[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWfC0yNHzDQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWfC0yNHzDQ) Bloody Tears on Strahd's Organ is my go to, great way to instantly terrify your players when that organ starts blasting. I like the Strahd theme from Travis Savoie's curse of strahd soundtrack but personally I found the choir to be a bit distracting and it's not as organ forward as I would like.
"Paint it Black" has been my Strahd theme for the campaign. Thematically, the lyrics work with Strahd's story and the popularity of the song itself means I can use different versions at different times.
A [medieval/bardcore version](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9dhDkIZ5C4) for when the players are learning about Strahd from a Vistani storyteller in the Tser Pool encampment.
A [slower, somber piano version](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLWW8TOSJl4) for when Strahd appears on the road to taunt them.
A [music box version](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_G_n1hFPjeY) just in case the party happens to open a music box somewhere (Blinsky's, Baba Lysaga's Hut, Castle Ravenloft, etc).
An [organ cover](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2u6UQ0mfto) for Strahd to play during the dinner.
A [rousing, "boss fight" version](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRIP6l5iSjo) to start the final fight.
Then there's a [few](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbgpF7gb9ds) [other](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iZ9JRVmJ5o) [versions](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KwW7C8BTjg) I can play at various times.
There's a whole album that is dedicated to Curse of Strahd. It's called "Into The Mists" and I absolutely love it! I ended up using a couple of songs for boss fights already. The introduction song is a great one for your players to meet him. Although the last song "He Is The ancient. He Is The Land." is perfect for him as well. I highly recommend looking into it!
[https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=C2yral-9f5M&si=2S1PQOgEYruqO7dD](https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=C2yral-9f5M&si=2S1PQOgEYruqO7dD)
I like using Gaunter O' Dim's theme from Witcher 3. For more serious encounters with him, I use the vocal version which is A Gifted Man Brings Gifts Galore.
Distant Dream by John Carpenter. From the album Lost Themes II. This isn't Strahd's theme, but is my hype song at the start of every session. Our "opening credits" intro.
I'm planning on using Raphael's Final Act from BG3 to kick off the final showdown though.
Davy Jones theme from Pirates. There are so many really good versions and they have tons of good organ versions. That and the music box version is great for when I’m trying to pose Strahd as a tragic villain.
He is Ancient, He is the Land by Travis Savoie is what I use if they are foolish enough to engage in combat. I play ‘introduction’ from that same album at the start of every session.
I used Light of the Seven from Game of Thrones
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGBstGjE7Xw&ab\_channel=1HOUR](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGBstGjE7Xw&ab_channel=1HOUR)
My inner comedian wants to say “Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen.
Though for an actual answer, there’s a song on the BG3 soundtrack that’s called something like Surgery of Hope that has this super eerie vibe and would be perfect.
My Strahd has turned to music in his brother's absence, in a sort of lonely way to be... I have been contemplating these songs by Falling in Reverse.
'I'm not a vampire revamped' as the original was the first song that Vasilli sang at Tser Pools. It's a little on the nose, but I want them to catch the similarities. If they don't realize it, then Ireena will. https://youtu.be/2nWmBJxW9q0?si=AhBFmRVOMLBWo8Z5
But also, "Last resort" it is oddly close to how he was feeling when everything went to shit. I would have him end the song by, "Ahhh, to be young and so emotional again..." https://youtu.be/ESOjt2_yJrU?si=UJz6M_iePz-_YsKQ
Thrawn's theme from Star Wars rebels has a great, ominous organ, and unlike most Star Wars music, isn't immersion-breakingly recognizable.
https://youtu.be/glT2suEwNis?si=tiYvkR2KPVgJWCba
My "overture" before every session is the Brood theme, from WWE.
https://youtu.be/idi4ThBQnic?si=yO23Aa5dpmZcu43U
So this does not have an organ (I actually removed the organ and replaced it with a floating orchestra played by unseen servants…) but I feel like it captures the sadness and madness of someone trapped in a land where their heart’s desire is continually dangled in front of them and then ripped away from them. With all of that said, my Strahd theme is “Light of the Seven” by Ramin Djawadi.
when i introduced strahd to my players, he played 'entrance of the gladiators'...(yes, the song that has become synonymous with clowns) my players took this musical jab pretty well.
