Analysing Minecraft's Music (ft. Mumbo Jumbo)

C418's ambient score for Minecraft has to be one of the most intriguing video game soundtracks of all time. Drawing influence from the likes of Brian Eno, Steve Reich and Erik Satie, Minecraft's music is dripping with character, yet remains humble and non-invasive during gameplay. Today I'm taking a look at how Minecraft wound up with this minimalist soundtrack and what gives this music its muted yet curious sound.
Thank again to MumboJumbo for appearing in this video! Check out his channel to witness some of his marvelous red stone creations: / thatmumbojumbo
SOURCES:
Daniel Rosenfeld (C418) talking at DevGAMM in 2015 • Daniel Rosenfeld (C418...
Minecraft is the most popular game of all time: www.theverge.c...
Liner Notes of Ambient 1: Music For Airports by Brian Eno: music.hyperreal...
Interview with Brian Eno (2011): • Brian Eno: The origina...
Rosenfeld interview with Vice (2015): www.vice.com/e...
An extra special thanks goes to Vidad Flowers, Austin Russell, Christopher Ryan, Toot & Paul Peijzel, the channel’s Patreon saints! 😇
SUPPORT ME ON PATREON: / davidbennettpiano

[@DavidBennettPiano]

❗️CORRECTION: 9:50 there is a small mistake in the sheet music. The “E” in the left hand should be a “C#” 🎵 Thanks to those who pointed it out 😀 Also, sorry for my awful pronunciation of Satie! 🇫🇷

[@factsverse9957]

Why are the previous comments deleted?

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Kenji Gunawan I have no idea! I’ve only just noticed that! It must be a weird glitch

[@evoyt1378]

@@DavidBennettPiano Maybe check the "held for review" comments?

[@kyconfii]

Perfect pitch gang!

[@AlkautsarPA]

Well, actually there's more mistake. Check the 10:20, it should be A - C# - E - A - C# - E, not A - C# - A - B - C# - E as is shown on the partiture.

[@TippiGordon]

The best description of Minecraft's music that I've read (and I forgot where I read it), is that it sounds like a place you can never go back to.

[@DavidBennettPiano]

That sums it up well 😊 Basically that warm/cold feeling of nostalgia

[@sluvarhedgehag]

i remember going to a very old server, seeing my very old builds that i spent 10s of hours on, sweden kicks in, shit, i cried so hard i had a headache

[@lama99654]

@@DavidBennettPianoYeah I think this might be why a lot of people (me included) feel such a strong nostalgia for it.

[@DaviSilva-oc7iv]

Deep

[@agatone7244]

That somehow makes so much sense

[@jonasc1221]

"Sweden" is a piece of music that I cannot listen to without going on a mind trip back to life in 2011. It is so surreal to listen to it that I actually stop myself even though I want to listen to it. It really is magical.

[@markforge4081]

What happend to Minecraft calm 1

[@dcincco]

I feel like even though I wasn’t old enough to have nostalgia then, (I was born 1 year before it’s official release, give or take a few months), but it’s still feels nostalgic. Like I’m experiencing others people nostalgia, even reading the comments sometimes I see nostalgic ones.

[@hatman44]

I didn't even play it back then, but it still reminds me of alot the earlier days of playing mc It's such a simple and yet so good damn game, don't think it'll ever die

[@detonator5816]

@@dcincco Wow I have the same feeling. I only started playing 3 years ago, and I only play on PvP servers without the music on. Yet, I feel a sense of nostalgia for something that I didn't personally experience.

[@footchess387]

actually started playin at the age of 5 in 2013 so these musics are litterally all my childhood

[@godrequiem5014]

Me: *_burns down village_* Minecraft: Calm, Ambient music

[@danisaia]

Yes, but also melancholic and a little dissonant, as said in the video. Could it be the sadness of the people that lived in the village you're burning, maybe? :)

[@xexpaguette]

@Rylie Breaux-Collins nah, boffy would kill all the villagers with his bare hands.

[@bucketofporknbeans2770]

Me: plants flowers Minecraft: cave sounds

[@lukeedwardpanganiban7891]

@@bucketofporknbeans2770 That's worse.

[@The_Copper_Element_Itself]

@@lukeedwardpanganiban7891 me: wakes up on my house Game: plays Subwoofer *LULLABY*

[@Su1table_]

Is nobody talking about how we have never seen mumbo and David in the same place at the same time?

[@user-ox3mu9mg4i]

hmmm

[@zed.lmaooo]

@@user-ox3mu9mg4i baybayin characters, nice

[@grassgrow030]

they sound IDENTICAL

[@soaricarus]

@@grassgrow030 personally i don't hear it but ok

[@user-zu3il2rr5t]

xd i love this joke

[@zesla.]

