An extremely comprehensive List of music shipped with Microsoft Windows.
Windows 3.07 with Media Extensions
This is a curious little version of Windows, it was never sold separately and only released to OEMs as for the Multimedia PC line. The partnership started here with Passport Designs is one for many years to come. Their stated purpose was to provide a sample of original MIDI tunes.
It’s full name is “Trip Through the Grand Canyon”. It was composed by George Stone for Passport Designs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tk3xgxQ4QBY
Likely composed and made by Passport Designs, but its original composer remains unknown. Despite common claims that it exists in Windows 3.11 it cannot be found in the installation media.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jv7iIizEa2M
These files are mostly MIDI files wrapped in a RIFF wraper, as Microsoft was pioneering this new format so provided various samples of public domain music.
Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 3.rmi
Beethoven's 5th Symphony.rmi
Beethoven's Fur Elise.rmi
Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy.rmi
Debussy's Claire de Lune.rmi
In the Hall of the Mountain King.rmi
Mozart's Symphony No. 40.rmi
This is an AVI video of Edie Brickell’s music video for her song “Good Times” from her 1994 album: Picture Perfect Morning.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqL1BLzn3qc
This another AVI video of a music video, specifically Weezer’s Buddy Holly track from their Debut Album from 1994.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kemivUKb4f4
It’s a short 30 second wave file that plays with the “Welcome to Windows 98″ application.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDjN_GJ82fE
A short 30 second sample of “Beautiful Way” by Beck from his album “Midnite Vultures” released in late 1999. It was included as a sample demo for the new Windows Media Player 7.
Originally envisioned as a replacement for “bad midi” files, it more or less serves the same purpose as the ones before it. A sample file for testing. Composed by David Yackley.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlUzgM6TiI4
Composed by Nathan Grigg for Windows XP.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5LLroKuPeE
Composed by Nathan Grigg for Windows XP. It makes an appearance practically in the DirectX diagnostic test for DirectMusic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvNz0Rdg9To
This is a 5:25 song that is primarily used as background music during the Windows XP installation. It is not known quite who composed this but Susan Ciani is typically credited for it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVc3-S1QHzQ
This is David Byrne’s track “Like Human’s Do”, released in 2001 on his album Look into the Eyeball, as it is advertised in the tags for the file. However, it is less known the version that came shipped with Windows XP was the Radio Friendly Edit that omitted references to cannabis. This song was removed in SP2 and SP3.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4di31LtH6Jk
New Stories (Highway Blues).wma
A fairly low beat Jazzy tune from Marc Seales with Ernie Watts on Saxaphone. Titled “Highway Blues” from the Album ‘Speakin’ Out’ released in 1999. This too has a little secret, although the song shipped with Windows XP is only 1:31 minutes long in actuality this is a small sample of the full song which comes in at 8 minutes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuyogMrZqd4
Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 (Scherzo).wma
Although obviously this was composed by Beethoven, this rendition of the song was played by the Seattle Symphony Orchestra in 2001. Similar to Highway Blues, this is a short sample of the longer 10 minute song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O22ZRhsprQY
Both of these songs are from Karsh Kale’s Album “Realize” released in 2001.
Din Din Wo (Little Child).wma
I Ka Barra (Your Work).wma
Both songs are from Habib Koité and his debut album from 1995 “Muso Ko“.
Both songs are from the Posies album “Every Kind of Light“ released in 2005.
Both songs are by Aisha Duo from their 2005 album “Quiet Songs”.
By Aaron Goldberg from his 2006 Album “Worlds”
By Luciana Souza from the 2005 album “Duos II“.
Another Beethoven song. This rendition was played by the Nicolaus Esterhazy Sinfonia.
Windows 7
Microsoft here made a curious decision to decide to ship their sample songs in mp3 rather than their own WMA format.
A 2008 song from Mr Scruff, from the album Ninja Turtle.
Maid with the Flaxen Hair.mp3
Played by Richard Stoltzman doing a rendition of the French piece - “ La fille aux cheveux de lin “ on Clarinet. 2008.
A 2004 song by Bob Acri from the album, Sleep Away.
Windows 8, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 do not include any further new sample songs.
tangentwithtanner
kaledo-art
romaincrisis
areudirty
jacobvanloon
blakekathryn
dailybridgerton
