diff --git a/apps/openmw/engine.cpp b/apps/openmw/engine.cpp
index 63473fe67d..179dbcdc32 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/engine.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/engine.cpp
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@
 #include "mwscript/interpretercontext.hpp"
 #include "mwscript/scriptmanagerimp.hpp"
 
+#include "mwsound/constants.hpp"
 #include "mwsound/soundmanagerimp.hpp"
 
 #include "mwworld/class.hpp"
@@ -987,9 +988,8 @@ void OMW::Engine::go()
         // start in main menu
         mWindowManager->pushGuiMode(MWGui::GM_MainMenu);
 
-        std::string titlefile = "music/special/morrowind title.mp3";
-        if (mVFS->exists(titlefile))
-            mSoundManager->streamMusic(titlefile, MWSound::MusicType::Special);
+        if (mVFS->exists(MWSound::titleMusic))
+            mSoundManager->streamMusic(MWSound::titleMusic, MWSound::MusicType::Special);
         else
             Log(Debug::Warning) << "Title music not found";
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwbase/soundmanager.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwbase/soundmanager.hpp
index a55d696224..ab3f9c5605 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwbase/soundmanager.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwbase/soundmanager.hpp
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ namespace MWBase
         virtual void stopMusic() = 0;
         ///< Stops music if it's playing
 
-        virtual void streamMusic(const std::string& filename, MWSound::MusicType type, float fade = 1.f) = 0;
+        virtual void streamMusic(VFS::Path::NormalizedView filename, MWSound::MusicType type, float fade = 1.f) = 0;
         ///< Play a soundifle
         /// \param filename name of a sound file in the data directory.
         /// \param type music type.
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwgui/levelupdialog.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwgui/levelupdialog.cpp
index 4950e3edf4..f1a40a3f16 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwgui/levelupdialog.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwgui/levelupdialog.cpp
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@
 #include "../mwmechanics/creaturestats.hpp"
 #include "../mwmechanics/npcstats.hpp"
 
+#include "../mwsound/constants.hpp"
+
 #include "class.hpp"
 
 namespace
@@ -216,8 +218,7 @@ namespace MWGui
         center();
 
         // Play LevelUp Music
-        MWBase::Environment::get().getSoundManager()->streamMusic(
-            "Music/Special/MW_Triumph.mp3", MWSound::MusicType::Special);
+        MWBase::Environment::get().getSoundManager()->streamMusic(MWSound::triumphMusic, MWSound::MusicType::Special);
     }
 
     void LevelupDialog::onOkButtonClicked(MyGUI::Widget* sender)
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwlua/soundbindings.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwlua/soundbindings.cpp
index 57d1e606c1..a5ec69b4fc 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwlua/soundbindings.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwlua/soundbindings.cpp
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ namespace MWLua
         api["streamMusic"] = [](std::string_view fileName, const sol::optional<sol::table>& options) {
             auto args = getStreamMusicArgs(options);
             MWBase::SoundManager* sndMgr = MWBase::Environment::get().getSoundManager();
-            sndMgr->streamMusic(std::string(fileName), MWSound::MusicType::Scripted, args.mFade);
+            sndMgr->streamMusic(VFS::Path::Normalized(fileName), MWSound::MusicType::Scripted, args.mFade);
         };
 
         api["say"]
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/actors.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/actors.cpp
index addf62df34..32f81c398e 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/actors.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/actors.cpp
@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@
 
 #include "../mwrender/vismask.hpp"
 
+#include "../mwsound/constants.hpp"
+
 #include "actor.hpp"
 #include "actorutil.hpp"
 #include "aicombataction.hpp"
@@ -1798,7 +1800,7 @@ namespace MWMechanics
                     MWBase::Environment::get().getStateManager()->askLoadRecent();
                     // Play Death Music if it was the player dying
                     MWBase::Environment::get().getSoundManager()->streamMusic(
-                        "Music/Special/MW_Death.mp3", MWSound::MusicType::Special);
+                        MWSound::deathMusic, MWSound::MusicType::Special);
                 }
                 else
                 {
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwscript/soundextensions.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwscript/soundextensions.cpp
index ee39860584..79bdf20160 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwscript/soundextensions.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwscript/soundextensions.cpp
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ namespace MWScript
         public:
             void execute(Interpreter::Runtime& runtime) override
             {
-                std::string music{ runtime.getStringLiteral(runtime[0].mInteger) };
+                const VFS::Path::Normalized music(runtime.getStringLiteral(runtime[0].mInteger));
                 runtime.pop();
 
