Halo 2: Original Soundtrack: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 10:16, May 17, 2009

The Halo 2: Original Soundtrack was composed and produced by Martin O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori, with a few tracks by Incubus. While the Halo: Original Soundtrack was released in a one format, the Halo 2: Original Soundtrack was split into two volumes, which were released almost two years apart. Volume 1 was released on November 9th, 2004 and Volume 2 was released on April 25th, 2006. Rather than keep the medley form from the Halo: Original Soundtrack, the Halo 2: Original Soundtrack focused more on suites with different chapters, similar to movements in a symphony. Unlike the Halo: Original Soundtrack, the Halo 2: Original Soundtrack focuses more on heavy guitar riffs and beats as evident in the re-designed Halo Theme- Mjolnir Mix. As such, O'Donnell brought in several bands and guitarists (such as Incubus and Breaking Benjamin) to help compose the songs.

Volume 1 of the soundtrack differs greatly from Volume 2 in the presentation and form of the songs. While Volume 1 is made up in a "movement" form, Volume 2 focuses heavily on suites. As stated on the Volume 2 inlay card, Martin O'Donnell details why he chose to use this structure: "I decided to use a "suite" structure that corresponds to the chapters within the game. In a sense, by listening to this soundtrack, you will hear the musical representation of the story of Halo 2."

Volume 1

File:Halo2Soundtrack1.jpg

Cover Art, Volume 1

Halo Theme MJOLNIR Mix - 4:11 (Guitarist: Steve Vai)
Blow Me Away - 3:25 (Breaking Benjamin)
Peril - 2:47
Ghosts of Reach - 2:22
Follow (1st Movement of The Odyssey) - 4:15 (Incubus)
Heretic, Hero - 2:32
Flawed Legacy - 1:59
Impend - 2:21
Never Surrender - 3:36 (Nile Rodgers & Nataraj:)
Ancient Machine - 1:39
2nd Movement of The Odyssey - 5:10 (Incubus)
In Amber Clad - 1:38
The Last Spartan - 2:18
Orbit of Glass - 1:18
3rd Movement of The_Odyssey - 6:40 (Incubus)
Heavy Price Paid - 2:32
Earth City - 3:06
High Charity - 1:59
4th Movement of The Odyssey - 9:07 (Incubus)
Remembrance - 1:17
Connected - 2:39 (Hoobastank) "Bonus Song"

Volume 2

Cover Art, Volume 2

Prologue - 2:35
Cairo Suite - 9:42
Mombasa Suite - 6:41
Unyielding - 3:05
Mausoleum Suite - 8:10
Unforgotten - 2:09
Delta Halo Suite - 11:26
Sacred Icon Suite - 7:26
Reclaimer - 3:05 (Guitarist: Steve Vai)
High Charity Suite - 8:27
Finale - 3:10
Epilogue - 3:49

Additional information

Original composition: Martin O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori
Sound design: Martin O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori
Arrangement: Martin O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori
Label: Sumthing Else Musicworks
Performance: Martin O'Donnell, Michael Salvatori, Steve Vai, Breaking Benjamin, Incubus, Hoobastank, Nile Rodgers, Nataraj, Daniel Estrin

Trivia

Volume 1 also included an excerpt of the Covenant Writ of Union.
Volume 2 also included an excerpt of the Covenant Ratification Parley.
When played in reverse, the "Destroyers Invocation" part of Mausoleum Suite on Volume 2 plays a cryptic message from what is thought to be the Gravemind, but could in truth be many people/AI.^[1]
- The "Infected" movement seemingly contains reversed vocals as well, it is unknown whether there is a message hidden here or if they are just part of the music.
There are several extra tracks not included in either of the two Halo 2 OST's, and can only be heard during gameplay, some of these are:
- Metropolis (Bridge) - Played when halfway across the bridge at the beginning of Metropolis. This is an altered version of the MJOLNIR Mix track, focusing on the instrumental side.
- Metropolis (Finale) - Played at the end of Metropolis during the Scarab battle. Another altered version of the MJOLNIR Mix, this one, focusing on the guitar.
- Delta Halo (Landing) - Played during the Warthog sequence on Delta Halo. This track is obviously a remix of In Amber Clad, but is shorter than its counterpart.
- Sacred Icon (Final Drop) - Played when dropping down the final piston on Sacred Icon. This is an altered version of the last part of Sacred Icon Suite. It is also played on The Arbiter when you first encounter the Heretic Leader.
- Quarantine Zone (Drumrun) - Played in the Sentinel factory on Quarantine Zone. As it's name implies, this track is focused on the drum section. This was also featured in the "Another Day At the Beach" podcast.
- There's another "lost song" played in Commons Area B-01 on Cairo Station, as well as several minor variations of the soundtrack songs in-game (eg: a more instrumental version of Earth City on Metropolis, an alternate version of "Cortege" from Sacred Icon Suite on Regret, and the variation of Heretic, Hero played during the Quarantine Zone elevator sequence) .

