Evocati's Pledge - Epic Roman Music

Music and vocals by Farya Faraji. Please note that this is not a historically accurate reconstruction of actual Ancient Roman music, but rather modern music using Roman instruments and its modal framework.

The Evocati were soldiers in the Roman army who had received their honorable discharge after completing their service, but enlisted once again at the request of an important general or politician. The Evocati enjoyed a a more prestigious status than most soldiers in the army as older, battle-hardened veterans who had returned to war, and were often equated in status with the equites class; many of them becoming centurions.

The music uses the principal instrumental palette of Ancient Roman music: a lyre, an aulos and a pan flute. The percussions are more thematic and creative: I overlaid dozens of sounds of shields and spears being smashed together to exude a militaristic sound.

The lyrics are pieced together from different sources: modern military mottoes and Ancient Roman texts. I used the reconstructed Classical Pronunciation accurate to the time span of Classical Latin (75 BC to AD 3rd century), and took into account both the stress accent of Latin as well as its phonemic vowel length, basing myself on Ancient Greek practice: therefore, as with Ancient Greek historical practice, the stressed accent of a word has the musical accent on it, and long vowels are demarcated from shorter ones either by being sung longer, or having melismas (more than one note) on them.

Lyrics in Latin:
Rōmule, vigilāmus prō te,

Audācia et fortitūdō,
Audācia et fortitūdō,
Prō focīs et patria,
Sīc itur ad astra,

Rōmule, vigilāmus prō te,

Inter hastās, ferte manūs certās,
Inter hastās, ferte manūs certās,
Prō focīs et patria,
Sīc itur ad astra,

Rōmule, vigilāmus prō te,

Dūcit amor, patriae, quō fās et glōria dūcunt,
Prō focīs et patria,
Sīc itur ad astra,

English translation:
Romulus, we stand vigil for thee,

Audacity and fortitude,
For home and country,
Such is the pathway to the stars,

Romulus, we stand vigil for thee,

Between spears, strike with a firm hand,
For home and country,
Such is the pathway to the stars,

Romulus, we stand vigil for thee,

I am lead by love of country, to that place where right and glory lead,
For home and country,
Such is the pathway to the stars!

Romulus, we stand vigil for thee!

[faryafaraji]

Music and vocals by Farya Faraji. Please note that this is not a historically accurate reconstruction of actual Ancient Roman music, but rather modern music using Roman instruments and its modal framework.


The Evocati were soldiers in the Roman army who had received their honorable discharge after completing their service, but enlisted once again at the request of an important general or politician. The Evocati enjoyed a a more prestigious status than most soldiers in the army as older, battle-hardened veterans who had returned to war, and were often equated in status with the equites class; many of them becoming centurions.

The music uses the principal instrumental palette of Ancient Roman music: a lyre, an aulos and a pan flute. The percussions are more thematic and creative: I overlaid dozens of sounds of shields and spears being smashed together to exude a militaristic sound.

The lyrics are pieced together from different sources: modern military mottoes and Ancient Roman texts. I used the reconstructed Classical Pronunciation accurate to the time span of Classical Latin (75 BC to AD 3rd century), and took into account both the stress accent of Latin as well as its phonemic vowel length, basing myself on Ancient Greek practice: therefore, as with Ancient Greek historical practice, the stressed accent of a word has the musical accent on it, and long vowels are demarcated from shorter ones either by being sung longer, or having melismas (more than one note) on them.

