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==History==
==History==
The ''Halo Theme'' was composed over the course of three days in July of 1999 by [[Martin O'Donnell]] and [[Michael Salvatori]]. O'Donnell was asked by [[Joseph Staten]] on a Friday to provide a soundtrack for the then-upcoming [[Halo announcement trailer|''Halo'' MacWorld premiere demo]] on the following Tuesday. However, the music would need to be first shown internally within Bungie on Monday, on the same day Bungie representatives board the flight to New York.
[[Martin O'Donnell]] and [[Michael Salvatori]] composed the ''Halo Theme'' over the course of three days in July of 1999. O'Donnell was asked by [[Joseph Staten]] on a Thursday to compose a soundtrack for the then-upcoming [[Halo announcement trailer|''Halo'' MacWorld premiere demo]] on the following Tuesday. However, the music would need to be first recorded and shown internally within Bungie on Monday — the same day Bungie representatives would board the flight to New York for the presentation on the following day.
{{Ref/YouTube|Id=aias|oPK81NG5ncE|Academy of Interactive Arts & Science|Halo and Destiny Composer, Marty O'Donnell <nowiki>|</nowiki> The AIAS Game Maker's Notebook}}
{{Ref/YouTube|Id=aias|oPK81NG5ncE|Academy of Interactive Arts & Science|Halo and Destiny Composer, Marty O'Donnell <nowiki>|</nowiki> The AIAS Game Maker's Notebook}}


Staten told O'Donnell that the theme needed to evoke the game's "ancient, epic and mysterious" atmosphere. To best convey this impression, O'Donnell drew inspiration from his studies on [[wikipedia:Medieval music|Middle Ages music]] and decided to incorporate a Gregorian chant in the theme, which has since become a staple of the ''Halo'' series in its various forms.<ref name="RTL">''[[Remaking the Legend]]''</ref> He also drew inspiration from [[Wikipedia:The Beatles|The Beatles]]' song "[[Wikipedia:Yesterday (Beatles song)|Yesterday]]", which inspired the four-phrase structure of the Gregorian chant.{{Ref/Site|Id=Beatles|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/03/23/how-the-beatles-influenced-the-halo-theme-|Site=IGN|Page=How The Beatles Influenced the Halo Theme Song}}{{Ref/YouTube|Id=digipen|UKG0d3jYe9Q|Martin O'Donnell|Composing Music for Halo, Destiny, and Golem}} O'Donnell has stated that he laid down the core melody of the theme in about half an hour during the drive to the studio at Salvatori’s house.<ref name="RTL"/>{{Ref/Reuse|Id=aias}}
Staten told O'Donnell that the theme needed to evoke the game's "ancient, epic and mysterious" atmosphere. To best convey this impression, O'Donnell drew inspiration from his studies on [[wikipedia:Medieval music|Middle Ages music]] and decided to incorporate Gregorian chant into the theme, which has since become a staple of the ''Halo'' series in its various forms.{{Ref/Film|Id=RTL|[[Remaking the Legend]]}} He was also inspired by the first verse of [[Wikipedia:The Beatles|The Beatles]]' song "[[Wikipedia:Yesterday (Beatles song)|Yesterday]]", which inspired the four-phrase structure of the Gregorian chant.{{Ref/Site|Id=Beatles|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/03/23/how-the-beatles-influenced-the-halo-theme-|Site=IGN|Page=How The Beatles Influenced the Halo Theme Song}}{{Ref/YouTube|Id=digipen|UKG0d3jYe9Q|Martin O'Donnell|Composing Music for Halo, Destiny, and Golem}} O'Donnell has stated that he laid down the core melody of the theme in about half an hour during the drive to the studio at Salvatori’s house.{{Ref/Reuse|Id=aias}}{{Ref/Reuse|Id=RTL}}