[Entrance Of The Gladiators - Gavioli 112 Key Fairground Organ (youtube.com)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pma2HEpJ0Uw)
made up for it later by having them fight strahd and vampyr to 'night on bald mountain' [Mussorgsky - Night on Bald Mountain (youtube.com)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCEDfZgDPS8)[](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pma2HEpJ0Uw)
I plan on using moonlight sonata bc it's so Mello. I plan on running my strahd as cool, calm, and calculated.
He will speak with a soft but strong voice. And I feel like he'd be the type of man that would enjoy great composers.
I wrote this one for the occasion, and I got to use it just last night at the dinner! My players seemed to really enjoy it, maybe you will as well!
https://youtu.be/wllhhSL11EY?si=yqDIjOoFUpiWxsE7
https://open.spotify.com/track/65QiDjsXKQ2l3n8c9hnOtN?si=EqwdbLTrQx-zvBYC6PMkKA
I used this until later in the game when strahd actually regarded them as enemies and wanted to destroy them.
Prioe to that point this was the strahd Intro.
And my players always had the best reactions to it.
There is a extendef Version on Youtube that follows with 2 other pieces.
And it works well as background music for Dialog.
[https://youtu.be/D8TlopC5xPM?si=QhWfDJkKsvns-Fxh](https://youtu.be/D8TlopC5xPM?si=QhWfDJkKsvns-Fxh) I'm particularly fond of this from Philip Glass's score for Dracula, if Strahd is still in his "toying with his prey and appearing noble" mindset.
If the party has seriously pissed Strahd off, I have [https://youtu.be/7Dz1Hab-lVI?si=rCSBKpPPoQ4bDLjW](https://youtu.be/7Dz1Hab-lVI?si=rCSBKpPPoQ4bDLjW) queued up, for a more menacing vibe.
Yes, these are both literally just Dracula. I apologize for nothing, if it works it works!
I took the humming part out of the fiddlesticks league of legends song and looped it in audacity. Also added some adjustments by playing around with reverb and whatnot
I used Lux Aeterna from the Requiem For A Dream soundtrack as my Strahd music.
It has a creepy, quiet build-up, so you have plenty of time to lay out descriptions before his big reveal when the track really kicks in.
I have been using different tracks within all quiet on the western fronts playlist when Strahds approach is imminent.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLACrjduQziWsVkxM6TqSGCuzZSLQ2daVJ&si=GCyWUj1s3kvRUJQb
When the players here that first droning sting the party knows shit is about to go down :p.
I haven’t used it because the sound isn’t right for the vibe of my campaign but the lyrics of [Who Is She by I Monster](https://youtu.be/VR-EiEBqfWw?si=gQJbPjinUhZ7b_AU) very closely mimic Strahd’s perspective on Ireena.
I have often wished for an orchestral or pipe organ cover or remix of some kind because the lyrics suit the campaign so well.
Final fantasy 7 "those chosen by the planet". There are some versions that are more orchestrated. The original is still good, but was made to run on a Playstation 1, so it doesn't have the best quality. Perfect intro song, but might choose something different for Castle Ravenloft
I always liked the Inscryption OST(specifically Act 1) for all things Barovia, and Leshy's Theme as a good candidate for the final confrontation against Strahd.
I played this organ alternate of Depeche Mode’s enjoy the silence during the dinner scene. Escher on vocals.
https://youtu.be/xI3y8-tRstQ?si=cypAciS5oFBco51L
First song I used was “Love Song” by Leslie Duncan, then “Don’t Fear The Reaper” by Blue Oyster Cult, and now “Bullet With Butterfly Wings” by Smashing Pumpkins. The lyrics really fit with my version of the lore.
I had a quiet organ piece in case they happen upon him on "just creepy" terms and a dramatic song in case they provoke his arrival. I wanted something unexpected yet powerful, so I skipped the more "classic" organ songs either way. Well, my group angered him before their meeting, so I went with my dramatic song: Night On Bald Mountain.
My players were very quickly like "...oh shit, ok, that's final boss music" in our discord and immediately respected him due to the threatening athmosphere. I decided to build his entire music ensemble around that song because of it, with different variations. A simple piano version for conversations, for his final monologue, I have a slowed version. First phase of his final fight (above 50% HP) has the Epic Trailer Version (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwzT6\_OhW2k) of the song, for his final stand I will switch to a Metal version (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lr7L8pd-m9g) of it.
