03 - The Dungeons - The Legend of Zelda (NES) Orchestral Arrangement

I've done the dungeon theme already in Link's Awakening, so for this one, I had to think really hard how to differentiate my second attempt. I decided to make it sound the least Zelda-like as possible. When I think of my time playing the original Zelda, the dungeons were definitely the most difficult. The droning background arpeggios really added to the tension I would feel, and the repetitive tiled screens really gave me claustrophobia.
To contrast the energetic and hopeful tone of the overworld theme. I went for doom and gloom in the dungeons. The dungeons that lay host to the most dangerous ancient beasts must have given Link second thoughts. There was a reason why Zelda chose to hide the Triforce pieces in these ruins filled with long forgotten lore. Every enemy in every screen call out for Link's death, as he does not belong there.
I spent the majority of my efforts on an original tune that would slowly build up to the original melody. With the arpeggios underscoring the entire piece, you can imagine Link starting out stepping forward cautiously, mindful of his surroundings. He searches every room, opens every door, in order to brave through all the obstacles in the maze. With each progress made, Link becomes more sure of himself, more determined, but at the same time the monsters and undead creatures become more terrifying and dangerous. I wanted the entire piece to sound melancholy, because Link knew Zelda was here before him, but was now in captivity.
MP3 and FLAC available for Patrons. ► / thesecondnarrator
The Legend of Zelda Orchestral Arrangement
Arrangement and fan art by Jeremiah Sun
Originally composed by Koji Kondo
You can buy this game for 3DS from the Nintendo eShop

[@MysticRuined]

Listening to this while on the lightning temple in tears of the kingdom... oh LAWD it's so perfect 😩

[@mrbinkey04]

I keep trying to figure out what to say to express how great this is, but I'm at kind of a loss for words. Just.... wow

[@LordPata]

No kidding! Love his orchestral arrangement for Link's Awakening, but he went to a whole new level with his Legend of Zelda (NES) Arrangements :D

[@hypercrizotanuimformulache11]

Just say the magic words "This fills me with the most brief of most oh the glory days"

[@hogoototwilightian628]

I'm stunned that you guys took a roughly 20 second Bit theme into a 12 minute orchestration. You had to be very inspired to make something on this grand scale! Well done!

[@novamarpo3]

Yes, I agree!!

[@IsakMagnusson01]

Goosebumps all over the place...

[@wardedthorn6523]

Oh, that is haunting. Sent chills down my spine!

[@Moha_68]

For one thing, it's very epic. But on the other hand she is very scary and scary. I love her. Very good composition. Congratulations to Koji kondo and to those who made this classic version. ❤❤❤

[@tinalevesque5772]

first dungeon song sounds something from bach with Zelda added in. very interesting. though i prefer a creepy style of the first dungeon this is still gorgeous.

[@jonaslind9505]

3:28 to 3:40 made me think of Albinoni's Adagio in G Minor. Beautiful arrangement all around!

[@stevendudley5687]

Beautiful music bringing back great memories of my childhood in the 90s.

[@user-ms9qj8dn2r]

Although this is supposed to cause somewhat of a "suspense," I always start getting tears in my eyes, because of how beautiful this arpeggio is. The Great Fairy Fountain always has me balling. Like when Aerith dies, in FFVII, I just wanted to have the Fountain theme going on. This song is the first scale I can ever remember, back when I first played Legend Of Zelda in 1988, when I was two years old. This is *I N S A N E L Y B R I L L I A N T* , my friend.

[@mesapdarecriminals0integri563]

Did ou notice thee arpeggiated broken cord are the background fr lost wood and if you flip either song backward,you have descending instead of climbing arpeggiated cord which are same motif just exact opposite, one being the dungeons the other the fairy fountains. Four notes up eek, four notes down, ahhhh!

[@mikesweeney5619]

If you look up the song "I missed Us" by SWV you will hear that very song!!!! the bg music sounds just like Great Fairy Fountain!!!

[@LordEvrey]

Thanks! This is by far my most beloved Zelda dungeon theme, and your arrangement expands it in such a beautiful way.

[@tjhooker824]

It is the most dark and evil sounding

[@DullestStar9299]

This is good! I really like the way it begins so... It does begin melancholy, and then slowly works it's way up tp a more tense dangerous sound. I shivered when those cymbals did there thing. Woo! You got me.

[@pubcle]

Stunning. There are very few things that reach this level of quality and capture the mood so well. I am very impressed and will be listening to more. I look forwards to your work on Zelda II, it is one of my favorites.

[@SandroSashz]

Ficou excelente! Amo esta música. Que bom ter encontrado esta sua versão para ouvir!

[@abandonedmuse]

This is gorgeous

[@DanJost1]

Just incredible. I honestly can’t tell if this is a real symphony or not. If it was I figured I’d see the credits in the description. If not, my god the samples these days are amazing.

[@NerdStuffGaming]

Incredible. Very well done and beautiful sounding. Loved that crescendo as it leads into the main original dungeon theme...

