Musical instruments

In Ultima worlds there are numerous musical instruments made to entertain people. Some are merely for entertainment purposes while others are practical and even necessary to adventurers.

Lute

The favorite musical instrument of many bards is the lute. The music is generated by pulling the strings right, causing the wooden body of the instrument to generate the right vibrations. The sound from this instrument is gentle and perfect for a song before going to sleep.

Iolo carries a lute in Ultima VI and Ultima VII Part Two. In the latter game, a song on a lute by Iolo also gained the party an invitation to Lady Yelinda. The song was a coincidence, since a teleport storm had deposited a lute at the party's feet in Fawn. Iolo's personal lute was a close personal item and thus used by the Hound of Doskar to track Iolo.

Listen to a MIDI version of the lute here:
Visit Video Game Music Preservation Wiki for another version.

Xylophone

A xylophone consists of numerous bars either made of wood or metal, that are fixed on a frame. Hitting these carefully carved bars with the fitting sticks will cause the sounds to appear. The trick is, to hit the bars in the right speed and without hitting the wrong one.

The goblins of the Serpent Isle have perverted the idea, by building a xylophone made of human bones.

Listen to a MIDI version of the xylophone here:
Visit Video Game Music Preservation Wiki for another version.

Harp

A harp is a large string instrument. It is the pulling of the strings that results in the sounds that form the music. The sound of the harp is relaxing and easy on the ears.

Listen to a MIDI version of the harp here:
Visit Video Game Music Preservation Wiki for another version.

Harpsichord

The harpsichord is a large musical instrument. The player presses the numerous keys on the front, in order to pluck strings in the instrument. Vibrations are amplified by the wooden body of the harpsichord.

In Ultima V, the Avatar had to play Lord British’s harpsichord in order to get the sandalwood box. The same thing had to be done in Ultima IX to receive an ankh. Lord British's harpsichord remained in his room in Ultima V and Ultima VI, but was later donated to to the Royal Museum. Strangely, it returned to its original owner in Ultima IX.

In Ultima VI, the Avatar had to move the harpsichord of the stranded pirate Bonn in order to get his piece of a treasure map.

For more fun with this instrument, see Harpsichord Tile Shifting.

Listen to a MIDI version of the harpsichord here:
Visit Video Game Music Preservation Wiki for another version.

Panpipes

Main article: Panpipes

Panpipes appear in Ultima VI, Ultima VII, Ultima VII Part Two and Runes of Virtue.

Listen to a MIDI version of the panpipes here:
Visit Video Game Music Preservation Wiki for another version.

Lyre

The lyre is a small string instrument. Its sound is very similar to that of the harp, only higher. Essentially, it is a miniature harp for mobile usage.

(The sound is the same as the harp)

Music Box

Not an instrument, but the music box nonetheless creates music. These little boxes have a mechanism that plays a pre-defined music. Only one is found, in Skara Brae. The sound of the music box is very faint and resembles a symphony of small bells.

Listen to a MIDI version of the music box here:
Visit Video Game Music Preservation Wiki for another version.