Editing Halo 2: Original Soundtrack

{{Title|''Halo 2: Original Soundtrack''}}
{{Status|RealWorld}}
{{References}}
{{Soundtrack infobox
|image=<choose><option>[[File:Halo2-Volume1-OriginalSoundtrack.jpg|300px|Cover Art, Volume 1.]]</option><option>[[File:Halo2Soundtrack2.jpg|300px|Cover Art, Volume 2.]]</option></choose>
|release=
|label=Sumthing Else Musicworks
|producer=[[Martin O'Donnell]] and [[Michael Salvatori]]
|composer=Martin O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori
|performance=Martin O'Donnell, Michael Salvatori, [[Steve Vai]], Breaking Benjamin, [[Incubus]], Hoobastank, Nile Rodgers, Nataraj, Daniel Estrin
|length= 138:08
}}

The '''''Halo 2: Original Soundtrack''''' is the musical score for ''[[Halo 2]]''. it was composed and produced by [[Martin O'Donnell]] and [[Michael Salvatori]], with a few tracks by [[Incubus]].

==Production==
While the ''[[Halo: Original Soundtrack]]'' was released in a single album, the ''Halo 2: Original Soundtrack'' was split into two volumes, which were released almost two years apart. Volume One was released on November 9, 2004 and Volume Two was released on April 25, 2006. Rather than keep the medley form from the ''Halo: Original Soundtrack'', the ''Halo 2: Original Soundtrack'' focused more on suites with different chapters, similar to movements in a symphony. Unlike the ''Halo: Original Soundtrack'', the ''Halo 2: Original Soundtrack'' focuses more on heavy guitar riffs and beats as evident in the redesigned Halo Theme Mjolnir Mix. As such, O'Donnell brought in several bands and guitarists (such as Incubus and Breaking Benjamin) to help compose some of the music.

Volume 2 of the soundtrack differs greatly from Volume 1 in the presentation and form of the music. While Volume 1 is made up in a "movement" form, Volume 2 focuses heavily on suites. As stated on the Volume 2 inlay card, Martin O'Donnell details why he chose to use this structure: "I decided to use a 'suite' structure that corresponds to the chapters within the game. In a sense, by listening to this soundtrack, you will hear the musical representation of the story of ''[[Halo 2]]''."

[[Halo 2: Anniversary Original Soundtrack|A remastered soundtrack]] of the ''Halo 2: Original Soundtrack'' was re-recorded and produced by [[Skywalker Sound]] and released on [[2014|November 11, 2014]] for ''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''.<ref name="ign">[http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/10/13/listen-to-the-halo-2-anniversary-soundtrack-right-now '''IGN.com''': ''Listen to the Halo 2: Anniversary Soundtrack Right Now - IGN First'']</ref>

==Track listing==
===Volume 1===
#[[Halo Theme MJOLNIR Mix|Halo Theme Mjolnir Mix]] – 4:11
#[[Blow Me Away]] – 3:25
#[[Peril]] – 2:46
#[[Ghosts of Reach]] – 2:21
#[[The Odyssey|Follow (1st Movement of The Odyssey)]] – 4:15
#[[Heretic, Hero]] – 2:34
#[[Flawed Legacy]] – 1:58
#[[Impend]] – 2:21
#[[Never Surrender]] – 3:35
#[[Ancient Machine]] – 1:39
#[[The Odyssey|2nd Movement of The Odyssey]] – 7:40
#[[In Amber Clad (music)|In Amber Clad]] – 1:38
#[[The Last Spartan]] – 2:18
#[[Orbit of Glass]] – 1:17
#[[The Odyssey#3rd Movement of the Odyssey|3rd Movement of The Odyssey]] – 6:40
#[[Heavy Price Paid]] – 2:31
#[[Earth City]] – 3:06
#[[High Charity (music)|High Charity]] – 1:59
#[[The Odyssey#4th Movement of the Odyssey|4th Movement of The Odyssey]] – 9:06
#[[Remembrance]] – 1:17
#[[Connected]] – 2:39

===Volume 2===
#[[Prologue (music)|Prologue]] – 2:36 
#[[Cairo Suite]] – 9:42
#[[Mombasa Suite]] – 6:42
#[[Unyielding]] – 3:05
#[[Mausoleum Suite]] – 8:12
#[[Unforgotten]] – 2:11
#[[Delta Halo Suite]] – 11:27
#[[Sacred Icon Suite]] – 7:27
#[[Reclaimer (music)|Reclaimer]] – 3:05
#[[High Charity Suite]] – 8:29
#[[Finale (Halo 2)|Finale]] – 3:11
#[[Epilogue (Halo 2)|Epilogue]] – 3:49

==Covenant scripture==
Contained within the booklet inserts for both volumes of the OST are some sections of [[Covenant]] scripture. Volume 1 included an excerpt from the [[Writ of Union]], originally cut from ''Halo 2'' itself and also featured in ''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]'', while Volume 2 contains an excerpt from the [[Ratification Parley]].
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
;Volume 1 excerpt
{{Quote|So full of hate were our eyes<br />:That none of us could see<br />Our war would yield countless dead<br />:But never victory<br />So let us cast arms aside<br />:And like discard our wrath<br />Thou, in faith, will keep us safe<br />:Whilst we find the path|[[High Council of Concordance]],<br /> [[Ages_of_Reconciliation#852_BCE:_The_First_Age_of_Reconciliation|First Age of Reconciliation]]}}
{{Col-2}}
;Volume 2 except
{{Quote|What hope has this [[Covenant|alliance]]<br />If we cannot conquer<br />Doubt of faith not each other—<br />If our belief should falter?<br />But put an ear to the stones<br />Of this [[High Charity|Holy City]]<br />Inside Their voices echo still:<br />"[[Seven]] rings begin The Journey!"|Excerpt, Ratification Parley<br/>[[High Council of Concordance]]}}
{{Col-end}}

== Trivia ==
*When played in [[Reversed Messages|reverse]], Destroyer's Invocation from [[Mausoleum Suite]] on Volume 2 plays a cryptic message.
*''Halo 2'' has the most unreleased music of all of the Halo soundtracks.

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Halo2-Volume1-OriginalSoundtrack.jpg|Cover art, Volume 1.
File:Halo2Soundtrack2.jpg|Cover art, Volume 2.
</gallery>

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}

{{Soundtrack}}

[[Category:Halo 2 OST| ]]