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{{Era|RW}}
{{Title|Music of ''Halo: Combat Evolved''}}
{{Soundtrack infobox
|image=[[File:HaloSoundtrackCover.jpg|300px]]
|release=
|label=
|producer=
|composer=[[Martin O'Donnell]] and [[Michael Salvatori]]
|performance=
;Musicians
*Martin O'Donnell
*Michael Salvatori
*Harry Hmura
*Arnold Roth
*Peter Labella
*Everett Zlatoff-Mirsky
*Elliott Golub
*Nisanne Howell
*Marylou Johnston
*Kevin Case
*Barbara Haffner
*Larry Glazier
*Judy Stone
;Singers
*Martin O'Donnell
*Michael Salvatori
*Robert Bowker
*Jeffrey Morrow
*Rob Trow
|length=
}}
The '''music of ''Halo: Combat Evolved''''' is the musical score to ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''. 

==Overview==
===Initial Stages===
In July of [[1999]], Martin O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori began composition for the ''[[Halo Theme]]''. At the time, O'Donnell and Salvatori were partners at the freelance production company TotalAudio, composing commercial jingles and music for earlier [[Bungie]] games, including ''[[Wikipedia:Myth: The Fallen Lords|Myth: The Fallen Lords]]'', ''[[Wikipedia:Myth II: Soulblighter|Myth II: Soulblighter]]'', and ''[[Wikipedia:Oni (video game)|Oni]]''.{{Ref/Site|D=23|M=6|Y=2021|URL=http://halo.bungie.org/music_archive.html|Site=halo.bungie.org|Page=Halo Music by TotalAudio (audio gurus)}}{{Ref/YouTube|Id=digipen|D=23|M=6|Y=2021|UKG0d3jYe9Q|Martin O'Donnell|Composing Music for Halo, Destiny, and Golem|ArchiveURL=https://archive.org/details/martin-o-donnell/Composing+Music+for+Halo%2C+Destiny%2C+and+Golem.mp4}} 

Director of Cinematics [[Joseph Staten]] approached O'Donnell and Salvatori for a backing track to the [[Halo announcement trailer|''Halo'' MacWorld demo]], five days prior to the presentation. Staten wanted a composition that evoked the game's "ancient, epic and mysterious" atmosphere.{{Ref/Film|Id=RTL|[[Remaking the Legend]]}} With that prompt, O'Donnell drew inspiration from his studies on [[wikipedia:Medieval music|Middle Ages music]] and incorporated phrases of Gregorian chant into the theme.{{Ref/YouTube|Id=aias|oPK81NG5ncE|Academy of Interactive Arts & Science|Halo and Destiny Composer, Marty O'Donnell <nowiki>|</nowiki> The AIAS Game Maker's Notebook}}{{Ref/Reuse|digipen}} The theme was also influenced by the first verse of [[Wikipedia:The Beatles|The Beatles]]' song "[[Wikipedia:Yesterday (Beatles song)|Yesterday]]", which inspired the same four-phrase structure of the Gregorian chant.{{Ref/Site|Id=Beatles|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/03/23/how-the-beatles-influenced-the-halo-theme-|Site=IGN|Page=How The Beatles Influenced the Halo Theme Song}}{{Ref/Reuse|digipen}} In the ''[[Remaking the Legend]]'' documentary, O'Donnell stated that he laid down the core melody of the theme during the half-hour drive to Salvatori's house, which doubled as their studio.{{Ref/Reuse|RTL}} The actual audio was performed by an orchestra composed of six string instruments — four violins and two cellos — and recorded the day before the MacWorld presentation. The ''Halo Theme'' has since become an iconic motif, for the series as well as video game soundtracks as a genre.{{Ref/Reuse|aias}}

===Development===
[[Microsoft]] acquired Bungie after the presentation at MacWorld, in May [[2000]], and the platform for ''Halo'' moved from the PC/Mac to the [[Xbox]]. Adapting to the music implementation system specific to the audio specifications on the Xbox presented significant obstacles to O'Donnell and Salvatori.{{Ref/Reuse|digipen}} The rest of the soundtrack took shape over the course of [[2001]], with O'Donnell specifically citing the time between July and September as a "hellish blur".{{Ref/Site|Id=ancient|D=1|M=3|Y=2007|URL=http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/h/halo/themakers3.htm|Site=Xbox.com|Page=Halo: Combat Evolved - Just the Right Sense of "Ancient"}} 

