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{{Quote|'''Duh-duh-duh-daaaaaah! Duh-duh-duh-daaaaah!''' It would be a real toe tapper... if I had some. You must listen to [[Marty O'Donnell]], he's quite the genius! He da man!|[[Tim Dadabo]] jokingly acting as [[343 Guilty Spark]], commenting on the Halo Theme and its composition.{{Ref/YouTube|bebfm7beKmM | {{Quote|'''Duh-duh-duh-daaaaaah! Duh-duh-duh-daaaaah!''' It would be a real toe tapper... if I had some. You must listen to [[Martin O'Donnell|Marty O'Donnell]], he's quite the genius! He da man!|[[Tim Dadabo]] jokingly acting as [[343 Guilty Spark]], commenting on the Halo Theme and its composition.{{Ref/YouTube|bebfm7beKmM|Mike W|Original Halo Voice Outtakes|Time=857}}}} | ||
[[File:Halo chant.png | [[File:Halo chant.png|thumb|380px|The chant from beginning of the Halo Theme.]] | ||
The '''Halo Theme''' is the staple music of the [[Halo universe|''Halo'' series]]. | The '''Halo Theme''' is the staple music of the [[Halo universe|''Halo'' series]]. | ||
It is characterized by its opening [[Wikipedia:Gregorian chant|Gregorian chant]], a tribal percussion section, and a low strings section. The low strings section featured a series of triplet rhythms, in which each triplet was followed by the melody leaping upwards by an octave, a ninth, a tenth, and finally an eleventh, before restarting at an octave. The complete theme features high strings playing a high-tempo melody which repeats in variations. | It is characterized by its opening [[Wikipedia:Gregorian chant|Gregorian chant]], a tribal percussion section, and a low strings section. The low strings section featured a series of triplet rhythms, in which each triplet was followed by the melody leaping upwards by an octave, a ninth, a tenth, and finally an eleventh, before restarting at an octave. The complete theme features high strings playing a high-tempo melody which repeats in variations. | ||
==Composition== | |||
The song is set in the key of E Dorian, with two sharps: F and C. The first part of the song is a choir chant which is repeated at the end, and this is set to a beat of 4-4, with the middle section featuring string instruments and percussion; this is set to a beat of 12-8 and is significantly faster than the choir chant. As for the tempo, the starting choir is set to 95 bpm (beats per minute), while the middle section speeds up to 120, before the ending choir chant which settles back to 95. | |||
==History== | ==History== | ||
[[Martin O'Donnell]] and [[Michael Salvatori]] composed the ''Halo Theme'' over the course of three days in July of 1999. O'Donnell was asked by [[Joseph Staten]] on a Thursday to compose a soundtrack for the then-upcoming [[Halo announcement trailer|''Halo'' MacWorld premiere demo]] on the following Tuesday. However, the music would need to be first recorded and shown internally within Bungie on Monday — the same day Bungie representatives would board the flight to New York for the presentation on the following day. | |||
{{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/YouTube|Id=aias|oPK81NG5ncE|Academy of Interactive Arts & Science|Halo and Destiny Composer, Marty O'Donnell <nowiki>|</nowiki> The AIAS Game Maker's Notebook}} | ||
Staten told O'Donnell that the theme needed to evoke the game's "ancient, epic and mysterious" atmosphere. To best convey this impression, O'Donnell drew inspiration from his studies on [[wikipedia:Medieval music|Middle Ages music]] and decided to incorporate | Staten told O'Donnell that the theme needed to evoke the game's "ancient, epic and mysterious" atmosphere. To best convey this impression, O'Donnell drew inspiration from his studies on [[wikipedia:Medieval music|Middle Ages music]] and decided to incorporate Gregorian chant into the theme, which has since become a staple of the ''Halo'' series in its various forms.{{Ref/Film|Id=RTL|[[Remaking the Legend]]}} He was also inspired by the first verse of [[Wikipedia:The Beatles|The Beatles]]' song "[[Wikipedia:Yesterday (Beatles song)|Yesterday]]", which inspired the 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/YouTube|Id=digipen|UKG0d3jYe9Q|Martin O'Donnell|Composing Music for Halo, Destiny, and Golem}} O'Donnell has stated that he laid down the core melody of the theme in about half an hour during the drive to the studio at Salvatori’s house.{{Ref/Reuse|Id=aias}}{{Ref/Reuse|Id=RTL}} | ||