Whoa, this was REALLY GOOD AND UNEXPECTED collab.

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thank you!

[@johnhenry3255]

Bro yeah!

[@SJohann]

You say this was unexpected, but I remember him replying to a comment about him sounding like Mumbo on his 'only 12 notes in music' video.

[@notafeesh4138]

Funny how I (and a few others) watch both channels :P

[@jacobhendrickson9718]

@@notafeesh4138 ye same

[@SkimBee]

Me playing Minecraft: this music is nice The cave sounds: hello

[@ecdudis9557]

Pigstep: Guten tag

[@emiliocarreras9329]

Hallo

[@Aizelav]

I read hello in the voice of the party kid in fnaf ugh that gave me chills wew

[@ohwni]

@@Aizelav balloon boy?

[@Aizelav]

@@ohwni yeah

[@HarryBakerSmith]

Everyone’s talking about the crossover, but even as a brit, if I wasn’t watching the screen I wouldn’t notice the speaker change 😂

[@J-rome]

I thought the creator is just Trolling and believe they are 1 just person.

[@theseangle]

I am not even a native English speaker, but would distinguish them between each other blindfolded. Even if they had the same mics and voice processing. They have different manners of speech. Maybe it's because I have spent too much time watching MumboJumbo and can't confuse his voice with any other voice now

[@HarryBakerSmith]

Seangle flex much

[@theseangle]

@@HarryBakerSmith lol weird flex but yeah

[@wongijen9167]

Seangle weird flex but ok

[@0TransAtlantic0]

Minecraft's is some of the most hauntingly beautiful music ever recorded. Much like Satie's Gymnopédie No.1, you will never hear it the same way no matter how many times you listen to it.

[@henrybusse7513]

I genuinely could not agree more with this comment

[@fedsavi]

Avengers: endgame is the most ambitious crossover ever David: hold my piano

[@winstonung]

Me: breaks my back from holding that

[@abhijithcpreej]

Ambient-ious

[@lazergurka-smerlin6561]

How did that meme survive for so long?

[@fedsavi]

Lazergurka - Smerlin it is dead but it’s kinda like STONKS, you use it regardless

[@jacobh9344]

Mumbo: hold my red stuff

[@stefanfong6678]

12:09 My ears have never been this hurt in my life hearing this. This is truly tortureous for me who has played Minecraft for over 7 years and can't accept changes in the traditional soundtracks, that part hit me so hard. But no offence this analysis is great! David, you earned yourself a sub!

[@edwardkendrick9641]

same, that caused a visceral discomfort deep in my brain. After 13 years that music is practically burned into my mind, any change to it no matter how small seriously sticks out like a sore thumb.

[@ILoveMath_Cats_Coding]

Same

[@arcioko2142]

the worst thing is he says "You see how that uneasy eeriness dissapears"

[@fedsavi]

The crossover nobody expected but everybody wanted

[@theosib]

Yeah. Reminds me of the crossover between 12tone and Religion for Breakfast.

[@junting605]

Federico Savignano literally what everyone says under every collar vid...

[@fedsavi]

theosib yep I remember that

[@fedsavi]

Junting but usually it’s just two channels about the same things (like two music channels or two Minecraft channels) but its when two youtubers you love that come from different fields that it’s impressive.

[@joeyhardin5903]

spanish inquisition vibes

[@kinghunter8902]

Plot Twist: David and Mumbo are actually the same person and we just don’t know it yet.

[@ZephyrysBaum]

yeah lol

[@owencary1570]

I also feel that Minecraft’s music discs also really interesting to look at since they’re nothing like the background music!

[@velvetvioletta]

Which makes sense, as they're music you deliberately put on when you want to listen to them.

[@kpdelaney6460]

Yeah. My favorites are cat and wait

[@samuelthecamel]

The music discs were always kind of mysterious. Some of them have obvious themes like "Mall" or "Cat," but some of them feel like they're telling a story that doesn't exist, like "Stal" or "Mellohi"

[@Chris_Cross]

Pigstep: Now it's time to get funky!

[@sharpfang]

What about the Nether and End music? I'm seriously disappointed.

[@kristinstokes9089]

Another thing I absolutely love about Minecraft's music; it gives you a sense of loneliness. In single-player, you're trapped in an infinite world with nothing but yourself. Yeah, sure, there are villagers and pets, but there's no one really quite human. I've always felt like it adds to the feeling in the world and that's really what makes it really special :)

[@nix207]

I am a person who's played Minecraft all these years almost entirely in singleplayer. Because of that, I love how the music feels curious yet lonely. The music's "slowness" and non-intrusiveness adds to the feeling of living and exploring in this huge world alone. I like to assume that this may be connected to how Minecraft used to be singleplayer only. I don't think I would enjoy the music as much if I played multiplayer more. I would have expected the music to behave like a character in itself in multiplayer.