Lyrics in Latin:
Rōmule, vigilāmus prō te,

Audācia et fortitūdō,
Audācia et fortitūdō,
Prō focīs et patria,
Sīc itur ad astra,

Rōmule, vigilāmus prō te,

Inter hastās, ferte manūs certās,
Inter hastās, ferte manūs certās,
Prō focīs et patria,
Sīc itur ad astra,

Rōmule, vigilāmus prō te,

Dūcit amor, patriae, quō fās et glōria dūcunt,
Prō focīs et patria,
Sīc itur ad astra,

English translation:
Romulus, we stand vigil for thee,

Audacity and fortitude,
For home and country,
Such is the pathway to the stars,

Romulus, we stand vigil for thee,

Between spears, strike with a firm hand,
For home and country,
Such is the pathway to the stars,

Romulus, we stand vigil for thee,

I am lead by love of country, to that place where right and glory lead,
For home and country,
Such is the pathway to the stars!

Romulus, we stand vigil for thee!

[DarthVader-igci]

Imagine these Evocati, decades of experience in tough military life and still came back for more. Just imagine the prestige these guys held, they were essentially the dads of their units, the younger soldiers looked up to them, the morale in the units must be sky high of these guys were around. They wouldn't break until victory or death.

[visegradi]

>Serves for 25y
>retires
>gets bored
>goes back to the army
>refuses to elaborate

[fuferito]

Farya's choice of a well-known segment of _Trajan's Column, _ as the background, really puts the Dacia in “audacia.”

[AntoniuDraculea]

As a romanian, I have to say, seeing your roman ancestors hold the heads of your dacian ancestors is a rather unique feeling.

[polyMATHY_Luke]

Such an epic piece. I've been listening to it on repeat about 20 times while doing work writing in Latin.

[pluszowyprezes]

Reminds me of the scene with Vorenus from HBOs Rome. This man is now Evocatus!

[miastupid]

"I am lead by love of country, to that place where right and glory lead,
For home and country,
Such is the pathway to the stars!"

Thank you, Farya, for loving my country so reverently!

Feels like home.

[mitrahispana]

Beautiful! Farya Faraji is a modern-day Roman “cantator” ♥️

[longliveforfinland]

6 minutes of song :























we are evocati's soliders during 6 minutes

thanks you farya for this strongest song

[codycollins]

Imagine meeting one of the Evocati. These guys were battle hardened veterans who have spent most of their lives in the Roman Legions. The things they would have seen and done

[weloveTM]

Your Roman themed music ALWAYS hits different. They are absolutely epic. No words! Amazing!

[toasterboipencil]

This is one of, if not my favorite songs. Sic itur ad astra has actually turned into a saying for me, something to help me stay the course and continue improving my life.

Such is the path to the stars.

Keep it up, man. You're doing a lot of good.

[strategos]

You are the only musician I’ve ever encountered that truly can send someone’s imagination back to the time period - it’s like I’m in the Roman camp as these elitists march in, to the bewilderment of the auxiliaries. Truly amazing stuff.

[joaovilaca]

You know that youtube is working just fine when you listen to this masterpiece only a couple minutes after it's release

[Fraskino]

Non finirò mai di ringraziarti per il tuo eccellente lavoro! Da Italiano nato e cresciuto in mezzo alle rovine del più glorioso impero che il mondo abbia mai conosciuto sento emozioni molto forti! Studio le conquiste dei miei padri e so che mai più raggiungeremo quella grandezza e quella gloria. Nessuna aquila squarcera il cielo del mondo come quella Imperiale 🦅 🌏

[simplyhistory]

Just a few seconds in, this hits different! Amazing job with this piece!

[ARC]

I don't think I have heard anyone use the Aulos as well as you have in these Roman-Byzantine tracks you made. There's just something that hits different when the double pipes are played in such war-like melodies and the lower tones. I just simply love how they make the cultural aspect of these Greco-Roman periods and the music they (theoretically) used. Even if they're just modern music, you really knock it out of the park in usage of these ancient instruments. Though I'm not going to ignore your other great works of Turkish and Iranian songs, you are a wonderful composer and artist. I look forward to hearing more!

[Batuhanify]

Farya, looking forwards to your Epic of Augustus!

[kwebax]

Was having a shit day until... Farya decided to bless us with one of his majestic wonders. Thank you Farya💙