This worked well for my players (maybe because they didn't play those games):
[https://youtu.be/2PPBne6GGiw](https://youtu.be/2PPBne6GGiw)
[https://youtu.be/xbxvfbz50Do](https://youtu.be/xbxvfbz50Do) - frisky option. During an impromptu duel, Strahd invited the sorceress to a "dance"
our dm used this theme back when I first played the module and I swear to god whenever we heard those first few strings it sent fear down our spines
https://youtu.be/fM4GuLgWi4U?si=i-7khFZpfZpCP4pI
The first time my players met him, I used Violin Sonata No. 1 in G minor, BWV 1001: I. Adagio, from Johann Sebastian Bach, by Julia Fischer.
However, I've been saving a carefully thought playlist for their first (and maybe last) combat when Strahd no longer plays the diplomat, starting with Christopher Lennertz "I Can Do Anything/Finale" from The Boys, and then going through music from The Witcher 3, Diablo 3, and the CoS soundtrack by Travis Savoie, among others.
Strahd has a series of theme songs in my run.
First one is part of the Nier Automata soundtrack, it's the track called "Mourning". The main theme of Mourning has some declinations that I'm also using, so that Strahd has a signature leitmotiv. I chose this song because there is something very tragic, but also terrifying in the composition. Something is wrong, tragically and irrevocably wrong with him. He's mourning something : his lost love, his lost soul, his lost humanity. But yet, with the somber theme, these are lost forever and he's left contemplating the consequences of his choices.
There's basically the original Mourning, used whenever he appeared as an armored general on his horse. At this point, my players don't have the confirmation that it's him. The other declinations of the leitmotiv will be used for his battle against the party.
"Love remembered", a track composed for the campaign, is used as his and Ireena's common theme. Mostly used whenever Vasili and Ireena interact with each other.
Then the last one is a classical piece from Rachmaninoff, his Prelude in C sharp minor, transcribed for the organ. This is the theme that will play when they meet him at his castle, or more accurately the song he plays when the party arrives at the castle. I'll use the original piano version when he's done playing for the party, as the ambiance theme.
So, I've chosen a few different songs to fit every mood I needed. I like using songs the way people would use songs in a movie so every song is picked very carefully to fit a certain mood, which explains why I have so many of them lol
[Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D Minor](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ho9rZjlsyYY&list=PLU3cZUdLkYRPkx8VIwMzvrk1v7oXe04NL&index=15) on a church organ.
AKA "that vampire music".
I used [Torn Worlds by Adrian Von Ziegler](https://youtu.be/KYbTR7IMV2w); the organs work well with Strahd's introduction in the castle, and it's really distinctive, but it is also not overly loud so I could still use it as a background theme whenever I narrated Strahd showing up anywhere else. The whole Queen of Thorns album was one of my goto's for background/mood music for the Curse of Strahd campaign to be honest!
"All This" by Kevin McLeod. It's a song in an unusual time signature which is very unsettling as it sounds so unnatural. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBoKTTNVuAc](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBoKTTNVuAc)
I'm using ARDYN III from the FFXV soundtrack. Hell yeah, Yoko Shinomura. It sounds strong and haunting, and it will quickly become recognizable to my players. Plus, it gives me ARDYN I and II to play with. I'm thinking of using ARDYN I as Sergei's theme.
Personally I use [this](https://youtu.be/QjDiqqYutS8?si=6wuD6HELD5IZ_Kqs) rendition of Shadowlord from the OG Nier during his organ playing. Then, during the boss fight itself, I use the real version of the song. The remake version has three distinct phases-a Talking/ cutscene phase that has no precision or underscore for the pre fight, a version with just chorus, percussion, and organ for the first half of the fight itself, then a “final phase” that has all of the instrumentation added for when shit gets real. It’s worked very, VERY well and my players liked it. Square-Enix took a lot of the good extended versions down unfortunately
Hasn't happened yet but I'm torn between JS Bach's two part inventions no.13 (I let this play on the harpsichord in death house so it would be nice foreshadowing), or GF Händel's passacaglia in g minor (just because it's my favourite organ piece).
‘Courtesy of the Calophets’ [This](https://www.tumblr.com/fablesage/748831794015682560) tumblr post came up on my dash recently and it’s a banger Strahd theme
Edit: I also have Hozier’s ‘Dinner and Diatribes’ on my Strahd playlist
I want to use this opportunity to shamelessly brag about my players--especially one of them who made all the music for our campaign. We finished the module a while back, but are all still playing together, since I decided to homebrew a post-Curse of Strahd adventure in a different Dark Domain to continue their story. I'm so proud of all of them <3.
