Nightfall (music)

This article is about the soundtrack. For the level of the same name, see Nightfall.

Nightfall
Album:	Halo: Reach Original Soundtrack
Composer(s):	Martin O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori Martin O'Donnell, Michael Salvatori, and C. Paul Johnson (Personnel Issues & Howling Dark) Martin O'Donnell, Michael Salvatori, and Stan LePard (Keeping What I Steal)
Length:	5:40
Previous:	ONI: Sword Base
Next:	Tip of the Spear

Nightfall is the fourth track (Disc 1 Track 4) included in Halo: Reach Original Soundtrack, and plays mainly in the Halo: Reach campaign level Nightfall. It is composed of Recon (0:00-1:05), Searchlights (1:05-2:02), Personnel Issues (2:02-2:56), Keeping What I Steal (2:56-3:56), Howling Dark (3:56-4:41) and At Dawn (4:41-5:40).

Overview

Recon

Recon (1:05) is eerie ambiance, featuring digital effects with a faint vocal singing the melody of the later track Ashes. The piece plays in the opening cinematic of the level, then continues into the gameplay sequence afterwards.

Searchlights

Searchlights (0:57) uses vocals, harp, and synth effects for eerie ambiance. The piece first plays in the level Long Night of Solace, when the Pelican arrives onboard Ardent Prayer. It plays again in the later level The Package, in the cinematic in which NOBLE Team enters the hidden entrance within SWORD Base.

Personnel Issues

Personnel Issues (0:54) opens with high tempo muted percussion with additional synth effects. The piece plays when Jun-A266 and Noble Six encounter a pair of Gúta.

Keeping What I Steal

Keeping What I Steal (1:01) opens with soft bass and strings playing a soft melody with piano accompaniments. The piece plays when Jun and Six first encounters members of Reach militia.

Howling Dark

Howling Dark (0:45) is a reprise of Free Fire Zone (from the earlier track Winter Contingency), albeit with louder percussion. The piece plays when the second wave of Covenant attack after Jun and Six link up with the militiamen.

At Dawn

At Dawn (0:59) opens with brass and strings playing a single note in ambiance, it transitions into strings playing rising cues. The piece plays at the end of the level, after clearing the Covenant from the canyon, and continues into the ending cinematic.

Production notes

• The vocal in the background of Recon was sung by Martin O'Donnell, and he gave the part the name spooky_kid_vox. O'Donnell used format shifting on a harmonizer and shifted his voice to resemble that of a "creepy boy soprano".
• The name Recon alludes to the reconnaissance mission being conducted by Recon Team Bravo.
• The name Searchlights references the searchlights on Type-52 Phantoms seen throughout the level.
• The name Personnel Issues alludes to the presence of militia members in the area despite civilians being evacuated from the area.
• The name Keeping What I Steal alludes to the player using UNSC weapons stolen by the local militia. The name is also a reference to Cortana's quote in the Halo 3 level The Covenant, "I keep what I steal." The quote was also the namesake for the track Keep What You Steal in the Halo 3: Original Soundtrack.
• The name Howling Dark may be a reference to the speech made by Lord Hood at the Voi Memorial in the ending of Halo 3, "But let us never forget those who journeyed into the howling dark..." The quote was also the namesake for the achievement Into the Howling Dark in Halo: Reach and Halo: The Master Chief Collection.