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The music of Zelda |OT| Hey, Listen!

Oscillator

Oscillator

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Oct 30, 2017
1,787
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I think it's safe to say there isn't another video game series where the music has not only been consistently compelling over its entire multi-decade lifespan, but also contributed so much to its atmosphere AND gameplay.




Composed primarily by Mario composer Koji "King of Melody" Kondo up to 2000's Majora's Mask, then sharing duties most notably with Splatoon composer Toru Minegishi, Mario Kart 64 composer Kenta Nagata, and Pikmin composer Hajime Wakai, The Legend of Zelda's soundtracks have produced many of the catchiest and most recognizable songs in all of gaming, not to mention some of the most intense battle themes, most emotional tracks, as well as soothing ambience and delightful quirkiness.

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Zelda's composers have shown a magnificent ability to adapt music from any genre to match any mood. Bombastic orchestral, gentle piano, watery steel drums, flighty pan flute, dissonant Chinese opera gongs, ethereal chanting, and graceful harps. And the result always sounds like its own thing, rather than trying to ape classical or popular music. This holds true for Nintendo's music in general, but Zelda's strives to be so much more than just a cherry on top. It weaves itself into the fabric of the game, and becomes just as important a part of the journey as the dungeons, characters, and vistas.

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And of course, while the heightened fidelity of the 3D Zelda soundtracks has contributed so much to these attributes, the tunes of the 8-bit and 16-bit eras still absolutely pack a punch. And the handheld entries haven't been slouches either.

More Majora

Title
Astral Observatory
Deku Palace
Stone Tower Temple Inverted

Battle Barrage

Blizzeta (Part 2)
Zant (Part 5)
Demon Lord Ghirahim (Part 2)
Phantom Ganon (WW)

Superior Interiors

Shop (OoT)
Potion Shop (OoT)
Renado's House (TP)
Knight Academy (SS)

Curated Covers

FamilyJules - Shooting Gallery
Amy Turk - Great Fairy's Fountain (New faster version! )
Dr. Pez - OoT medley
gabocarina96 - Hyrule Field (TP)
Spencer Register - Minuet of Forest
Will Vowels - Song of Storms (hammered dulcimer)
Little V's Zelda Covers

Links (the ones you click ^_^)

8-bit Music Theory - The Music of Zelda's Overworld
In-depth analysis of OoT songs
Mark Brown (Boss Keys) - mini BotW music review/breakdown
Mario & Zelda Big Band - Goron City
Smashing...Live! - Great Bay Shrine
Symphony of the Goddesses on The Late Show
Symphony of the Goddesses concert series official website

Prior Zelda music threads

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker's OST is musical genius
In Defence of Zelda: Breath of the Wild's Soundtrack | Game Score Fanfare
The less famous but still excellent tracks of The Legend of Zelda
Breath of the Wild's soundtrack is perfect and elevates every single aspect of the game.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - OST Appreciation Thread
The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses has been running strong for nearly 6 years now.




Oscillator said:
For those asking, you can post anything even tangentially related to Zelda music, even websites just talking about it. :)
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edit - fixed a couple links
 
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boris_feinbrand

boris_feinbrand

Member
Oct 26, 2017
6,571
On mobile now, but I really really adore the lanayru harbor track from Skyward sword.

Will post here tomorrow when I wake up.
 
The Unsent

The Unsent

Member
Oct 25, 2017
19,419
I didn't think Wind Waker was great but loved the music like the irish sounding song in the credits.
 
Alexander_Wand

Alexander_Wand

Member
Nov 11, 2017
296
Italy
It's really interesting that The Legend of Zelda main theme should have been Ravel's Bolero.
Even if I like Kondo's Main Theme, Bolero would have been even more legendary.

http://www.nintendolife.com/news/20...das_iconic_opening_song_almost_never_happened



Kondo: For quite a while, it just played Ravel's Bolero. It really matched the opening crawl!

Miyamoto: You rearranged it for the NES, right?

Kondo: Right. But immediately before finishing The Legend of Zelda, we learned it was still under copyright.

Tezuka: Uh-huh. (laughs)

Miyamoto: Oh, I remember that! (laughs) The Copyright Incident! In Japan, music usually enters the public domain 50 years after the death of the composer.

Ravel, who wrote the music we were using for the opening crawl, lived a long time ago, so we thought we were safe. But we looked it up just to be safe and found out it had been something like 49 years and 11 months since Ravel's passing and the copyright would run out in a month. But we didn't think we could wait that long. (laughs)
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Deleted member 5086

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Oct 25, 2017
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Thanks for making this thread. Call me biased because of my username, but I feel like Wind Waker has the best overall OST. :P Ocarina of Time is probably close behind for me. Pretty much every Zelda game has a great soundtrack imo, though.