After Microsoft's acquisition of Bungie, O'Donnell moved to Seattle with the rest of Bungie, as he was under contract with Bungie for ''Oni'' and ''Halo'', while Salvatori remained at Chicago to run TotalAudio.{{Ref/Reuse|aias}} The two sent their music to each other for feedback and suggestions. Different aspects of the ''Halo Theme'', including the Gregorian chant and string melody, would appear in other tracks in the game.{{Ref/Reuse|digipen}} O'Donnel described the style of the soundtrack as "a little [[Wikipedia:Samuel Barber|Samuel Barber]] meets [[Wikipedia:Giorgio Moroder|Giorgio Moroder]]".{{Ref/Reuse|ancient}}

Since a fire had burnt down their studio in 1999, O'Donnell and Salvatori took the opportunity to upgrade to newer equipment, thus enabling the production of music in 5.1 Surround Sound, as well as digital, hard disk based recordings.{{Ref/Site|Id=fragmusic|D=21|M=4|Y=2000|URL=http://www.fragmusic.com/marty.shtml|Site=FragMusic.com|Page=Crank It Up... Take Aim... Fire!}} The soundtracks featured patches and samples from the [[Wikipedia:E-mu Proteus#Proteus 2000|Proteus 2000]] and the [[Wikipedia:Kurzweil Music Systems#K2xxx synthesizers|Kurzweil K2500X]] synthesizers and more.{{Ref/Site|D=21|M=6|Y=2021|URL= https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1D6ul0wsqq1oeqqOqqfx_9V4o7TxN6HvXB8RyHmNHPs4/edit?ts=5e8800a4#gid=0|Site=Google Sheets|Page=Mythic Restoration Project: Halo Patch List}} 

The finalized tracks frequently employed [[Wikipedia:MIDI|MIDI]] recordings, featuring keyboards, synths, and samplers as well as digital recording equipment controlled by computers. Some tracks featured live instrumental performances alongside the MIDI recordings, while other tracks only featured the live performance adapted from the MIDI recordings. The music was then cut and edited into chunks, so that the audio engine could respond dynamically to the player's actions.{{Ref/Reuse|ancient}} O'Donnell and Salvatori worked closely with the level designers in order to match the audio design to points of tension and release within each level. Level designers’ feedback took priority in changes made to the compositions.{{Ref/Reuse|ancient}} 

While working with the level designer of ''[[Assault on the Control Room]]'', O'Donnell included an Easter egg. A track from the ''Myth: The Fallen Lords'' would play if the player reached the top of the [[Control Room (Installation 04)|control room]] structure in the level. This track, titled ''[[Siege of Madrigal]]'', was then featured in the official soundtrack as a bonus track following the Halo Theme. Since then, ''Siege of Madrigal'' became [[Siege of Madrigal##Walkthrough|a recurring Easter egg]] in all of the Bungie ''Halo'' games. 

At one point in development, Joseph Staten wanted to license and play "[[Wikipedia:Paint it Black|Paint it Black]]" by [[Wikipedia:The Rolling Stones|the Rolling Stones]] in the mid-level cinematic of ''[[343 Guilty Spark (level)|343 Guilty Spark]]'', during the Pelican ride with Sergeant [[Avery Johnson]] and the Marines. Ultimately, ''[[Shreddin']]'' was composed specifically for the cinematic and represented the in-universe [[flip music]].{{Ref/Film|Id=Commentary|[[Halo 3 Legendary Edition|''Halo 3'' Legendary Edition]], Halo: Combat Evolved developer commentary}}{{Ref/Site|Id=outtakes1|D=13|M=10|Y=2014|URL=http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?cid=26|Site=Bungie.net|Page=Halo Music Outtakes Part 1}} 

Several tracks did not pass the [[Wikipedia:Sketch|sketch]] phase of composition, while alternate versions of released tracks were cut from the game. These tracks were later made available for download on Bungie.net:{{Ref/Site|Id=cutmusic|D=25|M=10|Y=2020|URL=http://halo.bungie.net/News/Media.aspx?mid=13895&age_verify=1|Site=Bungie.net|Page=Media Player - Halo Music}}
*''Halo Love Theme Sketch'': A variation of the ''Halo Theme'', featuring a solo piano and an alternative ending.
*''Rhythm Sketch Variant'': A high strings variation of the heavy strings from the ''Halo Theme'' melody.
*''String Sketch'': A variation of the ''Halo Theme'', featuring strings.
*''Fast Sketch'': A short sketch featuring the piano.
*''Battle Sketch'': An early version of ''[[Brothers In Arms]]'' featuring the piano.
*''Club'': A sketch that drew inspiration from the music of American rock band [[wikipedia:Devo|Devo]], which used synthesizers.{{Ref/Site|Id=outtakes2|URL=https://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=28|Site=Bungie.net|Page=Halo Music Outtakes Part 2: 6/26/2002 3:12 AM PDT|D=7|M=2|Y=2021}} The track was arranged into ''[[How to Get Ahead in War]]'' for ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''.
*''Seriously'': A slow percussive beat joined by horns playing the bass melody of ''[[The Gun Pointed at the Head of the Universe]]''.
*''What?'': The ''Halo Theme'' accompanied by slow beats.
*''Tron'': A sketch that was inspired by 1980s [[Wikipedia:Electronica|electronica]].{{Ref/Site|D=26|M=1|Y=2021|URL=http://halo.bungie.net/Silverlight/mediaviewer/playlists/audio_music.xml|Site=Bungie.net|Page=Halo (Xbox) Soundtrack and Music - audio_music.xml}} The synth melody in the second half was repurposed for the second half of the "reveal theme" from ''[[Truth and Reconciliation Suite]]'', while the track itself was arranged into ''[[Heretic Machine]]'' for ''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary''.

