Real World

New Alexandria (music): Difference between revisions

From Halopedia, the Halo wiki

mNo edit summary
m (→‎Crown Jewel: Shade turret links, replaced: Type-26 Shade → {{Pattern|Rizsheda|Shade}})
 
(16 intermediate revisions by 9 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Era|RW}}
{{Status|RealWorld}}
{{Infobox song
{{Title|New Alexandria}}
{{disambig header|the soundtrack|other uses|New Alexandria (disambiguation)}}
{{Music infobox
  | name      = New Alexandria
  | name      = New Alexandria
  | video     = <youtube width="200" height="25">nrQkfzgiwnc</youtube>
  | yt     = -Y3f4ljHR9M
  | album      = [[Halo: Reach Original Soundtrack]]
  | album      = ''[[Halo: Reach Original Soundtrack]]''
  | composer  = [[Martin O'Donnell]] and [[Michael Salvatori]]
  | composer  = *[[Martin O'Donnell]] and [[Michael Salvatori]]
  | length    = 8:42
*Martin O'Donnell, Michael Salvatori, and [[Stan LePard]] {{C|''Triage'', ''Whirling Dervish'', & ''Crown Jewel''}}
  | length    = 8:41
  | last      = [[Exodus (music)|Exodus]]
  | last      = [[Exodus (music)|Exodus]]
  | next      = [[The Package (music)|The Package]]
  | next      = [[The Package (music)|The Package]]
  }}
  }}


'''New Alexandria''' is eighth track heard on the [[Halo: Reach Original Soundtrack]].
'''New Alexandria''' is the eighth track (Disc 2 Track 1) included in ''[[Halo: Reach Original Soundtrack]]'', and plays mainly in the ''[[Halo: Reach]]'' campaign level ''[[New Alexandria]]''. It is composed of ''Wing and a Prayer'' (0:00-1:38), ''Fall from Grace'' (1:38-2:41), ''Triage'' (2:41-3:22), ''War Machine'' (3:22-4:56), ''Whirling Dervish'' (4:56-5:54), ''Crown Jewel'' (5:54-7:08), and ''Reflection'' (7:08-8:41).


==Appearances==
==Overview==
The song is heard in the opening cinematic and throughout the eighth campaign level in ''[[Halo: Reach]]'', [[New Alexandria]]. Parts of Whirling Dervish play in various [[Invasion]] scenarios at the start of a new phase.
===Wing and a Prayer===
''Wing and a Prayer'' (1:38) is a shortened and strings-only version of ''Hymn for Reach'' (from the later track ''[[Epilogue (Halo: Reach)|Epilogue]]''), ending with a male choir transition into next piece ''Fall from Grace''. The piece plays in the opening cinematic, with the final phrase leading into the campaign level's opening gameplay moments.


===Additional information===
===Fall from Grace===
*Wing and a Prayer: 1:38
''Fall from Grace'' (1:03) features a somber ambience on brass and accompanied by male choir. Strings join in, playing ambiance together before ending together on a single note. The piece plays in the level's opening gameplay sequence.
*Fall from Grace: 1:03
*Triage: 0:41
*War Machine: 1:34
*Whirling Dervish: 0:58
*Crown Jewel: 1:14
*Reflection: 1:31


==Trivia==
===Triage===
*The song is the first track on the second disc of the Halo: Reach Original Soundtrack.
''Triage'' (0:41) is a shortened and lighter version of ''Keeping What I Steal'' (from the earlier track ''[[Nightfall (music)|Nightfall]]''), featuring a more prominent synth section and crisper piano accompaniments. The piece plays when [[SPARTAN-B312|Noble Six]] enters the lower floor of [[New Alexandria Hospital]].
*The track "Crown Jewel" bears some resemblence to the track "Orbital Drop Shock Trooper" in Halo 3: ODST.
 
*The track "War Machine" bears some resemblence to the track "Destroyer's Invocation", part of "[[Mausoleum Suite]]", in Halo 2.
===War Machine===
*Overall the whole song bears resemblence to Halo 3: ODST's soundtrack, appropiate since the level itself is similar to ODST in mood, design and setting.
''War Machine'' (1:34) opens with synth effects (first heard in ''Aim to Please'' from the earlier track ''[[ONI: Sword Base (music)|ONI: Sword Base]]''), resembling the opening of ''Destroyer's Invocation'' (from ''[[Mausoleum Suite]]'' in ''[[Halo 2: Original Soundtrack]]''). Male choir join in with a dissonant melody, quickly joined by low strings and brass. The synth effects fade out, allowing the strings, brass, and choir to end together. The piece plays when Noble Six lands at [[SinoViet Center]], with the male choir section playing after Six deactivates the [[Covenant communications jammer]] within.
 
===Whirling Dervish===
''Whirling Dervish'' (0:58) features low strings and electronic synth notes, joined by heavy percussive beats. Male choir and brass soon fade in, and the main melody ends abruptly, and the piece ends with ambience by brass and choir. The piece plays when Noble Six arrives at [[Club Errera]] in [[Vyrant Telecom Tower]], with the male choir section playing after Six deactivates the Covenant comm jammer within. The piece also plays briefly in [[Invasion]] [[multiplayer]] games, whenever Spartans enter the second phase and when they win the round.
 
===Crown Jewel===
''Crown Jewel'' (1:14) features a suspenseful melody by low strings, brass, and tribal percussion. The melody builds up slowly before entering high tempo and ends abruptly. The piece plays when Noble Six destroys the {{Pattern|Rizsheda|Shade}}s around [[Olympic Tower]].
 
