Greetings, intrepid readers! M. H. Barton here with another blog on the art and craft of storytelling. Today, I decided to get back to my artistic roots as a musician. Yes, I was a musician long before I was a writer, specifically a classically trained trumpet player. As such, I usually work and write to music. While I can do my standard Corporate America job listening to almost any type of music, my needs are far more specific when writing a story. Those tastes skew almost exclusively to instrumental music with a heavy dose of classical, along with some movie and video game soundtracks. Some of this music is helpful in a very general sense of inspiration, while other pieces are useful in very specific ways. Today, I wanted to talk about the pieces I listen to most often while writing and why they’re so helpful in my efforts. This is, of course, only my opinion. As well, this isn’t necessarily a ranking of quality but more a ranking of which music I use most often. Anyway, that’s enough introduction. Let’s get to it!
Number Ten: Shostakovich – Symphony No. 5
This symphony is an inspiration for reasons both musical and historical. Composer Dimitri Shostakovich was having a rough go of it in the Soviet Union. He had been forced to withdraw his Symphony No. 4 due to criticism from the Party and now had no choice but to write a piece embodying the true spirit of Soviet Russia. Thus, he crafted this masterpiece in 1937. Its premiere was nothing short of a triumph, with both the public and Party officials praising it unanimously. But best of all, we’ve learned in recent years of the tiny measures of protest Shostakovich snuck into the music. In particular, the final section of the finale represents intense patriotism on its surface, but one can still feel something dark and sinister lurking below. The praise and adoration in the music are strained and forced, just as Shostakovich was in composing this symphony. It continues to remind us of the dangers of censorship and how a creative mind can find tiny ways to win victories against such Draconian measures. Whether for the political protest he snuck into the score or the sheer power of the music itself, this is a symphony for the ages.
Number Nine: Various – The Legend of Zelda
I’ve always loved The Legend of Zelda as a video game series. It truly encapsulates the sense of adventure I love in great storytelling, and in no way is this better represented than in the music. From exciting and swashbuckling to lonely and mysterious, the music always hits the right tone. I especially love that, even with the familiar themes used across the decades, each game has its own unique style and tone. In The Windwaker, for example, much of the music evokes shanties and other sailing music, fitting well with the oceanic setting of the game. The music of Twilight Princess is darker and more dissonant, reflecting the horror elements seen in the game’s story. Breath of the Wild has more minimalist music, almost nonexistent at times, which works with the post-apocalyptic survival gameplay. These games are a masterclass in telling a story through music, no lyrics needed.
Number Eight: Dvorák – Symphony No. 9
This piece, popularly known by its subtitle, For the New World, is more generally inspiring for me. It’s been one of my favorite pieces of classical music for years, simple as that. During his time in America, Dvorák set out to write a truly American symphony. His research resulted in him combining traditional Native American music and imagery, African American spirituals, and folk-style music into an impressive work. I love things about every movement of this work, from the adventurous opening and the beautiful second movement to the war-like third movement and the exciting finale. This is one of those pieces I could just listen to on repeat… and sometimes do.
Number Seven: Gershwin – Rhapsody in Blue
Is there a more American piece of music than this one? Not to me. George Gershwin’s jazz concerto for piano has been scored again and again over the years. Whether in its original form for jazz big band, the second version for pit orchestra, or the later orchestration for a full symphony, this piece is quintessentially American. Some, myself included, consider it the theme music of New York City itself. While I’m partial to the symphonic version, all versions of this piece are awe-inspiring and should be appreciated. From the greasy clarinet opening to the frantic subway-inspired finale, this piece always makes me excited to tell a story.
Number Six: Williams – Star Wars
While the various films and TV shows of the Star Wars franchise are all over the place in quality, the music is consistently stellar. This is in large part to the greatest composer of film scores the world has ever seen, John Williams. It doesn’t matter which film’s soundtrack I put in, any of them always put me in the proper mindset for writing. In particular, “Binary Sunset” from A New Hope does wonders for my brainstorming efforts. Whenever I’m working on outlining a story or trying to come up with a new idea for a character or plot point, this is my go-to.
Number Five: Beethoven – Symphony No. 9
Perhaps the most universally recognizable and beloved classical piece of them all, Beethoven’s final complete symphony simply oozes inspiration. It’s so iconic that many refer to it as the only ninth symphony. Though it has its detractors who claim it to be overrated, I can honestly say this is the greatest symphonic work ever composed, especially given that Beethoven was deaf during its composition and premiere. The finale is majestic, as everyone knows, but the entire symphony is truly a complete work of art. As mind-blowing as the “Ode to Joy” is, I encourage anyone listening to this piece to take it as a whole, complete work. It makes the ending far more satisfying, which is the biggest lesson this piece always teaches me. The most dramatic ending is diminished without a meaningful journey to precede it.
