Total War Shogun II (2011)
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Audio Director | Composer | Post-Production | Sound Design
10 years after the first Shogun Total War was released, The Creative Assembly developed Shogun 2. Catching up with the team brought back great memories of working on the first ever Total War.
I got back into the “Zen” frame of mind I was in while composing the original. This time we had a bigger budget, so I put aside the sampler, and used live musicians to give the music a more natural feel and sound. I recorded TaikOz at Studios 301 in Sydney.
Link to Official Soundtrack available on iTunes.
Always loved this soundtrack, one thing though did you also do fall of the samurai, in which case where can I find it?
Hey Jeff, I’m a huge fan of your work.
I just wondered who played the Shakuhachi parts on Shogun 2, they are truly inspiring.
They were played by a couple of musicians, one was Shigeru Nakajima and the other was Kevin Man.
Kevin also played some of the Taiko parts.
Cheers,
Jeff
Just found your site thru this youtube vid “beautiful blade” thanks for great soundtracks!
I’m not going to buy any Total War games that don’t have you composing the music for it. You really bring the battlefields to life. I was first introduced to your music when I was 13 playing Emperor, but I didn’t know it was your work until after shogun 2. Been a fan for 13 years! Thank you for your creations and hard work. Hopefully CA will pay you good money to compose for the next Total War and the players can have good music again.
Jeff, I was wondering about the track “Metamorphosis”, used I think for for base game’s campaign map in spring. The koto shares space with an instrument that sounds like a Caribbean steel drum. Is that, by any chance, a Swiss hang drum, and is it by any chance played by David Kuckhermann? I heard him open for Dead Can Dance a couple of years ago, and I was struck by the very similar sound.
On the other hand, I know that the famous taiko group Kodo has used old-school steel drums in at least one of their compositions. Was that an inspiration?
It is indeed a hang drum…but I played it on my keyboard. Despite being a Swiss invention, to my ear it has a hint of Asian sound to it and I felt that it fit in the context of the music. I found the sound of the hang drum inspiring and it more or less caused the song to appear 🙂
Jeff I beg of you, what is that BEAUTIFUL flute track that you have play at the end of a defeated battle?! I can’t find it anywhere, did you not compose it, or not list it?! Where is it?!
Hey Jeff,
I just bought fall of the Samurai and the OST is amazing. I love how you mixed western and eastern music together and it just seems to blend so well. Whereas, in Shogun II it’s mostly Japanese which was also great. My buddy, who is Japanese, says the music is sounds so authentic.
They really should have placed you in Rome II. The current soundtrack they have is quite bland and forgettable.
Tracks like Destiny, For the Daimyo, Sunbird, Soldier’s Chant make the gameplay so much more memorable.
Was it also you that made the campaign music for Rome, Medieval II and Shogun? If so, I really enjoyed listening to it and would sometime let the music run through before ending a turn.
Anyways, thanks for the ear candy!
I have a few sources of inspiration. One is the game itself, then my boss (who ever has hired me gets the ultimate final say), then it’s the gamers, you guys who send me messages, I try to put myself in your shoes and think what would be cool to listen to while playing the game. I play the games I work on, and try to get into the mood of a player who’s playing the game (I’m a player too!). I make choices like, lets not put music here as that would be annoying to the player, or here there should be music to reward the player for accomplishing something. I find all of this inspiring.
I love your whole songs. So I always listen your songs. And I have a question. What is the source of inspiration?
Really like this music. When I play Shogun, my wife, Japanese, can’t believe the game and soundtrack were made not by Japanese devs. She admits Shogun does more justice to Japan and its history than most of the games released here for the local market. And she enjoys the music on her phone, too. Thanks a lot!
Hallo Jeff,
Absolutely brilliant music. I appreciate your style immensely. I was just wondering, what flutes are you using on the track Autumn Leaves?
Cheers,
Joe
Why aren’t you in Rome II ? Your compositions have always been beautiful and a perfect part of the series, it just makes the game all that more memorable. Thanks for making these available on Youtube.
Thank you for your kind message. I didn’t do Rome II because they didn’t ask me to work on it…except for the announcement trailer.
