What is your favorite Sierra music? (not necessarily KQ)

Farlander

We all know Sierra games had some AWESOME music. What are your favorites? Some of mine are (in no particular order, maybe will add more later):

Space Quest 3 theme
I just love how the SQ main theme is merged with the Sierra fanfare, and the music after that is EPIC.

Erana's Peace from QfG1
There's just something about this music... it's really enchanting.

King's Quest 3 intro music
Many know that I'm no particular fan of KQ series, but I do like KQ3 very much. And the intro music really makes me feel for sadness in Gwydion's heart.

Conquests of the Longbow intro music
It surprises me how great CotL is and how it's one of the lesser known (in general audience, I guess every Sierra fan knows it) Sierra adventure games among people. To me, it's one of the ultimate best Sierra adventures.

Emily

The Erana's Peace theme is one of my favorites. I also love the Girl in the Tower theme from KQ6 -- both the instrumental from the game and the cheesy vocal version Sierra tried to get on the radio.

I love some of the Gabriel Knight music but don't necessarily know which tracks they are. And others, I'm sure.

Anyone else enough of a dork to own this? (Yes, I am one of those dorks...)

Lambonius

Haha...the Girl in the Tower radio version has aged VERY badly. The instrumental version from the game's score was great though. I loved the way the theme showed up multiple times in different forms throughout the game. Great stuff.

JuntMonkey

Girl in the Tower and the radio thing is hilarious. They were going for Beauty & the Beast alllll the way with that game.

Icedhope

Gabriel Knight Music, and leisure suit larry.

MusicallyInspired

So many great Sierra themes. They had the best musicians and composers ever. Mark Seibert, Ken Allen, Chris Brayman....fantastic and talented people. Most of my favourite Sierra themes come from Ken Allen and Mark Seibert. The dark forest and weeping willow themes from KQ5, pretty much everything from Conquests of Camelot, a good chunk of themes from Conquests of the Longbow, Space Quest IV's entire soundtrack is bliss, Space Quest 3 is a fun rockin' score, KQ6 is elegant and absolutely beautiful. There's so much excellent work there.

Drahcir

KQ5 and 6 have a lot that I like such as the fight against Mordack and the fight against the Minotaur, but my favorite ones come from QFG 1 and 2, specifically the Brigand's Hideout/EGA Character creation and the Rush To Ad Avis/Final Battle theme from QFG2. I really love Seibert's music a lot. It would be AWESOME if Telltale could get him back for this project.

Edit: Can't believe I forgot it, but I agree with the original poster about the Conquests of the Longbow Theme song! I actually only played that game for the first time about a year ago, somehow having missed it during my olden days of Sierra game playing. When I first heard the opening, it took me back.

ChrisLaughlin

Emily wrote: »

The Erana's Peace theme is one of my favorites...

I love some of the Gabriel Knight music.....

Yes, I agree completely...

I have to admit that as a little kid I didn't have a soundcard on my computer so I would sneak into a quiet part of the house and call the Sierra 1-800 number repeatedly just to listen to the Sierra soundtracks being played on high quality MT-32 soundcards as hold music. I called so many times that Sierra called back on my home number and asked my parents what was going on. My parents had no idea but put me on the phone to explain. I answered honestly and the person at Sierra, amazed that I loved the music so much that I'd call hundreds of times just to listen to it, sent me a CD of their music for free. That made me love Sierra even more! My favorites are 'Erana's Peace', the opening theme from 'Gabriel Knight', and the opening theme from 'Quest for Glory II'. I still find myself humming them from time to time, even all these years later... Brilliant stuff!

P.S. - It's great to see you back Emily. I always really loved the way you interacted with the Telltale fans. You really made us feel like we were all part of one adventure gaming family joined together to bring back the adventure gaming we loved so much. A big part of that was/is your obvious love for the games. You're not just someone doing a job - you're a passionate advocate for what all of us love so much, amazing, magical, epic adventure games. Thank you.

