The Devil's Instrument - a Vampire Chronicles fanmix.
It's here at last!
This is an all-violin Vampire Chronicles fanmix. All of these songs are either for violin solo, or have significant violin solos in them. I've chosen a song for the majority of the major characters, in order of appearance in the series.
*Edit* A little explanation as to why I chose to do this particular fanmix. The violin seemed to be a prominent theme in The Vampire Chronicles. There was Lestat's violinist friend in Interview with the Vampire, then Nicholas in The Vampire Lestat, and Lestat playing for Akasha in The Vampire Lestat and The Queen of the Damned. Throughout History (well, actually since Paganini's time, mostly), the violin has been referred to as "the Devil's instrument" because of the virtuosity of many of its players (it was said that they could only get that kind of skill by selling their souls to the Devil), and because the violin is very reminiscent of the human voice and effects the emotions like nothing else will. This was an idea that has been bouncing around in my head for quite some time, and took quite awhile to put together. But I think it has turned out very well, and I hope that you enjoy it. :)
Download HERE.
I've arranged the songs so that they'll show up as a complete album in iTunes, or any other media player, for that matter, complete with artwork.
Here's a little explanation for why I chose each song. (**Just to let you know - whenever I wasn't sure of the actual composer, I just put the name of the performing artist.**)
1. Louis - Meditation from "Thais" by Massenet. Louis is a very philosophical character, so this seemed perfect. Also, this song was played in the opera when a priest was trying to get a man who had sold his soul to the devil to convert back to Christianity, so it also seemed appropriate for that reason.
2. Lestat - Variations on "Dark Eyes" by Lara St. John. This song reminded me of Lestat playing the violin for Akasha. It also has lyrics that reminded me very much of Lestat (although this arrangement is for violin and piano):
Dark eyes, passionate eyes
Burning and splendid eyes
How I love you, how I fear you
Verily, I espied you in an ill-starred moment
Oh, not for nothing are you darker than the deep!
I see mourning for my soul in you,
I see a triumphant flame in you:
A poor heart immolated in it.
But I am not sad, I am not sorrowful,
My fate is soothing to me:
All that is best in life, God gave us.
In sacrifice I returned to the fiery eyes!
3. Claudia - Pan's Labyrinth Lullaby by Javier Navarrete. This is a very pretty song, but it's also kind of creepy. Just like Claudia. ;) Also, it seemed appropriate since Claudia was a child - sort of - and children love lullabies. . . most of the time. . .
4. Armand - Dance Macabre by Camille Saint-Saens. This reminds me of Armand and his coven of creeptacular vampires who lived under the Paris cemetery. It just. . . sounds like a sabbat, you know? It's perfect for him.
5. Gabrielle - "Winter" from The Four Seasons by Vivaldi. Cold, hard, detached, earthy. . . just like Gabrielle.
6. Nicholas - Violin Concerto No. 5, Mvt. 3 by Mozart. Nicholas studied with Mozart, and frequently played his compositions. This is one of the few pieces that shows off a little bit of Mozart's dark side - and Nicky's. But it also has some happy moments; after all, Nicky wasn't always morose and morbid, like he was in the end.
7. Marius - String Quartet No. 1 by Tchaikovsky. This is a very decorous and expresive piece, very reminesent of Marius. I really can't describe it any better - you'll just have to hear it.
8. Akasha - Tzigane by Lara St. John. This song has a very Egyptian sound to it . . . I really don't know how to explain it further than that. It's very seductive and dance-like, quite like Akasha herself.
9. Jesse - Partita No. 2: Allamande by Bach. This piece is for violin alone, which I thought was very appropriate to represent Jesse because she was orphaned and often felt excluded, even within her own family. She felt like she was being cast out after the summer she spent with Maharet and Mael, before she joined the Talamasca. . . It's just perfect for her.
10. Maharet and Mekare - Concerto for Two Violins, Mvt. 1 by Bach. The two violins in this piece weave an intricate pattern; they are dependent on one another, but completely independent at the same time. It sometimes even seems like they're waring with each other - just like Maharet and Mekare.
11. Mael - Willow by Emilie Autumn. This piece sounds very druid-like to me. It sounds earthy, and structured, but abstract at the same time. Mael had many of the same attributes.
12. Khayman - Mystery Track No. 3 by Emilie Autumn. I really don't even know the name of this song (it literally just said "Mystery Track No. 3" on the Album), but it sounds really old and primal, but also has elements of more recent times. I thought it was a nice representation of Khayman - old as the Earth itself, but with elements or more recent times.
13. Pandora - The Red Violin by Joshua Bell. This is a mournful and thoughtful piece, but also beautiful. And Pandora is nothing if not mournful, thoughtful, and beautiful.
