Hymn of the Legion - Epic Roman Music

NEW ROMAN SONG-Song of Hadrian’s Wall: • Song of Hadrian's Wall...
Music and vocals by Farya Faraji. Just me having fun and making up a Roman-themed military march. I tried to keep the sound of the piece somewhat close to that of Ancient Roman music--I used brass instruments since they were copiously used by the Roman army, and there is also a Greco-Roman lyre and aulos in the piece, so the instrumentation is somewhat accurate, but not the arrangement itself and the harmonic contour used.
I pieced the lyrics together from different proverbs from all over the place and recontextualised them to fit the theme of a legion under Caesar's command. "Aut Caesar aut nihil," for example, is not attributed to Caesar himself and is usually attributed to Cesare Borgia in the Renaissance, and the usual meaning of the phrase is "I will be Caesar or nothing," but in this context, I imagine it as being a cry of loyalty from Caesar's men, since the phrase literally means "either Caesar or nothing," which can fit in this context. "Hic abundant leones" and "hic sunt leones" are Medieval phrases that European cartographers would put on the borders of maps; it's the same basic concept as "here there be dragons." In this context though, I applied it as being the soldiers describing themselves as if saying "we are lions here." Finally, "Alea iacta est" is a phrase attributed to Caesar as he crossed the Rubicon--the original wording was "Iacta alea est," and the alternate rendering became more popular over time, and it is believed that the original phrase was uttered in Greek.
I used Classical Latin pronunciation when singing the lyrics--note however that I pronounced the "s" sounds as very high pitched, non-retracted S sounds. This is inaccurate to Classical Latin, which used a retracted "S", a sound sort of in-between a "sh" like in "shoe," and the "s" in "sand." It's the sound one hears in European Spanish or Greek. My microphone, however, has a bad habit of distorting the retracted "s" sound when I add reverb to it--it seems to pick on that particular frequency for some reason, and always sounds bad. For the purpose of the audio quality, I thus sang the "s" not as a retracted "s," but that is inaccurate to Classical Latin pronunciation--and the proper "s" in Classical pronunciation should be retracted. I also didn't take into account the vowel lengths of Latin when building the sung melody-Latin was phonologically defined by the contrast of short vs long vowels, and it's arguably the most important part of Latin phonology, so keep in mind that it's missing here.
The background picture is from Trajan's column-not really related to Caesar as it was made centuries after his death, and represents soldiers wearing lorica segmentata which was not worn in Caesar's time.
Lyrics in Latin:
Aut Caesar aut nihil,
Hic abundant leones,
Hic sunt leones,
Alea iacta est!
English translation:
Caesar or nothing,
Here lions abound,
Here are lions,
The die is cast!

[@faryafaraji]