[@DavidBennettPiano]

That’s a good point. The music was composed when the game was only single players so I do think you’re on to something here 😊

[@nix207]

@@DavidBennettPiano i will go do my own research because i was so sure C418 mentioned as such at some point.

[@nix207]

@@DavidBennettPiano So I found the interview I was looking for. It was in the podcast The Shaft, episode 22, around 5 minutes in. C418 mentions that part of the reason the music is forlorn and isolated is because the tech demo he composed the music for was indeed singleplayer and only had the ability to place blocks. C418 also mentions that once the music was implemented around the time multiplayer was added, he wasn't happy because the music didn't fit anymore.

[@rayvenhd387]

I play multiplayer all the time, I agree since I just put the music volume to 0 everytime I play bedwars. But the music still sits perfectly in an SMP.

[@matthewdaggett5163]

when i play with my pals, I do notice the music a lot less, which is maybe because you dont feel the loneliness. but then when youre in a cave or something away from them or out exploring the music finds itself again eerily

[@blueshoals]

1:38 The key phrase here: "... a game like minecraft," is the important bit that sticks out to me. Minecraft is many games rolled into one. A game where ten different people can play it ten different ways, with ten different objectives, at ten different paces.

[@keithparker1346]

It's almost everything to everyone

[@checkYVELLUAP]

subwoofer lullaby without the cmaj7 chord makes me uncomfortable

[@equaius893]

yeah. its cursed

[@Xetaas]

I haven’t reached that part of the video, but the thought of it alone is making me cringe Edit: I agree, it makes me very uncomfortable

[@gabrieleberle4422]

sounds like a horror game's music.

[@CipherionYT]

I'm done that is the most accurate analogy I’ve ever heard

[@HALberdier17]

When I heard it, first thing I said was "That sounds wrong".

[@JoCE2305]

I can't believe they stopped having C418 make their music.

[@monodia180]

C418 will still make minecraft music it's just that mojang wants to have different composer

[@juusomaenpaa7236]

@@monodia180 so C418 still works in Mojang?

[@monodia180]

@@juusomaenpaa7236 yes

[@juusomaenpaa7236]

@@monodia180 ok good

[@romanelliott1859]

@@monodia180 okay now I'm more confused but... At least he's still there?

[@cademiclips]

As an American, I could barely distinguish between your voices. *Watches ending* glad I'm not the only one.

[@DavidBennettPiano]

😂😂

[@joaquimgianini1234]

13:40 The weird thing is when they talk their voices start sounding exacly the same and then they go in different ways

[@livedandletdie]

They have the same attack on their voices, their sustains are similar and the decay differs a lot. That's about it, it's really hard to separate their voices.

[@mrpepero]

get good lol

[@Sidharth_V_Jain]

@@mrpepero ok lol

[@Joseph_yy]

“Sweden” reminds me of my first time playing Minecraft,I mined down my first tree and made a set of wooden tools from it. And when I survived the very first night underground,”Wet hands” started to play right when I dug up to the surface. The memories made me teared up.

[@happi-entity]

that's so weird. whenever it rains, i always think it's a good time to play minecraft. part of that is that i know my friends are going to be inside when it rains so we could play online together, but this might be part of it too. it has good rain music.

[@purplexed9music]

I listened to this without watching most of the video, and it took me a second to realize that it had actually switched from David talking to Mumbo talking.

[@isabelnat1683]

The music in Minecraft is so iconic, I honestly don’t believe Minecraft would be Minecraft without the music

[@Maodjrodnd]

Don’t get me wrong. I love the music but I think the code has a bit more significance

[@enesar6797]

@@Maodjrodnd the code is, of course, very significant. But though the code alone is good, the music definitely adds the needed depth and flavor to finalize it.

[@allcapsdown]

turn down music to 0%, is it the same game?

[@mineytcraft6806]

Me, who plays on PE and have not downloaded the music pack AND plays on mute: *visible pain*

[@takamjob8385]

*Cries in Bedrock

[@ohwni]

I will never forget the soundtrack - everytime I hear it, it gives me the chills.

[@therealeren2045]

True, Daniel Rosenfeld is up there with Bach, Chopin and Beethoven.

[@mastod0n1]

I haven't played Minecraft in years but hearing these tracks immediately take me back. I associate Minecraft with a rough, dark period of my life because that's when I played it most. But hearing the music it reminded me of that calm feeling I would get that would help me forget about those problems, if only for an hour or two.

