'Live Gloriously' (Civilization VII Main Theme) by Christopher Tin

The lyrics to "Live Gloriously" are from four ancient epics, all of which carry the same message:

Do something magnificent before you die, and your name will live forever.

Civ VII's innovative three-act structure inspired me to create a new piece that was actually composed of three separate musical themes (The Iliad, Beowulf, Ramayana), with a fourth text (Popul Vuh) serving as a musical bridge. Together with the Civ VII creative team, we developed the musical concept to align with the game's core narrative concept: that history is a global story of human achievement, and that the lessons of the past can still inspire our lives in the present.

The lyrics:

THE ILIAD (Ancient Greek)
me man aspoudi ge kai akleios apoloimen
mega rhexas ti kai essomenoisi puthesthai
(Let me not then die ingloriously and without a struggle,
but let me first do some great thing)

BEOWULF (Old English)
Ure æghwylc sceal ende
gebidan worolde lifes;
wyrce se þe mote
domes ær deaþe
(Each of us shall endure
this world’s life until the end;
let he who is able
achieve fame before death.)

POPOL VUH (K’iche’)
Nab'e chel iwe,
Nab'e nay puch kixq'ijiloxik
Rumal saqil al,
Saqil k'ajol.
Ta chuxoq.
Mawi chisachik i b'i'.
(You shall be the first to arise,
and you shall be the first to be worshipped
by the sons of the noblemen,
by the civilized vassals.
So it shall be!
Your names shall not be lost.)

RAMAYANA (Sanskrit)
ihaiva nidhanam yamaah
mahaa prasthaanam eva vaa
(Here let us all for death prepare,
Or on the last great journey fare.)

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CREDITS

"Live Gloriously"

Performed by Crouch End Festival Chorus and FILMHarmonic Orchestra

Choir Conductor: David Temple
Session Producer: Claire Long
Recording Engineer: Rupert Coulson
Pro Tools Operator: Gianluca Massimo
Assistant Engineer: Alex Ferguson
Recorded at AIR Studios

Orchestra Conductor: Andy Brick
Session Producer: Geoff Knorr
Recording Engineer: Jakub Hadraba
Assistant Recording Engineers: Čeněk Kotzmann, Jan Krček, Ivan Zbíral
Pro Tools Operator: Čeněk Kotzmann
Music Contractor and Recording Manager: Petr Pýcha
Orchestra Librarian: Tomáš Kirschner
Recorded at Dvorak Hall, Rudolfinum, Prague, CZ

Music Prep: Theo Schmitt
Lyric Consultation: Cat Manning, Shiv Subramaniam
Mixing Engineer: Rich Breen

Produced by Christopher Tin

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Crouch End Festival Chorus

SOPRANOS
Susannah Bayliss
Pilar Bolado
Becca Budgett
Maddie Ellis
Helen Garrison
Sarah Gilbert
Genevieve Helsby
Rachel Johnson
Tara Munnelly
Sarah Niblock
Emily Soppet
Ùna Yates

ALTOS
Tina Burnett
Bethany Burrow
Sarah Elliot
Natalie Fine
Ela Harrison
Alice Jeffery
Paula Miller
Caroline Milton
Diana Parkinson
Karen Stead

TENORS
Bob Bishop
Sean Denny
Martin Dowling
Matt Griffin
Clive Seale
Guy Shirm
John Vernon
Craig Wilkie

BASSES
Hugh Bowden
Michael Brookes
Nick Buxton
Robert Gorrie
Geoffrey Kemball-Cook
Duncan McAlpine
John Mindlin
Bryn Popham
Phil Rashleigh
Peter Reddingius
Christopher Wetherall

Chorus Director: David Temple
Chorus Management: Davina Ross-Anderson

[ElysiumCreator]

If Christopher Tin isn’t a Great Musician in Civ 7, we riot

[IstherLord]

Baba Yetu: Religious Victory
Dream of Flight: Scientific Victory
Live Gloriously: Military Victory

[darnpotato]

Taking these lyrics from some of the most important literature, what a clever move!

[ooferine]

Interesting how this piece reflects a more turbulent time rather than the pure optimism of Dream of Flight. Hopefully we'll all get to see when things brighten up again

[bmobmo]

He's done it again. Another legendary theme from the best video game composer.

[CrouchEndFestivalChorus]

Sounds good, eh? IT'S US!!! 😁 What a joy to work with Christopher Tin - we hope you all enjoy our singing! You'll find some more video games music on our YouTube playlists🎵

[SoapiePlays]

Glorious as ever (pun not intended)! I also get the sense that Baba Yetu represents the human spirituality, Sogno di Volare represents human ingenuity, and now Live Gloriously represents human valour. Already added to my playlist and I'll listen to it till the end of time alongside Baba Yetu and Sogno di Volare!

[skeptale]

Can we just appreciate the fact that Christopher has been tasked with somehow creating a piece of music that captures the entire depth and breadth of the human endeavor, and somehow he's managed to accomplish that on three separate occasions?

[MrMuppetLover]

When Christopher Tin composes the Civilization theme, you know it's going to be epic.

[acerpoika]

Sogno di volare was amazing, im so glad Cristopher Tin is back in the upcoming CIV. This is once again a masterpiece

[hosurosh]

I don’t know why but in a lot of part of the world, it feels like we are going true some dark times, I don’t know why this song feels so fitting to gain valor in such an hours.

[DustyChapter]

I absolutely adore the use of multiple histocric languages in this peice.
Extra love that even old english makes an appearance here.
A perfect pairing with the games mechanics, you've outdone outself!

[danmiy]

So now we have religious, science, and now domination victory themes from Chris. All bangers. Again this is amazing like always.

[quintonnarcisse]

I’ve never been so early to a Christopher Tin upload, but I’m forever grateful that I was among the first to experience this masterpiece.

[FuyusakaIl]

I am from Hong Kong and I am so fascinated by your music, from Baba Yetu to Sogno di Volare, that I named myself Christopher and hope I can be a composer as good as you one day.

[theluigiguy]

This song is so quintessentially "civilization" - it makes me feel like I'm experiencing the rise, fall, and rememberance of a culture through its tone and progression. Can't wait to listen to this so many more times

[Shulkerkiste]

Still listening to "The Dream of Flight".
Now the next chapter begins.

[Threshermaw]

So I listened to this in the car, maximum volume, 10 times in a row. Best car ride in my LIFE. Would 12/10 recommend.

[Andriz]

When they announced Civ7 my only thought was "Whatever, I don't care if Christopher doesn't the soundtrack".
For me one of the Top10 composers of our time.

[gerardovenegas]

Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Handel, Vivaldi, Christopher Tin, We are so lucky to have you man! Thanks again!