Prologue (music)

Prologue is the first track in Halo 2: Original Soundtrack, Volume 2. It is composed of Rising (0:00-0:20), Cloistered Expectancy (0:20-0:45), and Weight of Failure (0:45-2:35).

Rising (0:20) features electric guitar played by Steve Vai over the music from Opening Suite of Halo: Original Soundtrack. The pieces plays over the Microsoft Game Studios and Bungie logo sequence of Halo 2.

Cloistered Expectancy (0:25) is the Halo 2 rendition of the Gregorian chant from the Halo Theme. It plays in the main menu of Halo 2, and was incorporated into Ghosts of Reach and The Last Spartan.

Weight of Failure (1:50), which plays during cutscene of The Heretic, features somber low strings. It is commonly known as the "Arbiter's Theme" due to its appearance in scenes featuring Thel 'Vadam and the title's allusion to his defeat at Battle of Installation 04. Variations of the piece are incorporated into Destroyer's Invocation (from Mausoleum Suite), Cortege (from Sacred Icon Suite), and Great Journey (from Finale). A high-tempo variation was incorporated into the second section of Ghost of Reach, and subsequently appeared in its Halo 3 rendition Black Tide in Dread Intrusion. The piece was reorchestrated into Second Prelude in Halo 2: Anniversary Original Soundtrack, and the theme was incorporated into Scavengers in Halo 5: Guardians Original Soundtrack.