[@santoriomaker69]

okay what the hell, who was the person who said that you sound like mumbo jumbo? Cuz DAMN that person's right and I never noticed that until now

[@DavidBennettPiano]

😂

[@mhz163]

@@DavidBennettPiano y

[@ahlgreen2491]

Everyone said that

[@pinkajou656]

When you watch both youtubers but you still notice this

[@xexpaguette]

It's because they're both British

[@stephen0793]

I was really really anticipating this, and I wasn't disappointed! I'm in love with the Minecraft soundtrack as a guitarist

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thanks! I’m glad you liked it 🙂🙂

[@michaelnajoan5104]

David : *uploads* Title : (ft. Mumbo Jumbo) Me: Finally, something *EPIC* in 2020

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thanks!

[@arcioko2142]

epico

[@thesuncollective1475]

Mumbo Jumbo was a very chill guy..love him!

[@leandromayorferrer9093]

@@arcioko2142 porque respondes enespañol?

[@valentinoraimondo8081]

@@arcioko2142 why are you guys speaking spanish

[@liambeals2630]

Never watched one of your videos before, but I adore C418 and Lena Raine and the influence they have had on so many people, so here I am! I want to say two things: 1. This was a brilliant video. You smashed it. Primo background research. 2. Chuffed that you feel that was about the music, and that you were able to articulate it into words. Have a good one mate.

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thanks Liam! That means a lot 😃

[@liambeals2630]

All good mate! Showing appreciation where it’s due! 🤟🏽

[@lilyh4467]

Plot twist: They're actually the same person

[@Constantine_Cvl8]

I am honored to have the opportunity of being the 69th like

[@ProdCashhier]

They sound the exact same

[@wenhanli887]

Ik this is a joke, but if u search up mumbo’s picture, they look entirely different

[@zed.lmaooo]

they do look faintly similar to me

[@felobatirmoheb4884]

@@wenhanli887 Mumbo's like 6.4 or something and has a literal block face, the Chaddiest of Chad's.

[@zackszekely6618]

Now I want to see Mumbo build something with noteblocks and have David analyze and critique the music that gets produced. Kind of like the reverse of this collab if you will.

[@tomprincemusic]

Mumbo does redstone... Mumbo does building... Mumbo does cinematography... is Mumbo doing composition next, if so... I'm scared for my job!

[@masterpig5s]

Nah, everyone can coexist

[@MocaHere]

@@masterpig5s no, everyone should be scared, soon we'll see mumbo doing programing

[@masterpig5s]

CreativeName GoesHere when he has a computer science background and he’s said he lost interest, I could something sparking a little bit which then maybe sits for a year after and lights a flame.

[@chrischinmc]

He made wonder wall in hermitcraft

[@caithawes9646]

Im so obsessed with these tunes, it’s always envoked such a strong indescribable emotion in me it’s the perfect music for such a simplistically beautiful game

[@vishnugopakumar8807]

This was the most unexpected thing you could've possible uploaded Mumbo is one of my favourite hermits, i didn't know I needed this but I can't imagine life without it

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thanks so much! I’m glad you’re enjoying the video 😊

[@AlfieDavisVlogs]

Really enjoyed this video. Really good

[@emmbeesea]

Composing for sandbox games is super wonky; anything happens at any time. If you have a laid out storyline, you can compose to that story. But with a lack of story, such calls for music that can be used universally. Very good video!

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thanks! Yeah, the freedom of sandbox games ironically present a challenge to composers.

[@makinishikino7410]

Hi Emm Bee Sea

[@ireadysucks3026]

Silvagunner gang

[@timh.6872]

I do wonder if it would be possible to make a dynamic soundtrack to a sandbox game if the game engine provided enough information. If there was some way to reliably weave themes and motifs in and out of the score as the things the motifs represent come into play. Essentially anything important gets a motif or motivic idea as part of their data, and that's used to compose music on the fly. It'd probably work better in an RPG generator than a sadbox game, something that generates a story on the fly and so making musical references makes sense, but it might work for sandboxes too.

[@WhatIsMyPorpoise]

@@timh.6872 the cool thing is that minecraft’s soundtrack is dependent of your dimension and your gamemode. The creative gamemode music has ambient music that is intended to inspire and help focus, as playing in creative is often related to searching for something or creating a design without survival limits. The nether music is also ambient music, but is oppressive to make you feel the stress the dimension should give the player(and ghast noises are hidden in the tracks, which is evil) Being submerged in water has its own music as well. Probably because movement is so different underwater. The game is basically designed to reflect the mood of the player. The player wanting a challenge in the nether will have intimidating music to put them in the mood. Wanting to create something, Aria Math plays, making you feel like making things grander. And just in survival, it lets you reflect on what you are doing. It’s just so great.

[@lemeeadams4455]

Mumbo and David have the exact same voice, and we didn’t see mumbo’s face in the video... I think we cracked who the REAL mumbo jumbo is

[@Nystika]

i can't unhear it, he's like the lite version of mumbo

[@elbreadroh]

Finally a video diving in the **MUSIC THEORY** of Minecraft rather than "like dude i feel the **vibrations** on this one. Reminds me the time I was seven when I walked across the boat and came across the realms of the sea and the rivers flow across m"

[@daviddevries8126]

Yes!