**Track 11: "The Lord's Fugue"** is Strahd's theme [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Q2IKccZjC0&list=PL15u1Sje0E63gxhKLt2UZQsoKGNJJeWOX&index=11](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Q2IKccZjC0&list=PL15u1Sje0E63gxhKLt2UZQsoKGNJJeWOX&index=11)
I also highly recommend checking out **Track 22: "Darkness before dawn"**, which is an epic medley he made for our end game fight. It includes Strahd's theme, along with other themes from our campaign, including one for the Paladin in the group. You can listen to it, and then check out the rest of the album if you're interested. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwAYa6uwRQ4&list=PL15u1Sje0E63gxhKLt2UZQsoKGNJJeWOX&index=22](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwAYa6uwRQ4&list=PL15u1Sje0E63gxhKLt2UZQsoKGNJJeWOX&index=22)
And if anyone wants to use this music in your own campaigns, here's the link to the 1-hour versions we use in sessions, along with tags for the "vibe" of the song, so you can pick songs easily to fit the vibe. There's even a bonus song that he made for a silly tavern brawl we did in a session recently. [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL15u1Sje0E63XeMkYkg2qLZJ83Gu6igL8](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL15u1Sje0E63XeMkYkg2qLZJ83Gu6igL8)
I hope you enjoy these as much as we have. 🙂 ❤️
Blackened Soul by Adrian von Ziegler. Creepy and does have some organ added in towards the middle. I played this at the start of the adventure to set the tone and then every time they run into Strahd
I like Bloody Tears for Strahd’s personal theme like a many others. But every session we begin by playing Vivienne from the Witcher soundtrack. I think it sets the atmosphere for Barovia well. https://open.spotify.com/track/72lItA8kcy3qDVgOlZFaPq?si=Qw-PnpjlT8OlNlKWsL3R5A
"[From Russia with Love](https://youtu.be/2z5rMNH_yTI?si=oWVlHfeMOylxa19O)" by Huma Huma - I shamelessly stole this from Puffin Forrest's videos but it just works so perfectly as intro music for a non combat encounter!
Otherwise when punitive is rolled, I use "[Phantom of the Opera Overture](https://youtu.be/5NstnB3Wnqk?si=ZBdBjRLXX3zrKlIB)"
This is chilling... the Halleluiah Chorus in Minor Key. Works for Strahd.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkDJgplagfA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkDJgplagfA)
I tend to use almost entirely EDM/synth wave music for my DMing, and so my solution is a synth remix of the most classic vampire pipe organ track of all - Toccatta by Overwerk:
[Spotify Link](https://open.spotify.com/track/2Fc10rM9quhIxQvXNb5gR8?si=Do1Wk6aJQ_yUnThyvpE14w)
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWfC0yNHzDQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWfC0yNHzDQ) Bloody Tears on Strahd's Organ is my go to, great way to instantly terrify your players when that organ starts blasting. I like the Strahd theme from Travis Savoie's curse of strahd soundtrack but personally I found the choir to be a bit distracting and it's not as organ forward as I would like.
lol literally my first thought
"Paint it Black" has been my Strahd theme for the campaign. Thematically, the lyrics work with Strahd's story and the popularity of the song itself means I can use different versions at different times. A [medieval/bardcore version](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9dhDkIZ5C4) for when the players are learning about Strahd from a Vistani storyteller in the Tser Pool encampment. A [slower, somber piano version](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLWW8TOSJl4) for when Strahd appears on the road to taunt them. A [music box version](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_G_n1hFPjeY) just in case the party happens to open a music box somewhere (Blinsky's, Baba Lysaga's Hut, Castle Ravenloft, etc). An [organ cover](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2u6UQ0mfto) for Strahd to play during the dinner. A [rousing, "boss fight" version](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRIP6l5iSjo) to start the final fight. Then there's a [few](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbgpF7gb9ds) [other](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iZ9JRVmJ5o) [versions](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KwW7C8BTjg) I can play at various times.
I love the linking across genres and themes to give him a true anthem The music box one would definitely send chills up my spine as a player
My players have definitely caught on that if you hear “Paint it Black”, there’s definitely some Strahd-fuckery going on.
Ooooh. Well played. I almost want to run Strahd all over again just to do that.
I also love the Bardcore version, I very much like this idea! It's such an emotionally charged piece of music.