Sources

^ http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5067985657980184442&q=mausoleum+suite&total=17&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0

Related Pages

Template:Halo Music

[1] ttp://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5067985657980184442&q=mausoleum+suite&total=17&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0

[1]

@@ Line 55: / Line 55: @@
 * When played in reverse, the "Destroyers Invocation" part of [[Mausoleum Suite]] on Volume 2 plays a cryptic message from what is thought to be the [[Gravemind]], but could in truth be many people/AI.<ref>http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5067985657980184442&q=mausoleum+suite&total=17&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0</ref>
 ** The "Infected" movement seemingly contains reversed vocals as well, it is unknown whether there is a message hidden here or if they are just part of the music.
-* There are five extra tracks not included in either of the two Halo 2 OST's, and can only be heard during gameplay, these are:
+* There are several extra tracks not included in either of the two Halo 2 OST's, and can only be heard during gameplay, some of these are:
 **[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ez_glg1Yh6E Metropolis (Bridge)] - Played when halfway across the bridge at the beginning of [[Metropolis (Level)|Metropolis]]. This is an altered version of the MJOLNIR Mix track, focusing on the instrumental side.
 **[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjFdrB6gi4k Metropolis (Finale)] - Played at the end of [[Metropolis (Level)|Metropolis]] during the [[Scarab]] battle. Another altered version of the MJOLNIR Mix, this one, focusing on the guitar.
 **[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-i_TTUhkN9A Delta Halo (Landing)] - Played during the Warthog sequence on [[Delta Halo (Level)|Delta Halo]]. This track is obviously a remix of [[In Amber Clad (Song)|In Amber Clad]], but is shorter than its counterpart.
 **[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nc1xgOMS63M Sacred Icon (Final Drop)] - Played when dropping down the final piston on [[Sacred Icon (Level)|Sacred Icon]]. This is an altered version of the last part of [[Sacred Icon Suite]]. It is also played on [[The Arbiter (Level)|The Arbiter]] when you first encounter the [[Heretic Leader]].
-**[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFxRAurzH5k Quarantine Zone (Drumrun)] - Played in the [[Sentinel]] factory on [[Quarantine Zone (Level)|Quarantine Zone]]. As it's name implies, this track is focused on the drum section.
+**[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFxRAurzH5k Quarantine Zone (Drumrun)] - Played in the [[Sentinel]] factory on [[Quarantine Zone (Level)|Quarantine Zone]]. As it's name implies, this track is focused on the drum section. This was also featured in the "Another Day At the Beach" podcast.
-* At least two other unreleased tracks exist: in Commons B-01 on [[Cairo Station (Level)|Cairo Station]](this song is also played on [[Gravemind (Level)|Gravemind]]), and at the first gondola landing on [[Regret (Level)|Regret]] after you kill the [[Hunters]].
+** There's another "lost song" played in Commons Area B-01 on [[Cairo Station (Level)|Cairo Station]], as well as several minor variations of the soundtrack songs in-game (eg: a more instrumental version of [[Earth City]] on [[Metropolis (Level)|Metropolis]], an alternate version of "Cortege" from [[Sacred Icon Suite]] on [[Regret]], and the variation of [[Heretic, Hero]] played during the [[Quarantine Zone (Level)|Quarantine Zone]] elevator sequence) .
 ==Sources==