Rhythms of Roshar playlist

[Trutharchivist he/him]

All right. I'm sure I'm not the only one thinking of it, and I haven't checked if there was another topic about it. If so - I'm sorry. 

So, who else really wants to hear the pure tones of Roshar and the Rhythms of the different Lights?  In addition, of course, to normal singer rhythms.

[chickenperson]

I did see one other post discussing the intervals of the pure tones and their relations with one another. I would absolutely love to hear the pure tones and rhythms

[sentinel]

Honestly if I were to assign the pure tones notes, they'd be Honor as B flat, Cultivation as G, and Odium as F sharp.

[Tacitus]

Music people, Unite! We need you to make the rhythms so we can attach them to our posts! Unite!

[Trutharchivist he/him]

Problem is, I'm not very musical myself. But go on, do it. It'll be great. Do someone knows musical sharders? Or maybe is one?

[Tacitus]

I remember there was one who did piano songs for mistborn, but I'm not sure if they're still active.

(Also, does anyone know where we can find a list of all the rhythms?)

EDIT: nevermind, found one on the coppermind

Edited January 7, 2021 by Omi the Counselor

[chickenperson]

I’m a music major looking at taking a stab at it

[Tacitus]

Quick little update (Also keeping the thread alive), I tried to make the rhythm of anticipation. However, I don't think that it had the proper life to it that a rhythm should. So I might reattempt it.

[chickenperson]

Rhythm of anxiety is for sure just a bunch of sixteenth notes 

[AbbyGator]

I’ve always imagined the Rhythm of the Lost as Mozart’s Requiem.
I used to think of the Rhythm of Joy as Schiller’s Ode to Joy, but my husband thinks Ode to Joy is more like Praise or Exultation, and I have to agree. 

The overture for the Magic Flute could be Excitement or Anticipation.

 I’m thinking Terror could be Toccata and Fugue in D minor.

Für Elise could be Longing.
Moonlight Sonata for Despair.

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star for Curiosity.

Chopsticks for Amusement.

Journey’s Don’t Stop Believin’ for Determination or perhaps Resolve.

Iron and Wine’s Love Vigilantes could work for Remembrance.

Adele’s Hello for Despair

Evanescence’s Lithium for Pain, Resignation, or maybe even Agony
My Immortal could also work for these

Call Me When You're Sober or Everybody’s Fool might work for Reprimand

the Cranberries’ Zombie could be Tension or Irritation 

Seal’s Kiss from a Rose for Reconciliation or Supplication maybe

a-ha - Take On Me for Surprise perhaps

the Jurassic Park theme song could work for Hope or maybe Awe

The Star Wars theme song for Confidence

The Jaws theme could work for anticipation or anxiety

 

 

I’ll try to keep Odium’s rhythms separate.  

 I feel like the Imperial Death March would have to be one of Odium’s, like Command, Destruction, or maybe Executions.

Maybe Blink-182’s What's My Age Again for Ridicule

t.A.T.u. - All the Things She Said for Panic

[As mentioned above, maybe Lithium for Agony, maybe Ode to Joy for Exultation]

 

*Editing to add more as I think of them*

I think it would be awesome to hear if Brandon Sanderson has any with specific associations.

Edited December 8, 2021 by AbbyGator

[AbbyGator]

