Today, I’d like to showcase some of the music in Stardew Valley.
All the music in Stardew is made using a piece of software called Propellerhead Reason. To make a song, I first create/tweak all the instruments I am going to use:
Then comes the composition… laying down each note in a “sequencer” (With plenty of copy & paste):
For Stardew, It’s important to me that each song enhances the atmosphere of the current scene. I tried my best to capture the “essence” of each season… hopeful spring, energetic summer, melancholy fall, and lonely winter. I use a lot of banjo, strings, harp, mallets, and flute to evoke the natural wonders of the valley.
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/145532631″ params=”color=0066cc&visual=false&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true” width=”50%” height=”130″ iframe=”true” /]
Each season has multiple songs that play randomly. Seasonal songs don’t loop over and over again whenever you are outside… instead, ambient seasonal soundscapes fill the void between songs.
Fall. A somber time of mystery and beauty. The sun, low in the sky, paints golden light onto the tumbling leaves :[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/145557534″ params=”color=0066cc&visual=false&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”130″ iframe=”true” /]
Winter. Lonely, cold, and majestic. Great frozen monuments loom in the distance:[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/145532603″ params=”color=0066cc&visual=false&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”130″ iframe=”true” /]
Spring. A time of hope and fresh beginnings. The sweet smell of honey and nectar wafts overs the green hills:[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/145532683″ params=”color=0066cc&visual=false&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”130″ iframe=”true” /]
Summer. A happy time of year when plants and animals alike are bustling in a frenzied dance of life-energy:[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/145532659″ params=”color=0066cc&visual=false&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”130″ iframe=”true” /]
Beyond the seasonal tunes, there’s plenty of music having to do with character events and festivals:
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/145554668″ params=”color=0066cc&visual=false&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”130″ iframe=”true” /]
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/145532871″ params=”color=0066cc&visual=false&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”130″ iframe=”true” /]
And of course… some strange music to be heard deep underground:
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/145534115″ params=”color=0066cc&visual=false&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”130″ iframe=”true” /]
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/145554656″ params=”color=0066cc&visual=false&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”130″ iframe=”true” /]
I am now working on festivals. I am able to use a lot of the same code/scripting as the event cutscenes, which is great.
Happy easter, everyone:
Thanks for reading/listening!
-ConcernedApe