Classical
Length: 0:21
Instrumentation: Violin and orchestra

Thematically, a small section of "Danse Macabre" - but with good motion. 005 Dark, Eerie, Intense, Mysterious 2009

Title: Danse Macabre - Xylophone
Genre: Classical
Length: 0:20
Instrumentation: Full orchestra

This is one of my favorite sections of "Danse Macabre"... lovely xylophone part. 005 Bouncy, Bright, Dark, Epic, Mysterious 2009

Title: Danse Macabre - Sad Part - no violin
Genre: Classical
Length: 0:15
Instrumentation: Strings

Just a small section of quiet fast playing strings from "Danse Macabre". 005 Dark, Eerie, Intense 2009

Title: Snowdrop
Genre: Classical
Length: 4:38
Instrumentation: Piano

A somber solo piano improvisation featuring a repeated melodic tone with arpeggiated shifting chords in the bass. Ends slightly uplifting. Reminiscent of Chopin's Raindrop Prelude. Dark, Eerie, Relaxed, Suspenseful 2009

Title: Divertimento K131
Genre: Classical
Length: 2:02
Instrumentation: Bells, Chimes, Harp, Celeste
Tempo: 138

This is an arrangement of Mozart's Divertimento (K131) for bells, harp, chimes and celeste. It is light and bouncy, with an accelerando around 45 seconds in. The work is played two times. 008 Bouncy, Bright, Humorous 2009

Title: Blue Feather
Genre: Classical
Length: 4:38
Instrumentation: Piano

Somber Solo Piano, with repetitive descending arpeggio motive. Contains uplifting moments, but generally sparse and mysterious. Calming, Dark, Eerie, Mysterious, Relaxed, Somber, Unnerving 2008

Title: Painful Disorientation
Genre: Classical
Length: 1:31
Instrumentation: Piano, Oboe

"Yak-Sized Piece of Grit That Flew Into My Eye, Causing 15 Seconds of Painful Disorientation" for oboe and pianoforte. Calm in beginning, then disorientation, with a textbook resolve. Humorous 2008

Title: The Rule
Genre: Classical
Length: 0:57
Instrumentation: Trumpets, French Horns, Trombones, Tuba, Bells, Tympani
Tempo: 15

I sort of regal opening brass fanfare. It is meant to join at the end with another piece of music... which has not been written yet. This works as a stand-alone opening for most anything. 042 Epic, Uplifting 2008

Title: Trio for Piano Violin and Viola
Genre: Classical
Length: 1:09
Instrumentation: Piano, Violin, Viola
Tempo: 104

An unfinished trio in 2 main parts. Dark, Relaxed, Somber 2008

Title: A Little Faith
Genre: Classical
Length: 1:28
Instrumentation: Trombones, French Horn, Clarinet, Flute, Basses

Woodwinds enter 53 seconds in, and the tone changes from outright depressing to somewhat hopeful. 036 Dark, Somber 2008

Title: Mourning Song
Genre: Classical
Length: 1:32
Instrumentation: Basses, Cellos, Oboe

Long broad notes with a solo oboe. 036 Dark, Somber, Unnerving 2008

Title: Tiny Fugue
Genre: Classical
Length: 0:41
Instrumentation: Pipe Organ

A very short fugal theme. (3-part imitative counterpoint) Dark, Intense, Mysterious 2008

Title: Toccata and Fugue in D Minor
Genre: Classical
Length: 8:41
Instrumentation: Pipe Organ
Tempo: 80

J. S. Bach's most famous organ piece. BWV 565. (Beckerath German baroque pipe organ) 008 Dark, Epic 2007

Title: Wagner Bridal Chorus
Genre: Classical
Length: 2:19
Instrumentation: Pipe Organ
Tempo: 60

The classic "here come the bride" piece written by Wagner for the opera Lohengrin. This is about as traditional a performance as you can get. 008 Epic, Uplifting 2007

Title: Wagner Bridal Chorus - piano
Genre: Classical
Length: 1:42
Instrumentation: Piano
Tempo: 60

A newer piano variation on Wagner's Bridal Chorus. It leaves out some of the less familiar middle section, and changes up a few chords while retaining the melody. 008 Calming, Uplifting 2007

