Atonement
From Halopedia, the Halo wiki
| Atonement | |
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Album: |
Halo 4: Original Soundtrack Volume 2 |
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Composer(s): |
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Length: |
3:16 |
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Atonement is the first track on Volume 2 of the Halo 4: Original Soundtrack.
The song is written in Dorian A. It ends with the first five notes of One Final Effort. This ending is later reused in Blue Team from the Halo 5: Guardians Original Soundtrack.
Overview[edit]
The score begins with a haunting solo female vocalise, using wovel sounds like 'Ee' and 'Ah', characterized by heavy reverb and a slow, melancholic melody, establishing a mysterious and spacious atmosphere. This gradually builds in intensity and texture as, around 0:55, multiple layers are introduced such as accompanying string, creating a richer, choir-like sound that feels both ethereal and majestis as it builds up and reaches a crescendo before quickly fading away, leaving the track in a poignant silence.
In the silence, ambient, low, sustained and synthesized pads or low strings enter first, giving it a sense of reflection. Then, more distinct orchestral strings emerge, sometimes doubling or echoing the vocal lines. Slowly, the orchestra takes prominence. Strings swell, creating broad, sweeping gestures. Hints of brass or woodwinds might be subtly layered in to add richness and power, though strings dominate. They all lead to a significant crescendo that leads to a powerful climax/fortissimo around 2:55, reaching a conclusion with a sense of hope, though unease lingers. Much like the vocals, it quickly fades into silence although the track still retains a sense of atmosphere, not quite resolved yet.
Piano notes are introduced, subdued, though enough to break the unease of the processed atmospheric sounds. It recalls the first five notes of One Final Effort. Unlike the original, these notes are more subdued and have a larger interval, giving them a sense of ambiguity. The atmosphere fades away after the Piano, resolving, though not quite, the track with a weight and sense of reflection, almost like 'was everything... worth it?' yet ultimately a hint of hope amidst the ambiguity.
Composition[edit]
Appearances[edit]
This soundtrack can be heard:
- In the Halo 4 main menu.
- In the Halo 4 level Reclaimer, when the Librarian's imprint tells John-117 the story of the Forerunners, the ancient humans, and the Composer.
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