Not gonna lie, I thought you were making the RomeIITW music, and it was the main reason I bought it. I felt scammed and was the last game I bought, then I knew you havent been requested by CA to work for them… Im happy of that because they dont deserve you, you are way beyond. Cheers from Chile, I like how you play the piano
Thank you a lot for the beautiful OST again! I have been listening to your composes for 10 years since the very first version of the Shogun: Total War.
Cheers
Any chance of getting the sheet music for the flute solo at about 1:30 in formation? Also what kind of flute is that? Sounds both old but modern at the same time if that makes any sense 🙂
Greetings!
Wonderfully composed and performed tracks, sends shivers down my spine almost everyime I listen to them.
I’ve been a bit curious about one of the tracks for a long time now though. The one where you hear a man singing “yo ho ho, yo ho” in the background. Not sure about the name of it, but here’s a link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8_UjFFpD_c
Is it something inspired from Noh theatre? or does this kind of music have a genre of its own?
Huge fan of japanese culture, therefor the question.
Love your work,
Alex
The music in general was inspired by the game and Japanese culture. As far as my decision to add these vocals, I find voices humanize the music more (most of the music is actually coming out of a computer). Also, in my experience it seems a lot of listeners focus more on music with vocals than without. If I can find a way of working them into a song (which doesn’t come easy as I’m not a singer), I try to add them wherever I can…but it’s important they suit the mood, or are at least entertaining (like in this case).
Is the Fall of the Samurai music going to be released as a soundtrack Jeff? Excellent music once again!
Thanks for your comment 🙂
I’ve been asked this a few times now. I’m not sure, so I’ll check with SEGA and see what their plans are and post back here.
Cheers,
Jeff
Hey Jeff,
Any news on whether they’re going to release anything here? Oh, and a big hello from rainy Vancouver! 🙂
Love your music Jeff ! I was just wondering is there any possibility to get the sheet music for the song Taiko Shuffle ? That would be awesome because me and my friends are going to try to play it so a Sheet would very much help us learning it! 😀
Are there specific parts you’re looking for?
No not exactly. Were just wanting the whole song if that is possible 🙂 but if thats not possible we will take whatever help you can give 😀
Hello Jeff! I have the same question as generalfil, about Taiko Shuffle sheet music. It’s so catchy and I tried to figure it out myself as I would like to learn it, but it sleeps away every time 🙁 I’m particularly interested in melodic part. If sheet music is not possibe, I’d appreciate any hint on it’s actual key or scale, Thank you for your creativity!
— Michael
the videos have been removed from youtube . my vote is if you want to post videos that normally can be removed from youtube considering they remove stuff on like crazy any way use some Russian video share site or some another more free country site
Ok, thanks for the heads up. I’ll try to keep more up to date with the links.
As requested, here are the lyrics (written by Angela van Dyck)
Bird of Time
See the golden sun on your face
Fallen from your brow all sense of peace
In your eyes, the fiercest gaze
Through the morning mist I watch you leave
Bird of time on the wing
How far is she to fly?
Come now love, do not weep
We all must live and die
On the road of destiny
There is shadow and there’s light
For as the leaves fall from the tree
so our days will pass us by
Blowing in the wind, blossoms fall
Falling on me, heavy is my heart
In my mind you raise your sword
Oh we will endure while we’re apart
Bird of time on the wing
How far is she to fly?
Come now love, do not weep
We all must live and die
On the road of destiny
There is shadow and there’s light
For as the leaves fall from the tree
so our days will pass us by
Beneath the blossom tree
under a watching moon
I dreamed but woke too soon
Far away the sounds of war
but in your arms there is peace
For here in goodness I believe
Carry this heart – break it not
Oh love out of time, oh dream forgot
Carry now this soul and take your fill
Oh mind out of time, oh heart so still
Bird of time on the wing
How far is she to fly?
Come now love, do not weep
We all must live and die
On the road of destiny
There is shadow and there’s light
For as the leaves fall from the tree
so our days will pass us by
I love bird of time <3 Amazing work. Keep on !
would you please upload the lyrics? thank you