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The Gun Pointed at the Head of the Universe: Difference between revisions

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{{Ratings}}
{{Status|RealWorld}}
{{Era|H1|RW|}}
{{Music infobox
{{Infobox song
  | name      = The Gun Pointed at the Head of the Universe
  | name      = The Gun Pointed at the Head of the Universe
  | video     = <youtube width="200" height="25">U5Bjqi1m7Ro</youtube>
  | yt     = Pppn4TFT2YI
  | album      = [[Halo Original Soundtrack]]
  | album      = ''[[Halo: Original Soundtrack]]''
  | composer  = [[Martin O'Donnell]]
  | composer  = [[Martin O'Donnell]] and [[Michael Salvatori]]
  | length    = 02:28
  | length    = 2:26
| producer  =
  | last      = [[Ambient Wonder]]
  | last      =
  | next      = [[Trace Amounts]]
  | next      =
}}
}}


'''The Gun Pointed at the Head of the Universe''' is a piece included in the ''[[Halo: Original Soundtrack]]''.
'''The Gun Pointed at the Head of the Universe''' is the eighth track in ''[[Halo: Original Soundtrack]]''.
 
==Overview==
It is composed nearly entirely of percussion, only having a deep bass note towards the middle of the piece and some vocals at the end of the piece. The rest of the sound is produced by a combination of drums, auxiliary percussion and hand-clapping, which is usually unheard of in many tracks written for ''Halo''.
 
The piece was primarily written by [[Michael Salvatori]] with additions from [[Martin O'Donnell]].{{Ref/YouTube|wytv7D9CcLc|Dee Bee Geek|Martin O'Donnell PLAYS Halo Combat Evolved! - NEVER seen before commentary!|D=1|M=6|Y=2020}}


==Appearances==
==Appearances==
It is heard in almost every level of ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'', starting with the level ''[[Halo (Halo: Combat Evolved Level)|Halo]]''. In ''Halo'', the song is played near the underground [[Forerunner]] structure. In ''[[The Silent Cartographer (level)|The Silent Cartographer]]'', it plays when the player comes to the [[Silent Cartographer]] building for the first time. In the ''[[Assault on the Control Room (level)|Assault on the Control Room]]'' level, it plays for a few seconds when you first enter a [[Scorpion]], it plays when you encounter the tunnel entrance guarded by two [[Wraiths]], and it also plays when you battle the [[Plasma Rifle]]-wielding [[Zealot]] [[Elite]].  
The track can be heard:  
*In the level ''[[Halo (Halo: Combat Evolved level)|Halo]]'' (Choir version), when [[John-117]] finds the last group of Marines in the [[Forerunner]] structures.  
*In the level ''[[The Silent Cartographer]]'', when John-117 comes to the [[Cartographer]] building for the first time.  
*In the level ''[[Assault on the Control Room]]'', briefly when John first commandeers an [[M808B Scorpion]] before encountering the tunnel entrance guarded by two {{Pattern|Zurdo|Wraith}}s (The full choir version plays if John progresses to the tunnel without commandeering the [[M808B Scorpion]]), and when he battles the {{Pattern|Okarda'phaa|plasma rifle}}-wielding [[Sangheili Zealot]].
*In the level ''[[343 Guilty Spark (level)|343 Guilty Spark]]'', when John and the Marines are leaving the [[Flood containment facility]].
*In the level ''[[Keyes]]'' (Choir version), when [[Jacob Keyes|Captain Keyes]] orders John and [[Cortana]] to pull out.
*In the level ''[[The Maw]]'', after John destroys the first fusion reactor in engineering of the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}}.


In the ''[[343 Guilty Spark (level)|343 Guilty Spark]]'' level, it plays when you are defending the Forerunner building. In ''[[Two Betrayals (level)|Two Betrayals]]'', it plays at the start of the "Final Run" chapter. In the ''[[Keyes (level)|Keyes]]'' level, it plays when you first enter the shuttle bay immediately after [[Jacob Keyes|Captain Keyes]] orders you to pull out. And in ''[[The Maw (level)|The Maw]]'' level, it plays while the [[Master Chief]] blows up the engines of the ''Pillar of Autumn''.
==Arrangements==
The track has been arranged into the following:
*''Into the Breach'' of [[More Than His Share]] as a remix in the ''[[Halo 3: ODST Original Soundtrack]]''.
*''[[Unless You Mean to Shoot]]'' in the ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary Original Soundtrack]]''.


