Eminence Online, Game Music Review

If you've played Oblivion in the past (and I most certainly hope you have!), then it's likely you have fond memories of the game's music. Composed by Jeremy and Julian Soule, the score is the perfect accompaniment to the expansive rolling hills and dimly lit villages and dungeons of Cyrodiil. It was likely a challenge trying to duplicate the success of their work on The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, but I think they were successful.

Similar in approach, the orchestral score is split between ambient and often beautiful background compositions and rousing battle pieces. I prefer the former, which is a good thing given that most of the soundtrack is devoted to this mellow, atmospheric style. Before we get there, however, "Reign of the Septims" is as bombastic as you're going to find here, with epic brass progressions and sweeping strings that sound like the typical stuff you'd hear on a fantasy adventure soundtrack.

Getting to the good stuff, however (and I'm not saying "Reign of the Septims" is at all bad), "Harvest Dawn" is a serene composition featuring interplay between a harp and woodwinds. The added reverb gives the piece a distant and groggy sound that is appropriate for the early hours of morning. "King and Country" on the other hand is more aggressive in its approach, opening with sweeping string melodies and slowly building layers of woodwinds and bell trees that give the piece a more action-inspiring feel. The piano work midway through is a nice touch.

"All's Well" is another dreamy composition with reverberating harps that sounds like a gentle wake-up call. The focus on a small ensemble of instruments provides a more intimate atmosphere. Next up is my favorite track, "Watchman's Ease," a contemplative string composition with a gorgeous melody. There's a section midway through with a lovely Asian sounding violin solo with a woodwind backing. The following build-up is one of my favorite Jeremy Soule moments.

There are actually a couple melancholy tracks featured in Oblivion as well. "Minstrel's Lament" starts with a disheartened string progression and descending harp melody. "Auriel's Ascension" is another favorite of mine with its thick and almost ominous string progression and downright depressing solo piano excursion. I distinctly recall feeling like I'd done something wrong after hearing these pieces in the game.

The battle tracks really aren't my thing, but I suppose it would be irresponsible not to talk about them. "Death Knell" is one that always stood out with its steady string stabs that descend slowly into death. The harmonies of the different sections are quite effective. The use of timpani in "Fall of the Hammer" along with the chaotic swirl of strings and woodwinds create a sense of peril. Most of the tracks do a good job driving home tension, although most of them aren't very memorable. Overall, this is definitely some of Jeremy and Julian Soule's best work to date. I was impressed with the sound quality, as Jeremy Soule is often praised for his ability to recreate the magic of a live symphony orchestra with his proprietary sample library. Unfortunately, unlike the Morrowind soundtrack that was included with the Collector's Edition release of the game, Oblivion's soundtrack is only available online. As a consolation prize, however, DirectSong (http://www.directsong.com/) offers a remastered version of the score in 320kbps mp3 format for only $9.99. They even provide a high-resolution image that you can print if you want to burn a copy for listening on the go. I highly recommend checking out this soundtrack if you're a fan of The Elder Scrolls, Jeremy Soule, or classical music in general.

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