                 MWBase::Environment::get().getSoundManager()->streamMusic(
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwsound/constants.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwsound/constants.hpp
index 5022b142f9..217dd1935e 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwsound/constants.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwsound/constants.hpp
@@ -7,6 +7,9 @@ namespace MWSound
 {
     constexpr VFS::Path::NormalizedView battlePlaylist("battle");
     constexpr VFS::Path::NormalizedView explorePlaylist("explore");
+    constexpr VFS::Path::NormalizedView titleMusic("music/special/morrowind title.mp3");
+    constexpr VFS::Path::NormalizedView triumphMusic("music/special/mw_triumph.mp3");
+    constexpr VFS::Path::NormalizedView deathMusic("music/special/mw_death.mp3");
 }
 
 #endif
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwsound/soundmanagerimp.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwsound/soundmanagerimp.cpp
index 039c283d7a..bcaec8ddfd 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwsound/soundmanagerimp.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwsound/soundmanagerimp.cpp
@@ -252,13 +252,13 @@ namespace MWSound
         }
     }
 
-    void SoundManager::streamMusicFull(const std::string& filename)
+    void SoundManager::streamMusicFull(VFS::Path::NormalizedView filename)
     {
         if (!mOutput->isInitialized())
             return;
 
         stopMusic();
-        if (filename.empty())
+        if (filename.value().empty())
             return;
 
         Log(Debug::Info) << "Playing \"" << filename << "\"";
@@ -267,9 +267,9 @@ namespace MWSound
         DecoderPtr decoder = getDecoder();
         try
         {
-            decoder->open(VFS::Path::Normalized(filename));
+            decoder->open(filename);
         }
-        catch (std::exception& e)
+        catch (const std::exception& e)
         {
             Log(Debug::Error) << "Failed to load audio from \"" << filename << "\": " << e.what();
             return;
@@ -285,7 +285,7 @@ namespace MWSound
         mOutput->streamSound(std::move(decoder), mMusic.get());
     }
 
-    void SoundManager::advanceMusic(const std::string& filename, float fadeOut)
+    void SoundManager::advanceMusic(VFS::Path::NormalizedView filename, float fadeOut)
     {
         if (!isMusicPlaying())
         {
@@ -304,7 +304,7 @@ namespace MWSound
 
         if (playlist == mMusicFiles.end() || playlist->second.empty())
         {
-            advanceMusic(std::string());
+            advanceMusic(VFS::Path::NormalizedView());
             return;
         }
 
@@ -338,7 +338,7 @@ namespace MWSound
         return mMusic && mOutput->isStreamPlaying(mMusic.get());
     }
 
-    void SoundManager::streamMusic(const std::string& filename, MusicType type, float fade)
+    void SoundManager::streamMusic(VFS::Path::NormalizedView filename, MusicType type, float fade)
     {
         const auto mechanicsManager = MWBase::Environment::get().getMechanicsManager();
 
@@ -347,10 +347,8 @@ namespace MWSound
             && type != MusicType::Special)
             return;
 
-        std::string normalizedName = VFS::Path::normalizeFilename(filename);
-
         mechanicsManager->setMusicType(type);
-        advanceMusic(normalizedName, fade);
+        advanceMusic(filename, fade);
         if (type == MWSound::MusicType::Battle)
             mCurrentPlaylist = battlePlaylist;
         else if (type == MWSound::MusicType::Explore)
@@ -367,8 +365,8 @@ namespace MWSound
         if (it == mMusicFiles.end())
         {
             std::vector<VFS::Path::Normalized> filelist;
-            constexpr VFS::Path::NormalizedView music("music");
-            const VFS::Path::Normalized playlistPath = music / playlist / VFS::Path::NormalizedView();
+            const VFS::Path::Normalized playlistPath
+                = Misc::ResourceHelpers::correctMusicPath(playlist) / VFS::Path::NormalizedView();
             for (const auto& name : mVFS->getRecursiveDirectoryIterator(VFS::Path::NormalizedView(playlistPath)))
                 filelist.push_back(name);
 