NEW ROMAN SONG: “Carrhae” kzbin.info/www/bejne/h5S8h6SegtGmh7s Music and vocals by Farya Faraji. Just me having fun and making up a Roman-themed military march. I tried to keep the sound of the piece somewhat close to that of Ancient Roman music. Some people have noted that the melody sounds "Arabic" to them. This is due to the use of the Ancient Greek Dorian mode and the Lydian Chromatic mode; two musical modes (a mode is a specific succession of notes with a specific character and vibe) that were used in the Greco-Roman world as far back as Antiquity. The intervals in these modes have today been arbitrarily chosen by Hollywood to represent the Middle-East through stereotypes, but these melodies are very much accurate to the period of Ancient Roman music, and would have been heard by the ancients Romans. I used brass instruments since they were copiously used by the Roman army, and there is also an ancient lyre and aulos in the piece, so the instrumentation is somewhat accurate; the orchestra isn't exactly accurate in that Romans didn't have full brass orchestras, but the texture of brass trumpet-like instrument existed back then, so texturally it's closer to them than a modern orchestra with string sections; bowed instruments not having existed in Antiquity. That said, the arrangement does use alot of triads and chord progressions, which is anachronistic to the Roman Era-chords and triads are notes played at the same time in order to produce harmony, and it's generally accepted that Greco-Roman music was largely monophonic, aka without harmonics, which this piece doesn't represent. I pieced the lyrics together from different proverbs from all over the place and recontextualised them to fit the theme of a legion under Caesar's command. "Aut Caesar aut nihil," for example, is not attributed to Caesar himself and is usually attributed to Cesare Borgia in the Renaissance, and the usual meaning of the phrase is "I will be Caesar or nothing," but in this context, I imagine it as being a cry of loyalty from Caesar's men, since the phrase literally means "either Caesar or nothing," which can fit in this context. "Hic abundant leones" and "hic sunt leones" are Medieval phrases that European cartographers would put on the borders of maps; it's the same basic concept as "here there be dragons." In this context though, I applied it as being the soldiers describing themselves as if saying "we are lions here." Finally, "Alea iacta est" is a phrase attributed to Caesar as he crossed the Rubicon--the original wording was "Iacta alea est," and the alternate rendering became more popular over time, and it is believed that the original phrase was uttered in Greek. I used Classical Latin pronunciation when singing the lyrics--note however that I pronounced the "s" sounds as very high pitched, non-retracted S sounds. This is inaccurate to Classical Latin, which used a retracted "S", a sound sort of in-between a "sh" like in "shoe," and the "s" in "sand." It's the sound one hears in European Spanish or Greek. My microphone, however, has a bad habit of distorting the retracted "s" sound when I add reverb to it--it seems to pick on that particular frequency for some reason, and always sounds bad. For the purpose of the audio quality, I thus sang the "s" not as a retracted "s," but that is inaccurate to Classical Latin pronunciation--and the proper "s" in Classical pronunciation should be retracted. I also didn't take into account the vowel lengths of Latin when building the sung melody-Latin was phonologically defined by the contrast of short vs long vowels, and it's arguably the most important part of Latin phonology, so keep in mind that it's missing here. The background picture is from Trajan's column-not really related to Caesar as it was made centuries after his death, and represents soldiers wearing lorica segmentata which was not worn in Caesar's time. Lyrics in Latin: Aut Caesar aut nihil, Hic abundant leones, Hic sunt leones, Alea iacta est! English translation: Caesar or nothing, Here lions abound, Here are lions, The die is cast!

[@cesar2154]

Are you planning on uploading more roman music? Btw, I'm the one who made the Crusader Kings III mod using your music. If you make more epic pieces like sons of mars and this one I'll be glad to add them to the mod. Thank you Farya!

[@NapoleonCalland]

You were not wrong, composer. Trajan too is Caesar. 😉 🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁 🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁 🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁 🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁 🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁

[@Diogolindir]

Ññ

[@clownphabetstrongwoman7305]

I respect the effort you put into research. It sounded "Arabic" to me too initially but thank you for enlightening me.

[@Elsidu13]

It would be cool if you can make a uptempo marching song like "Legio Aeterna Victrix"

[@Paul-tj9fb]

Boys: Nerf Or Nothing Men: Caesar Or Nothing

[@justinianthegreat1444]

More! More! More!!!!

[@JayJay-hn5kn]

*Me* "You know, democracy isn't that bad" *Me after this song, haphazardly in Roman Armor* "Ceaser or nothing!"

[@achair7265]

SEMPER FIDELIS REPUBLICA EATERNA PRO DEUS ET PRATIA DEUS BENNEDICAT ROMA

[@user-in6pw1sf6u]

Демократия ваша, до смуты доведёт

[@logandeutschmann]

@@achair7265 I like how the translate feature on KZbin takes your long comment and simply translates it as "God Bless Rome."

[@t.wcharles2171]

Labienus: I love democracy, I love the republic.

[@mattholland1480]

For the glory of Rome and Ceaser

[@kingspore5000]

What music women think men want: Hip hop/rock *WHAT MUSIC MEN REALLY WANT:*

[@reuvenbernfeld9666]

I'm historian and I love your channel. So many pieces of gold in only one channel.

