Wings of Thunder – Musical Inspiration

While writing Wings of Thunder, I listened to mostly movie soundtracks as I usually do. But as I was writing specifically about the desert setting, with the sort of grim feel that pervaded the book, I found the haunting music of the duduk to be the perfect background.

I first remember hearing the duduk used in movie soundtracks in the 90s. If memory serves, it was featured prominently in Gladiator, one of my favorite soundtracks when I was younger. The reeded instrument has a distinct voice, and the scale evokes a sort of mournful, haunting feel.

In any case – if you’d like to get the feel for it, check this video out. I listened to this exact video on loop for HOURS on end while writing the book. I ended up revisiting it in several other stories as I returned to Ascavar. 🙂