Recording one day prior to the MacWorld presentation, the theme was recorded with an orchestra composed of six string instruments: four violins and two cellos. O'Donnell and Salvatori sung the Gregorian chant with three jingle singers | Recording one day prior to the MacWorld presentation, the theme was recorded with an orchestra composed of six string instruments: four violins and two cellos. O'Donnell and Salvatori sung the Gregorian chant with three jingle singers, who had previously collaborated with the duo on a number of commercials. O'Donnell and Salvatori applied reverb to the strings and choir recordings, while the cello recordings were overdubbed, thus creating the impression of a large orchestra when the recordings were added on top of the [[Wikipedia:MIDI|MIDI]] recording. O'Donnell requested one of the jingle players to sing the [[wikipedia:Qawwali|Qawwali]]-like solo during the string melody, but upon hearing O'Donnell's example, it was decided O'Donnell would sing the solo instead.{{Ref/Site|URL=http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/h/halo/themakers3.htm|Site=Xbox|Page=Just the Right Sense of "Ancient"|archive=https://web.archive.org/web/20070301150741/http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/h/halo/themakers3.htm}}{{Ref/Reuse|Id=digipen}} | ||
After the MacWorld presentation, O'Donnell adapted different aspects of ''Halo Theme'' into various pieces of music in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' and its sequels. O’Donnell cited an anecdote from his teacher, film composer [[wikipedia:David Raksin|David Raksin]]: according to Raksin, when he expressed concerns over the repeated use of [[Wikipedia:Laura (1945 song)|the main theme]] of ''[[Wikipedia:Laura (1944 film)|Laura]]'' in its film score, Raksin was told by his mentor [[Wikipedia:Alfred Newman (composer)|Alfred Newman]] that good themes should be used repeatedly, while bad themes would have never been used in the first place.{{Ref/Reuse|Id=digipen}} O’Donnell and Salvatori followed this philosophy when composing other ''Halo'' music - a tradition carried by future composers in the franchise. Called “emotional equity” by O’Donnell, a sense of familiarity would be felt by players when themes are being repurposed, remixed, and reused throughout the trilogy.{{Ref/YouTube|0zG18XfsnvI|The Act Man|A LEGENDARY Interview with Martin O’Donnell (Composer From Bungie, Halo, Destiny)}} | After the MacWorld presentation, O'Donnell adapted different aspects of ''Halo Theme'' into various pieces of music in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' and its sequels. O’Donnell cited an anecdote from his teacher, film composer [[wikipedia:David Raksin|David Raksin]]: according to Raksin, when he expressed concerns over the repeated use of [[Wikipedia:Laura (1945 song)|the main theme]] of ''[[Wikipedia:Laura (1944 film)|Laura]]'' in its film score, Raksin was told by his mentor [[Wikipedia:Alfred Newman (composer)|Alfred Newman]] that good themes should be used repeatedly, while bad themes would have never been used in the first place.{{Ref/Reuse|Id=digipen}} O’Donnell and Salvatori followed this philosophy when composing other ''Halo'' music - a tradition carried by future composers in the franchise. Called “emotional equity” by O’Donnell, a sense of familiarity would be felt by players when themes are being repurposed, remixed, and reused throughout the trilogy.{{Ref/YouTube|0zG18XfsnvI|The Act Man|A LEGENDARY Interview with Martin O’Donnell (Composer From Bungie, Halo, Destiny)}} | ||
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| album = ''[[Halo: Original Soundtrack]]'' | | album = ''[[Halo: Original Soundtrack]]'' | ||
| composer = [[Martin O'Donnell]] and [[Michael Salvatori]] | | composer = [[Martin O'Donnell]] and [[Michael Salvatori]] | ||
| length = | | length = 4:22 | ||
| producer = | | producer = | ||
| last = [[Dust and Echoes]] | | last = [[Dust and Echoes]] | ||
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'''Halo''' is the twenty-sixth and final track in the ''[[Halo: Original Soundtrack]]''. It also features bonus piece ''[[Siege of Madrigal]]'' at the end. | '''Halo''' is the twenty-sixth and final track in the ''[[Halo: Original Soundtrack]]''. It also features bonus piece ''[[Siege of Madrigal]]'' at the end. | ||
In its original incarnation, first heard in the [[Halo announcement trailer|''Halo'' announcement trailer]], it placed heavy emphasis on deep, powerful drums and fast paced strings, mainly the violin. | In its original incarnation, first heard in the [[Halo announcement trailer|''Halo'' announcement trailer]], it placed heavy emphasis on deep, powerful drums and fast paced strings, mainly the '''violin'''. | ||
The track plays: | The track plays: | ||
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*The low strings in ''[[Rock Anthem for Saving the World]]'' | *The low strings in ''[[Rock Anthem for Saving the World]]'' | ||
An arrangement of the theme, titled ''[[Installation 04 (music)|Installation 04]]'', serves as the theme of ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''. | |||
