I love celtic music... traditional and the newer stuff as well. I'm a big fan of Loreena McKennitt.

Have you heard Keith and Kristen Getty? Talk about a voice that will make you cry! They write hymns using Celtic music as their base. They're both from Ireland too, so you should hear them talk! I love the traditional stuff, but I like some of the new blood too.

Are they kind of like Clannad? And now that you've piqued my interest is there a link where I can hear some?

http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/s/Come+ ... ing/2uunDD

I love some of their songs. That one is played on my local Christian radio quite a bit. (actually, I didn't know it was by Keith and Kristen Getty until I looked them up on Grooveshark. I just thought their names seemed familiar. )

Oh and to see more of their stuff, click on their name. that'll bring you to the album that's in. There's only two albums on Grooveshark(that I can find, at least), and the other is under a different spelling of their name(s). :P

Nope, different than Clannad. Here's a link to one of my favorite songs they do. This one isn't one where Kristyn's voice makes me cry. Unless you get the privilege of hearing her sing it in person (wow, so much better than you Tube!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-YISm70 ... re=related .
Or, another of my favorites is this one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8Pf92YA ... re=related
And finally, a voice to make the Angel's cry.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGg40zKR ... re=related
Man, you should hear some of the notes she can hit!

As a side note, all us Getty fans are ecstatic to have learned that Keith and Kristyn have finally been able to conceive their first child. Praise God for opening her womb!

You posted before me Amanda K!

Yep, I did. I type faster than you. (and it just so happened that I was listening to that song at the time, which made it easier to get the link. )

I'll have you know I type quite fast thank you very much *indignant look*!
However, I did have to sort through You tube and try to find some good quality footage. Some people do not know how to videotape.

[Off topic] I know![/Off topic]

Well, I like music. On-topicness is alright as well.

A few Celtic artists I know:

Celtic Woman - My mom and I really enjoy her music.

Hayley Westenra - She has a lovely voice! She has a CD where she features Celtic music such as Danny Boy.

Celtic Thunder - I've heard very little of their music, but have friends who really like them. ^^

The symphonic metal band Leaves' Eyes has put out two albums, Vinland Saga and Njord, with lyrics about Vikings, both of which are good.

I can't listen to music when I write, though.

Same here...it usually distracts me. Sometimes I can though...I'm not very consistent.

I just love Celtic music!

Very good band Jonathan, although as a metal head myself, and a christian, I really don't listen to secular metal much anymore. There are a few bands I'll still listen to though, and I do enjoy Leaves' Eyes. If you like them, you would probably like Nightwish (I recommend The Wishmaster) as well, and perhaps Kamelot, or Falconer. Blind Guardian is another great band, and one of their albums is dedicated to Tolkien's Middle Earth.... cool stuff and lots of interesting minstrel-esque stuff in some of their songs as well.

Keith and Kristen Getty... I listened and enjoyed

I like Leaves' Eyes as well. ^^ I have heard some Nightwish and like listening to Within Temptation as well. (Like Two Steps from Hell the music isn't as bad as some would be led to believe by the title.)

Here's one song by Within Temptation that I think is pretty: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUy36jUWxe8

Wow Calen, I love that link! The song sounds like something out of LotR. It was beautiful.

Same here. Wow, that was beautiful.

I used to really like Nightwish, but I was kind of disappointed when they started getting darker and vaguely occultic.

Therion is a symphonic metal band that has choirs sing the lyrics. I can't recommend them in general, because they tend to be occultic, but they have one album called Secret of the Runes about Nordic legends.

I'm glad you guys liked it too. ^^ Sharon den Adel (the singer) has a beautiful voice live as well. The only thing that puts me off a little is the references to Mother Nature in her first album. I typically don't listen to that one.

I normally listen to contemporary Christian artists:
Tenth Avenue North
Casting Crowns
Third Day
Natalie Grant
Amy Grant
Twila Paris
Mark Schulz

I'm one of those people who can't seem to concentrate unless she is listening to music
Thus one of the many reason I love my brother: he has a HUGE music library on his computer! I've "taken" (after asking) music from him multiple times.

He's the one who introduced me to Two Steps From Hell. I found an entire album on Youtube to listen to! I also listen to a bunch of OSTs (game and movie).
You all already mentioned LotR and Narnia (I haven't listened to Narnia much, but I like what I've heard) I know Gladiator, Troy, Avatar, Starwars, Eragon (before mentioned - a bit repetitive), The Last Samurai, Sintel (LOVE! the last song of the movie! "I Move On") and I Am Legend also have some great soundtracks (I Am Legend was actually done by Two Steps from Hell)
As for game music... I've listened to Republic Commando, Rise of Nations, HALO 3, Assassin's Creed, and Mass Effect 2 (more for Sci-Fi books).

