Artwork Commentary 2 - Music and Cultures

This is a commentary for the Women Warriors in The Historically Wrong Sketch Series on each of the Ladies Theme Music, which was used as an inspiration when creating each of the respective artworks. The aim of this writing will be used as personal reference for future uses, as well as information for general audience interested in the choice of music for the Historically Wrong Sketch Series.

Music has always been part of life, from the dawn of time till the present day. Melodies, whatever it may be, can entice the heart of men and stir the emotion of its listeners, creating multitude of expressions that can move men. For the saying goes "Weapon may pierce men's body, but only sound (or voice) can pierce their heart".

As for myself, I love music, although my taste in music may be a bit exotic for many people. Given the nature of my artistic works and the drive to learn histories and cultures of various people in the world to support my art, I mostly listen to the traditional/folk/instrumental musics that are common to each of the respective cultures. Of course, this would also differ depending on the time period explored, such as those in the classical antiquity, medieval, early modern or even modern times. Also, consideration need to be made whether the character or Lady in question is drawn in peace, or in action scene. Hence, the purpose of the music is not only as an inspiration, but also to provide audience the character's background theme and their cultural flavor, to the best of my abilities and knowledge.

Since Historically Wrong Sketch Series tend to generalize the culture it represents, I have divided the cultural group into the following to determine music best fitted to them. Please not that these may not represents cultural group accurately, nor it intends to, for the artistic purpose.

Historically Wrong Sketch Series Cultural Groups

Europe:
Iberian (Spanish, Portuguese), Western and Central Europe (French Latin, Germanic), Italian (Latin), Eastern European (Slavic), Scandinavia (north Germanic, Finno-Ugric). Byzantium (Greek, Armenians). British Isles (Gaellic)

Indo-Aryan: Persian (Iranian, Aryan), Hindustan (India, Aryan)

Semitic: Arabic (Bedouins), Jewish, Mesopotamian.

North Africa: Maghreb (Berber, Tuareg)

Rest of Africa: Western Africa (Mali), Eastern Africa (Abyssinian), and others not yet included. such as the Asanti, Kongolese, Swahili, etc.

Altaic: Mongol, Turkic, Steppe People like the Cumans, Kypchacks, Bulgars, Pechenegs, etc.

East Asian: Chinese (Han, Cantonese, etc.), Japanese (Including Indigenous people), Korean, Manchu.

South East Asian: Malay (Javanese, Minangkabauan, Malaya), Indochinese (Mon Khmer, Vietnamese), Thai.

Rest of Asia: Burman (Tibetan, Burmese)

America: North American Natives, Mesoamerican (Aztec), South American (Inca), Carribean Natives. European Settlers.

Others: Pacific Islanders, Austronesian, Native Artic (Tusgusic, Inuit)

NOTE: These cultural groups does not apply to Classical Antiquity Period, which will be explored further.

As you can see, this is a very, very simplied cultural group that i have condensed, amongst the hundreds that exists in the world, mainly for the purpose of finding the correct music and cultural flavor benefiting the characters from each respective group.

Some music fits the cultural group perfectly (at least, in my opinion), and I often used repetitively to portray the character. For the majority of others, mostly i used theme music to fit the setting, however inaccurate the relevance may be.

Let me give a few examples as listed below

For Culture Specific:

Mongol, Steppe and Manchu (not altaic): Enkh Jargal Great Eagle Dance - www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVFDAu…

Ottoman Turkish - Jordi Savall and Various Artist - www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibCS-s… or www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPI8FZ…

For Period Specific:

Medieval Europe: Vox Vulgaris Cantiga - 166 www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_kIkM…

Viking Age: Norse Theme, you can look for Skyrim's Soundtrack or www.youtube.com/watch?v=hU3I0g…

For Theme Specific:

Women Warriors Epic Theme: Jo Blackenburg Imperatrix Mundi - www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ql1k7Y…

Women Warriors Supremacy theme: Andreas Waldetoft Legacy of Rome - www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DD_NR…

Women Warriors Battle Theme: Andreas Waldetoft Stage is Set - www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivAzHl…

Women Warriors Influence Theme: Andreas Waldetoft The Stonemasons - www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtCTMv…

Miscellaneous Theme (Not necessarily related with HWS series):

Memento Mori (Death of a Character) Theme - www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wUafU… (generic) or www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7yYhp… (asian)

Project ELISE (Modern Setting) - Woodkid Run Boy Run www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmc21V…

Pin-up Girl Theme: Hed Kandi Wez Clarke Walking With a Smile - www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlwz5Q…

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Each of the characters have their respective theme music if you are interested to find out the source of my inspiration. Although, maybe the taste may not be for everyone, I hope that it gives the character more value than simply just a drawing. With this, i believe everyone have their own source of inspirations to create their fantastic works, as for myself, a lovely music would do just fine. Of course, along the way, i have received many support and suggestions for musical theme from various people of different culture and backgrounds, so i would really like to extend my thanks to them as well