In a behind-the-scenes video, composer Christopher Tin discusses his process behind composing the Civilization VI theme music, “Sogno di Volari” (Italian for “the dream of flight”).
“I was brought into the process relatively late in the game, and so I didn’t have a lot of time, which is probably a good thing, because I had to get creative fast,” said Tin. “I did spend a lot of late nights locked in my room, just sitting at my piano, noodling. Like, playing around, trying a lot of different things. And so out of one of these long, late night improvisation sessions came the 16 bars that are the main theme of Sogno di Volari.”
Civilization is the first game Tin had ever composed for, and Civilization IV’s iconic theme “Baba Yetu” was the first piece of music he’d ever written for a game. “It took me an entire week to write,” he said, humming the notes that play as “Baba Yetu” is first vocalized. “But I wanted to get it right.”
The themes to Civ IV and Civ VI both have a “celebratory feel,” said Tin. “But where Civilization IV was a Swahili setting of the Lord’s Prayer and it was very Africa-centric, this new one is very Euro-centric.” He uses “tricks of orchestration” to create a sweeping, soaring feeling of flight.
Tin purposely goes for what some critics might deem “overly bombastic” music. “I really think that music can be divided into two camps. One is great music and one is forgettable music,” he said. “I have my supporters who love my music for that specific reason as well.”
Tin added, “The other way I know that I’m on to something good is, my wife will come into the room and say, I like this. Because if I’m writing crap music or only so-so music, she’ll just stay out in the living room, she won't’ wander in. Bu when you get the unsolicited feedback from someone, where they voluntarily come in and say ‘Oh! This does it for me!’ Then you know you’re onto something.”
You can also check out a live performance of “Baba Yetu,” conducted by Christopher Tin and performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Angel City Chorale, Prima Vocal Ensemble, and Lucis at Cadogan hall in London, below:
How do you feel about Civ VI ’s theme song, “Sogno di Volare”? Feel free to discuss the music of Civilization in our comments section below.
