Assignment 23- Chelsea Southworth

Whether you're doing your Calculus or embarking on a dangerous quest to bring down an evil overlord, background music is essential motivation. What follows is a perfect playlist of score music to make anything you're doing seem urgent, exciting, and, most importantly, dramatic.

1. This is Berk- How to Train Your Dragon

Beginning slowly and sweetly, this song will take you from any emotional state up to one of high excitement. The main theme combines triumphant brass, booming Viking vocals, and furious strings, evoking the feel of being locked in battle with ferocious dragons. This is the perfect song to begin with; it builds excitement excellently.

2. Wolves- Frozen

Now that you're pumped up and ready to go, Wolves gives a more ominous and urgent tone to your listening experience. Intensely spiraling strings of notes and a persistent tempo lend an air of insistence to this piece, which plays while Anna and Kristoff fight off the pack of wolves chasing them down. High-noted tremolos only add to the eerie urgency.

3. Main Title- Game of Thrones

The climax of your dramatic efforts deserves a beautiful and exciting song such as this one. Strings introduce the harmony and are joined by a single, gorgeous cello on the melody. Strength builds as a viola, then the orchestra, then voices join the cello on the melody, all while being backed by the powerful cascading harmony. If the Game of Thrones theme doesn't make you want to jump out of your seat and start swordfighting, I don't know what will.

4. I Am the Doctor- Doctor Who

This song is a must on any dramatic playlist; it's what always plays in the background while the Doctor takes down that week's foe (usually with a monologue of epic proportions). With it's complex stringed harmony and the hints of techno sounds, the stage is set for the chorus of voices that sings triumphantly of the Doctor's arrival and imminent victory; you'll have trouble not singing along yourself.

5. Mhysa- Game of Thrones

You want to end your experience with excitement but with a sweeter sense of calm- Mhysa accomplishes both of these. The gently rising vocals ultimately lead up to a worshipful chorus as Daenerys is raised onto the freed slaves' shoulders and proclaimed mhysa (mother). The intensity of the previous songs doesn't fade, but the effect is much more joyous with this song.