[@mr.beatboxer757]

Yes, m is the best

[@nelsonnicholson6175]

I know exactly the video you're talking about too! What a waste of time it was

[@lawrencecalablaster568]

Wait, which one?

[@JeeliBeeli]

Wet hands is one of my favorite songs ever. Whenever I am sad, it lets me feel sad but hopeful at the same time.

[@theeducatedranter9337]

The crossover I didn't know I needed

[@lonesome3958]

(Y) S ame

[@shafira82]

Never watched a video from David, but I subscribed to Mumbo a while ago, and the only thing that I can say... I SWEAR, when I closed my eyes, I couldn't distingush their voices Whatta a great video, btw. Love it

[@ryanrobinson2293]

I've watched quite a few different analyses on the minecraft music but this is by far the best one. It goes through every reason why it works so perfectly, thank you

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thank you Ryan 😊 that means a lot

[@thechillykitty]

Minecraft music is so beautiful, the nostalgia it gives is something else. I always think ambient music is like adding a subtle spice to food. You know it's there, can't quite explain it, but it can add depth and richness to the experience.

[@JamEngulfer]

I think something important to remember is that the music for Minecraft was composed way back when the game was in Alpha. Back then, there was no multiplayer, no biomes, significantly less content in the game and importantly, no villagers or any other sign of sentient life. When you take that into consideration, the music makes a whole lot more sense. It has a very lonely feel to it that really matched the feel of the game back then.

[@sog__]

even with all the mobs, the game still feels lonely, and the music reinforces that feeling

wasn't expecting this to be reccomended but I'm so happy it was

[@shaddjimenez4524]

lol this is one of the most unexpected collabs ever great analysis, loved the video.

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thank you!

[@Respectable_Username]

I will admit that I clicked because if Mumbo, but I'm glad that his involvement was mainly token. Your actual analysis was brilliant! Now time to listen to some C418 while working 😊

[@joermnyc]

Satie does heavily influence a lot of modern artists. There’s a very open, curious, but sometimes disconcerting feeling from Satie’s works... I played some Satie for my young daughter and she seemed fascinated by it.

[@TheGentleCreepers]

If I die someday, I want a tree in top of my grave instead of a gravestone and also a speaker that plays all the original c418 minecraft songs everyday.

[@cianstar1637]

I couldn’t finish this video without dying of nostalgia. I respawned so many times.

[@DavidBennettPiano]

😃😂

[@ad-skyobsidion4267]

Glad you ain’t playing hardcore

[@shubsplaining]

i've watched this video multiple times and have enjoyed it every single time. not many video essays actually go into detail about things like this one does-i feel like they're either a summary/documentary or a commentary, but this one actually gives me answers to the thoughts i had about minecraft's music. why is it so impactful? because of that dissonance/consonance, the ambience, the way that it comes in at the perfect times. why do i remember it? well, i've played minecraft so much that i've had beautiful moments with the music, and even if i don't remember the moments themselves anymore, the music sticks with me, forever. amazing video :)

[@minerat27]

This appeared in my recommended and I wasn't prepared for the double whammy nostalgia hit of Minecraft's music and a MumboJumbo cameo

[@johnjohnfofohniam]

Thank you, David, for making this video. Super awesome, I think a lot of people (including myself) would like more content like this. Keep it up, cheering you on as you grow.

[@baltpit2439]

Damnn 13:43 i thought the same guy was talking but it was really the other guy 😭

[@DavidBennettPiano]

🤣🤣

[@Wind-nj5xz]

It does sound a lot like him

[@TheSlyFreak]

Ever since I first started seeing your videos, I always thought you sounded a bit like Mumbo. This is the best possible video to confirm that haha

[@Addy0302]

a surprise, to be sure, but a welcome one

[@DavidBennettPiano]

😁😁😁

[@M4rcLL]

I sometimes thought that Mumbo was speaking when you were. 😂😂

[@DavidBennettPiano]

😂😂

[@TroyBlackford]

I really appreciated your perspective and insight. I feel like I learned a lot about ambient music and the Minecraft soundtrack, as well as about major 7th chords. As always, I feel better than before I watched it.

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thanks Troy! That means a lot 😃😃

[@davidpotts7116]

How I like to describe Minecraft’s music is this - nostalgic, but you’re constantly experiencing that nostalgia for the first time

[@Amcsae]

I have never heard of Mumbo Jumbo, but I absolutely agree that you sound very similar to each other. And every video you post is always fascinating! I've never played Minecraft, but this was still very engrossing 🙂

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thank you!