Number Four: Rimsky-Korsakov – Scheherazade
This symphonic suite should be near and dear to the hearts and minds of all storytellers, as it brings to life one of the original storytellers, Scheherazade herself. From the start of the piece, we hear the themes of the Sultan and Scheherazade stated clearly before these themes begin to meld into the rest of the music. The Sultan’s domineering theme softens to depict Sinbad’s ship on the sea and Scheherazade’s mesmerizing theme dances throughout. This incredible musical storytelling continues through all four movements, with both of the main themes becoming more varied as the Sultan grows impatient and Scheherazade begins to weave ever more complicated stories. And while I love a bombastic finish to symphonic works, this one could only conclude with a quiet coda after the rousing finale. With all the complexities of the piece, the themes of the Sultan and Scheherazade are brought back to a quiet simplicity, showing the Sultan pardoning Scheherazade before she finally gets a peaceful night of rest for herself. Seriously, I get chills every time I listen to this one. Nothing more I can say.
Number Three: Beethoven – Symphony No. 5
Another Beethoven symphony, and while this one is certainly inspiring, I also listen to it to help get me into a very specific mindset. This symphony is an excellent example of how Beethoven can take something simple, such as the famed four opening notes of this piece, and spin them into something increasingly complex. Those opening notes, often thought of as Fate knocking, return almost incessantly throughout this work. Whether played in the quiet background, as a startling fanfare, or building towards the finale’s climax, these notes are ever-present. This is precisely why this piece helps my writing so much – it gets me in a mindset of building on increasing complexities. When I’m working out a convoluted series of events and have to make sure all the boxes are checked, this music focuses my mind to that level. It’s proven invaluable for me time and time again.
Number Two: Uematsu – One Winged Angel
You already know that I love video game soundtracks, and the final fight against Sephiroth in Final Fantasy VII features possibly the single greatest piece of music ever written for a video game. “One Winged Angel” is powerful, intense, mysterious, and just a little terrifying. In other words, it’s everything one should want to hear while fighting a final boss. That’s why this is my go-to music when I write fight scenes, particularly the ultimate climax of a story. Just as a video game’s final boss should be the culmination of everything the player has learned while playing the game, the climax of a story should be the culmination of all the themes and character arcs therein. No piece of music represents this ideal more than “One Winged Angel” in my opinion and I hope to be listening to it for many future climax scenes to come.
Before we get to the winner, let's do a few...
Honorable Mentions
Mozart – Symphony No. 39
Though Mozart’s subsequent two symphonies may be more famous, this one is special to me, as it was the first symphony I ever performed as part of a full orchestra. With Mozart’s impeccable precision and memorable themes, it remains an excellent piece to write to.
Respighi – Pines of Rome
This tone poem is a beautiful example of program music, telling a specific story through the composer’s vision. The opening is frantic and fun, I adore the haunting, lyrical melodies of the middle two movements, and the powerful finale is one of the best endings to any piece in the classical repertoire, in my mind.
Giacchino – The Incredibles
Michael Giacchino composed one of the greatest film soundtracks of all time in this Pixar classic. His music perfectly captures the feel of Silver Age superhero comics while also giving those heroes room to breathe in their private lives. Obviously, this soundtrack provides a great mindset for writing fast-paced action sequences.
Mahler – Symphony No. 5
Gustav Mahler is my favorite classical composer, and this is my second favorite of his symphonies for several reasons. One, there are many incredible sections to perform on trumpet throughout this work. Two, it’s hugely famous, being used in movies and TV shows. But most of all, it’s an incredible ride of emotion. That said, it still falls to…
Number One: Mahler – Symphony No. 1
While Mahler’s Fifth may be my favorite symphony to perform, his First is far and away my favorite to listen to. To me, this work is the perfect musical representation of the writing technique of The Hero’s Journey. The hero has humble, idealistic beginnings, which give way to growth. Along the way, he finds love and humor, but dark times are unavoidable. Yet even through these stormy moments, the hero perseveres and emerges from his trials triumphant. As I previously stated, Mahler is a true master of emotion in music. Throughout his life, he wore his emotions right on his sleeve, and few composers put more of their soul into their works than Mahler. I frickin’ love every second of this symphony and it’s by far my most frequently listened to piece of music for my writings.
And that’s going to do it for this list of music. I hope you found it entertaining, maybe even helpful in your own writing endeavors. Sometimes, that one new piece of music is exactly what a writer needs to get past a block. Feel free to let me know what you thought in the comments or reach out directly, especially if you have any ideas or requests for future entries. I’ve got an active running list of ideas, but I’m always open to more. I’d appreciate it if you’d leave a like and share this post on social media. And to stay up to date on future blog posts, you can sign up for my monthly newsletter on my website. Until the next story!
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