I hope you enjoy this fanmix!
This is an all-violin Vampire Chronicles fanmix. All of these songs are either for violin solo, or have significant violin solos in them. I've chosen a song for the majority of the major characters, in order of appearance in the series.
*Edit* A little explanation as to why I chose to do this particular fanmix. The violin seemed to be a prominent theme in The Vampire Chronicles. There was Lestat's violinist friend in Interview with the Vampire, then Nicholas in The Vampire Lestat, and Lestat playing for Akasha in The Vampire Lestat and The Queen of the Damned. Throughout History (well, actually since Paganini's time, mostly), the violin has been referred to as "the Devil's instrument" because of the virtuosity of many of its players (it was said that they could only get that kind of skill by selling their souls to the Devil), and because the violin is very reminiscent of the human voice and effects the emotions like nothing else will. This was an idea that has been bouncing around in my head for quite some time, and took quite awhile to put together. But I think it has turned out very well, and I hope that you enjoy it. :)
Download HERE.
I've arranged the songs so that they'll show up as a complete album in iTunes, or any other media player, for that matter, complete with artwork.
Here's a little explanation for why I chose each song. (**Just to let you know - whenever I wasn't sure of the actual composer, I just put the name of the performing artist.**)
1. Louis - Meditation from "Thais" by Massenet. Louis is a very philosophical character, so this seemed perfect. Also, this song was played in the opera when a priest was trying to get a man who had sold his soul to the devil to convert back to Christianity, so it also seemed appropriate for that reason.
2. Lestat - Variations on "Dark Eyes" by Lara St. John. This song reminded me of Lestat playing the violin for Akasha. It also has lyrics that reminded me very much of Lestat (although this arrangement is for violin and piano):
Dark eyes, passionate eyes
Burning and splendid eyes
How I love you, how I fear you
Verily, I espied you in an ill-starred moment
Oh, not for nothing are you darker than the deep!
I see mourning for my soul in you,
I see a triumphant flame in you:
A poor heart immolated in it.
But I am not sad, I am not sorrowful,
My fate is soothing to me:
All that is best in life, God gave us.
In sacrifice I returned to the fiery eyes!
3. Claudia - Pan's Labyrinth Lullaby by Javier Navarrete. This is a very pretty song, but it's also kind of creepy. Just like Claudia. ;) Also, it seemed appropriate since Claudia was a child - sort of - and children love lullabies. . . most of the time. . .
4. Armand - Dance Macabre by Camille Saint-Saens. This reminds me of Armand and his coven of creeptacular vampires who lived under the Paris cemetery. It just. . . sounds like a sabbat, you know? It's perfect for him.
5. Gabrielle - "Winter" from The Four Seasons by Vivaldi. Cold, hard, detached, earthy. . . just like Gabrielle.
6. Nicholas - Violin Concerto No. 5, Mvt. 3 by Mozart. Nicholas studied with Mozart, and frequently played his compositions. This is one of the few pieces that shows off a little bit of Mozart's dark side - and Nicky's. But it also has some happy moments; after all, Nicky wasn't always morose and morbid, like he was in the end.
7. Marius - String Quartet No. 1 by Tchaikovsky. This is a very decorous and expresive piece, very reminesent of Marius. I really can't describe it any better - you'll just have to hear it.
8. Akasha - Tzigane by Lara St. John. This song has a very Egyptian sound to it . . . I really don't know how to explain it further than that. It's very seductive and dance-like, quite like Akasha herself.
9. Jesse - Partita No. 2: Allamande by Bach. This piece is for violin alone, which I thought was very appropriate to represent Jesse because she was orphaned and often felt excluded, even within her own family. She felt like she was being cast out after the summer she spent with Maharet and Mael, before she joined the Talamasca. . . It's just perfect for her.
10. Maharet and Mekare - Concerto for Two Violins, Mvt. 1 by Bach. The two violins in this piece weave an intricate pattern; they are dependent on one another, but completely independent at the same time. It sometimes even seems like they're waring with each other - just like Maharet and Mekare.
11. Mael - Willow by Emilie Autumn. This piece sounds very druid-like to me. It sounds earthy, and structured, but abstract at the same time. Mael had many of the same attributes.
12. Khayman - Mystery Track No. 3 by Emilie Autumn. I really don't even know the name of this song (it literally just said "Mystery Track No. 3" on the Album), but it sounds really old and primal, but also has elements of more recent times. I thought it was a nice representation of Khayman - old as the Earth itself, but with elements or more recent times.
13. Pandora - The Red Violin by Joshua Bell. This is a mournful and thoughtful piece, but also beautiful. And Pandora is nothing if not mournful, thoughtful, and beautiful.
I hope you enjoy this fanmix!