[@theothersmith9570]

You’d probably be surprised to hear that he’s got over 6 million followers and is a household name in Minecraft circles. Isn’t it crazy that there are so many different fandoms on KZbin that you might never hear of without crossovers like this?

[@w4yn]

I personally play minecraft with no volume, but when I turn it on, *oh boy*

[@MommaOpal]

Mumbo and music theory all in the same video, what could be better

[@Evilc]

nothing

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thanks!

[@wenhanli887]

Mumbo, Grian, and music theory

[@vighneshthale9092]

Whenever I hear the Calm 1, I get chills all over my body

[@kenimerlewis]

Well isn’t this a surprising collaboration

[@beanburrito4405]

This video was really good at explaining the Alpha soundtrack! I kinda wish it covered the Beta soundtrack since it sounds so different and I still don’t understand what exactly those tracks even are, but oh well, hopefully that’ll be another vid (P.S. Aria Math is the best Minecraft OST, bar none)

[@ThomasG_Nikolaj]

Aria Math is definitely the best, however Sweden, subwoofer lullaby and minecraft bring back the most memories for me

[@michaelnajoan5104]

Trust me David, you don't know how much I need a nostalgia right now. Thanks for the video!

[@DavidBennettPiano]

You're welcome Michael! Thanks

[@Santibag]

I feel like I want to tell my opinions about which music feels what: Subwoofer Lullaby: It feels like the first music I heard in Minecraft. I was trying to explore the game, crafting system, the environment I spawned (a few chuck wide plains between a forest and an ocean, which is still my fav start). And I remember I heard this music Living Mice: When I started my first world, I realized that cobblestone was an interesting material to make a primitive/medieval 2 story house. Also, while making pickaxe with every material I discovered underground, I got tons of it. Cheaper than wood. I added flowers of all types in batches to decorate the surroundings of the house. A few block wide pool with lily pads. I remember that. I was also experimenting with a very primitive train station next to the house. Haggstorm: There's a kid or baby. It's sleeping time :) Not a music I can relate to the game. But the second part of the music feels like witches in the area. It may be a swamp passing by music. Minecraft: May be my least favorite music. Very repetitive. I feel like it starts in sunsets. Mice on Venus: The first part is one of my favorites. Everything is ok. I have a base. I finished making it. I have everything I need, etc. The second part is surely "A Witch Brewing Potions Theme" for me. A black cat is there regardless of black cats being in the game in that version. I would love if both parts were not in the same file. They are not very related, I think. Dry Hands: You're trying to do something but you're not progressing a single step. You're just staying where you are and spending effort on useless things. I feel this from the music trying to progress to some feelings but immediately falls back to the same mood as it started with. Tries to be Mice on Venus but it cannot. Very frustrating. But succeeds in making an ending and it is where it escapes from its chains. Wet Hands: Another sunset music. I have a relatively established home place. I'm watching the sunset on the roof of my house. It may be my favorite music in the game. It may compete with Alpha but they are clearly serving to different purposes. I also always skip credits. So Alpha never plays in the game for me. Clark: Having difficult times. Yeah, these happen in life. But what to do now? I'm just starting the game. I have very limited resources. Everything is scattered in a few chest. A crafting table and a bed is on the grass. This place will be where I build my house. But there's nothing now. It is a daytime music. Sweden: Almost the same as Living Mice. As in Clark, there are problems. But if there's a problem, there is also a solution :) Much more positive than Clark. Life is normal. Danny: Feels more Minecraft to me than Minecraft. May be partially because of how much I don't like Minecraft. But less Minecraft than Sweden and Living Mice. A bit like the last blueness of the sky after the sunset and the music continues at night. Turns into a night theme. It could've been one of the witch themes but doesn't go that way. Alpha: I had never finished the game in survival at the time I listened to this the first time. It was also not playing in the credits screen(probably and old bug that is fixed now). So I extracted this from game files. And I immediately fell in love with the beginning. As a whole, it is still very good. It competes with Wet Hands in being my fav Minecraft music. All parts have different beauties. -0:00 Minecraft ended. Everything that happened will live in memories and fill my heart with nostalgia everytime I remember them. -1:42, memories pass in front of my eyes one by one. I feel strong nostalgia. -2:23 hits that chord and the nostalgia intensifies with the chord. It continues to grow and -2:37 hits the climax. Then it calms down with the soft notes like the strong feelings that calmed down after crying. It starts a new mood. -3:00 is a new start after the end. Strong. The past is in the past. Let's live the future. Everything starts from the scratch. But the future builds up strong. -3:51 Beautiful horses run in plains. I would love to hear some horse neighs and running sounds with this. Then the screen slowly changes to a sunset. I'm watching my new beginning on top of a hill. -4:49 I don't have clear feelings that I can describe about this. -7:17 I'm making a decision. I will make promises. I'm sure that I will hold my promises. I will achieve it. -8:13 Everything is falling into the void one by one. Nothing else will remain. The world becomes empty slowly. Even the sound starts to go. Dead Voxel: I'm in a Nether Fortress and I'm discovering it. It has a system in itself. It runs on set rules. Moog City 2: All I know is I always find this very interesting. Concrete Halls: It is more of a Nether music than others. The others are more like fortress musics and Ballad of the Cats goes to an even more different direction. Mutation: A good Welcome to Minecraft. Haunt Muskie: A skyscraper era music. Not about what we think when someone says "Minecraft". A completely different gameplay style. May be the most suitable creative mode music. Well, I almost never play creative mode. MC Creative is not my game. I only use it for experimenting(especially in 1.7 where mods were there and not outdated by Minecraft. Mods sadly cannot keep up with Minecraft and they are now all in different lives). Warmth: Such a thing these Nether Fortresses are! They confuse the mind and lose me inside them. But the end of the piece makes sure that I'm in a fortress. Ballad of the Cats: Ghasts suffering from life at the distance. Feels like a captivity in a pirate ship. Ghasts may being tortured. It feels less nether than a pirate ship. The End: In the End. It clearly suits the purpose. Environment is vast. Void is there. It's like a dream where things are slightly distorted. Then it turns into a nightmare and ends up in void. Only sound is left in the world. Then starts a piece but I have no idea how it goes. I always ignore past the beginning of this 15 min file. Well, I never lived in the End so I guess that's the reason. I also want to say how unrelated Creative mode musics feel to the game. I listened them while playing Railcraft but not Minecraft. Creative mode may need different musics but I think current ones don't fit the game theme. Otherwise, I like some of them.