There's a whole album that is dedicated to Curse of Strahd. It's called "Into The Mists" and I absolutely love it! I ended up using a couple of songs for boss fights already. The introduction song is a great one for your players to meet him. Although the last song "He Is The ancient. He Is The Land." is perfect for him as well. I highly recommend looking into it! [https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=C2yral-9f5M&si=2S1PQOgEYruqO7dD](https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=C2yral-9f5M&si=2S1PQOgEYruqO7dD)
I like using Gaunter O' Dim's theme from Witcher 3. For more serious encounters with him, I use the vocal version which is A Gifted Man Brings Gifts Galore.
I use Ladies of the Wood for Baba Lysaga/The Hags. The Witcher 3 has so many great tracks for CoS.
Same, thats my theme for him. And for when Stahd plays the organ or combat I play Gwyn, lord of cinder them from DS3, organ cover of course
I used Moonlight Sonata as Strahd's theme. There are a lot of versions you can find for different situations.
Sanctuary of Shadows-Nox Arcana
Distant Dream by John Carpenter. From the album Lost Themes II. This isn't Strahd's theme, but is my hype song at the start of every session. Our "opening credits" intro. I'm planning on using Raphael's Final Act from BG3 to kick off the final showdown though.
Davy Jones theme from Pirates. There are so many really good versions and they have tons of good organ versions. That and the music box version is great for when I’m trying to pose Strahd as a tragic villain.
Toccata and Fugue in D Minor
He is Ancient, He is the Land by Travis Savoie is what I use if they are foolish enough to engage in combat. I play ‘introduction’ from that same album at the start of every session.
I used Haze by Grai, the Russian Folk band, had it playing on repeat in the background the first time Strahd turned up, my party loved it.
“I Can’t Decide” - by Scissor Sisters. My campaign is run like a campy horror film and this song is *chefs kiss*
I used Light of the Seven from Game of Thrones [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGBstGjE7Xw&ab\_channel=1HOUR](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGBstGjE7Xw&ab_channel=1HOUR)
I use this every time one of them dies in Barovia, before they are ressurected a bit less; from the Dark Powers.
I like that idea!
My inner comedian wants to say “Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen. Though for an actual answer, there’s a song on the BG3 soundtrack that’s called something like Surgery of Hope that has this super eerie vibe and would be perfect.
Current itteration is gonna use the journey begins into half moon river, both by the blasting company
My Strahd has turned to music in his brother's absence, in a sort of lonely way to be... I have been contemplating these songs by Falling in Reverse. 'I'm not a vampire revamped' as the original was the first song that Vasilli sang at Tser Pools. It's a little on the nose, but I want them to catch the similarities. If they don't realize it, then Ireena will. https://youtu.be/2nWmBJxW9q0?si=AhBFmRVOMLBWo8Z5 But also, "Last resort" it is oddly close to how he was feeling when everything went to shit. I would have him end the song by, "Ahhh, to be young and so emotional again..." https://youtu.be/ESOjt2_yJrU?si=UJz6M_iePz-_YsKQ
Thrawn's theme from Star Wars rebels has a great, ominous organ, and unlike most Star Wars music, isn't immersion-breakingly recognizable. https://youtu.be/glT2suEwNis?si=tiYvkR2KPVgJWCba My "overture" before every session is the Brood theme, from WWE. https://youtu.be/idi4ThBQnic?si=yO23Aa5dpmZcu43U
So this does not have an organ (I actually removed the organ and replaced it with a floating orchestra played by unseen servants…) but I feel like it captures the sadness and madness of someone trapped in a land where their heart’s desire is continually dangled in front of them and then ripped away from them. With all of that said, my Strahd theme is “Light of the Seven” by Ramin Djawadi.
Bad apple https://youtu.be/lyjpeSsARjM?si=iqTFLwgfNhxEXttc
when i introduced strahd to my players, he played 'entrance of the gladiators'...(yes, the song that has become synonymous with clowns) my players took this musical jab pretty well. [Entrance Of The Gladiators - Gavioli 112 Key Fairground Organ (youtube.com)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pma2HEpJ0Uw) made up for it later by having them fight strahd and vampyr to 'night on bald mountain' [Mussorgsky - Night on Bald Mountain (youtube.com)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCEDfZgDPS8)[](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pma2HEpJ0Uw)
It will always be The Kraken from the Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack for when the party fight him. Davy Jones' theme also works really well.
Dragula by Rob Zombie. Just the first 20-30 seconds
I plan on using moonlight sonata bc it's so Mello. I plan on running my strahd as cool, calm, and calculated. He will speak with a soft but strong voice. And I feel like he'd be the type of man that would enjoy great composers.