@@ -1143,10 +1141,10 @@ namespace MWSound
         if (!mMusic || !mMusic->updateFade(duration) || !mOutput->isStreamPlaying(mMusic.get()))
         {
             stopMusic();
-            if (!mNextMusic.empty())
+            if (!mNextMusic.value().empty())
             {
                 streamMusicFull(mNextMusic);
-                mNextMusic.clear();
+                mNextMusic = VFS::Path::Normalized();
             }
         }
         else
@@ -1166,9 +1164,8 @@ namespace MWSound
 
         if (isMainMenu && !isMusicPlaying())
         {
-            std::string titlefile = "music/special/morrowind title.mp3";
-            if (mVFS->exists(titlefile))
-                streamMusic(titlefile, MWSound::MusicType::Special);
+            if (mVFS->exists(MWSound::titleMusic))
+                streamMusic(MWSound::titleMusic, MWSound::MusicType::Special);
         }
 
         updateSounds(duration);
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwsound/soundmanagerimp.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwsound/soundmanagerimp.hpp
index 7fc7c143d5..1ba80f1d73 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwsound/soundmanagerimp.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwsound/soundmanagerimp.hpp
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ namespace MWSound
         std::unordered_map<VFS::Path::Normalized, std::vector<VFS::Path::Normalized>, VFS::Path::Hash, std::equal_to<>>
             mMusicFiles;
         std::unordered_map<std::string, std::vector<int>> mMusicToPlay; // A list with music files not yet played
-        std::string mLastPlayedMusic; // The music file that was last played
+        VFS::Path::Normalized mLastPlayedMusic; // The music file that was last played
 
         WaterSoundUpdater mWaterSoundUpdater;
 
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ namespace MWSound
         Sound* mUnderwaterSound;
         Sound* mNearWaterSound;
 
-        std::string mNextMusic;
+        VFS::Path::Normalized mNextMusic;
         bool mPlaybackPaused;
 
         RegionSoundSelector mRegionSoundSelector;
@@ -125,8 +125,8 @@ namespace MWSound
 
         StreamPtr playVoice(DecoderPtr decoder, const osg::Vec3f& pos, bool playlocal);
 
-        void streamMusicFull(const std::string& filename);
-        void advanceMusic(const std::string& filename, float fadeOut = 1.f);
+        void streamMusicFull(VFS::Path::NormalizedView filename);
+        void advanceMusic(VFS::Path::NormalizedView filename, float fadeOut = 1.f);
         void startRandomTitle();
 
         void cull3DSound(SoundBase* sound);
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ namespace MWSound
         void stopMusic() override;
         ///< Stops music if it's playing
 
-        void streamMusic(const std::string& filename, MWSound::MusicType type, float fade = 1.f) override;
+        void streamMusic(VFS::Path::NormalizedView filename, MWSound::MusicType type, float fade = 1.f) override;
         ///< Play a soundifle
         /// \param filename name of a sound file in the data directory.
         /// \param type music type.
diff --git a/components/misc/resourcehelpers.cpp b/components/misc/resourcehelpers.cpp
index 1eb3800012..d3d75a8176 100644
--- a/components/misc/resourcehelpers.cpp
+++ b/components/misc/resourcehelpers.cpp
@@ -186,11 +186,10 @@ VFS::Path::Normalized Misc::ResourceHelpers::correctSoundPath(VFS::Path::Normali
     return prefix / resPath;
 }
 
-std::string Misc::ResourceHelpers::correctMusicPath(std::string_view resPath)
+VFS::Path::Normalized Misc::ResourceHelpers::correctMusicPath(VFS::Path::NormalizedView resPath)
 {
-    std::string result("music/");
-    result += resPath;
-    return result;
+    static constexpr VFS::Path::NormalizedView prefix("music");
+    return prefix / resPath;
 }
 
 std::string_view Misc::ResourceHelpers::meshPathForESM3(std::string_view resPath)
diff --git a/components/misc/resourcehelpers.hpp b/components/misc/resourcehelpers.hpp
index 4e747c54ee..c0728dc442 100644
--- a/components/misc/resourcehelpers.hpp
+++ b/components/misc/resourcehelpers.hpp
@@ -38,11 +38,11 @@ namespace Misc
         // Adds "meshes\\".
         std::string correctMeshPath(std::string_view resPath);
 
-        // Adds "sound\\".
+        // Prepends "sound/".
         VFS::Path::Normalized correctSoundPath(VFS::Path::NormalizedView resPath);
 
-        // Adds "music\\".
-        std::string correctMusicPath(std::string_view resPath);
+        // Prepends "music/".
+        VFS::Path::Normalized correctMusicPath(VFS::Path::NormalizedView resPath);
 
         // Removes "meshes\\".
         std::string_view meshPathForESM3(std::string_view resPath);