Recording one day prior to the MacWorld presentation, the theme was recorded with an orchestra composed of six string instruments: four violins and two cellos. O'Donnell and Salvatori sung the Gregorian chant with three jingle singers that had worked previously with the duo. Reverb was applied to the strings and choir recording, while the cello recordings were overdubbed, thereby creating the impression of a large orchestra when the recordings were added on top of the [[Wikipedia:MIDI|MIDI]] recording. O'Donnell requested one of the jingle players to sing the vocal solo during the string melody, but upon hearing O'Donnell's example, it was decided O'Donnell would sing the solo instead.{{Ref/Reuse|Id=digipen}}
Recording one day prior to the MacWorld presentation, the theme was recorded with an orchestra composed of six string instruments: four violins and two cellos. O'Donnell and Salvatori sung the Gregorian chant with three jingle singers, who had previously collaborated with the duo on a number of commercials. O'Donnell and Salvatori applied reverb to the strings and choir recordings, while the cello recordings were overdubbed, thus creating the impression of a large orchestra when the recordings were added on top of the [[Wikipedia:MIDI|MIDI]] recording. O'Donnell requested one of the jingle players to sing the vocal solo during the string melody, but upon hearing O'Donnell's example, it was decided O'Donnell would sing the solo instead.{{Ref/Reuse|Id=digipen}}


After the MacWorld presentation, O'Donnell adapted different aspects of ''Halo Theme'' into various pieces of music in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' and its sequels. O’Donnell cited an anecdote from his teacher, film composer [[wikipedia:David Raksin|David Raksin]]: according to Raksin, when he expressed concerns over the repeated use of [[Wikipedia:Laura (1945 song)|the main theme]] of ''[[Wikipedia:Laura (1944 film)|Laura]]'' in its film score, Raksin was told by his mentor [[Wikipedia:Alfred Newman (composer)|Alfred Newman]] that good themes should be used repeatedly, while bad themes would have never been used in the first place.{{Ref/Reuse|Id=digipen}} O’Donnell and Salvatori followed this philosophy when composing other ''Halo'' music - a tradition carried by future composers in the franchise. Called “emotional equity” by O’Donnell, a sense of familiarity would be felt by players when themes are being repurposed, remixed, and reused throughout the trilogy.{{Ref/YouTube|0zG18XfsnvI|The Act Man|A LEGENDARY Interview with Martin O’Donnell (Composer From Bungie, Halo, Destiny)}}
After the MacWorld presentation, O'Donnell adapted different aspects of ''Halo Theme'' into various pieces of music in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' and its sequels. O’Donnell cited an anecdote from his teacher, film composer [[wikipedia:David Raksin|David Raksin]]: according to Raksin, when he expressed concerns over the repeated use of [[Wikipedia:Laura (1945 song)|the main theme]] of ''[[Wikipedia:Laura (1944 film)|Laura]]'' in its film score, Raksin was told by his mentor [[Wikipedia:Alfred Newman (composer)|Alfred Newman]] that good themes should be used repeatedly, while bad themes would have never been used in the first place.{{Ref/Reuse|Id=digipen}} O’Donnell and Salvatori followed this philosophy when composing other ''Halo'' music - a tradition carried by future composers in the franchise. Called “emotional equity” by O’Donnell, a sense of familiarity would be felt by players when themes are being repurposed, remixed, and reused throughout the trilogy.{{Ref/YouTube|0zG18XfsnvI|The Act Man|A LEGENDARY Interview with Martin O’Donnell (Composer From Bungie, Halo, Destiny)}}
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*The low strings in ''[[Rock Anthem for Saving the World]]''
*The low strings in ''[[Rock Anthem for Saving the World]]''


A reorchestrated version of the theme, titled ''[[Installation 04 (music)|Installation 04]]'', serves as the theme of ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''.
An arrangement of the theme, titled ''[[Installation 04 (music)|Installation 04]]'', serves as the theme of ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''.