I'm not sure about all of the tracks for these "albums" (I haven't listened to all of them in a while) but most of them are pretty good.


Other music I listen to...
Anyone listen to Electronica/Techno? (i.e. Andy Hunter, Armin Van Buuren, Hammock...) I'm not a fan of all of their music, but some of my favorites are:
Sapphire by Andy Hunter
Fade by Andy Hunter
ALL of the "Raising your Voice...Trying to Stop an Echo" album by Hammock.
And my brother always plays the Armin Van Buuren so I'm not sure what the song names are

When I can listen to lyrics:
Tenth Ave North
Owl City
Cold Play (some songs, I like the Viva La Vida album)
Anberlin
The Afters
Deas Veil
Future of Forestry
Falling Up (once again some songs, mostly the Captiva album)
The Fray
Emily Black (mostly unknown artist, but good with a piano)
Seabird
Sky Sailing
And Others...........

I like to listen to Silence when it comes to writing. I do not really listen to music when I write.

I like listening to gentle ballads Like Michael Ball, Westlife and Il Divo! Anything peaceful, it tends to put me in the right mood for writing!

Vilisse mentioned Falling Up, and I have to agree. Their songs have a haunting quality about them, with the mix between piano, strings, and electric guitars. A band with a similar sound is Red.

I really like Fireflight, and Skillet.

Also, Charlotte Church's earlier albums.

I recently ran across a newer artist: Charmaine.
She's like a mixture of Owl City and some Falling Up. I really like her songs; Tokyo, Fighting Furies and Not Fair.

Everything and anything. I like symphonic rock like the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, country like Tim McGraw, Celtic like Clannad, Taliesin Orchestra, as well as cowboy ballads and songs by artists like Marty Robbins.

One of my favorite ballads is "Pride and the Badge" which is about a sheriff in the Wild West who has to use unfair tactics to bring a criminal gang to justice. In the end, he killed the criminals, had his life spared when a bullet hit his badge, and was viewed as a murdered by the townsfolk he was supposed to protect. Here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8L1JG5ri6fI

Another one is "The Master's Call" which is the story of how a Wild West outlaw was redeemed and turned to Christ after a cattle stampede. Here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzFDV3xIWB4

Then there's also classics like "Red River Valley," "Streets of Laredo," and "Whoopy-ti-yi-yo."
Can you tell I like the Wild West?


I also like songs like "The Ballad of the Green Beret" by SSgt Barry Badler (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LH4-tOqLH94), "Tears on Lincoln's Face" by Johnny Cash (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTGC9_UH2-0).

I actually come up with novel ideas from songs. One of them would be "Minstrel Boy" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vubPZf-yDI) You have to watch the movie video at the link if you're going to listen, it makes it more moving since it's made of black and white clean scenes from the movie "Black Hawk Down." It is an amazing song when combined with that movie shown here. Be warned, there is violence though.

I think if you click this link http://www.playlist.com/playlist/20848305419 it should take you to my playlist called Fantasy Realms. 200 songs that I listen to when I'm writing or reading. I usually put it on random and let it go, unless i need a particular feel in a certain scene, then I'll find something that sounds sad or triumphant or whatever else. Playlist.com is awesome because it's all free. No need to download anything.

Thanks for the link, 6string!

Same here! Those look amazing!

You're welcome. Happy listening.

I don't generally listen to music when I'm writing, but if I do, it's usually movie soundtracks or my favourite guitarist, Tommy Emmanuel who I met two days ago and I'm still on cloud 9 from that amazing class I attended! *floats out of chatroom on memories*

Me too with the "people who can't focus without music". I like the "Tenth Avenue North" "The Afters" "The Fray" and a couple others you posted.

Ooh I love this! Nice thread, Vanya!

Hmm well, I like easy listening music, ballads, love songs and gentle music.

I like listening to the Finding Neverland piece below and writing poetry at the same time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFoP8QKal_g

I always find quiet, gentle music very inspiring, I write better listening to quiet music than noisy as it seems to help me think.