==Overview==
==Production notes==
It is composed nearly entirely of percussion, only having a deep bass note towards the middle of the piece and some vocals at the end of the piece. The rest of the sound is produced by a combination of drums, auxiliary percussion and hand-clapping, which is usually unheard of in many tracks written for Halo.
*The percussion in this track is similar to a rhythm motif that reoccurs in the soundtracks for [[wikipedia:Myth The Fallen Lords|''Myth'']] and [[wikipedia:Myth II Soulblighter|''Myth II'']], including ''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7suyzEbPno The Watcher]'', ''[https://youtu.be/exbHYq9y78Q Into The Breach]'' (which coincidentally, is also the name of [[More Than His Share|a ''Halo 3: ODST'' track]]), ''[https://youtu.be/KjC5-uJWvhI A Murder Of Crows]'' and ''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g362Q0fEiaE The Wall]''.
*The continuing rhythm which plays for the entire length of the track is based on [http://youtu.be/HV42JK2Qe_Y?t=49s an onboard factory audition sequence] from the E-MU Protozoa expansion for the Proteus 2000 synthesizer.
*The track uses the following instruments and patches/samples:{{Ref/Site|D=21|M=6|Y=2021|URL= https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1D6ul0wsqq1oeqqOqqfx_9V4o7TxN6HvXB8RyHmNHPs4/edit?ts=5e8800a4#gid=0|Site=Google Sheets|Page=Mythic Restoration Project: Halo Patch List}}
**E-MU Proteus 2000:
***Protozoa ROM - 008-3 P3/Percussion 1 (Ethnic percussion)
**Kurzweil K2500X
***118 Cathedral Choir
*The name of the soundtrack is most likely in reference to the [[Halo Array]], as its near activation can be interpreted as a "Gun Pointed at the Head of the Universe". The phrase is also that of the first chapter title of the level ''Two Betrayals''.
*Martin O'Donnell produced a variation of the piece utilizing hip-hop beats, but the piece was cut from the game. The piece was retroactively named ''"Seriously?"'',{{Ref/Site|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=http://www.bungie.net/projects/halo/asset_thumb_viewer.aspx?at=55&cc=25|Site=Bungie.net|Page=Halo (Xbox) Soundtrack and Music}} and O'Donnell later implied that the piece did not survive the test of time.{{Ref/Site|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=https://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=28|Site=Bungie.net|Page=Halo Music Outtakes Part 2: 6/26/2002 3:12 AM PDT}}


==Trivia==
==Sources==
*The name of the song is most likely in reference to the [[Halo (Construct)|Halo]] Installations, or the "Gun Pointed at the Head of the Universe".
{{Ref/Sources}}
*The name is also a chapter at the start of the level ''Two Betrayals'' in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.
*This song was remixed into part of [[Heretic, Hero]] in the ''[[Halo 2: Original Soundtrack]]''.
*This song is quite similar to [[Drumrun]] also on the ''Halo: Original Soundtrack''.
*This song is also remixed in the ''[[Halo 3: ODST Original Soundtrack|Halo 3: ODST Original Soundtrack ]]''song ''[[More Than His Share (Song)|More Than His Share]]'' at the part ''Into the Breach''.


{{Halo Music}}
{{Soundtrack|H1}}
[[Category:Halo: Combat Evolved OST]]

Latest revision as of 06:31, October 14, 2022

The Gun Pointed at the Head of the Universe

Album:

Halo: Original Soundtrack

Composer(s):

Martin O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori

Length:

2:26

Previous:

Ambient Wonder

Next:

Trace Amounts

 

The Gun Pointed at the Head of the Universe is the eighth track in Halo: Original Soundtrack.

Overview[edit]

It is composed nearly entirely of percussion, only having a deep bass note towards the middle of the piece and some vocals at the end of the piece. The rest of the sound is produced by a combination of drums, auxiliary percussion and hand-clapping, which is usually unheard of in many tracks written for Halo.

The piece was primarily written by Michael Salvatori with additions from Martin O'Donnell.[1]

Appearances[edit]

The track can be heard:

Arrangements[edit]

The track has been arranged into the following:

Production notes[edit]

  • The percussion in this track is similar to a rhythm motif that reoccurs in the soundtracks for Myth and Myth II, including The Watcher, Into The Breach (which coincidentally, is also the name of a Halo 3: ODST track), A Murder Of Crows and The Wall.
  • The continuing rhythm which plays for the entire length of the track is based on an onboard factory audition sequence from the E-MU Protozoa expansion for the Proteus 2000 synthesizer.
  • The track uses the following instruments and patches/samples:[2]
    • E-MU Proteus 2000:
      • Protozoa ROM - 008-3 P3/Percussion 1 (Ethnic percussion)
    • Kurzweil K2500X
      • 118 Cathedral Choir
  • The name of the soundtrack is most likely in reference to the Halo Array, as its near activation can be interpreted as a "Gun Pointed at the Head of the Universe". The phrase is also that of the first chapter title of the level Two Betrayals.
  • Martin O'Donnell produced a variation of the piece utilizing hip-hop beats, but the piece was cut from the game. The piece was retroactively named "Seriously?",[3] and O'Donnell later implied that the piece did not survive the test of time.[4]

Sources[edit]