===''Halo 2''===
===''Halo 2''===
{{Main|Halo Theme MJOLNIR Mix}}
{{Main|Halo Theme MJOLNIR Mix}}
The original piece from ''Halo: Original Soundtrack'' was remixed into the ''[[Halo Theme MJOLNIR Mix|MJOLNIR Mix]]''. The basics of the theme remain the same, but it features '''electric guitar''' overlays by former Whitesnake guitarist [[Steve Vai]]. ''Halo 2'' uses the track in its original form in certain parts, such as at the beginning section of the level ''[[Metropolis]]''. The MJOLNIR mix is played at the end of'' Metropolis'' as [[John-117]] boards the [[Type-47A Scarab|Scarab]], and later during the [[Halo 2 credits|end credits]]. It is the first track on the ''[[Halo 2: Original Soundtrack|Halo 2 Soundtrack Volume 1]]''.
The original piece from ''Halo: Original Soundtrack'' was remixed into the ''[[Halo Theme MJOLNIR Mix|MJOLNIR Mix]]'', the first track on the ''[[Halo 2: Original Soundtrack|Halo 2: Original Soundtrack, Volume 1]]''. The main theme remains unchanged, but it features electric guitar overlays by former Whitesnake guitarist [[Steve Vai]]. ''Halo 2'' uses the track in its original form in certain parts, such as at the beginning section of the level ''[[Metropolis]]''. The MJOLNIR mix is played at the end of'' Metropolis'' as [[John-117]] boards the [[Type-47A Scarab|Scarab]], and later during the [[Halo 2 credits|end credits]].


''Halo 2'' featured ''Cloistered Expectancy'' (from the track ''[[Prologue (music)|Prologue]]''), which was the ''Halo 2'' rendition of the Gregorian chant from the Halo Theme.
''Halo 2'' featured ''Cloistered Expectancy'' (from the track ''[[Prologue (music)|Prologue]]''), which was the ''Halo 2'' rendition of the Gregorian chant from the ''Halo Theme''.


Two variants of the ''Halo Theme'' are featured in the ''[[Halo 2 Anniversary Original Soundtrack]]''. The ''[[Halo Theme Gungnir Mix]]'' is a remixed version of the ''MJOLNIR Mix'' from ''Halo 2'', and the ''[[Halo Theme Scorpion Mix]]'' is a percussion heavy version of the main theme.
Two variants of the ''Halo Theme'' are featured in the ''[[Halo 2 Anniversary Original Soundtrack]]''. The ''[[Halo Theme Gungnir Mix]]'' is a remixed version of the ''MJOLNIR Mix'' from ''Halo 2'', and the ''[[Halo Theme Scorpion Mix]]'' is a percussion heavy version of the main theme.
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===''Halo 3''===
===''Halo 3''===
{{Main|One Final Effort}}
{{Main|One Final Effort}}
The theme was again revised for ''[[Halo 3]]'', arranged into the song [[One Final Effort]], this time recorded with a live orchestra instead of synthesized strings with the '''grand piano''' as its main instrument. The version used in ''Halo 3'' finishes with the ending used at the end of ''[[The Maw (level)|The Maw]]'', as opposed to the reprise of the opening chant used in the original theme and the MJOLNIR Mix. Occasionally, [[343 Guilty Spark]] can be heard humming it with the [[IWHBYD Skull (Halo 3)|IWHBYD skull]] activated in [[campaign]].  
The theme was again revised for ''[[Halo 3]]'', arranged into the track ''[[One Final Effort]]'', this time recorded with a live orchestra instead of synthesized strings with the grand piano as its main instrument. The version used in ''Halo 3'' finishes with the ending used at the end of ''[[The Maw (level)|The Maw]]'', as opposed to the reprise of the opening chant used in the original theme and the MJOLNIR Mix. Occasionally, [[343 Guilty Spark]] can be heard humming it with the [[IWHBYD Skull (Halo 3)|IWHBYD skull]] activated in [[campaign]].  


===''Halo 4''===
===''Halo 4''===
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