Bear McCrearyThe third episode of Starz’s hit new pirate TV series, Black Sails, premieres tonight. If you’re at all like me, you’re already addicted to the show and its great opening theme song, created by famed composer Bear McCreary. You might be familiar with the talented composer’s works, as he’s provide the music for many great shows like Battlestar Galactica, The Walking Dead, Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD, Human Target, and Da Vinci’s Demons (for which he won an Emmy). The music for Black Sails really helps set the mood of the show, with the gritty pirates of an 18th century Caribbean. The music’s composition has strong tones of Irish folk music to it, with the use of traditional Irish instruments like bodhrán and bones and the always unique sound of a hurdy gurdy. The very opening to the main theme for Black Sails in itself is quite unique and instantly identifiable for McCreary’s use of a hurdy gurdy that might be considered in no way traditional. Yet it is this composition that helps so heavily add to the pirate feel of Michael Bay’s new series, strongly bringing fans into the period before scenes from the show actually even air. If you haven’t before heard the opening theme, give it a listen below:

 

 

It’s quite the intriguing piece, isn’t it? It certainly makes me want to crack open a bottle of rum, grab my cutlass, and board a wooden ship with sails to plunder the merchant rich waters of major shipping lanes across the seven seas. But what is the story behind this great music? For that, I recommend hearing McCreary’s words direct from his own mouth:

 

 

 

For more from the talented Bear McCreary, make sure you check out his official website and his personal youtube account, which is filled with great behind the scenes looks at some great music from your favorite TV series. Remember, that Black Sails episode 3 airs tonight at 9PM on Starz. If you haven’t seen episode one yet, give it a look here.