Editing Epilogue (Halo: Reach)

{{Title|Epilogue}}
{{Status|RealWorld}}
{{disambig header|the soundtrack|articles of the same name|Epilogue}}
{{Status|RealWorld}}
{{Music infobox
 | name       = Epilogue
 | yt      = 5iDNdTMfKwg
 | album      = [[Halo: Reach Original Soundtrack]]
 | composer   = [[Martin O'Donnell]] and [[Michael Salvatori]]
 | length     = 4:30
 | last       = [[The Pillar of Autumn (music)|The Pillar of Autumn]]
 | next       = [[From the Vault]]
 }}

'''Epilogue''' is the eleventh track (Disc 2 Track 4) included in ''[[Halo: Reach Original Soundtrack]]'', and plays in the ''[[Halo: Reach]]'' campaign level ''[[Lone Wolf]]''. It is composed of ''Spartans Never Die'' (0:00-0:55), ''Omega'' (0:55-2:08), and ''Hymn for Reach'' (2:08-4:30).

==Overview==
===Spartans Never Die===
''Spartans Never Die'' (0:55) is a piano solo of the first theme from the later track ''[[Ghosts and Glass]]''. The piece plays in the opening cinematic, with the final notes leading into the campaign level's opening gameplay moments.

===Omega===
''Omega'' (1:13) features an eerie ambience by low strings, accompanied by male choir singing a dissonant melody. The piece plays when [[SPARTAN-B312|Noble Six]]’s helmet takes permanent damage during gameplay, and continues into the ending cinematic, up until the point when the Spartan’s helmet is shown being discarded on the dusty ground.

===Hymn for Reach===
''Hymn for Reach'' (2:12) opens with high strings playing a sad, but hopeful, melody. The choir joins as the melody repeats for the first time. When the melody repeats for a second time, the instruments and choir enter a higher register at the end. High strings then take over for a serene and delicate bridge, playing in solo until the other instruments return for an uplifting finish. The piece plays in the final cinematic, when [[Catherine Halsey]] recites a eulogy to Noble Six, and it is revealed that [[Reach]] has returned to a habitable state in [[2589]]. A shortened strings-only version of the piece was featured as ''Wing and a Prayer'' (from the earlier track ''[[New Alexandria (music)|New Alexandria]]''), and the melody was used as a remix for the later track ''[[We Remember]]''.

==Production notes==
*The genesis of ''Hymn for Reach'' was titled ''"Torture Hymn"'', retroactively named as such by O'Donnell because listening to it was a torture. Inspired by hymn music, the piece was initially written as an ambiance piece by low strings. The final melody of ''Hymn for Reach'' was already being developed, but it included an extended introduction, more notes in the main melody, and a second melody as its ending. In an attempt titled ''"Try Again"'', O'Donnell added high strings, but he considered the piece "a bit labored", and hated it. In another attempt titled ''"Try again again"'', O'Donnell reintroduced the “spacey” ambiance from ''Uppercut'' (from the earlier track ''[[Long Night of Solace (music)|Long Night of Solace]]''), followed by a simplified melody of ''Hymn for Reach'', and ending with space ambiance. O'Donnell also tried incorporating other melodies (including ''[[Ghosts and Glass]]'') into the piece, but ultimately returned to the simplified main melody from ''"Try again again"'', played by brass instead of strings, the result of which he considered slightly more hymn-like. The piece was finalized in an attempt titled ''"Hymn for Reach strings"'', in which high strings played the main melody at a higher register. O’Donnell also anticipated choir joining in the first reprise of the melody, and the idea was actualized in the final piece.{{Ref/YouTube|8dQI6oA2Rd8|Martin O'Donnell|Reach Music Inception Part 3|Y=2020|M=12|D=20|Archive=gQL_4sv_T_Y}}
*The name ''Spartans Never Die'' alludes to [[ONI Directive 930]], which banned the application of KIA status to [[SPARTAN-II Program|SPARTAN-II personnel]] - a tradition which eventually extended to the [[SPARTAN-III Program|SPARTAN-IIIs]]. The phrase was first said by [[Carter-A259]] verbatim in the [[Halo: Reach Video Games Awards Trailer|''Halo: Reach'' Video Games Awards Trailer]], and also served as the level description of ''Lone Wolf''.
*The name ''Omega'' likely alludes to Rally Point Omega in the level.

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}

{{Soundtrack|HR}}