ChrisLaughlin

Also, if you love Sierra music make sure you check out these high quality versions of all the best Sierra music at Quest Studios: http://www.queststudios.com/

ChrisLaughlin

Conquests of the Longbow: http://queststudios.com/Joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=123:conquests-of-the-longbow-digital&catid=46:conquests-of-the-longbow&Itemid=86

Gabriel Knight: http://queststudios.com/Joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=54&Itemid=92

Quest for Glory: http://queststudios.com/Joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&id=25&Itemid=94

King's Quest: http://queststudios.com/Joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&id=18&Itemid=87

Leplaya

I always still find myself listening to the music from leisure suit larry, what can I say? I love jazz music(Even if it sounds "not so clean" ).

ChrisLaughlin

The Gabriel Knight theme: http://queststudios.com/2010/digital/ssv1cd/Track01.ogg

Quest for Glory II opening theme: http://queststudios.com/2010/digital/qfg2vga/Track03.mp3

Erana's Peace from Quest for Glory I: http://queststudios.com/2010/digital/hqcd/HQTrack07.ogg

The Dark Forest from KQ5: http://queststudios.com/2010/digital/kq5cd/Track16.ogg

The Weeping Willow from KQ5: http://queststudios.com/2010/digital/kq5cd/Track05.ogg

Introduction from Conquests of the Longbow: http://queststudios.com/2010/digital/robin/02-Introduction.ogg

All sorts of other good stuff! : http://www.queststudios.com/quest/cdmisc/cdmisc.html

Simo Sakari Aaltonen

Chris, wonderful story about the Sierra CD! They were something very special indeed.

ChrisLaughlin

Simo Sakari Aaltonen wrote: »

Chris, wonderful story about the Sierra CD! They were something very special indeed.

Absolutely. My heart was already theirs, but after that... wow!

ChrisLaughlin

Acoustic guitar cover of Erana's Peace: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Bumra26tjI&feature=related

Guitar tabs: http://www.gametabs.net/quest-for-glory/eranas-peace

Acoustic piano version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8DFwIVYn9Q&feature=related

Beautiful stuff!

corruptbiggins

I love the opening credits music for Gabriel Knight: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsBC4E3aEMQ

Emily

ChrisLaughlin wrote: »

I have to admit that as a little kid I didn't have a soundcard on my computer so I would sneak into a quiet part of the house and call the Sierra 1-800 number repeatedly just to listen to the Sierra soundtracks being played on high quality MT-32 soundcards as hold music. I called so many times that Sierra called back on my home number and asked my parents what was going on. My parents had no idea but put me on the phone to explain. I answered honestly and the person at Sierra, amazed that I loved the music so much that I'd call hundreds of times just to listen to it, sent me a CD of their music for free.

This is an awesome story!

P.S. - It's great to see you back Emily.

Thank you.

Irishmile

This reminds me do you suppose TTG will include Greensleeves?

Simo Sakari Aaltonen

Ooh, that would be the way to start the game, musically speaking! (That and the Sierra theme.) Maybe à la Moulin Rouge.

GuybrushWilco

I rather like the tune that plays at the beginning of Space Quest V .

StarEye

Leisure Suit Larry 3 has absolutely fan-fucking-tastic music and is brilliant in every way possible, particularly on the Amiga. The midi version on the PC sounds too thin and midi-ish (:D), but it's still great. Probably among my favourite soundtracks EVER and possibly up there with Monkey Island 2.

Irishmile

The LSL theme is forever burned in my head.... I played those as a young teen and I really felt like I was getting away with something.

MusicallyInspired

That phone story was amazing! How lucky of you to get a hold of a CD like that!

Sierra really was ahead of most game companies (including LucasArts) in terms of music support. They were the first ones to use (and promote) the MT-32 for computer games and they went all out for the soundtracks. They programmed their own instruments and patches for music and even sound effects rather than using the default patch instruments pre-programmed into the MT-32, which was what pretty much every other game company did (again, including LucasArts). Sierra's soundtracks were phenomenal. They didn't have LucasArts' iMuse system, but they had something pretty close and made up for the rest of it with spectacularly memorable themes.