[@faryafaraji]

Thanks Reuven! I studied history in University so it's always at the core of what I'm doing :)

[@HrLBolle]

how can the light of creation come to pas if what came before is forgotten

[@Amine06200]

Gloria santa Minerva

[@zaferzaferoglu978]

@@faryafaraji Farya Altın Orda Hanı Berke Han ve Memlûk Hanı Baybars İçinde bir beste yaparmisin

[@HistorywithCy]

This needs to be in the next Total War Rome game...great stuff as always!

[@GreyWolffeMagnoTotalWar]

Exactly 😍

[@faryafaraji]

Haha yep my benchmark for if I'm satisfied with a Roman military song I wrote is if it would fit in Rome Total War :p

[@s.p.q.r1618]

Come figlio di Roma, ti ringrazio per il tuo bellissimo lavoro, ! AVE ROMA !

[@faryafaraji]

Grazie nobile figlio di Roma, sono molto onorato :)

[@pietrosal9629]

Idem

[@etiennespasm2562]

I really like the fact that you explain the historical/cultural/musical background of each of your compositions, It's very interesting !

[@faryafaraji]

I'm super glad you appreciate that aspect! For me, that's at the core of what I'm doing-my music is more research based than creative. There's a lot of great KZbinrs making beautiful historically-themed music that have epic scope and use a powerful film soundtrack sound, and on my end I'm trying to balance it out by providing more "authentic" historical music by using lyrics and instruments/scales from the actual cultures instead of a modern Hans Zimmer-y sound; I believe the authentic aspect is lacking on KZbin compared to the more epic orchestral one, so I'm doing to my best to bring a bit more awareness to the actual history of historical music. I put alot of hours in the research so I really appreciate it when people notice it :)

[@liberty.b.r]

@@faryafaraji Where did you learn Latin? God bless!!!! :)

[@nicolestimothy9921]

If Cesear was declared himself Emperor of Rome, this be his epic intro.

[@carpathianwolf3523]

Loved the Sons of Mars music piece, that's how I actually found your channel. Your music is amazing and I hope you make more Roman style music like this master piece right here.

[@lordbelou7279]

@@altamasparsanov9181 S.P.Q.R. Is also excellent :p

[@weloveTM123]

I imagine this hymn being sung by Caesar's legions as they crossed the Rubicon .

[@Auxblanchesmains]

it's crazy to me how you can use just 3 lines in an entire song and make a masterpiece like this also I really love the usage of the classical pronunciation keep up the great work man!🔥🔥

[@faryafaraji]

Thanks alot! To be honest I don't have much a choice but to keep the lyrics brief, because lyrics generally sound good when they rhyme, and Greco-Roman poetry didn't use rhyme, so I'm limited in the number of phrases I can find that fit thematically and can also rhyme-even here I'm stretching it with "es" rhyming with "est" lol

[@peterl1287]

@@faryafaraji Also consider that the Legions wouldn't have memorized long songs but would have used a similar repeating refrain model as you do. Your work fits the themes/lyrics perfectly as relatively accurate depictions of what the Roman marching music sounded like.

[@keeshans5768]

@@peterl1287 yep, I noticed in old ottoman marches the lyrics are also very brief and the focus remains on the symphony to keep the soldiers easy on the march.

[@entirehorz8327]

Someone hire this guy for next roman era show/movie

[@ArchMizantrop]

Ave, True to Caesar!

[@AlexiosTheSixth]

POG, a new Greco-Roman music upload.

[@ShuajoX]

Became addicted to Sons of Mars, this is epic as well! You do great work, keep it up!

[@ITALICVS]

Musica epica, ottimo lavoro! Ave Roma 🏛 ⚔ 🇮🇹

[@marcorullo5442]

🇮🇹❤️

[@thehouse9192]

Forza Italia, Roma Invicta

[@mat-qh7sf]

AVE GALLIA ROMANA EST 🇨🇵🇮🇹

[@pietrosal9629]

🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹

[@utilisateur8665]

You are such an underated artist ... Thanks for the qualitiy you gave us this year. Salut de France !