[@KartikSharma-yr9lm]

This is one of best videos on your channel sir.

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thanks!

[@ChargedBonsai98]

This is something that I didn't think needed until now. Great video.

[@LeonardoHernandez-eg5dv]

David Bennet Piano: analyzing Minecraft's music me: woah nice .....ft Mumbo Jumbo me: hol'up *WHAT?*

[@kanjosidr]

hol up ring ding ring ding ding ding ding ding ding

[@kimmajkosaveukraineroadto1127]

Ring Ding Ring King Sing Pingpong

[@1barl2barl]

What Rosenfeld was saying about building a dirt hut with the music playing is so true, when I hear most tracks it reminds me of building my first house, and living mice specifically reminds me of boating through an ocean by a desert. The music pinned the memory to my brain.

[@rileybishop8480]

One of my favorite music KZbinrs and one of my favorite Minecraft KZbinrs collabing? To quote Mumbo: “I’m chuffed to bits!”

[@katherineedwards8057]

Really great observations. I really liked the concept of combining consonant and dissonant sounds. Also, Minecraft's soundtrack sets an example that the smallest changes of notes creates a huge experience in what we hear in music. You do not always have to make bold choices with notes for the piece to be a masterpiece. Really cool stuff! :)

[@ridhochikal8339]

This is helpful. Now i know why the nether soundtracks doesn't feel minecraft-y. That's because it's biome coded instead of just randomly played on the nether.

[@DavidBennettPiano]

That's a good point! That's true of "The End" as well.

[@equaius893]

they feel minecrafty still, but different. that kinda embodies the nether update, it feels like Minecraft but different

[@ridhochikal8339]

@@equaius893 It definitely feels sandbox-y with a little minecraft feeling in there.

[@kiana.s_]

Thanks for that amazing video! For school I need to make a so called "VWA" about video game music and you made it easier to find sources etc. for me :)

[@TheGutatu]

the oof was the peak human editing performance

[@DavidBennettPiano]

😂😂

[@fenderblender356]

Just remembering those nights when i was supposed to sleep but eagerly kept on exploring these endless worlds, hearing the music that still connect me to this game and to times i wasn‘t stressed or haven‘t had any bigger struggles than trying to decide what to build next. Actually nothing can reawake those emotions better than the music of c418.

[@icequeen9]

While I'm sure I would have naturally discovered Minecraft in my adulthood just by being online, I actually discovered it because I heard the music. Back in Beta 1.9, my teenage brother was playing the game in his room, and this music just sort of crept into my brain while I was reading. It was so pleasant, and I could have easily ignored it, but it was the first time I'd heard it so it caught my attention. And then I loved it so much, I had to go to my brother's room to see what it was, and there he was building a castle out of cobblestone, and I had never seen or heard of a sandbox game before, and I didn't play many games, so I was blown away by this 3d, open and totally manipulable landscape and the fantastic music. It certainly gives sometimes very mundane parts of survival gameplay an immersive, adventurous feel. And that new Nether Wastes music. Is. Phenomenal. I love the new biomes and exploring, but I'll be honest; I sometimes go to the nether just because I need to hear that music again.