ChrisLaughlin

For those of you who enjoyed the music from "Gabriel Knight", check this out: http://www.graymatter-game.de/

This is the newest game from "Gabriel Knight" designer Jane Jensen, with music by her husband, Robert Holmes, who also composed the music for the Gabriel Knight series. You can hear one of his beautiful themes on the front page of the site linked above. Gorgeous stuff!

philthethrill

I like the Archaeologist song from Laura Bow 2: Dagger of Amon Ra. http://queststudios.com/2010/digital/lb2cd/Track10.ogg

I also like the Museum Waltz. For some reason, it was always stuck in my head. http://queststudios.com/2010/digital/lb2cd/Track13.ogg

My favorite from Leisure Suit Larry is the Cell Block Love song from Leisure Suit Larry 6: Shape up or Slip Out. http://queststudios.com/2010/digital/LSLarry/celllove.mp3

I think the music that plays during the hospital scenes in Police Quest 3 is kinda pretty. http://queststudios.com/2010/digital/pq3digital/Track12.ogg

My favorite from Space Quest is the Soylent Clear Jingle from Space Quest 6: The Spinal Frontier. http://queststudios.com/2010/digital/quest/sq6_1.mp3

I also like the songs from the original Mixed Up Mother Goose. http://queststudios.com/Joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=164:mixed-up-mother-goose-mp3-digital&catid=77:mixed-up-mother-goose&Itemid=155

I also like the Mother Goose Theme. http://queststudios.com/2010/digital/mumg/01MotherGooseTheme.mp3

I also like Mary, Mary Quite Contrary from the Mixed up Mother Goose Deluxe Edition http://sierramusiccentral.com/mgdxcd/MGDXTrack07.ogg

I like the Library music from King's Quest II+. http://queststudios.com/2010/digital/kq2rts/Music106.ogg

I also like the song "When I Saw You" which plays during the King's Quest II+ ending credits. http://queststudios.com/2010/digital/kq2rts/Music131.ogg

I enjoy hearing the organ solo from King's Quest IV. http://www.queststudios.com/mt32midi/kq4_2.zip

I like the opening theme from King's Quest V at the part where Cedric and Graham are flying through the sky. It goes from 6:59 to 8:21. http://queststudios.com/2010/digital/kq5cd/Track02.ogg

I also like the Town music. http://queststudios.com/2010/digital/kq5cd/Track03.ogg

I also like the music that plays when Graham is inside the shop. http://queststudios.com/2010/digital/kq5cd/Track04.ogg

I also like the music that plays when Graham is at the Bandits' camp. http://queststudios.com/2010/digital/kq5cd/Track12.ogg

I like the song that the weeping willow sings. http://queststudios.com/2010/digital/quest/kq5_11.mp3

I also like the song that the marching ants sing as they go through the haystack by the country inn. http://queststudios.com/2010/digital/quest/the_ants.mp3

I like Beauty's theme from King's Quest VI. http://queststudios.com/2010/digital/miscellaneous/kq6cd/KQ6Track05.ogg

I really like Alexander's flute music. http://queststudios.com/2010/digital/miscellaneous/kq6cd/KQ6Track20.ogg

I also the like the piece he plays for the skeletons in the Realm of the Dead. http://queststudios.com/2010/digital/miscellaneous/kq6cd/KQ6CD2Track05.ogg

I like the opening song "Land Beyond Dreams" from King's Quest VII. http://queststudios.com/2010/digital/KingsQuest/kq7_1.mp3

I also like the music that plays when Valanice and Rosella are in the town of Falderal. http://www.queststudios.com/mt32midi/kq7_5.zip

I also like the music that plays when Valanice and Rosella are in the woods. http://www.queststudios.com/mt32midi/kq7_6.zip

Scnew

Oh god thanks for bringing this website to my attention. Going to go listen to every damn song there was in Quest for Glory now!

Drahcir

Hey once you guys go there, check out the music from Betrayal at Krondor as well. :P

Focused

Emily wrote: »

Anyone else enough of a dork to own this? (Yes, I am one of those dorks...)

I have that CD too! Bought it after seeing an ad in InterAction magazine.