Copied and pasted from coppermind.net, here are the rhythms of Roshar

• Rhythm of Amusement
• Rhythm of Annoyance
• Rhythm of Anticipation
• Rhythm of Anxiety
• Rhythm of Appreciation
• Rhythm of Awe - the Knights Radiant are sung of to this rhythm
• Rhythm of Betrayal - rarely sung
• Rhythm of Confidence
• Rhythm of Confusion
• Rhythm of Consideration
• Rhythm of Consolation - used for strong apologies
• Rhythm of Curiosity - a slow rhythm
• Rhythm of Despair
• Rhythm of Determination
• Rhythm of Disappointment
• Rhythm of Excitement
• Rhythm of Fortune - has some cultural significance, as one can be said to be blessed by it if they're lucky
• Rhythm of Hope
• Rhythm of Irritation
• Rhythm of Joy
• Rhythm of Longing
• Rhythm of the Lost - soft, slow, but violent, with sharp, separated notes; used for remembering the fallen
• Rhythm of Memories - used for singing about history
• Rhythm of Mourning
• Rhythm of Pain
• Rhythm of Peace - calm, soft, soothing beats; used by Listeners to measure time. Eshonai heard screams reminiscent of those of a deadeye when attuning it while in stormform, possibly due to her Nahel bond with Timbre.
• Rhythm of Pleading - rarely-used
• Rhythm of Praise - used both to show appreciation of others and to express true satisfaction
• Rhythm of Reconciliation
• Rhythm of Remembrance
• Rhythm of Reprimand
• Rhythm of Resignation
• Rhythm of Resolve - a steady beat with power rising over time
• Rhythm of Skepticism
• Rhythm of Supplication
• Rhythm of Surprise
• Rhythm of Tension
• Rhythm of the Terrors - used when feeling terror, as the name implies.
• Rhythm of Victory
• Rhythm of Winds - used for predicting highstorms, also as an instruction to follow
• Rhythm of Wisdom - possibly metaphorical

 

and Odium’s rhythms 

• Rhythm of Abashment
• Rhythm of Agony - Counterpart to Anxiety
• Rhythm of Command - a more powerful version of Appreciation
• Rhythm of Conceit
• Rhythm of Craving - a more violent version of Anticipation used to indicate confusion or a question 
• Rhythm of Executions - rare; expresses killing intent
• Rhythm of Exultation
• Rhythm of Derision
• Rhythm of Destruction
• Rhythm of Fury
• Rhythm of Indifference
• Rhythm of Panic - an pained, choppy beat with unfinished measures
• Rhythm of Relief
• Rhythm of Ridicule - similar to Amusement
• Rhythm of Satisfaction
• Rhythm of Spite
• Rhythm of Subservience
• Rhythm of Tribute
• Rhythm of Withdrawal - one of the few calm Odium rhythms
• Song of Prayer - a rhythm used to draw Voidlight into the Physical Realm

 

[BinarySecond]

This is the one thing about this series I cannot imagine would be easily done in a TV show or film.

 

It's really easy in text because Brandon just writes "Sung to XYZ" and boom we understand. 

[Codex he/him]

I think of the rhythms long, 8-10 minutes, and simple 3 notes maybe for the 3 tones.

[Codex he/him]

I came up with a rhythm, can't tell which one it is.

 

Edited February 7, 2025 by codex1712

[Trutharchivist he/him]

So a friend (@Spring613, apologies for tagging you) has shared with me a video on the music/Rhythms of the various lights! It sound nice, thought people here will appreciate it.

[Spring613 She/Her]

Feel free to tag me anytime! I stumbled across the video on YouTube by happenstance, and I really enjoyed it. Go show the guy who made it some love!

[karaiwulf fæ/fær]

My assumptions were that the rhythms were all just that, rhythms.  Something you could play with just a drum.  Or simply tapping your foot.

I hadn't considered tonal changes, though I'd bet they'd be among the three pure tones of Roshar, maybe with a few steps between each.

What I appreciate is that the Rhythm of Peace is used to keep time, implying that each rhythm is periodic AND long enough to use effectively, with enough variance to know where in the period you are.

[ThroughTheLivingSequence she/her/they/them]

On 10/21/2025 at 3:29 PM, karaiwulf said:

My assumptions were that the rhythms were all just that, rhythms.  Something you could play with just a drum.  Or simply tapping your foot.

I hadn't considered tonal changes, though I'd bet they'd be among the three pure tones of Roshar, maybe with a few steps between each.

What I appreciate is that the Rhythm of Peace is used to keep time, implying that each rhythm is periodic AND long enough to use effectively, with enough variance to know where in the period you are.

That's also how I interpreted it, but honestly reading about Singers humming to rhythms always confuses me... I have a hard time imagining how that would look, or how these rhythms would sound.

Would it just be a simple, repetitive few notes? Like maybe a measure or two long?

Or would they be more like entire songs? Hrm. I suppose I am just a mere human .