[@timawaviking526]

I'll never forget my first time I really noticed the music in the game. It was during beta, I was digging out a digsite of sand behind my castle (which was actually smaller than a fort), then unbeknownst to me I just blew up without even knowing there was a creeper behind me even after I died. Then the "Mice on Venus" started playing as I was just staring at my deathscreen wondering what the fuck just happened. I even named this memory in my mind and I call it "Welcome to Minecraft".

[@pesosgouda8223]

The british are getting too powerful...

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Don't worry... the night before the invasion is planned the British government will pull off a signature U-turn 😉 g8fip1kplyr33r3krz5b97d1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/GettyImages-472459584-1160x737.jpg

[@Nugcon]

Rule Britannia Intensifies

[@bsharpmajorscale]

I'm fine, as long as the invasion force includes platoons of G&S companies. :P

[@theseangle]

@@DavidBennettPiano I don't trust this domain (─.─||）

[@moistywoisty]

You should be glad we’re not allowed guns...

[@loo524]

I love your guitars in the back especially that sunburst strat!

[@thegoalistheplan3868]

I was so sold as soon as I read the title. And I wasn’t disappointed. Very inspiring video

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thank you 😃

[@Win090949]

2:48 “The player has no objectives to achieve” *cough cough* ender dragon

[@linseyspolidoro5122]

I like the term Satie used: “Furniture Music.” It just so aptly describes what background music is to me. Especially since Muzak is a company and has hundreds of stations now with real songs.

[@scarlettredwater6014]

I feel like the major seven chords in Minecraft's music add a sense of nostalgia. The happy normal melody makes you feel curious and adventurous, and the hint of melancholy just really brings out the emotions in the piece and in the game, no matter how much of a simple sandbox it might be.

[@ChristianPaulDelage]

OMG! Two of my favourite KZbinrs I thought from polar opposites of the KZbin realm in the same video!!! 2020 isn't ALL bad.

[@DavidBennettPiano]

😊😊😊

[@PedroKrick]

Finally a more theoretical analysis of minecraft music(although I wish it was even longer but well, I could go deep and break down every song in the game, the in game discs are even stranger and more interesting, etc) Nice.

[@dougthedonkey1805]

When you played Calm 1 I got chills

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thank you 😊

[@Marenthyu]

man. Calm 1 starts playing --> Instant goosebumps.

[@lebbrin]

Once again David, you hit on a topic I didn't even know I wanted to learn about. I've played Minecraft for years and enjoyed the soundtrack. This just increases that enjoyment. Thank you for another great video. :D

[@HANIMEME]

I was literally telling myself yesterday that I needed a video like this, and youtube read my mind

[@qussaialbony685]

I'm loving this. Mumbo jumbo is in my to 3 favourite minecrafters on youtube. Thank you very much for this amazing video

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thanks!!

[@johnes4882]

the ocean update onwards put nails in the coffin of this soundtrack's artistic statement. the world is less empty than it was when the original tracks were written, so I suppose they decided it was finally time to do biome-specific music, but I can't pretend I'm not a little cross about it

[@HighestTrailsAbove]

Wasn't expecting at all Mumbo Jumbo in your channel 😂😂😂

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Me neither really!

[@kristenskousen4161]

Beautiful explanation of one of my favorite video game soundtracks. In illustration of this, I distinctly remember a situation while playing Minecraft where I got hopelessly lost, and then that song, Sweden, started playing. With that sweet melody, all of a sudden the tension broke and I started crying. This experience I believe illustrates what makes Minecraft such an amazing game.

[@loka9422]

David Bennett and Minecraft? Instant like.

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thanks!

[@theseangle]

@@DavidBennettPiano I can't believe there are only like 6 videos on this topic so far. When I questioned myself about the Minecraft Music for the first time I thought there were already at least 40 different videos about how genius it is, but then I searched it up and found nothing. It was 2017... Paying respects to all of these ~6 channels who made these videos since then including you lol

[@theseangle]

@@DavidBennettPiano btw Bennett why haven't you mentioned the End dimension ambient music? It *really* deserves some special attention to it.

[@aquaneutral]

Plus mumbo

[@potatofuryy]

I cry so easily when I listen to Minecraft’s soundtrack lol, the nostalgia is so overwhelming.

[@teamyordle23]

Never expected a music theory on Minecraft music but I love the idea. Sweden was the first piece I learned on piano.

[@cottageg0re94]

To me, Minecraft’s soundtrack sounds like pure nostalgia, it makes me feel really happy whenever it tunes into my survival world, and somehow gives a sort of melancholy vibe that I find so peaceful and comforting