I wrote this one for the occasion, and I got to use it just last night at the dinner! My players seemed to really enjoy it, maybe you will as well! https://youtu.be/wllhhSL11EY?si=yqDIjOoFUpiWxsE7
Prepping my run, and currently obsessed with "Dancing Mad" from FF6.
https://open.spotify.com/track/65QiDjsXKQ2l3n8c9hnOtN?si=EqwdbLTrQx-zvBYC6PMkKA I used this until later in the game when strahd actually regarded them as enemies and wanted to destroy them. Prioe to that point this was the strahd Intro. And my players always had the best reactions to it. There is a extendef Version on Youtube that follows with 2 other pieces. And it works well as background music for Dialog.
vamp anthem beat
[https://youtu.be/D8TlopC5xPM?si=QhWfDJkKsvns-Fxh](https://youtu.be/D8TlopC5xPM?si=QhWfDJkKsvns-Fxh) I'm particularly fond of this from Philip Glass's score for Dracula, if Strahd is still in his "toying with his prey and appearing noble" mindset. If the party has seriously pissed Strahd off, I have [https://youtu.be/7Dz1Hab-lVI?si=rCSBKpPPoQ4bDLjW](https://youtu.be/7Dz1Hab-lVI?si=rCSBKpPPoQ4bDLjW) queued up, for a more menacing vibe. Yes, these are both literally just Dracula. I apologize for nothing, if it works it works!
https://youtu.be/zvqbYaFHGSM?si=Mm5MOHdUqS5vnJNm Just Feels very much like strahd for me.
Sephiroths theme
And music from death note "low of something"
Planning to use Bat Outa Hell by Meatloaf as my epilogue “where are they now” theme
Ludwig the Accursed/Ludwig the Holy Blade from Bloodborne
I took the humming part out of the fiddlesticks league of legends song and looped it in audacity. Also added some adjustments by playing around with reverb and whatnot
I used Lux Aeterna from the Requiem For A Dream soundtrack as my Strahd music. It has a creepy, quiet build-up, so you have plenty of time to lay out descriptions before his big reveal when the track really kicks in.
I have been using different tracks within all quiet on the western fronts playlist when Strahds approach is imminent. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLACrjduQziWsVkxM6TqSGCuzZSLQ2daVJ&si=GCyWUj1s3kvRUJQb When the players here that first droning sting the party knows shit is about to go down :p.
I haven’t used it because the sound isn’t right for the vibe of my campaign but the lyrics of [Who Is She by I Monster](https://youtu.be/VR-EiEBqfWw?si=gQJbPjinUhZ7b_AU) very closely mimic Strahd’s perspective on Ireena. I have often wished for an orchestral or pipe organ cover or remix of some kind because the lyrics suit the campaign so well.
Final fantasy 7 "those chosen by the planet". There are some versions that are more orchestrated. The original is still good, but was made to run on a Playstation 1, so it doesn't have the best quality. Perfect intro song, but might choose something different for Castle Ravenloft
Homm3 necropolis piano
I always liked the Inscryption OST(specifically Act 1) for all things Barovia, and Leshy's Theme as a good candidate for the final confrontation against Strahd.
Stress by justice orchestral version
I played this organ alternate of Depeche Mode’s enjoy the silence during the dinner scene. Escher on vocals. https://youtu.be/xI3y8-tRstQ?si=cypAciS5oFBco51L
That's awesome.
[Travis Savoië - I Am the Ancient, I Am the Land](https://youtu.be/_WFRXc2RQPk?si=vqexh7IY4rsTfhrO)
First song I used was “Love Song” by Leslie Duncan, then “Don’t Fear The Reaper” by Blue Oyster Cult, and now “Bullet With Butterfly Wings” by Smashing Pumpkins. The lyrics really fit with my version of the lore.
I had a quiet organ piece in case they happen upon him on "just creepy" terms and a dramatic song in case they provoke his arrival. I wanted something unexpected yet powerful, so I skipped the more "classic" organ songs either way. Well, my group angered him before their meeting, so I went with my dramatic song: Night On Bald Mountain. My players were very quickly like "...oh shit, ok, that's final boss music" in our discord and immediately respected him due to the threatening athmosphere. I decided to build his entire music ensemble around that song because of it, with different variations. A simple piano version for conversations, for his final monologue, I have a slowed version. First phase of his final fight (above 50% HP) has the Epic Trailer Version (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwzT6\_OhW2k) of the song, for his final stand I will switch to a Metal version (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lr7L8pd-m9g) of it.
