Editing Tip of the Spear (music)

{{Title|Tip of the Spear}}
{{Era|RW}}
{{disambig header|the soundtrack|the level of the same name|Tip of the Spear}}
{{Music infobox
 | name       = Tip of the Spear
 | yt      = 9PBtHDy-FU4
 | album      = ''[[Halo: Reach Original Soundtrack]]''
 | composer   = 
*[[Martin O'Donnell]] and [[Michael Salvatori]] {{C|''Unreconciled''}}
*Martin O'Donnell, Michael Salvatori, and [[Stan LePard]] {{C|''Any Means Necessary'', ''Eyes on the Prize'', & ''Breaking Point''}}
 | length     = 6:05
 | last       = [[Nightfall (music)|Nightfall]]
 | next       = [[Long Night of Solace (music)|Long Night of Solace]]
 }}

'''Tip of the Spear''' is the fifth track (Disc 1 Track 5) included in ''[[Halo: Reach Original Soundtrack]]'', and plays mainly in the ''[[Halo: Reach]]'' campaign level ''[[Tip of the Spear]]''. It is composed of ''Unreconciled'' (0:00-3:09), ''Any Means Necessary'' (3:09-3:59), ''Eyes on the Prize'' (3:59-5:11), and ''Breaking Point'' (5:11-6:05).

==Overview==
===Unreconciled===
''Unreconciled'' (3:09) opens with low strings invoking the triplet rhythms from the Halo Theme. High strings join in, building up to a triplet rhythm, accompanied by percussion. High strings transition into the main melody, slowing down briefly before entering a trembling solo. Percussion returns, followed by low strings and chorus singing the Halo Gregorian chant, and then the melody of high strings from the second section of ''[[Truth and Reconciliation Suite]]'' (from ''[[Halo: Original Soundtrack]]''). Low strings continue, accompanied by high strings playing the melody. Together the two build up to a climatic ending in which all instruments played the triplet rhythm of the Halo theme, ending with a single note. The first section plays in the opening cinematic of the level Tip of the Spear. A percussion-only version plays when [[SPARTAN-B312|Noble Six]] commandeers the [[M12R Rocket Warthog]] and drives to the first {{Pattern|Cheru|Tyrant}}. A strings-only version with low percussion plays when [[Jorge-052]] and Noble Six ride the [[UH-144 Falcon]] to [[Spire One]]. The first section plays again in the opening cinematic of the level ''[[The Pillar of Autumn (Halo: Reach level)|The Pillar of Autumn]]''. The piece plays in full during the [[Halo: Reach credits|credits]] of ''Halo: Reach''.

===Any Means Necessary===
''Any Means Necessary'' (0:50) features synth notes and digital effects, accompanied by percussion which takes over for the second half. The piece plays when Noble Six moves southwards after destroying the first Tyrant.

===Eyes on the Prize===
''Eyes on the Prize'' (1:12) opens with ambient synth, joined by percussion and brass. It ends with synth notes. A version without percussion plays when Noble Six arrives at the [[BXR Mining Corporation|BXR]] mining facility. The full version plays when Noble Six attacks the second Tyrant.

===Breaking Point===
''Breaking Point'' (0:54) features low tempo, heavy percussive beats. It fades out for an ending. The piece plays when Noble Six enters Spire One.

==Production notes==
*''Unreconciled'' was composed as a "big heroic piece". O'Donnell maintained the use of major, minor, and atonal harmonies from the music in the ''Halo'' trilogy, but also incorporated [[wikipedia:Phrygian mode|Phrygian mode]] into its melody, particularly using the notes G-A♭-G-F-G (1-2-1-7-1 on the key of G) from the scale as the signature motif for ''Halo: Reach''. During its initial composition on the piano, O'Donnell struggled to find an ending for the piece until during an attempt titled ''"Unreconciled2"''.{{Ref/YouTube|QYE02nTHKdU|Martin O'Donnell|Reach Music Inception Pt1|Y=2020|M=11|D=4}}
*Structurally, ''Unreconciled'' bears resemblance to ''Orbital Drop Shock Trooper'', a piece from ''[[Finale (Halo 3: ODST)|Finale]]'' in the ''[[Halo 3: ODST Original Soundtrack]]''. 
**Both pieces start with strong melodies. Usually it is a theme already played from the soundtrack, or reminiscences from the other soundtracks. 
**The pieces relax toward the middle, and the climax is based on other music from the ''Halo'' series, including the ''Halo Theme'' and the arpeggios in ''Truth and Reconciliation Suite'' in ''Unreconciled'', and the alto saxophone theme most evident in  ''[[Overture]]'', Rain (from ''[[Deference for Darkness]]'') , and Street Sweeper (from ''[[Traffic Jam]]'') in ''Halo 3: ODST Original Soundtrack''. 
**Finally, as the piece end, a modified version of its opening plays again, both pieces have piano arpeggios at this section, and the music finally closes to a big finale.
*The name ''Unreconciled'' is a reference to the track ''Truth and Reconciliation Suite''.{{Ref/YouTube|FTQwXVgNHLo|Bungie|Halo: Reach Campaign Preview|Y=2020|M=11|D=4}} It likely also alludes to [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] forces and the [[Covenant]] forces being "unreconciled". Incidentally, the similarly-named piece ''Reconciled'' (from ''[[Behold a Pale Horse]]'' in ''Halo 3: Original soundtrack'') is a rearrangement of the first section of ''Truth and Reconciliation Suite''.
*The names ''Any Means Necessary'' and ''Eyes on the Prize'' are direct quotes from [[Carter-A259]] during the level.{{Ref/Level|Game=Halo: Reach|Level=[[Tip of the Spear]]}}

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

{{Soundtrack|HR}}