Title: Lift Motif
Genre: Classical
Length: 0:44
Instrumentation: Piano
Tempo: 170

Airy-sounding short waltz. 027 Dark, Mystical, Uplifting 2007

Title: Sonatina in C Minor
Genre: Classical
Length: 1:18
Instrumentation: Piano, Violin
Tempo: 75

While not quite a sonatina - it is closer than anything else. Forte violin with nice double stops. Dark, Mysterious, Somber 2007

Title: Cello Suite #1 in G - Prelude
Genre: Classical
Length: 2:08
Instrumentation: Dulcimer
Tempo: 88

Bach's famous cello suite as played on a dulcimer. BWV 1007 008 Bright, Calming, Relaxed 2007

Title: Running Fanfare
Genre: Classical
Length: 0:22
Instrumentation: Tympani, Trumpets, Trombones
Tempo: 110

A short brass and drum fanfare meant for an introduction. 042 Epic, Uplifting 2007

Title: Intended Force
Genre: Classical
Length: 1:51
Instrumentation: Violin, Violas, Cellos, Basses, Tympani, Glock, Harp, Brass, Winds
Tempo: 146

Written to show off the violin, it ends on a very high note. 033 Epic, Driving, Intense 2007

Title: Thaxted (Holst)
Genre: Classical
Length: 2:32
Instrumentation: Orchestral - Full

Written by Gustav Holst, 1921; Arranged by Kevin MacLeod 2006. Originally published in a hymnbook - this piece took readily to the WWII retrospective type of arrangement. 008 Uplifting, Epic 2006

Title: Canon in D Major
Genre: Classical
Length: 5:55
Instrumentation: Orchestral - Bass, Violin, Harp

Pachelbel's Canon in D Major. Bass continuo with three violins. Harp duet doubling the parts. 008 Relaxed, Somber, Uplifting 2006

Title: Laendler in C Minor (Hess 68)
Genre: Classical
Length: 0:49
Instrumentation: Piano

Thanks to the Unheard Beethoven people for their great work on uncovering these lost pieces! This piece is ca. 1803. 008 Dark, Somber 2005

Title: Waltz (Tschikovsky Op. 40)
Genre: Classical
Length: 5:40
Instrumentation: Piano

Opus 40; Number 9. Written 1878. Recorded 2005. 008 Dark, Unnerving, 2005

Title: Ecossaise in E-flat (WoO 86)
Genre: Classical
Length: 0:30
Instrumentation: Piano

This is notable in that it was the last completed piano piece Beethoven ever wrote. Thanks to the Unheard Beethoven people for their great work on uncovering these lost pieces! 008 2005

Title: Divertissement - Pizzicato (from the ballet Sylvia)
Genre: Classical
Length: 1:35
Instrumentation: Orchestral - Pizz strings, Clarinet, Horn

Delibes. I am astounded that there are so few recordings of this piece on the net... for a few reasons. 1. Everyone knows this piece (but nearly no one knows what it is called). 2. It is very easy to record (Pizzicato strings have been one of the few samples that have sounded "real" for a long time). 3. The composer is long dead and his stuff is in the Public Domain (Léo Delibes; 1891). And for some background... Sylvia is a 3-Act ballet first produced in 1876. I'm pretty certain this particular piece has nothing to do with the plot - or it wouldn't be called a "divertissement". 008 Humorous, 2005

Title: Sheep May Safely Graze - BWV 208
Genre: Classical
Length: 3:57
Instrumentation: Small Ensemble - Celesta, Harp, Vibe, Marimba

Bach. Abnormal instrumentation. 008 Bright, Uplifting, Humorous 2004

Title: Chromatic Fantasia (Bach BWV 930)
Genre: Classical
Length: 6:41
Instrumentation: Organ

Bach. WARNING! This is a very baroque organ piece. It sounds very old. Not something you listen to unless you're into that kind of thing. 008 Intense, Dark, 2004

Title: Chromatic Fuge (Bach BWV 930)
Genre: Classical
Length: 5:53
Instrumentation: Organ

Bach. Among the most complex fugues ever written. 008 Intense, Dark, 2004

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