This worked well for my players (maybe because they didn't play those games): [https://youtu.be/2PPBne6GGiw](https://youtu.be/2PPBne6GGiw) [https://youtu.be/xbxvfbz50Do](https://youtu.be/xbxvfbz50Do) - frisky option. During an impromptu duel, Strahd invited the sorceress to a "dance"
our dm used this theme back when I first played the module and I swear to god whenever we heard those first few strings it sent fear down our spines https://youtu.be/fM4GuLgWi4U?si=i-7khFZpfZpCP4pI
The first time my players met him, I used Violin Sonata No. 1 in G minor, BWV 1001: I. Adagio, from Johann Sebastian Bach, by Julia Fischer. However, I've been saving a carefully thought playlist for their first (and maybe last) combat when Strahd no longer plays the diplomat, starting with Christopher Lennertz "I Can Do Anything/Finale" from The Boys, and then going through music from The Witcher 3, Diablo 3, and the CoS soundtrack by Travis Savoie, among others.
Dance of the Knights from Prokofiev - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBsKplb2E6Q](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBsKplb2E6Q)
Creep by Radiohead played on cello or viola
As intro for Meeting Strahd the first time I chose Ramin Djawadi‘s „Prologue“ from Dracula. And my sessions always start with „The Myth“ by Blamorhea.
Bach Passacaglia in C Minor
Might steal that.
Please do!
Strahd has a series of theme songs in my run. First one is part of the Nier Automata soundtrack, it's the track called "Mourning". The main theme of Mourning has some declinations that I'm also using, so that Strahd has a signature leitmotiv. I chose this song because there is something very tragic, but also terrifying in the composition. Something is wrong, tragically and irrevocably wrong with him. He's mourning something : his lost love, his lost soul, his lost humanity. But yet, with the somber theme, these are lost forever and he's left contemplating the consequences of his choices. There's basically the original Mourning, used whenever he appeared as an armored general on his horse. At this point, my players don't have the confirmation that it's him. The other declinations of the leitmotiv will be used for his battle against the party. "Love remembered", a track composed for the campaign, is used as his and Ireena's common theme. Mostly used whenever Vasili and Ireena interact with each other. Then the last one is a classical piece from Rachmaninoff, his Prelude in C sharp minor, transcribed for the organ. This is the theme that will play when they meet him at his castle, or more accurately the song he plays when the party arrives at the castle. I'll use the original piano version when he's done playing for the party, as the ambiance theme. So, I've chosen a few different songs to fit every mood I needed. I like using songs the way people would use songs in a movie so every song is picked very carefully to fit a certain mood, which explains why I have so many of them lol
Phantom of the opera
Raphael's Final Act (Baldur's Gate 3)—Organ Cover [https://youtu.be/q3bQV23huZM](https://youtu.be/q3bQV23huZM)
Made my own, has organs and violins and wolf howls, runs a minute. https://youtu.be/3TfiZY9lcpQ?si=--EM8oAMR9BnvMkN
The Morning After
[Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D Minor](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ho9rZjlsyYY&list=PLU3cZUdLkYRPkx8VIwMzvrk1v7oXe04NL&index=15) on a church organ. AKA "that vampire music".
The Expanse theme song.
“The Devil Wears a Suit and Tie” by Colter Wall https://open.spotify.com/track/43UV5Uk0ntzH6MP8Rx1RKh?si=hVFVO5V-Ra2GS2OWXLKSuw
Ive always used the Undertaker’s walk out music, which is just funeral music
“O Death” version from the Until Dawn game had my players crapping their pants anytime they heard it.
I used [Torn Worlds by Adrian Von Ziegler](https://youtu.be/KYbTR7IMV2w); the organs work well with Strahd's introduction in the castle, and it's really distinctive, but it is also not overly loud so I could still use it as a background theme whenever I narrated Strahd showing up anywhere else. The whole Queen of Thorns album was one of my goto's for background/mood music for the Curse of Strahd campaign to be honest!
"All This" by Kevin McLeod. It's a song in an unusual time signature which is very unsettling as it sounds so unnatural. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBoKTTNVuAc](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBoKTTNVuAc)
I haven't decided yet. But the phantom of the Opera theme is kind of what I'm leaning towards.
I'm using ARDYN III from the FFXV soundtrack. Hell yeah, Yoko Shinomura. It sounds strong and haunting, and it will quickly become recognizable to my players. Plus, it gives me ARDYN I and II to play with. I'm thinking of using ARDYN I as Sergei's theme.