[@scarziepewpew3897]

i fucking love this channel this channel is basically the description of my music taste

[@psy4ful]

the Sons of mars music was epic this one too keep making more roman song pls its just too good

[@nekosalad8308]

i already memorized lyric of sons of Mars and i dont know shit about latin. its just so good.

[@procionedorato554]

I just found out about your channel a few seconds ago and you just posted a new song, a blessing for the lord, XD

[@faryafaraji]

Haha thanks

[@muhacnt7988]

These roman songs are awesome,Give you goosebumps

[@constantinius233]

This song alongside Son of Mars really do give a powerfull sentiment when it comes to listening to them. Great masterpieces you made my brother. Keep the good work and let's see what you can create next and surprise us! Good luck!!

[@nutyyyy]

Love this one, the background of the Aurelian column is perfect.

[@fcnmisimovic]

Next masterpiece, thx so much

[@TheAtlarchy]

Listening to your music after watching that famous video of a tiktoker who claims Rome didn't exist... this is what I needed after that xD

[@faryafaraji]

Lol yeah that one, I think all of us Rome lovers will need therapy through music after hearing her

[@TheAtlarchy]

@@faryafaraji Yes... I am binging your stuff now to forget, but I can't...

[@anto1754]

My most sincere congratulations for your works, from Italy

[@romainvicta3076]

AMAZING!!!!

[@rumenoff974]

Bro I don't know how you do this! Absolutely awesome.

[@faryafaraji]

Thanks man! I'm just letting the awesomeness of Ancient Rome inspire me :p

[@IMHADRIANBITCHES]

this song is what really made me fall in love with your channel. I love Roman history (especially Caesar) and you captured perfectlly the grandness and might of his army, he was very feared and you can hear it in this song. Especially at the end where all of the horns join in, the song has this feeling like, you see an army approaching over a hill, you hear this song and think, "Oh crap... I'm dead." Fantastic work, keep it up!!!!

[@samuelepellegrino9333]

Possa Giove vegliare sempre su Roma e su ciò che abbiamo ereditato da essa. May Jupiter put his eyes on Rome and what we gained from her, until the last dawn

[@snakey934Snakeybakey]

Okay... I didn't notice this the first.... dozen times I listened, but.... You can hear the frustration of the populists in the lyrics! Farya is underrated! CAESAR OR NOITHING!

[@BerlusconiGiovani-ig7ri]

Saluti from King Roma, Emporio and President Giovani Berlusconi

[@archersrb]

i always enjoy listening to your roman songs, and, i listen to them so much that i basicly learned them to sing

[@visegradi]

Alright... *Opens Total War Rome 2* Seriously though, this is fucking amazing. You should make more roman music, its honestly the most beautiful thing ever. Finnaly Roman style songs with LYRICS! Amazing work dude

[@dannymarashi]

I'm having a hard time deciding which I like more between this and Sons of Mars, this feels more regal in feel and parade like to me where Sons of Mars is pure aggression. This is a wondrous companion piece to it. Exquisite.

[@muziksatosu2538]

Kanalını yeni keşfettim ve neredeyse her videonu izledim, harika iş çıkarıyorsun.

[@esqui3077]

Salve Farya, just wanted to say, this piece is damn fantastic

[@ModernPope]

Finally new roman music

[@lise736]

Bravo for this magnificent composition. 👏👏 We have the impression of seeing the army set in motion, shield and weapon in hand. I think that for even more vigor, I would have doubled the sound of the drums to imagine a human tide going into battle with energy. *Un très grand bravo pour cette magnifique composition.* On a l'impression de voir l'armée se mettre en marche bouclier et arme au poing. Je pense que pour encore plus de vigueur, j'aurais doublé le son des tambours pour donner l'impression d'une marrée humaine partant au combat avec énergie. _Amicales pensées de France_

[@faryafaraji]

Merci Lise!

[@HunterUnseen]

Ave! True to Caesar! 🐂

[@josejaviervidalgarcia6327]

Acabo de descubrir tu canal y he quedado maravillado. Estoy escuchando en bucle este himno. Este mundo decadente necesita recuperar cuanto antes los valores fuertes, los que hacen grandes a los individuos y a los pueblos. Gracias por recordárnoslos con tu magnífico trabajo.

