One of the world's oldest songs isn't about love, sex or even power. It's about death. Dies Irae, the song of death, is a medieval chant that warns of an apocalyptic day of wrath, and has been used as the soundtrack to the end of life for 40 human generations — from the dark ages to Star Wars, The Lion King and Lord of the Rings. Can you name others?
Very interesting and enjoyable video—thanks for sharing. Though if I had one small nitpick, it's that the Lord of the Rings example seems a bit tenuous—the melodic pattern there (3-1-2-7-1-6-7-5 in natural minor) doesn't quite match up with the Dies irae melodic pattern (3-2-3-1-2-7-1-1). It's an interesting coincidence that the ostinato of the Christmas piece known in English as "Carol of the Bells" (originally a setting of the Ukrainian New Year's carol "Shchedryk") is also that same little 3-2-3-1 lick, though somehow I doubt a good Eastern Orthodox Christian like Mykola Leontovych had a Roman Catholic chant in his head when composing that piece. I guess one main point here is that that little 3-2-3-1 lick is just very musically versatile and super catchy, whatever background one may be from!
