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 short koto piece that captures the essence of Japanese musical improvisation. [Tempo: Very slow, Slow / 0 BPM]
A live performed recording of this traditional Celtic / Irish folk tune. Old Town / Medieval Village / Tavern Music. [Tempo: Medium, Fast / 118 BPM]
India, modern meets traditional. Corporate, technology, with tabla, percussion and orchestra. [Tempo: Fast / 119 BPM]
An intense Japanese piece. Heavy, grooving percussion combines with traditional wind and string instruments to create a dark, adventurous, and dangerous overall vibe. [Tempo: Medium, Fast / 70 BPM]
Elegant and stately arrangement of the Purcell Trumpet Tune recorded with live string quartet and trumpet. Recorded exclusively for Shockwave-Sound.com by D Hamilton. [Tempo: Medium / 0 BPM]
Calm and positive music featuring traditional Japanese / Oriental instruments. Meditative and cultural. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 58 BPM]
An eerie voice calls from a distance, drum hits keep us on our toes. A shadowy figure moves through the desert like a ghost; forsaken, alone. Would work great leading up to a military conflict in a middle east setting. [Tempo: Very slow, Slow / 72 BPM]
A very positive and uplifting World / Travel / Exploration track. Upbeat, happy and fun, this track will go well with travel programs, hiking and exploration, culture and discovery. Slightly African feel, but can also go well with other world regions. [Tempo: Medium / 136 BPM]
Festive and joyful traditional Peruvian / South American music. Festures panpipes, charangos and Ocarina. Great for travel and documentaries. [Tempo: Medium, Fast / 160 BPM]
A Renaissance court music dance that originated in Renaissance England and was popular throughout Europe. One of several country dance tunes taken from The Dancing Master by John Playford (1623-1686). Performed live in a studio by the Fleurdelis ensemble using authentic live instruments modeled on the instruments of the original era. Hand percussion, renaissance recorder, Irish Bouzouki and Rabab Kashgar (a long-necked Lute instrument). [Tempo: Medium, Fast / 135 BPM]
A folk pop/sea shanty song that draws upon vivid imagery. Available as a vocal version and an instrumental version. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 80 BPM]
Calm and relaxing, this track features traditional Chinese instruments in a light and airy setting. Perfect for travel, culture or history. Meditative and noble. [Tempo: Slow / 60 BPM]
Beethoven Symphony No.5, Op.67 in C minor, 1. allegro con brio (Excerpt). Arranged and recorded by Bryan Chi. [Tempo: Medium, Fast / 0 BPM]
A traditional orchestral arrangement of the British national anthem 'God Save the Queen'. Arr. Lee Pritchard. This instrumental orchestral arrangement is reminiscent of the BBC's version used in association with The Proms, which is an annual celebration in British culture that encompasses many Classical music performances over a number of events. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 73 BPM]
Picture a sleepy town in Mexico, it’s hot, the sun is high in the sky, and the Spanish girl walking by is beautiful, romance is in the air. Nylon Guitars strum, piano melody plays, percussion elements glide in the background. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 112 BPM]
Cool piano, marimba, bass, and drums in the style of American Beauty give a feeling of sophistication, drama, movement and determination. Energy builds to a tight ending and a reflective coda. [Tempo: Medium / 96 BPM]
An original piece stylized as a medieval era Eastern European folk music dance. Performed live in a studio by the Fleurdelis ensemble featuring authentic instruments of the time; the Hurdy-Gurdy, Bouzouki, Recorder and percussion instruments. Excited, busy, happy, celebratory. Early music / Medieval music. [Tempo: Fast, Very fast / 130 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]
A 16th century renaissance music dance that originated in France; originally composed by Claude Gervaise (1525–1583). Danced at courts all over Renaissance Europe. Performed live in studio by Fleurdelis, featuring traditional percussion, Rabab Kashgar (An Arabic long-necked Lute), bagpipe and renaissance recorders. [Tempo: Medium, Fast / 102 BPM]
A collection of 3 short Oriental / Japanese style stingers/jingles. Koto, strings, ethnic percussion elements. [Tempo: Medium / 100 BPM]
Passionate Latin music composition with authentic acoustic guitars, percussion, bass and drums. Great for films and videos, exotic dance, music for holiday and vacation, travel and fun. [Tempo: Medium, Fast / 108 BPM]
A classic Bedouin mood combined with more modern variety of sounds and instruments. Sincere and loving, nostalgic mood from the ancient world of the Orient / Gulf region. The quarter tones have been replaces with normal minor/major chords, the kanun and flute define the emotional parts. Eastern beauty and grace. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 85 BPM]
Relaxed, exotic and mysterious African track with traditional instrumentation and cinematic strings. Suitable for movies and documentaries. [Tempo: Medium / 89 BPM]
A dark, ambient, electronic piece, with ominous bass and synth tracks. Elements of science fiction are present, with an overall sound that sits tensely just below the boiling point. [Tempo: Medium / 120 BPM]
Ambient Indian music with an air of mystery and tension featuring sitar, percussion, flute and strings. Great for travel, movies, documentaries or any project in need of an exotic, asian underscore. [Tempo: Medium / 120 BPM]
