The Maw (music)

This article is about the soundtrack. For other uses, see The Maw (disambiguation).

The Maw
Album:	Halo: Original Soundtrack
Composer(s):	Martin O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori
Length:	1:06
Previous:	Rock Anthem for Saving the World
Next:	Drumrun

The Maw is the seventeenth track in Halo: Original Soundtrack.

Overview

The track features a male choir singing somberly, with additional reverb effects. The opening section is also featured in the later track Dust and Echoes.

Appearances

The track plays in the opening cutscene of the level The Maw, the namesake for the piece, when the Master Chief and Cortana, riding in a Banshee, return to the Pillar of Autumn.

Arrangements

The track was arranged into the following:

• Remembrance and beginning of Ghosts of Reach in Halo 2: Original Soundtrack.
• The Maw in Halo Legends: Original Soundtrack.
• Yawning Chasm in Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary: Original Soundtrack.
• The third section of From the Vault in Halo: Reach Original Soundtrack.
• An unreleased track in the Music of Halo Infinite, heard in the menu of the Halo Infinite Multiplayer Tech Preview.

Production notes

• The opening chant was recorded early in the morning when Marty was one of the only remaining staff overnight at Bungie's office. Due to being alone at the time, he had to run in and out of the recording booth between arming and beginning record sessions from the computer.
• The opening chant is one of only three pieces in Halo: Combat Evolved to feature real vocals, the other two being the monk chant heard in Opening Suite, Halo Theme and Truth and Reconciliation (music), and the vocals in Under Cover of Night.
• As with the monk chant heard in Halo Theme, the real vocals are layered in with choir sounds from the Roland XV-5080.