Real World

Delta Halo Suite

This article is about the Halo 2 soundtrack. For the Halo: Legends soundtrack, see Delta Halo Suite (Halo Legends).
Delta Halo Suite

Album:

Halo 2: Original Soundtrack

Composer(s):

Martin O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori

Length:

11:26

Previous:

Unforgotten

Next:

Sacred Icon Suite

 

Delta Halo Suite is the seventh track in Halo 2: Original Soundtrack, Volume 2. It is composed of Penance (0:00-2:32), Wage (2:32-5:14), Leonidas (5:14-7:42), and Dust and Bones (7:42-11:26). The first three parts were rearranged into Delta Halo Suite in Halo Legends: Original Soundtrack.

OverviewEdit

PenanceEdit

Penance (2:32) begins with a short reprise of Cold Blue Light from Cairo Suite before male vocals take over, singing what Martin O'Donnell coined "Halo 2 monk theme".[1] It then transitions into the percussion and low strings of Heretic, Hero, mixed with a high strings variation of the Halo Theme. It is played during the opening cutscene of the level Delta Halo, when UNSC In Amber Clad followed the Solemn Penance to Installation 05 via slipstream space, and when John-117 and the ODSTs are dropped to the surface of the ring. The "Halo 2 monk theme" was incorporated into Great Journey (from the track Finale) as well as Cortege (from the track Sacred Icon Suite), and then reinterpreted into We're Done Here (from the track Brutes in Halo 3: Original Soundtrack).

WageEdit

Wage (2:42) begins with high strings, followed by militaristic percussion beat and drum roll with snare drums. A low bell chimes periodically. Low strings enter with a rendition of the synth notes from Under Cover of Night. The drums enter high tempo, followed by the male choir singing the melody of The Maw (from Halo: Original Soundtrack). It is heard during the opening cutscene of the level Regret, and then again in Uprising, during the chapter "Fight Club". The section with high tempo drumroll is played without its male vocal accompaniment at the beginning of the level Cairo Station, when John-117 fights the first wave of boarders. The piece was rearranged into the second section of High Charity Suite 2 in Halo Legends: Original Soundtrack, then again into second section of Arise In Valor in Halo 2: Anniversary Original Soundtrack.

LeonidasEdit

Leonidas (2:28) is based on On a Pale Horse from Halo: Original Soundtrack,[citation needed] featuring a high tempo melody played by strings, female vocals, and heavy percussive beats. The strings melody swells into a climatic reprise of the "Halo 2 monk theme" near the end. It plays in the level Regret, during the two gondola sections. The piece was rearranged into Leonidas Returns from Three Gates in Halo 3: Original Soundtrack and This Glittering Band in Halo 2: Anniversary Original Soundtrack.

Dust and BonesEdit

Dust and Bones (3:44) is a strings-only version of Heavy Price Paid from Volume 1. The name may be a reference to Dust and Echoes from the Halo: Original Soundtrack. It plays briefly in the ending cutscene of the level Regret, as John-117 jumps off the temple and sinks into the lake.

Production notesEdit

SourcesEdit

  1. ^ Halo 3 Essentials: Halo 2 Developer Commentary