[@faryafaraji]

Gracias José, saludos desde Canada :)

[@Tsar_Gory]

Happy New Year!!! Ave Caeasar;)

[@ltsgnis]

Amazing work, as always!! I love the atmosphere you create in every video. Roma caput mundi, Roma aeterna!!!!!

[@boris8515]

Roma invicta! Vivat imperator!

[@fullonone3187]

YES finally more of your great vocals /music i love it :D

[@fullonone3187]

and btw @Farya Faraji i love your commitment for the historical accuracy of the instuments as of vocals you have my fullest respect for that m8 it is nice to see that you actually care about your work

[@fullonone3187]

sry if my grammar is horrible, engllish is my 2nd language and right now for me its 3am xD

[@faryafaraji]

@@fullonone3187 Thanks alot man, I appreciate it!

[@Garshasp974]

Ειρήνη σε σου, σε ευχαριστώ πολύ, Καλή τύχη

[@naevan1]

σε σένα / σε εσένα :)

[@ImperatorOfficial0]

This is great! My legions just got a new chant to march to. Glory awaits!

[@Etienne_1]

De loin un de tes meilleurs projets.. Bravo mon frère ! Roma gloria !

[@faryafaraji]

Merci mon gars! Secrètement je l'ai écrit pour Laval wesh

[@ModulusOrbis]

best yt channel for an history lover 👊

[@kiddiamond6936]

Girls: Rome is so beautiful and amazing!! Boys:

[@icxcnika1823]

Sir , your music brings joy in my heart ❤️ and keeps it beating for another day . Thank you ! 🐊🐸🌴🐊🐍

[@crusaderofgod]

You made a good job again.

[@EttoreSenatore]

Amazing as aways! Thank you, kind sir!

[@faryafaraji]

Thanks for your support!

[@jakubzalesinski667]

We need more ROME

[@kael629]

Two thing you dont want to see, one is angry roman legion and the other one isangry Caesar's legion. Mars may protect you from the first one but not from the second

[@lovebaltazar4610]

Sounds like a classical roman version of Hikanatoi

[@faryafaraji]

Well put!

[@MarkhasSteelfort]

Great work! I might actually get one these sentences as a tattoo!

[@baycan8146]

good video faraji keep going!

[@destrovskyj]

u r so good in songs. u deserve more followers in my opinion

[@erwinrommel4388]

Would be lovely to have this on spotify

[@Mandalorian_John.]

it is now :D

[@manateemilk1]

That would make my year!

[@doretaodindottir]

This is latin language in music? I love latin, i learn latin. Roma is my favorite ancient country. Gloria Aeterna Imperium Romanum!

[@TzarTzarevich777]

It is Latin, Ave Roma! Victrix Aeterna! Invicta Roma!

[@tiodosalgado5860]

Amazing, you have so much talent, God bless you.

[@FerFeliz89]

Such a lovely song. GRATIAS TIBI AGO ET BENE VALETE. #IACTAALEAEST

[@mrn7066]

Amazing! Poweful vocals and good lyrics mixed with well known quotes. This great for me trying to learn latin :)

[@oceirostheconsumeking2956]

Wow ❤

[@christopherthrawn1333]

Best wishes for a successful year. 2022. Music is a powerful tool to inspire and motivate. Well done.

[@j.c.p.t.-lxxiv8773]

Great work!!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@boris8515]

Excellent work! As good as "Sons of Mars", which tells a lot.

[@phorusable]

just great 🔥❤️ great text

[@morpheu5285]

More roman music please

[@theshadowsagas3617]

CARTHAGO DELENDA EST

[@mrccoz6129]

i like salt, does carthago like salt?

[@casual_viewer1]

man please upload these amazing songs on spotify

[@carthagodelendaest9068]

Absolute banger

[@christopherthrawn1333]

As always. EXCELLENT! Bravo.

[@ZillahThe]

Keep up the good work! This is amazing. 👍 I love the thought and work you put into these songs

[@blazecrep7849]

Nice, i was exepecting Another One.

