1 Voice, 1 Violin, 120 Tracks - A Unique Cover of the Theme from Skyrim
Technically, once you add an instrument to a cappella it becomes a cantata, but as the gentleman at left named Peter Hollens is a self-described a cappella vocalist, we won't split hairs. The other half of this Skyrim duo is electrifying violinist Lindsey Stirling, who steps away from her usual element of blending violin with electronica elements on this track.
The production on this track is impressive, with 114 of the 120 tracks recorded being made up of various layers of Peter's voice to create the primary sound of the song. Some of Peter's other recordings are even more impressive sounding, especially where he sings unaccompanied. He definitely has a flair for a cappella pop music much in the way Van Canto do with their a cappella/cantata styled heavy metal.
I bring up this comparison because the only drawback with this cover of Skyrim's theme is Lindsey Stirling's violin is a bit buried in the mix. The sound quality is much better on the downloaded version compared to the YouTube video fortunately, but ultimately, if you are going utilize Stirling's eminent talent, make sure she has proper placement in the mix. Van Canto pull this off admirably with their live drummer, which is a much harsher instrument to mix than a violin.
On the upside the song one of the stronger Skyrim covers to date but more importantly, the pair utilized Stirling's music video cinematographer Devin Graham to create the video. If you've seen Lindsey's previous music videos then you know Graham's vision of her is as equally important to her overall musical persona much in the way Russell Mulcahy's direction was to Duran Duran at the height of their music video prowess.
The music of Skyrim has been covered on electric guitar, multi-tracked violin and in utterly stunning guitar with vocals fashion. It is a testament to the power of Jeremy Soule's score for the game which leads so many aspiring musicians to try their hand at interpreting it.
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