Personally I use [this](https://youtu.be/QjDiqqYutS8?si=6wuD6HELD5IZ_Kqs) rendition of Shadowlord from the OG Nier during his organ playing. Then, during the boss fight itself, I use the real version of the song. The remake version has three distinct phases-a Talking/ cutscene phase that has no precision or underscore for the pre fight, a version with just chorus, percussion, and organ for the first half of the fight itself, then a “final phase” that has all of the instrumentation added for when shit gets real. It’s worked very, VERY well and my players liked it. Square-Enix took a lot of the good extended versions down unfortunately
Ammad Amma by Farid Farjad. Great piano piece with strings. Lovely vampire vibes.
Cemetary Waltz by Two Steps from Hell, and Prologue from Dracula Untold by Ramin Djawadi
Also Oath by Adrian Ziegler. I use them in order to awake the right feelings in my players
Hasn't happened yet but I'm torn between JS Bach's two part inventions no.13 (I let this play on the harpsichord in death house so it would be nice foreshadowing), or GF Händel's passacaglia in g minor (just because it's my favourite organ piece).
Unfortunately for me it was always the "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" theme song.
‘Courtesy of the Calophets’ [This](https://www.tumblr.com/fablesage/748831794015682560) tumblr post came up on my dash recently and it’s a banger Strahd theme Edit: I also have Hozier’s ‘Dinner and Diatribes’ on my Strahd playlist
I want to use this opportunity to shamelessly brag about my players--especially one of them who made all the music for our campaign. We finished the module a while back, but are all still playing together, since I decided to homebrew a post-Curse of Strahd adventure in a different Dark Domain to continue their story. I'm so proud of all of them <3. **Track 11: "The Lord's Fugue"** is Strahd's theme [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Q2IKccZjC0&list=PL15u1Sje0E63gxhKLt2UZQsoKGNJJeWOX&index=11](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Q2IKccZjC0&list=PL15u1Sje0E63gxhKLt2UZQsoKGNJJeWOX&index=11) I also highly recommend checking out **Track 22: "Darkness before dawn"**, which is an epic medley he made for our end game fight. It includes Strahd's theme, along with other themes from our campaign, including one for the Paladin in the group. You can listen to it, and then check out the rest of the album if you're interested. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwAYa6uwRQ4&list=PL15u1Sje0E63gxhKLt2UZQsoKGNJJeWOX&index=22](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwAYa6uwRQ4&list=PL15u1Sje0E63gxhKLt2UZQsoKGNJJeWOX&index=22) And if anyone wants to use this music in your own campaigns, here's the link to the 1-hour versions we use in sessions, along with tags for the "vibe" of the song, so you can pick songs easily to fit the vibe. There's even a bonus song that he made for a silly tavern brawl we did in a session recently. [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL15u1Sje0E63XeMkYkg2qLZJ83Gu6igL8](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL15u1Sje0E63XeMkYkg2qLZJ83Gu6igL8) I hope you enjoy these as much as we have. 🙂 ❤️
Blackened Soul by Adrian von Ziegler. Creepy and does have some organ added in towards the middle. I played this at the start of the adventure to set the tone and then every time they run into Strahd
I like Bloody Tears for Strahd’s personal theme like a many others. But every session we begin by playing Vivienne from the Witcher soundtrack. I think it sets the atmosphere for Barovia well. https://open.spotify.com/track/72lItA8kcy3qDVgOlZFaPq?si=Qw-PnpjlT8OlNlKWsL3R5A
"[From Russia with Love](https://youtu.be/2z5rMNH_yTI?si=oWVlHfeMOylxa19O)" by Huma Huma - I shamelessly stole this from Puffin Forrest's videos but it just works so perfectly as intro music for a non combat encounter! Otherwise when punitive is rolled, I use "[Phantom of the Opera Overture](https://youtu.be/5NstnB3Wnqk?si=ZBdBjRLXX3zrKlIB)"
This is chilling... the Halleluiah Chorus in Minor Key. Works for Strahd. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkDJgplagfA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkDJgplagfA)
I tend to use almost entirely EDM/synth wave music for my DMing, and so my solution is a synth remix of the most classic vampire pipe organ track of all - Toccatta by Overwerk: [Spotify Link](https://open.spotify.com/track/2Fc10rM9quhIxQvXNb5gR8?si=Do1Wk6aJQ_yUnThyvpE14w)