===''Halo 2''=== | ===''Halo 2''=== | ||
{{Main|Halo Theme MJOLNIR Mix}} | {{Main|Halo Theme MJOLNIR Mix}} | ||
The original piece from ''Halo: Original Soundtrack'' was remixed into the ''[[Halo Theme MJOLNIR Mix|MJOLNIR Mix]]''. The | The original piece from ''Halo: Original Soundtrack'' was remixed into the ''[[Halo Theme MJOLNIR Mix|MJOLNIR Mix]]'', the first track on the ''[[Halo 2: Original Soundtrack|Halo 2: Original Soundtrack, Volume 1]]''. The main theme remains unchanged, but it features '''electric guitar''' overlays by former Whitesnake guitarist [[Steve Vai]]. ''Halo 2'' uses the track in its original form in certain parts, such as at the beginning section of the level ''[[Metropolis]]''. The MJOLNIR mix is played at the end of'' Metropolis'' as [[John-117]] boards the [[Protos-pattern Scarab|Scarab]], and later during the [[Halo 2 credits|end credits]]. | ||
''Halo 2'' featured ''Cloistered Expectancy'' (from the track ''[[Prologue (music)|Prologue]]''), which was the ''Halo 2'' rendition of the Gregorian chant from the Halo Theme. | ''Halo 2'' featured ''Cloistered Expectancy'' (from the track ''[[Prologue (music)|Prologue]]''), which was the ''Halo 2'' rendition of the Gregorian chant from the ''Halo Theme''. | ||
Two variants of the ''Halo Theme'' are featured in the ''[[Halo 2 Anniversary Original Soundtrack]]''. The ''[[Halo Theme Gungnir Mix]]'' is a remixed version of the ''MJOLNIR Mix'' from ''Halo 2'', and the ''[[Halo Theme Scorpion Mix]]'' is a percussion heavy version of the main theme. | Two variants of the ''Halo Theme'' are featured in the ''[[Halo 2 Anniversary Original Soundtrack]]''. The ''[[Halo Theme Gungnir Mix]]'' is a remixed version of the ''MJOLNIR Mix'' from ''Halo 2'', and the ''[[Halo Theme Scorpion Mix]]'' is a percussion heavy version of the main theme. | ||
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===''Halo 3''=== | ===''Halo 3''=== | ||
{{Main|One Final Effort}} | {{Main|One Final Effort}} | ||
The theme was again revised for ''[[Halo 3]]'', arranged into the | The theme was again revised for ''[[Halo 3]]'', arranged into the track ''[[One Final Effort]]'', this time recorded with a live orchestra instead of synthesized strings with the '''grand piano''' as its main instrument. The version used in ''Halo 3'' finishes with the ending used at the end of ''[[The Maw (level)|The Maw]]'', as opposed to the reprise of the opening chant used in the original theme and the MJOLNIR Mix. Occasionally, [[343 Guilty Spark]] can be heard humming it with the [[IWHBYD skull (Halo 3)|IWHBYD skull]] activated in [[campaign]]. | ||
===''Halo 4''=== | ===''Halo 4''=== | ||
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===''Halo Infinite''=== | ===''Halo Infinite''=== | ||
{{Main|The Road (music)}} | |||
The Halo theme was | The Halo theme returned in the sixth mainline game as ''[[The Road (music)|The Road]]''. It was first played during the [[Discover Hope]] trailer at E3 2019. | ||
Part of the theme plays during the song [[Set a Fire in Your Heart]]. | Part of the theme plays during the song [[Set a Fire in Your Heart]]. | ||
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Although the Gregorian chant portion of the ''Halo Theme'' is used as a major motif in ''[[Halo: Nightfall]]'' trailer, the original music piece does not contain the ''Halo Theme''.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FWdSEQOHzc '''YouTube''': ''"The Liberator" (Music from the Halo: Nightfall trailer)'']</ref> | Although the Gregorian chant portion of the ''Halo Theme'' is used as a major motif in ''[[Halo: Nightfall]]'' trailer, the original music piece does not contain the ''Halo Theme''.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FWdSEQOHzc '''YouTube''': ''"The Liberator" (Music from the Halo: Nightfall trailer)'']</ref> | ||
The initial eight notes of the chant appear in episodes three and six of ''[[Hunt the Truth]] [[Hunt the Truth Season 2|Season 2]]''. | The initial eight notes of the chant appear in [[Episode 03: Safe House|episodes three]] and [[Episode 06: Transcendence|six]] of ''[[Hunt the Truth]] [[Hunt the Truth Season 2|Season 2]]''. | ||
====''Halo: Legends''==== | ====''Halo: Legends''==== | ||
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| producer = | | producer = | ||
| last = [[Opening Suite 2]] | | last = [[Opening Suite 2]] | ||
| next = [[Desperate | | next = [[Desperate Measure]] | ||
}} | }} | ||
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==Sources== | ==Sources== | ||
{{Ref/Sources}} | |||
{{Soundtrack|H1}} | {{Soundtrack|H1}} | ||
[[Category:Halo | [[Category:Music of Halo: Combat Evolved]] | ||