This thread makes me very happy!!
I mainly enjoy listening to soundtracks. I l love Gettysburg, The Red Violin, Last of the Mohicans, The Patriot, but those are too epic for my stories. So... I've really been enjoying Jan A.P. Kaczmarek (he wrote Finding Neverland) since his music is so gentle, and whimsical, and touching. But I'm wanting some new music as I began a new story; it seems like that might help me give character and uniqueness to my new story. Shreds of previous stories still seem to be fluttering on the music I listened to when I wrote them.
Do any of ya'll know of any other soundtrack composers who write music similar to Jan A.P. Kaczmarek?

I love listening to soundtracks (i.e. Lord of the Rings and How to Train Your Dragon), but I find myself vividly imagining the movie instead. It's easy for me to mentally watch the movie than to write a book.

For soft, quiet scenes I listen to Enya. Her music is soft, gentle, thought provoking, and abstract, so I'm able to concentrate on something else better.

For active scenes (and I have a lot of those), I generally listen to TSfH. Tons of variety (just ask Lady E.), they go from sad and soft to intense and passionate. I remember when I was writing a fight scene and I had "Wrath of Sea" on repeat. It was fast writing, and I found myself panting when I finally finished.

I love listening to really sad/emotional/depressing music. Kind of silly, but I do. My best writing comes from emotion. Here's a few songs I really love. They are instrumental versions of the artist's original songs. I don't care for some of the lyrics, so I was ecstatic to come across these. ^^

-Break Your Heart by Taio Cruz
-With Or Without You by U2
-Apologize by OneRepublic

Link to all three songs.

~Calen

I listen to music while I write sometimes, but I can't listen to songs while I write as it distracts from the words I'm trying to write.

I love listening to Gettysburg! Actually, the movie Gods and Generals is by the same composer, I believe (they're in a series) but the music is quieter; less epic-y. But it still has its epic-y parts

eru

I normally listen to LOTR music, and occasionally Narnia soundtracks when I get too bored of listening to LOTR twelve times in a row lol

When I was younger, there were just some parts in a movie trailer that seized me and were so so so so cool! But when I saw the movie, I didn't get that feeling. I finally realized it was the music that had made me feel that way. I didn't even notice that it was the music!
Some parts in a movie that just made me feel like a fire of inspiration was burning inside me made me watch those parts over and over again. Then I finally realized it was the background music that had captured me.

What music inspires you to write?
I listen to different movie soundtracks and other music.
These are movie soundtracks that I really like:
Chocolat(its spelled that way because the movie took place in a village in Europe)
How to Train your Dragon
Alice in Wonderland(2010 version)
Peter Pan(2003 real life version)
Chronicles of Narnia(all of the movie soundtracks from 2005)
Hook
Inkheart
Lord of the Rings
Oliver Twist(2005 version. I really liked the movie)
and some of
Legend of Beggar Vance.

I've heard that Thomas Bergersen writes really inspiring music and I've heard some of it. Helan Jane Long is a British composer who writes instrumental piano, flute, cello, and violin music that's beautiful and some of it is really inspiring(I liked the songs Echo, Stars, and Doll)

What about you? Have you ever listened to these soundtracks? What music inspires you?

Hmmm... *scans your list * I love the Inkheart soundtrack too, especially the track "Jugglers"! (it's celtic style, and celtic style is cool. XD ) I like the Narnia soundtracks and the LotR soundtracks, but I usually don't use them while writing. My brain usually can't keep on track if I do. XD I do listen to the HTTYD score for writing, though. It's awesome. (and the movie is too. ) The rest of those I don't think I've ever heard of...

Usually I listen to Doctor Who music while writing, though only the tragic/sad pieces, or I listen to TSFH and other trailer music composers. Trailer music can be fun to write to because it's already meant to tell a story. I've also got a playlist made up on Grooveshark of my favorite sad pieces from random movies I usually know nothing about save that the music is cool. XD Sad/tragic music is the best for writing to, in my opinion. (at least... if you're like me and have a tendency to kill off characters in heart-breaking ways. )

I like the soundtracks to the Halo games, (especially Reach) and Metal Gear Solid. Both games are also very Varon.

I have the same problem. Because of that, I haven't written to music yet.
I'm open to the idea though.

I get distracted when I listen to a song with lyrics too. Much better to go instrumental. Some with choir voices is ok, though.

Yiruma and Michelle McLaughlin are piano artist. They have really lovely music to listen to when it comes to writing. ^^

~Calen

Anything. Metal. Rock. Country. Music helps me period.

Both versions of this song are very soothing and help me concentrate, and sometimes I even start singing along. The music box version helps me concentrate a little better, though.

Music box version~
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xspzENbg ... D&index=38

Vocal~
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKc2h0Pi ... 7FEF8BE3DD