===Reflection===
''Reflection'' (1:33) cuts in with first theme of ''Ashes'' on a piano solo, then joined by strings for the second theme. The piece plays in the ending cutscene, after [[Catherine-B320]] is shot by a {{Pattern|Gadulo|needle rifle}}.
 
==Production notes==
*The name ''Wing and a Prayer'' is derived from the idiom "on a wing and a prayer", likely alluding to the diminishing efforts of the UNSC during [[Siege of New Alexandria]] and, by extension, the [[Fall of Reach]].
*The name ''Triage'' alludes to the New Alexandria Hospital.
*''Whirling Dervish'' is named after the nickname of the [[wikipedia:Mevlevi Order|Mevlevi Order]], the members of which are known to practice whirling dance as a form of Islamic devotional act. The name likely alludes to the presence of the Covenant, a theocratic hegemony, inside a night club.
*The name ''Crown Jewel'' is derived from [[Jun-A266]]'s description of [[New Alexandria (location)|New Alexandria]] in the ending cinematic.
*The name ''Reflection'' likely alludes to the [[Glassing|glassed]] city in the ending cinematic.
*Similar to the campaign level itself being a homage to ''[[Halo 3: ODST]]'', the soundtrack features music similar to the ''[[Halo 3: ODST Original Soundtrack]]'', especially in the use of brass instruments in accompaniment with strings. Furthermore, ''On the Prowl'' (from the track ''[[The Menagerie]]'' in ''Halo 3: ODST Original Soundtrack'') plays in the level when Noble Six escorts [[Gunnery Sergeant]] [[Edward Buck]].


{{Soundtrack|HR}}
{{Soundtrack|HR}}

Latest revision as of 13:39, October 5, 2022

This article is about the soundtrack. For other uses, see New Alexandria (disambiguation).
New Alexandria

Album:

Halo: Reach Original Soundtrack

Composer(s):

Length:

8:41

Previous:

Exodus

Next:

The Package

 

New Alexandria is the eighth track (Disc 2 Track 1) included in Halo: Reach Original Soundtrack, and plays mainly in the Halo: Reach campaign level New Alexandria. It is composed of Wing and a Prayer (0:00-1:38), Fall from Grace (1:38-2:41), Triage (2:41-3:22), War Machine (3:22-4:56), Whirling Dervish (4:56-5:54), Crown Jewel (5:54-7:08), and Reflection (7:08-8:41).

Overview[edit]

Wing and a Prayer[edit]

Wing and a Prayer (1:38) is a shortened and strings-only version of Hymn for Reach (from the later track Epilogue), ending with a male choir transition into next piece Fall from Grace. The piece plays in the opening cinematic, with the final phrase leading into the campaign level's opening gameplay moments.

Fall from Grace[edit]

Fall from Grace (1:03) features a somber ambience on brass and accompanied by male choir. Strings join in, playing ambiance together before ending together on a single note. The piece plays in the level's opening gameplay sequence.

Triage[edit]

Triage (0:41) is a shortened and lighter version of Keeping What I Steal (from the earlier track Nightfall), featuring a more prominent synth section and crisper piano accompaniments. The piece plays when Noble Six enters the lower floor of New Alexandria Hospital.

War Machine[edit]

War Machine (1:34) opens with synth effects (first heard in Aim to Please from the earlier track ONI: Sword Base), resembling the opening of Destroyer's Invocation (from Mausoleum Suite in Halo 2: Original Soundtrack). Male choir join in with a dissonant melody, quickly joined by low strings and brass. The synth effects fade out, allowing the strings, brass, and choir to end together. The piece plays when Noble Six lands at SinoViet Center, with the male choir section playing after Six deactivates the Covenant communications jammer within.

Whirling Dervish[edit]

Whirling Dervish (0:58) features low strings and electronic synth notes, joined by heavy percussive beats. Male choir and brass soon fade in, and the main melody ends abruptly, and the piece ends with ambience by brass and choir. The piece plays when Noble Six arrives at Club Errera in Vyrant Telecom Tower, with the male choir section playing after Six deactivates the Covenant comm jammer within. The piece also plays briefly in Invasion multiplayer games, whenever Spartans enter the second phase and when they win the round.

Crown Jewel[edit]

Crown Jewel (1:14) features a suspenseful melody by low strings, brass, and tribal percussion. The melody builds up slowly before entering high tempo and ends abruptly. The piece plays when Noble Six destroys the Rizsheda-pattern Shades around Olympic Tower.

Reflection[edit]

Reflection (1:33) cuts in with first theme of Ashes on a piano solo, then joined by strings for the second theme. The piece plays in the ending cutscene, after Catherine-B320 is shot by a Gadulo-pattern needle rifle.

Production notes[edit]

  • The name Wing and a Prayer is derived from the idiom "on a wing and a prayer", likely alluding to the diminishing efforts of the UNSC during Siege of New Alexandria and, by extension, the Fall of Reach.
  • The name Triage alludes to the New Alexandria Hospital.
  • Whirling Dervish is named after the nickname of the Mevlevi Order, the members of which are known to practice whirling dance as a form of Islamic devotional act. The name likely alludes to the presence of the Covenant, a theocratic hegemony, inside a night club.
  • The name Crown Jewel is derived from Jun-A266's description of New Alexandria in the ending cinematic.
  • The name Reflection likely alludes to the glassed city in the ending cinematic.
  • Similar to the campaign level itself being a homage to Halo 3: ODST, the soundtrack features music similar to the Halo 3: ODST Original Soundtrack, especially in the use of brass instruments in accompaniment with strings. Furthermore, On the Prowl (from the track The Menagerie in Halo 3: ODST Original Soundtrack) plays in the level when Noble Six escorts Gunnery Sergeant Edward Buck.