One of my favourites from BotW:



It really works well with the surprise and excitement you feel the first time you come across one of these guys.
 

Deleted member 36622

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This one probably the most iconic from BOTW: so many time wandering around Hyrule and then hearing that song and you're like "okay now, i've to find Kass".

 
Dernhelm

Dernhelm

Avenger
Oct 25, 2017
5,422
Is it cool to post other musicians' renditions of Zelda music? Any chance I get to post Wind Waker Unplugged is a chance for people to hear one of the best tracks ever put to games, from a series that takes the concept of music as a core facet of storytelling more serious than even voice acting, to the point where it is inspirational.

 

Deleted member 5086

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SteadFast said:
Is it cool to post other musicians' renditions of Zelda music? Any chance I get to post Wind Waker Unplugged is a chance for people to hear one of the best tracks ever put to games, from a series that takes the concept of music as a core facet of storytelling more serious than even voice acting, to the point where it is inspirational.

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Bless you.
 
Dernhelm

Dernhelm

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Oct 25, 2017
5,422
Listening to that Will Vowels - Song of Storms one in the OP reminds me that I think BotW missed an easily beloved little nod they could've given to this track, by having it subtly play during prolonged lightning/rain storms.
 

Deleted member 9971

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Not2Xavi said:
No, you don't understand... I love the whole Zelda soundtrack.
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That one and Midna's Lament are my all time favorites.


takriel said:
Shoutout to the two best main themes:

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Play the last one in reverse and be mindblown (ballad of the goddess)
Zelda's Lullaby

Also if interested take a look at my profile bio to see my awesome Zelda tats. 1 more is planned. Might make a sleeve out of it and connect it all later.
 
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Bán

Bán

Banned
Oct 27, 2017
1,307
Great thread. The music of Zelda has been a consistent joy in my life for more than three decades now.

I'll never forget hearing that title theme on the NES for the first time as a young child. It seemed so foreboding and mysterious...
 
Dernhelm

Dernhelm

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Oct 25, 2017
5,422
Toon Link said:
Sorry if I spoiled that for you. D: It was a beautifully nostalgic moment, though.
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One thing I noted about in the Soundtrack of the Year thread is how seamlessly both the day and night cycle blends with the score of certain areas, with Rito Village being the best example. Day is only slightly more jovial and lively with instruments than night, but both are straight up mystical.



 
-shadow-

-shadow-

One Winged Slayer
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Oct 25, 2017
6,110
IT COUNTS DARN YOU!



Also a really cool rendition of Gerudo Valley, I'd love to ever come across these two guys because they do an amazing cover!



KingDirk said:
I shouldn't have been the first
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So admit it... We all go: Chickachickachickachickachickachickachickachickachickachicka whenever we play this!
 
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alejo0121

alejo0121

Member
Oct 27, 2017
156
Love the epic Hyrule Castle theme from BotW, it's a homage to many themes from old games and manages to sound like it's own thing. You can hear pieces of the original Hyrule Castle theme, Ganon's theme, Ballad of the Windfish and Zelda's Lullaby.

Edit: Also, the music changes depending if you are inside or outside the castle, it does it seamlessly


 

ced

Member
Oct 27, 2017
2,751
SteadFast said:
One thing I noted about in the Soundtrack of the Year thread is how seamlessly both the day and night cycle blends with the score of certain areas, with Rito Village being the best example. Day is only slightly more jovial and lively with instruments than night, but both are straight up mystical.



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I loved visiting Rito village just for the music.
 

Zedelima

â–˛ Legend â–˛
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Oct 25, 2017
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SteadFast said:
One thing I noted about in the Soundtrack of the Year thread is how seamlessly both the day and night cycle blends with the score of certain areas, with Rito Village being the best example. Day is only slightly more jovial and lively with instruments than night, but both are straight up mystical.



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That song is amazing, god BOTW soubdtrack is incredible
 

Deleted member 5086

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SteadFast said:
One thing I noted about in the Soundtrack of the Year thread is how seamlessly both the day and night cycle blends with the score of certain areas, with Rito Village being the best example. Day is only slightly more jovial and lively with instruments than night, but both are straight up mystical.



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Speaking of which, I still need to submit my votes for soundtrack of the year. I'll be sure to submit some BotW tracks.
 
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