[@elijah_oofoof8891]

EPIC. Roma caput mundi.

[@kainfaun5438]

* Tears of joy * it's fine!

[@Hispano1]

Roma Dominvs Orbis Roma Invicta Roma Victrix Roma Impera Orbis Augustvs Victor Orbis Mare Nostrvm Per Iupiter Optimvs Maximvs Per Roma et Senatvs Popvlvsque Romanvs Barbarorvm delenda est Roma ad Astra Ecce Filii Mars

[@jackal192]

Farya faraji you are amazing and deserve at least 1 million subscribers your songs give me inspiration please do more roman music.I know its hard to ryhme but it would be awsome if the lyrics are longer.Much love from Turkey🇹🇷❤🇨🇦❤🇮🇷

[@schrubke6454]

As a person born in Berlin, i may not be a child of the Great Imperium Romanum but i love the culture and the believes of the once greatest Empire known to mankind. May the spirit live on, in hopes for the rise of a second Roman Empire

[@su1t0n11]

All Europeans are children of the empire. The culture, words, way of thinking, historical figures. All of those makes us roman no matter if by blood or not!

[@PatrickLenkMusic]

Epic!

[@gencoozen1192]

Good art bro

[@SoulOfTheDesert]

Amazing song, background music is beautiful, all match perfectly with that background, Please do another Roman song in future

[@Elsidu13]

Well done i would say. I'm a fan of Roman history and just hearing this hymn i see the marching legions.......

[@Giorgi.Koberidze]

You are doing great to reinvigorate Latin and Koine Greek language, music and hymns. Thanks.

[@JohnJeraldJadonJohnson]

Great song.

[@user-wy5ud8fy9b]

*ΠΑΝΤΟΤΕ ΕΜΠΡΟΣ ΠΑΝΤΟΤΕ ΠΡΟΣ ΤΗΝ ΝΙΚΗΝ ⚔️Εις την Πόλιν παρά τω πλευρώ του Ευγενούς ημών Βασιλέως* 🗡️

[@anastasiosliagkris576]

Ο δικέφαλος αητός σου νά! μακριά μακριά πέταξε με τ’ άξια και με τ’ άγια και θα ισκιώσουν τα τετράπλατα φτερά λαούς άλλους, κορφές άλλες, άλλα πλάγια. Σώπα, τρανέ μου αφέντη, κι αυτοκράτορα, κι απ’ τη Χρυσή την Πύλη σαν αρχάγγελος θα νά μπεις μες στην Πόλη, στην Αγιά Σοφιά, Βασιλιά μου, ζωή μου και καρδιά μου! Γής κι άν τόν κρατάς, δέν τόν έφαγες Άδη. Δέν πέθανε. Μαρμάρωσε. Κοιμάται. Θα ξυπνήσει...

[@noahgraphicz5251]

you are masterful masterful friend. please recreate the march Legio Aeterna Victrix it would be interesting with your touches

[@master_2]

incrroyable !!

[@CarthagoMike]

I love how the song uses both _"iacta alea est"_ and _"alea iacta est"_

[@XxLIVRAxX]

Amazing work!

[@sentinel_elizabeth]

More plz!❤️

[@lanecapps4462]

Epic workout music ❤️

[@SickGypsy7]

thank you so much for this , puts me in a fantastic mood every time !

[@General_Caolho]

Ave Caesar

[@masoodshah7882]

Need more of these. Sons of mars and this one is epic. Do more with battle themes

[@stevenrbc2453]

No, it is imposible , , i am from romania and i cannot stop to listen your pieces of art. Throw me back in time like i know how it was in the past:))

[@RTNaturalFormation]

Salve Farya Faraji! Keep it up the Romans are with you! The nowadays Romans support your work! Do you have a patreon ?

[@faryafaraji]

Salve and thanks alot! I don't have a Patreon yet-I'll wait until I have a bigger following; I feel like I have to "earn" the right to have a Patreon by working a bit more and producing more music haha. For now I only have a Bandcamp where people can buy my music :)