Halo Theme: Difference between revisions

{{Era|RW}}

[[File:Halo chant.png|right|thumb|The chant from beginning of the Halo Theme.]]

The '''Halo Theme''' is the staple music of the [[Halo universe|''Halo'' series]].

[[File:Chanting_monks.png|left|thumb|The track being recorded.]]

The Halo Theme was composed over the course of three days in the summer of 1999 by [[Martin O'Donnell]]. O'Donnell was asked by [[Joseph Staten]] to provide a soundtrack for the ''Halo'' MacWorld premiere demo. Staten told O'Donnell that the theme needed to evoke the game's "ancient, epic and mysterious" ambiance. To best convey this impression, O'Donnell decided to incorporate a [[Wikipedia:Gregorian chant|Gregorian chant]], which has since become a staple of the ''Halo'' series in its various forms. O'Donnell has stated that he laid down the core melody of the theme in about half an hour. The theme was recorded with an orchestra and a choir one day prior to the MacWorld presentation.<ref>'''[[Remaking The Legend]]'''</ref>

===Halo: Combat Evolved===

 

{{Infobox song

| video     = <youtube width="200" height="25">M0mQk7JEVq4</youtube>

| album      = [[Halo: Original Soundtrack]]

| length    = 2:57

In its original incarnation, featured frequently in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'', it placed heavy emphasis on deep, powerful drums and fast paced strings. The track is heard most prominently at the start of the level ''[[The Silent Cartographer]]'', during the beach landing and during the final [[Warthog run]] segment of ''[[The Maw (level)|The Maw]]''. The chant at the beginning of the piece was used for the main menu screen in-game. On the [[Halo: Original Soundtrack]], however, it was the last track, and also included the bonus track [[Siege of Madrigal]] at the end.

{{clear}}

For ''[[Halo 2]]'', the theme 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-47 Ultra Heavy Assault Platform|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]]''.

===Halo 3===

The theme was again revised for ''[[Halo 3]]'', this time recorded with a live orchestra instead of synthesized strings. 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 be heard humming it with the [[IWHBYD Skull (Halo 3)|IWHBYD skull]] activated in [[campaign]].  

The chant portion of the theme, now referred in the [[Halo 4 credits|''Halo 4'' credits]] as "Halo Cantorum", is heard when [[Installation 03]] is revealed in the level ''[[Composer (level)|Composer]]''. The main notes of the chorus play subtly when Dr. Halsey tells her interrogator not to underestimate the Spartans. The same part is heard more prominently in the theme ''[[117]]'' when John neutralizes the external shield generators on ''[[Mantle's Approach]]''.

The ''Halo Theme'' does not appear in ''[[Halo 3: ODST]]''. While stated before release that the ''Theme'' would not appear in ''[[Halo: Reach]]'',<ref>[http://www.edge-online.com/ '''EDGE Magazine'''], ''February 2010''</ref> several tracks in the soundtrack borrow motifs from it. For example, ''Immemorial'' from ''[[Overture (Halo: Reach)|Overture]]'' takes three bars from the beginning of the chant, while ''Unreconciled'' from ''[[Tip of the Spear (music)|Tip of the Spear]]'' takes the drumbeat and uses both the beginning of the chant and the main melody.

A re-orchestrated version of the theme serves as the theme of ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''.

The initial eight notes of the chant appear after John-117 kills the second Hunter in Part 5 of ''[[Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn]]''.

The Gregorian chant portion of the Halo Theme is used as a major motif in ''[[Halo: Nightfall]]'' trailers.

===Halo Legends===

{{Infobox song

| video     = <youtube width="200" height="25">wqhOsvsJyKw</youtube>

| next      = [[Desperate Measures (Song)|Desperate Measures]]

*The country of [[wikipedia:Palestine|Palestine]] aired government-sponsored music videos, and plays, one of which, according to a source, used the Halo Theme music without Bungie's sanction.<ref>[http://halo.bungie.org/news.html?item=8596 '''Halo.bungie.org''': ''Halo music used in political video.'']</ref>

*The opening Gregorian chant consists of a series of 28 ([[list of "seven" references in Halo|seven]] times four) notes. Additionally, the second and fourth 'phrases' of the chant each consist of seven notes.

<references/>

{{Soundtrack|H1|category=no}}

[[Category:Halo: Combat Evolved OST]]