Stormcloak

Keep Music
“Dragonsreach earned its name when the ancient Nord
hero Olaf One-Eye imprisoned his foe, the great dragon
Numinex, within the palace.” Soule depicts this grandeur
excellently, invoking the low strings, booming drums,
and TB choir of the title theme “Dragonborn” and its
thematic origin “Sovngarde.” This serves excellently as a
Stormcloak theme and captures their proud (sometimes
conceited) character, while contrasting their adversary’s Written by: Jeremy Soule
DRAGONSREACH Transcrip on & analysis by Erik Hoe ng

 
Cyrodilic theme “Imperial Throne.”

      
A≈446.5 Hz VII

 
i

    
v

  
"May the Gods watch over Dm C Am


your battles, friend." ( ≈ 60)

 
violin

     
TB


i i⁷ cello
Dm: Dm upper strings Dm7

   TB                      

     
cello

      
                       

      
low strings
(ties dashed for legibility)

timpani
x=bass drum double
The song “Dragonsreach” itself is labeled as the Stormcloak
castle theme in the game files and will play in any keep
affiliated with them, despite being named for a neutral hold
(in which its Jarl favors the imperials).
Though the Skyrim theme shows up frequently in the soundtrack, this is one of its strongest presentations.
The “Thu’um Motif” is also very audible in the chords as beat one of measures 5, 7, 8, and 5 again played in
succession; this is usually used as a subdued outro motif (see in the endings of: The Gathering Storm,
Ancient Stones, Wind Guide You, and the untitled cue “mus_explore_dlc2solstheim_10”)
        
VI

      
i

 
Dm B♭
9

    
 
Unison transitional themes like this
are fairly uncommon in Soule’s work

  

  
  
viola but fit the dignified, courtly feel well

          
horn

    
tenor

           
bassoon

       
 
+horn

 

                            
cello

 
bass voice


bass

2
 Return to skyrim theme with
horn and more dense harmonies

      
i i⁶ VII i
v⁷


Dm Dm/F C Dm
Am7add4
Soule uses major V chords quite sparingly compared to horn

  

       
other composers, usually opting for a softer resolution

     
      
to minor i found in v, (b)VII, IV, or even (b)vi, and bII


17
upper strings

    A 
     
      TB               
          
V

     
        
     

                             
low strings

3
 These sol-do (P4) half notes in the TB choir
(which appeared in the beginning as well)


are possibly references to a similar motif

       
i⁶ VI iv⁷ i
that plays at 1:19 and 2:45 in “Dragonborn”

   
Dm/F B♭ Dm
Gm7
26

  
            
       
     
                    
              
 

               
           