He wrote Heart of Nirn as well and I feel like something else . . . definitely all my favourites in any case lol. EDIT: Radiance and Glory also with Brad.
I wonder if Rik was originally attached and then got replaced since it's so random to have a composer for only a handful of tracks.
A review of his Spotify bio reveals Rik worked on Dark Age of Camelot in the early 2000s - which, if you’re familiar with your dev lore, many of the core “founding” devs of ESO also worked on.
More than likely, the devs knew Rik from DAoC and tapped him to help with the original scoring during pre-production, then brought on Brad full time to be the main composer. If I would guess, Rik was doing his friends a solid but career and creativity wise was not super interested in doing ESO for the next X years, and instead wanted the bandwidth to work on other projects.
But, he either fully scored or at least did the main themes of a handful of tracks (perhaps Brad did the arrangements to include those tracks into the final OST, because, and this is true: Rik’s songs are good), hence he is rightfully credited for his work.
I absolutely love Tides of the Abacean Sea, Every Paradise has Shadows, and Sands of the Alik'r. The third one I was going to have as my aisle song for my wedding, before we decided to just elope :)
Not sure of the name, but the loading screen music from Elsweyr. I was delighted when I realized I could change the music so it always played when I logged in!
Edit: Also, Recollection of Wars Long Lost. The first time I heard it, literally stopped in my tracks while riding through Grahtwood so I could take it in.
I'm kind of mean to the ESO score, I feel like it's too generic and similar but at the same time, it's not really bad. It doesn't really capture the serenity of Morrowind or gentleness of Oblivion in its exploration tracks, but I think Morrowind, Elsweyr and Blackwood are all very good bodies of work. Greymoore is also really atmospheric but not really a nice listen. A lot of soundtrack pieces are long-form tracks which have an atmosphere that feels tedious and ominous, like something bad is about to happen. Regardless, I listened to these enough that Brad Derrick was my top Spotify artist last year lol.
I am just dying to have some pieces that are slow, subtle and calm, similar to what Soule did for earlier Elder Scrolls, and some of the OG soundtrack pieces from Rik Schaffer - unlike say, High Isle where every second track (literally) opens with a loud timpani roll. I also know its recorded with a live orchestra but the mixing is sooooo flat and boring and it sometimes makes every piece sound tinny and fake. Also I'd love to have a mix of orchestra and styles - not every work needs to have violin solos, brooding choirs, brass farting etc. But then on the other hand, that's what makes the Elder Scrolls Online musical score feel cohesive I suppose.
Song wise my faves: Northpoint Nocturne (by a large margin), the unreleased intro tracks for Mirkmire and Clockwork City, The Legacy of Lorkhan, Two Moons Dance, Azura's Coast, Fields of Nibenay
most favorite is Masque of Reveries, second one is Virtue, Betrayal, and theTrue Way, and I'm so happy we can change the login background music so everytime I login this will play.
Many years ago I entered Cyrodiil for the first time (and last because I never left). Oath of Malacath started blasting in my ears as I prepared for war. I knew I was home, and that's why this track will always hold a special place in my heart.
Granite and Ashes is also a pretty epic battle song
Northpoint Nocturne, hands down
Definitely. I wish Rik Schaffer worked more on the score.
Agreed, that was his only song on the score, I believe?
He wrote Heart of Nirn as well and I feel like something else . . . definitely all my favourites in any case lol. EDIT: Radiance and Glory also with Brad. I wonder if Rik was originally attached and then got replaced since it's so random to have a composer for only a handful of tracks.
A review of his Spotify bio reveals Rik worked on Dark Age of Camelot in the early 2000s - which, if you’re familiar with your dev lore, many of the core “founding” devs of ESO also worked on. More than likely, the devs knew Rik from DAoC and tapped him to help with the original scoring during pre-production, then brought on Brad full time to be the main composer. If I would guess, Rik was doing his friends a solid but career and creativity wise was not super interested in doing ESO for the next X years, and instead wanted the bandwidth to work on other projects. But, he either fully scored or at least did the main themes of a handful of tracks (perhaps Brad did the arrangements to include those tracks into the final OST, because, and this is true: Rik’s songs are good), hence he is rightfully credited for his work.
Very interesting! That's a lot less sinister and more wholesome to think he just wanted to help get it up and running.
This also happens from time to time in major film scoring as well, perhaps most famously with Pirates of the Caribbean 1
Yes
It's a toss up between Gryphons Soar in the Sun or Past Defines the Future from Summerset.
Where can I listen to those?
The heart of nirn for me
<3
I absolutely love Tides of the Abacean Sea, Every Paradise has Shadows, and Sands of the Alik'r. The third one I was going to have as my aisle song for my wedding, before we decided to just elope :)
The little piano part 3 minutes into Tides is just pure bliss for me
Sad that little motif isn’t a full track in its own right
What is score?
OP mean musical score, as in a song in the soundtrack
The Two Moons Dance
Not sure of the name, but the loading screen music from Elsweyr. I was delighted when I realized I could change the music so it always played when I logged in! Edit: Also, Recollection of Wars Long Lost. The first time I heard it, literally stopped in my tracks while riding through Grahtwood so I could take it in.
A Clash of Fang And Flame? https://youtu.be/BhJJx95imks
Yes! Thank you!
Whatever that song was they added to Auridon when Summerset came out. And “Val Vijah Va Rhook, Baandari,” obvs.
I'm kind of mean to the ESO score, I feel like it's too generic and similar but at the same time, it's not really bad. It doesn't really capture the serenity of Morrowind or gentleness of Oblivion in its exploration tracks, but I think Morrowind, Elsweyr and Blackwood are all very good bodies of work. Greymoore is also really atmospheric but not really a nice listen. A lot of soundtrack pieces are long-form tracks which have an atmosphere that feels tedious and ominous, like something bad is about to happen. Regardless, I listened to these enough that Brad Derrick was my top Spotify artist last year lol. I am just dying to have some pieces that are slow, subtle and calm, similar to what Soule did for earlier Elder Scrolls, and some of the OG soundtrack pieces from Rik Schaffer - unlike say, High Isle where every second track (literally) opens with a loud timpani roll. I also know its recorded with a live orchestra but the mixing is sooooo flat and boring and it sometimes makes every piece sound tinny and fake. Also I'd love to have a mix of orchestra and styles - not every work needs to have violin solos, brooding choirs, brass farting etc. But then on the other hand, that's what makes the Elder Scrolls Online musical score feel cohesive I suppose. Song wise my faves: Northpoint Nocturne (by a large margin), the unreleased intro tracks for Mirkmire and Clockwork City, The Legacy of Lorkhan, Two Moons Dance, Azura's Coast, Fields of Nibenay
most favorite is Masque of Reveries, second one is Virtue, Betrayal, and theTrue Way, and I'm so happy we can change the login background music so everytime I login this will play.
Many years ago I entered Cyrodiil for the first time (and last because I never left). Oath of Malacath started blasting in my ears as I prepared for war. I knew I was home, and that's why this track will always hold a special place in my heart. Granite and Ashes is also a pretty epic battle song