ChrisLaughlin

So many good memories....

JJoyce

MusicallyInspired wrote: »

That phone story was amazing! How lucky of you to get a hold of a CD like that!

Sierra really was ahead of most game companies (including LucasArts) in terms of music support. They were the first ones to use (and promote) the MT-32 for computer games and they went all out for the soundtracks. They programmed their own instruments and patches for music and even sound effects rather than using the default patch instruments pre-programmed into the MT-32, which was what pretty much every other game company did (again, including LucasArts). Sierra's soundtracks were phenomenal. They didn't have LucasArts' iMuse system, but they had something pretty close and made up for the rest of it with spectacularly memorable themes.

It's not that surprising when you consider that Sierra actually partnered with Roland to distribute the Roland MT-32 in the US.

But yes, I've always enjoyed Sierra's music. Since finally acquiring an MT-32 of my own, I've been blown away by Sierra's music anew.

Remember being absolutely amazed by their SB Pro audio (especially Jan Hammer's PQ3 intro), but hearing Sierra's MT-32 music is just awe inspiring when compared to the SB Pro stuff I'd grown up with.

Gabriel Knight's pretty impressive in MT-32, but I'd have to say my favorite's still the LSL/SQ sound tracks. Very impressive on MT-32, plus you get those amusing start/quit messages on the MT-32 display.

MusicallyInspired

<insert buckazoid>

Daventry

Dixieland Drugstore from Gabriel Knight
Bandit Camp from King's Quest V
Dark Forest/The Witch from King's Quest V
Campsong from Conquests of the Longbow
Erana's Theme from Quest for Glory V

Edit: Eek, I forgot about the Druids Theme ("After the rainstorm") from King's Quest VI!

Edit Number 2: did any of you guys ever play Lode Runner: The Legend Returns or The Mad Monks' Revenge? That game had phenomenal music (and in Redbook Audio format)! It was technically a Sierra game, so it wouldn't be fair if I left it out (I actually still listen to its soundtrack while driving sometimes).

Cez

That phone story was so awesome. That's what made Sierra so special.

My fav music? So much to choose from. the Weeping Willow, Gabriel Knight stuff, Girl in the Tower, the Quest for Glory music was particularly amazing.

Right now, I've been listening a lot to the Gabriel Knight 3 theme. Such an amazing theme!

Sarendor

What an excellent idea for a thread! Here are some of my favourites:
Aside from the introduction and all of the other excellent themes from Conquests of the Longbow, The Widow's Theme really stands out in my opinion.
In Quest for Glory, there is Erana's Peace/The Magic Meadow and the Hero's Theme, of course. Here is, perhaps, the silliest theme for the silliest character in the third game. (It might not be a favourite, but both the theme and the part are extremely memorable.)
Quest for Glory IV also had very good soundtracks, of many different styles. Two of my favourites are Introduction and the Leshy. (my favourite.)
I also like the introductions from King's Quest and King's Quest V, although they are not available as standalone tracks. The Weeping Widow from King's Quest V is also great, and always reminds me of Conquests of the Longbow. And Graham's Fiddle from King's Quest I is good and memorable too.
In king's Quest VI, I really like and remember the Isle of the Crown's theme. The Beauty and the Beast's theme is also great.
In King's Quest VII, my favourite track is perhaps the mountain pass in the land of the dreams. Unfortunately, it is not available in quest studios, as well as other tracks.

And if fan games count:
One of my favourite themes i King's Quest II+ is The Dwarf's Trap. And it reminds me of I'm More Piratey than You. Connor is Knighted is also great. (I understand that it is taken from Mask of Eternity.)
In Infamous Adventures' King's Quest III remake, I liked the port's theme and the mountain pass theme.
In AGDI's King's Quest III Redux, I really liked Mannanan's Theme and the work music. (Especially with the bard's song.:D)

I'm telling you, putting all these links took me some time!

GuybrushWilco

Aside from the SQV theme, I like the music at the mall in SQIV and the World O' Wonders music in SQIII. Also the theme to Quest for Glory IV is pretty awesome .

