This glossary defines the terms and styles we use in the music library to help you better match our music cues to the needs of your production.
AMBIENT/NEW AGE: music that is largely synthetic
Atmospheric: suggestive of an environment, generally without melody
Beat Driven: incorporates a rhythmic base as its core
Reflective: emotion driven, with reflection, generally pensive
Scientific: wide template of odd sounds and combinations of rhythms
Underscore: extremely simple and nondescript, generally little or no melody
World: blend of synthetic and world sounds and influences
AMERICANA: music that suggests American themes, locations, or musical styles
Folk: wide range of American roots music, varying greatly in texture and emotion
General: music that has an American feel but is of a generic nature
Gospel: incorporates African-American ethnic roots, wide range of emotions
Majestic: suggestive of American landscapes, pride, or patriotism
Period: music from specific historical eras in America’s past
Southern: wide range of pieces that are suggestive of the American Southland
Zydeco: a New Orleans style combining French and Caribbean influences
Blues: a wide range of American blues styles, contemporary and historical
CHILDREN: suggestive of youth, innocence, children, or babies
CIVILIZATIONS: music depicting the ancient world, or the history of world civilizations
Classical World: music of ancient Greece, Rome, Egypt, Mesopotamia
Extreme: radically edgy, emotionally charged music of a worldly ancient nature
World: ancient music from other civilizations not encompassed by the Classical World
CLASSICAL: music composed and orchestrated from all Classical music eras
COMIC: music in a humorous tone, ranging from mildly funny to ridiculous
CORPORATE: positive, forward moving, generally contemporary sounding but not edgy
Ambient: generally synthetic, nondescript, positive and sometimes profound
Extreme: edgy and aggressive, unpredictable, can be positive or neutral
Underscore: neutral nondescript bed, little or no melody, sometimes rhythm based
Upbeat: positive and upbeat, generally a resolved ending
COUNTRY: contemporary and historical music of the American South and heartlands
General: generic country
Rock: country music with a rock edge
Rockabilly: country music with a 1950s rhythm and texture
DARK ATMOSPHERES: extremely dark, ominous textures, little or no melody or rhythm, creating an edgy, eerie and mysterious environment
ETHNIC: world music defining ethnicity from specific locales
African: music of Africa or African in texture or melody
Chinese: music of China or Chinese in texture or melody
Greek: music of Greece or Greek in texture or melody
Irish: music of Ireland or Irish in texture or melody
Jewish: music orchestrated or melodically themed to suggest Jewish tradition
Latino: Latin, Brazilian, Cuban and other styles based similarly on rhythm and melody
Mexican: music of Mexico or Mexican in texture or melody
Russian: music of Russia or Russian in texture or melody
Scotch: Music of Scotland featuring traditional Scotch instrumentation
FILM NOIR: a dark, mysterious, grim, seedy mood that is both melancholy and tragic
Contemporary: music of the genre using contemporary sounds and concepts
Jazz: music that has roots in jazz but expresses the mood defining the genre
Traditional: music of the genre using sounds and concepts of the 1940s and 1950s
FILM SCORE: a diverse palette of musical styles appropriate for film
Contemporary: contemporary sounding music using edgier concepts
Dramatic: music with a core of drama in rhythm or emotion
Majestic: music that captures the emotion of majesty, accomplishment or pride
Novelty: odd pieces unique in character that defy definition in traditional categories
Period: music from specific historical eras
Timeless: music that creates mood and emotion that can work in any era in time
Underscore: music with less melody and internal transitions, generally understated
Upbeat: music that is positive and uplifting
War: music that reflects the drama and emotion of war, historical or contemporary
GAME: music that is edgy and dynamic, can have extreme transitions or events
JAZZ: music of the jazz genre or incorporating melodies or orchestrations of the genre
Easy Listening: “soft core” jazz, using contemporary sensibilities
Fusion: music that melds jazz, funk, and rock, generally edgy
Mainstream: generic jazz, not traditional but not necessarily contemporary either
Traditional: jazz in the 1920s to 1960s style
Urban: contemporary sound with Ramp;B or urban influence
MIDDLE EASTERN: music of the Middle East or Middle Eastern in texture or melody
Cinematic: traditionally stylized music that creates emotion and mood
Contemporary: wide range of textures and beats that are modern Middle Eastern
PASTORAL: music that is serene and idyllic, pleasant and tranquil, usually rural sounding
POP: contemporary style of “soft core” rock, MOR, or popular radio music
Hip Hop: urban dance style with specific beats and sounds
Reggae: music with Jamaican rhythms, beats, or instrumentation
R&B: music with a retro 1960's Motown beat as its core
Underscore: pop music with less melody and transitions, generally understated
RELIGIOUS: music with a biblical or Christian tonality in mood, emotion, or texture
RETRO: rock music that captures the flavor of the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, or 1980s
ROCK: music that uses a combination of guitars, drums, bass or keyboards as its core
Alternative: contemporary style with edgy or experimental sounds and beats
Cinematic: rock music that suggests mood, emotion or a visualization of image
Mainstream: rock music that uses traditional sounds, beats and structure
Pop: rock music with a “soft core” contemporary radio sound
SCIENCE FICTION: can be odd, experimental, effects driven, or outer space
STING: short statements or transitions in various music styles, both neutral and pointed
SPORTS: active, energetic music, both contemporary and historical that suggest sports
TECHNO: electronic dance music, usually synthetic based with uptempo electronic rhythms
Electronica: heavily electronic-based music, either in beats or textures
Euro: cutting edge, beat driven electronic music, angular and often trance-like
Pop: flavors of techno but more commercial
TIME PASSES: an understated undercurrent of motion and energy suggesting time passing
Contemporary: uses contemporary sounds and techniques
Dramatic: provides a passing of time but in a dramatic fashion
General: generic nondescript and neutral undercurrent
Poignant: provides emotion throughout or an emotional payoff at the end
URBAN: R&B, funk, or contemporary African-American inner-city beats and sounds
WORLD: music that has elements and influences from different countries and cultures
Contemporary: combination of global and synthetic sounds, beats, and melodies
Dramatic: world music that has a dramatic emotion