How to Compose Music - Noble Warrior KingHello Composers, Mike here! =)

Do you want to learn how to compose noble music? Music that has a character of being: Noble, Gracious, Solemn and Elegant.

Now, of course “noble music” come in many different styles, moods and character. However, I will share with you 5 great guidelines that I believe covers all styles of majestic music.

But first, let’s listen to some great examples of “Noble Music”. Alright, here we go! =)

Mikael Baggström – Graceful Glory of Kings

This is my own composition, with the following description of my vision and mission when composing it:

Imagine a scene of the highest importance. A grand hall of kings and high nobility. Everyone standing to the sides of a long red carpet, while the king approaches slowly and gracefully, coming home from winning a great war, but also with grief and respect to all the lost souls. Bittersweet with a touch of noble grace.

Gerard Clark – His Majesty Returns

This composition is made by Gerard Clark, and I really loved the elegance in it’s simplicity where the choir with the solemn strings bring out the noble atmosphere, and then they get help from the minimal but powerful percussion for the battle vibe.

Here is his description: My thought process is imagine the king returning from battle. He mourns the loss of fallen comrades, but knows what must be done to win the war! So he hypes his army up for the coming battle they are sure to win!!!

David Michael Tardy – Victorious

David Michael Tardy composed this grand and noble piece full of victorious vibes, but in a very graceful fashion.

Here is his description: The title of my composition is “VICTORIOUS”. My intention for this piece is for the listener to feel the sense of nobility, honor and grandness. Knights returning back to the kingdom to huge celebration to honor their king and victory.

Brian Freeland – Pagan King

This piece was composed by Brian Freeland, and has a very dark, mysterious feel, but still with that solemn vibe. Especially the the soft choir and “authority notes” bring out the noble atmosphere. Then it gets a lift in energy and more optimistic half way in.

Here is his description: So I guess it was inspired by Dragon Age, Lord of the Rings, and mostly the Netflix show The Last Kingdom. Sort of a battle theme, noble but also dark, reflecting the hardships of those ancient fantasy times with almost endless wars. It’s all about shade.

Mike Whi – New and Noble Vision

Mike Whi composed this piece with the vision: “A king returns from battle with a new vision for the future of the empire”.

I have to say the intro and build-up in this track is amazing. That dark solemn choir brings so much power, with the sneaky snare for energy, and then the strings build, build and build towards the end.

Listen to More Music here

These are all the entries to my Music Composition Challenge on the theme of “Noble Music” in my Professional Composers Facebook Group. I strongly encourage you to listen to all of them to get new creative ideas, insights, inspiration…and motivation to create your own music in this style! =)

How to write Noble Music

I want to give you my personal practical tips for writing noble music, regardless of style. These are, what I consider, fundamental guidelines.

  1. Slow & Graceful
    Noble music is the opposite of action, energy and adventure music. Slower tempo, but also longer, more soaring and graceful melodies and harmonies.
  2. Dynamic Arcs
    To get that solemn and graceful vibe of noble music, you can use dynamic arcs, meaning slow crescendos and diminuendos. This is particularly important in the strings.
  3. Authority Notes
    Power notes, or authority sounds, are great to sprinkle around in your noble music composition. Authority sounds can be anything from classic crash cymbals, bold stabs, big swells, timpani hits, and tubular bells (or even church bells). The points is to use them sparingly, a single hit every 2 or 4 bars for example. And to keep it noble, you might want to focus more on the warmer types of authority sounds, like a single low piano note, timpani strike, tubular bell note ringing out etc.
  4. Noble Instruments
    Strings and brass are of course very often used for a noble vibe. And for more powerful atmosphere choirs are often used. Bells and deep ringing instruments are also often used for nobility/divine character. For example: Tubular Bells, Plate Bells, Gongs, Tam-Tams etc.
  5. Warm Sound
    You should focus mainly on those deep, warm and powerful sounds in your music to get a noble vibe. For example, soft brass, slow graceful choirs, lush strings etc.

Now Take Action! =)

Now it is time for you to take action! Meaning to compose and produce a new “Noble Music” track, to add to your composer portfolio.

Use these reference tracks, and guidelines for motivation and inspiration. But remember, guidelines are not rules. You always have ultimate creative freedom as a composer when creating your music.

Have fun writing Noble Music, my friends! =)