Tomb Raider music
This article refers to any music, sound, or tune played in the Tomb Raider series of video games. The basic instrumentation for the Tomb Raider scores is orchestral, though the games adopt different instrumentation and tone with each installment in the series. The majority of Tomb Raider music has been created using electronic technology, such as samples and synths (though the Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness soundtrack was performed by the London Symphony Orchestra).
Tomb Raider Trilogy
General feeling: Classic and Mystery.
The music for Tomb Raider was composed by Martin Iveson and Nathan McCree. The game uses a solo oboe melody for the main theme. Variations of this main theme have been used throughout all of the Tomb Raider games. The music forTomb Raider II and Tomb Raider III: Adventures of Lara Croft was composed by Nathan McCree.
The main themes from the first three games share similar instrumentation, although the melodies themselves are slightly different in each game. The main instruments used are strings, harps and woodwinds. As Lara is British, the classic scores sound similar to Gaelic instrumental songs, arbitrarily giving the game an atmosphere of adventure, fantasy and ancient mystery.
The symphonic sounds of the earlier games were created using Roland Corporation's Orchestral Expansion board for their JV series keyboards.
Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation
General feeling: Ancient and Mythical.
Original music was composed, produced and arranged by Peter Connelly.
The main theme of the 4th game is an electronic-like orchestra work with Egyptian influences, playing mostly the same notes of the first three main theme songs but completely re orchestrated. During the game, we can hear variations of the main theme with specific instruments for every level.
Tomb Raider Chronicles
General feeling: Military and Fear.
The 5th game replays the classic tunes (the game was made as a commemoration for what Lara was before) from all the games before and comes with new sounds variated a bit from the game before. Original music was composed, produced and arranged again by Peter Connelly.
The game has no main theme.
Rome part has classic tunes. The submarine part has military beats. The Ireland levels play spooky music. The last part has common tunes with the electronic music used in Tomb Raider: Legend.
Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness
General feeling: Obscure and Chased.
The 6th game combines The Danny Elfman Batman scores with the classic Lara violins. For the first time in the series the game has the score performed by a real orchestra(London Symphony Orchestra) . Although the game hasn't been considered the best of the series, the music of the game was very well appreciated. For the orchestration it was selected the oboe, core anglais, harp and flute to represent Lara.
The composers are Peter Connelly and Martin Iveson and the orchestra that interpreted was conducted by David Snell.
Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Legend
General feeling: Gaelic and Modern.
The 7th game of the series plays a new kind of music that changes after the actions of Lara. Most of the music is alternative. The alternative genre was already used before for the trials of each game and often in the game. Even the movie dedicated a major part of its soundtrack to the this kind of genre.
Legend's title track starts off with the first few notes of Lara's theme in Tomb Raider I being played with slight ornamentation on a Middle-Eastern Duduk. This theme is also heard several times during gameplay, mostly as a background motif or in a three-note repeating motif that was used sometimes in previous Tomb Raider game soundtracks. The lyrics to the main theme and other MusicAL cues in the game are from a Gaelic folk song named Ailein duinn by Capercaillie.
In 2006 Troels B. Folmann was awarded a BAFTA in the category, 'Best original Score' and the GANG award, 'Music of the Year'.
Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Anniversary
General Feeling: Relaxation & Gaelic.
The score for Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Anniversary is composed by Troels Brun Folmann. The majority of the album contains his original scores and themes. However, recognizable themes from the first game (composed by Nathan McCree) such as "Time to Run," "Puzzle Theme," and "Puzzle Theme II" have been recreated.
The main theme for Anniversary can be described as a celebratory version of the original theme from TR1, as similar chord and instruments are used in the piece. The song starts off with a heavy crescendo of woodwinds and low strings playing The Famous Tomb Raider melody, and then breaks off into an almost playful arc, featuring parts of the original harp composition from the TR1 theme. Pizzicato strings, cascading pianos and celeste, chimes, and glass instrumentation are prominent throughout this version, implying the fresh and modern twist that Folmann and Crystal Dynamics have placed in Anniversary.
Folmann's work for Anniversary is different from that of Legend, as it has no underlying techno beats or electronic effects. Anniversary's score resembles that of a combination between the original Tomb Raider and a typical movie score: entirely orchestral and choral. Folmann uses more complex instrumentation and composition in his scoring, acquiring more woodwinds, instrument articulation, and ambience. Folmann leaves somewhat of a trademark in his Anniversary music by adding a significant amount of chimes throughout the score.