===Influence on the franchise===
Martin O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori continued to reference the motifs from '' Halo Theme'' in other tracks in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' and further compositions for the franchise. O'Donnell refers to this approach as creating "emotional equity", a sense of familiarity felt whenever themes are being repurposed, remixed, and reused throughout the series.{{Ref/YouTube|0zG18XfsnvI|The Act Man|A LEGENDARY Interview with Martin O'Donnell (Composer From Bungie, Halo, Destiny)}} This tradition extended to future composers in the franchise; for example, the space theme from ''[[Opening Suite]]'' appears in ''[[Halo 2]]'', ''[[Halo Legends]]'', ''[[Halo: Reach]]'', ''[[Halo 4]]'', and ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'', all of which featured the motif being used as a backing track for a scene set in outer space.

The iconic ''Halo Theme'' would appear in every piece of ''Halo'' media. While only a few tracks other than the ''Halo Theme'' were given new renditions in ''Halo 2'', many more pieces from ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' reappeared in ''[[Halo 3]]''. For the remastered release of ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]'', the original soundtrack was [[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary Original Soundtrack|rearranged and reorchestrated in its entirety]]. 

===Performer credits===
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
====Musicians====
*Martin O'Donnell
*Michael Salvatori
*Harry Hmura
*Arnold Roth
*Peter Labella
*Everett Zlatoff-Mirsky
*Elliott Golub
*Nisanne Howell
*Marylou Johnston
*Kevin Case
*Barbara Haffner
*Larry Glazier
*Judy Stone
{{col-2}}
====Singers====
*Martin O'Donnell
*Michael Salvatori
*Robert Bowker
*Jeffrey Morrow
*Rob Trow
{{col-end}}

==Official Soundtrack==
===Myth: Total Soundtrack===
In [[1999]], the ''Myth: Total Soundtrack'' was released. Although the album was intended to be a compilation of the soundtracks of ''Myth: The Fallen Lords'' and ''Myth II: Soulblighter'', the fortieth and final bonus track in the album was the ''Halo Theme'' from the E3 1999 trailer.

===2002 Release===
{{Main|Halo: Original Soundtrack}}
In an interview held after the release of the ''Halo'' [[Electronic Entertainment Expo|E3]] [[2000]] [[Halo E3 2000 trailer|trailer]], Martin O'Donnell expressed interest in the soundtrack being sold.{{Ref/Site|D=21|M=6|Y=2000|URL=http://www.3dactionplanet.com/halo/features/interviews/marty.shtml|Site=3D Action Planet|Page=Battleground: Halo}} After the game's release, O'Donnell was approached by [[Wikipedia:Nile Rodgers|Nile Rodgers]] who founded the recording label [[Wikipedia:Sumthing Distribution|Sumthing Else Music Works]] for distributing video game soundtracks.{{Ref/Reuse|RTL}} The official soundtrack featured all of the music from the game, except for the track that would be known as ''[[The Lost Song]]'', which was later released on Bungie.net with music cut from the game.{{Ref/Reuse|cutmusic}}

===2003 Special Edition===
{{Main|Halo: Original Soundtrack#2003 Special Edition Bonus DVD Content}}
After the ''[[Halo 2]]'' [[Halo 2 E3 demo|E3 demo]], a special edition of the soundtrack was released with bonus features on the ''Halo 2'' demo, including previews of two ''Halo 2'' soundtracks, ''[[The Last Spartan]]'' and ''[[Ghosts of Reach]]''.

===Halo Trilogy: The Complete Original Soundtracks===
{{Main|Halo Trilogy: The Complete Original Soundtracks}}
In [[2008]], after the release of ''[[Halo 3]]'', a box set was released, featuring the ''Halo: Original Soundtrack'', the ''[[Halo 2: Original Soundtrack#Volume 2|Halo 2: Original Soundtrack, Volume 2]]'', and the ''[[Halo 3: Original Soundtrack]]''.

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