Anakin Skywalker

SQIII opening music.
SQIVGA ZZ Top song.
Greensleeves (KQ1-2)

KQI SCI:
Opening Theme
Graham's fiddle song
Ending Music

KQIV:
Opening music
Minstrel's Songs
Rosella on the organ

KQV:
Introduction Song
Crystal Cave
Witch's House
Madame Muskha's Theme
In the Boat
Harpie Island
The Hermit
Mermaid Theme AKA Journey to Mordack's castle
Mordack Island theme
The Eerie Organ

KQVI:
KQVI introduction theme
Abdul Alhazred theme
Girl in the Tower (instrumental piano)
Nightingale Theme
Alex's flute song
Fight with the Minotaur
The Druids (post Rain)

KQVII:
"Land Beyond Dreams"
Desert theme
King Otar's Realm Theme
Malicia's Theme
Forest of Etheria theme
Oooga Booga

KQVIII:
KQ8 Theme
Unicorn Theme
Slyph Theme
Inside House Theme (Daventry)

Conquests of Camelot Opening Song

Quest for Glory - Erana's Peace

SQ6:
Opening Theme
Arcade Theme
Orion's Belt Bar

G.byrne

Theme song to Gabriel Knight is very catchy.

Daventry

Sarendor wrote: »

What an excellent idea for a thread! Here are some of my favourites:
Aside from the introduction and all of the other excellent themes from Conquests of the Longbow, The Widow's Theme really stands out in my opinion.
In Quest for Glory, there is Erana's Peace/The Magic Meadow and the Hero's Theme, of course. Here is, perhaps, the silliest theme for the silliest character in the third game. (It might not be a favourite, but both the theme and the part are extremely memorable.)
Quest for Glory IV also had very good soundtracks, of many different styles. Two of my favourites are Introduction and the Leshy. (my favourite.)
I also like the introductions from King's Quest and King's Quest V, although they are not available as standalone tracks. The Weeping Widow from King's Quest V is also great, and always reminds me of Conquests of the Longbow. And Graham's Fiddle from King's Quest I is good and memorable too.In king's Quest VI, I really like and remember the Isle of the Crown's theme. The Beauty and the Beast's theme is also great.
In King's Quest VII, my favourite track is perhaps the mountain pass in the land of the dreams. Unfortunately, it is not available in quest studios, as well as other tracks.

And if fan games count:
One of my favourite themes i King's Quest II+ is The Dwarf's Trap. And it reminds me of I'm More Piratey than You. Connor is Knighted is also great. (I understand that it is taken from Mask of Eternity.)
In Infamous Adventures' King's Quest III remake, I liked the port's theme and the mountain pass theme.
In AGDI's King's Quest III Redux, I really liked Mannanan's Theme and the work music. (Especially with the bard's song.:D)

I'm telling you, putting all these links took me some time!

Oh yeah, the fiddle song was so catchy. I actually used it as my ringtone for a while.

youmaycallmemurray

the kick-ass theme from Phantasmagoria II, heres an excellent cover of it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jRea9zuITk

Armakuni

I absolutely love so much of the music in various Sierra games that picking a favourite seems quite impossible.

But I'll try anyway and say - the music from Gabriel Knight (and Gabriel Knight 2 as well)... the GK theme is so good and suits the mood of the game so very well.
The same can be said for music playing elsewhere in the games as well, really adds to the atmosphere so much.
I've always liked music that is a bit dark/moody, so I guess that's one reason why I love the GK music as much as I do (other than the music itself being brilliant, of course).

Simo Sakari Aaltonen

Here is a link to a new interview with Robert Holmes by a Marty Mulrooney of Alternative Magazine Online:

http://alternativemagazineonline.co.uk/2011/03/22/interview-in-conversation-with-robert-holmes-composer-gray-matter-soundtrack-gabriel-knight-series/

Brief extract:

Is Gabriel Knight a series you would like to revisit again in the future?

Absolutely! There are many of us, including Jane and I who would love to see that come to pass. I'm hopeful there will be a chance to see that happen someday!