Inspired by the Salburun Eagle Hunting Festival of Kyrgyzstan, this music track begins solemnly but has a lively mid section that feel like a true celebration of the festival and all that surrounds it. Oriental / World / Travel Music. [Tempo: Slow, Fast / 96 BPM]
Dramatic and dark solo piano composition. Tragic but beautiful music full of nostalgia and dramatism about the memories of the past, reminscence of lost loved ones. This emotional composition can greatly enhance dramatic trailers, films, documentaries and videos. [Tempo: Very slow, Slow / 62 BPM]
A Khaligy style track that brings a fusion mode between world music, and khaligy (emirates, saudi, kuwait, Bahrain) it has a dynamic chorus, then it goes back to to a reflective ambient dream. [Tempo: Medium / 110 BPM]
Live piano music performance of the classical Beethoven piece. Movement 2. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 0 BPM]
In the Hall of the Mountain King, from the Peer Gynt suite by the Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg. Recorded exclusively for Shockwave-Sound.com by D Hamilton. [Tempo: Slow, Fast, Very fast / 0 BPM]
Symphonie fantastique in G minor, Op. 14 IV. Marche au supplice (March to the Scaffold), by Hector Berlioz. Recorded exclusively for Shockwave-Sound.com by D Hamilton. [Tempo: Slow, Medium, Fast / 0 BPM]
This track starts with a dreamy flute and saz instrument. The scales & harmonies, which are used widely in all of the middle eastern region from Iran to Lebanon, are called "hijaz tune" and is very familiar to all that region. [Tempo: Medium / 105 BPM]
Nostalgic and intense. Deep and Honest. The Milonga is a Latin musical genre that originated in the Rio de la Plata areas of Argentina and Uruguay and represents in a reliable way the feeling of the people in those lands. 100% authentic & live performed. No computers, no samples. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 67 BPM]
An exotic and passionate World fusion / Eastern / Greek / Mediterranean / Gulf / Oriental music track. Features a live performed Greek Bouzouki instrument. Great music for culture and travel, holiday and vacations, exploring and enjoying new countries and cultures. [Tempo: Medium / 96 BPM]
Middle Eastern music with a touch of mystery. Features traditional instruments and rhythms. Suitable for travel, nature and culture. [Tempo: Very slow, Slow / 57 BPM]
A live performed recording of this traditional Celtic / Irish folk tune. Medieval / Pirate / Ballad Music. [Tempo: Fast / 114 BPM]
Moritz Moszkowski Etude No. 6 in F Major, Op. 72, Presto. Performed and recorded by Abigail Mettry exclusively for Shockwave-Sound.com. [Tempo: Fast / 0 BPM]
Ambient, atmospheric track with a World / Middle East / Egyptian atmosphere. Mystical and mysterious, great for exploration, perhaps ancient Egypt, discovery, adventure, mystery. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 0 BPM]
Traditional Indian instruments combine with an electronic flair to create this adventurous, grooving Middle Eastern piece. [Tempo: Medium / 104 BPM]
Relaxed and laid back traditional African music with a contemporary mood and feel. Great for festive moments, culture and travel. Lots of mbiras [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 83 BPM]
Mid-tempo track, with a strong Middle-Eastern flavor, this is a hypnotic, meditative, relaxing soundscape for your production. Suitable for films and documentaries set in the Middle-Easter or about related subjects. Also great for pensive, quiet, exotic backdrop for other productions. [Tempo: Slow / 88 BPM]
An original composition stylized as a medieval folk dance. Lively and authentic historical music. Performed live in studio by Fleurdelis, featuring Lyre, traditional percussion, Bagpipes and Renaissance Recorder. [Tempo: Medium, Fast / 105 BPM]
Traditional Chinese music with a moderately serious edge. Good for culture and nature or documentaries. [Tempo: Slow / 57 BPM]
Jazzy, Latin-flavored, cheerful mid-tempo track, with lively percussion and an outstanding melodica melody. Suitable for positive, upbeat, happy scenes or sequences and for productions that require a rhythmic, musical soundscape. Great for commercials, movies, and other projects. [Tempo: Medium / 96 BPM]
A medieval music / song and accompanying dance, originating in Provence, popular between the 12th and 14th centuries in France, Italy, England, and Spain. Performed live in studio by Fleurdelis, featuring traditional percussion, renaissance recorders, Lyre and Hurdy Gurdy. [Tempo: Medium, Fast / 79 BPM]
This track features traditional African instruments along with bass guitar. It has a positive and uplifting vibe and can work in both traditional African and modern African settings. [Tempo: Medium, Fast / 110 BPM]
Händel's Sarabande, arranged for string section and harpsichord. Recorded exclusively for Shockwave-Sound.com by D Hamilton. [Tempo: Very slow, Slow / 0 BPM]
The very famous and universally loved The Blue Danube waltz, also known as An der schnen blauen Donau, by Johann Strauss II. Recorded exclusively for Shockwave-Sound.com by D Hamilton. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 0 BPM]
Authentic world pop features African percussion and melodies. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 104 BPM]
Combining stylistic elements of traditional Indian music and western film music, this colourful and textured track gradually builds up to an emotional yet resolute and satisfying climax. [Tempo: Medium / 105 BPM]
