Editing Nightfall (music)

{{Era|RW}}
{{Title|Nightfall}}
{{disambig header|the soundtrack|the level of the same name|Nightfall}}
{{Music infobox
 | name       = Nightfall
 | yt      = Jkh-2OLG1yk
 | album      = ''[[Halo: Reach Original Soundtrack]]''
 | composer   =
*[[Martin O'Donnell]] and [[Michael Salvatori]]
*Martin O'Donnell, Michael Salvatori, and [[C. Paul Johnson]] {{C|''Personnel Issues'' & ''Howling Dark''}}
*Martin O'Donnell, Michael Salvatori, and [[Stan LePard]] {{C|''Keeping What I Steal''}}
 | length     = 5:40
 | last       = [[ONI: Sword Base (music)|ONI: Sword Base]]
 | next       = [[Tip of the Spear (music)|Tip of the Spear]]
 }}

'''Nightfall''' is the fourth track (Disc 1 Track 4) included in ''[[Halo: Reach Original Soundtrack]]'', and plays mainly in the ''[[Halo: Reach]]'' campaign level ''[[Nightfall]]''. It is composed of ''Recon'' (0:00-1:05), ''Searchlights'' (1:05-2:02), ''Personnel Issues'' (2:02-2:56), ''Keeping What I Steal'' (2:56-3:56), ''Howling Dark'' (3:56-4:41) and ''At Dawn'' (4:41-5:40).

==Overview==
===Recon===
''Recon'' (1:05) is eerie ambiance, featuring digital effects with a faint vocal singing the melody of the later track ''[[Ashes]]''. The piece plays in the opening cinematic of the level, then continues into the gameplay sequence afterwards.

===Searchlights===
''Searchlights'' (0:57) uses vocals, harp, and synth effects for eerie ambiance. The piece first plays in the level ''[[Long Night of Solace (level)|Long Night of Solace]]'', when the Pelican arrives onboard ''[[Ardent Prayer]]''. It plays again in the later level ''[[The Package]]'', in the cinematic in which [[NOBLE Team]] enters the hidden entrance within [[SWORD Base]].

===Personnel Issues===
''Personnel Issues'' (0:54) opens with high tempo muted percussion with additional synth effects. The piece plays when Jun-A266 and Noble Six encounter a pair of [[Gúta]].

===Keeping What I Steal===
''Keeping What I Steal'' (1:01) opens with soft bass and strings playing a soft melody with piano accompaniments. The piece plays when Jun and Six first encounters members of [[Reach militia]].

===Howling Dark===
''Howling Dark'' (0:45) is a reprise of ''Free Fire Zone'' (from the earlier track ''[[Winter Contingency (music)|Winter Contingency]]''), albeit with louder percussion. The piece plays when the second wave of Covenant attack after Jun and Six link up with the militiamen.

===At Dawn===
''At Dawn'' (0:59) opens with brass and strings playing a single note in ambiance, it transitions into strings playing rising cues. The piece plays at the end of the level, after clearing the Covenant from the canyon, and continues into the ending cinematic.

==Production notes==
*The vocal in the background of ''Recon'' was sung by Martin O'Donnell, and he gave the part the name ''spooky_kid_vox''. O'Donnell used format shifting on a harmonizer and shifted his voice to resemble that of a "creepy boy soprano".{{Ref/YouTube|sbhGh5lGU58|Martin O'Donnell|Reach Music Inception Pt 2|Y=2020|M=11|D=2}}
*The name ''Recon'' alludes to the reconnaissance mission being conducted by [[Recon Team Bravo]].
*The name ''Searchlights'' references the searchlights on [[Type-52 Phantom]]s seen throughout the level.
*The name ''Personnel Issues'' alludes to the presence of militia members in the area despite civilians being evacuated from the area.
*The name ''Keeping What I Steal'' alludes to the player using [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] weapons stolen by the local militia. The name is also a reference to [[Cortana]]'s quote in the ''[[Halo 3]]'' level ''[[The Covenant (level)|The Covenant]]'',  "I keep what I steal." The quote was also the namesake for the track ''[[Keep What You Steal]]'' in the ''[[Halo 3: Original Soundtrack]]''.
*The name ''Howling Dark'' may be a reference to the speech made by [[Terrence Hood|Lord Hood]] at the [[Voi Memorial]] in [[Halo (Halo 3 level)#Eulogy|the ending]] of ''Halo 3'', "But let us never forget those who journeyed into the howling dark..." The quote was also the namesake for the achievement ''[[Into the Howling Dark]]'' in ''Halo: Reach'' and ''[[Halo: The Master Chief Collection]]''.

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

{{Soundtrack|HR}}