[@thomasdachi]

This is an actual masterpiece! Like, how can something be THIS good??? Thank you for blessing the Earth with your presence!

[@dayshallcomeagain]

I absolutely love this piece, not just because it captures the essence of the dungeons themselves, but how it really makes you wonder...what on earth is this place? We know very little on just exactly what these structures are and what they were built for and when, which all but adds to the layered mystery that the music establishes.

[@nman625]

You really do deserve more subscribers, this was great. I don't know much about the intricate mechanics of music, I just know what I like to hear. I might play this when actually playing the game. It would be a nice change of pace.

[@JaybeePenaflor]

To this day, this is my favorite dungeon theme. I have been looking for an orchestral version of this theme for the longest time, and when I stumbled upon this, I was immediately in love with your work.

[@BobHop77]

Thanks for the music - and the comment! The insight you share with us about your creative process is always a plus. I like the way you explain not _how_ you did it, but _why_ you did it. It's always an interesting read and helps us get more from the music; just like a DVD commentary, in fact. :) I've never played the first Zelda game but you certainly know how to build new stuff on the ancient. It does indeed sound different than your previous take(s) on that theme, and the 12 minutes build-up works really well. Good job!

[@Mx._Chievous]

I’ve been using this as a theme for the labyrinths in my Zelda D&D game and I think it works really well

[@solomon_seraphim]

Same.

[@ValDCX]

This is so awesome. Just wow.

[@tauronmitronion377]

This is excellent! Once again, I love how you explain your creative process for every video. Can't wait to see the rest of this series! I'm particularly excited for Ganon's dungeon theme.

[@wizardtoad7459]

old man - "go to the next room" Link- no shit

[@Pawtiko]

This is incredible... so moving. I can't even describe it. You are amazing.

[@Pawtiko]

Sharing this to everyone I know.

[@themagalanium9491]

if only i had a mod to have this as the shrine themes in breath of the wild, this is perfect

[@doctorrock8721]

You perfectly extend a masterchief of video games history. I really enjoy how you figured out such a result from such an originally short partition.

[@FitnessAndGamesDaily]

Always masterfully done, Jeremiah Sun. I bought your LoZ: LA re-orchestration a few years ago, I'm still in love with it, especially Eagle's Tower theme and Boss Battle. You're fantastic.

[@mystory2914]

Thank you.

[@JaykeMEllis]

::huge grin here:: Beautiful nostalgia.

[@athaliaaltmann3330]

I really like your work!

[@superpixeltea]

This is some spectacular work. Just amazing!

[@HecmarJayam]

This is beautiful ❤️

[@SonicDestroyer12]

This sounds utterly beautiful. Just the right amount of sinister and nostalgic! Any plans to redo Death Mountain?

[@tauronmitronion377]

I believe he's working through the complete soundtrack of the original Legend of Zelda and Adventure of Link.

[@tjhooker824]

This is VERY sinister sounding lol

[@samyelkodssi4037]

Incredible work...

[@Metafalcario23]

I've finally playing through the original, and listening to this in each dungeon greatly enhanced the experience. Fucking level 6, though.

[@CatGerwig]

This is lovely. Wonderful work.

[@restassuredworship]

masterful! love the dynamics and themes within the main piece. you take time with each phrase, thanks for sharing :D

[@tailssexe]

This music is so amazing best one in Zelda

[@mikeprado30]

SUPERB!!!

[@FabienCampaner]

Twelve awesome minutes!

[@MakingOfYourDay]

awesome job there again!

[@Grillenheimer]

This is WONDERFUL! ! Creepy Seven could use this... sorry. But not sure how you did this. Does sound like it's layered on a keyboard like I used to do ages ago on older equipment. But it wasn't on this magnitude. Very well done! I used my ear and did some arrangements based on a few game tunes I could easily play on piano/keyboard (like the Zelda theme - obviously in the key of B flat. And the Starlight Zone from Sonic and the tune from Sonic 2 with the arrow shooting totem poles. I could pick those out fairly easy. Your change in instrumentation and steamrolling effect is very... well... effective!

[@Albino_Basilisk]

Such beauty

[@2am315]

I can't wait for the reorchestrations of Zelda II!!!!!!

[@hopezaraki7497]

You sir are a god!

[@MrCaptShadow]

Great job, would love to see this set to some 2D animation.

[@lochuynh7117]

So EPIC!!!

[@esmooth919]

This is a very good arrangement.

[@mesapdarecriminals0integri563]

The broken arpeggiated cord progression is the same as in the lost wood song and if you turn it backward you have the descending arpeggiated notes just like in the fairy fountain.

[@igorreale2204]

tears

[@DDW18]

I'm in fucking love with this.

[@chadcollier5865]

Your stuff is always so great! When you said you'd done this piece already for Link's Awakening (and I still don't know why they didn't use you for the remake) was Angler'sTunnel essentially a remake of this?

[@JasonSalcedo]

grumble, grumble...

[@charlesanthonymiddlebrooks3487]

#TheSecondNarrator "#MalcolmRobinsonMusic would be proud of you for THIS orchestra scores." ☺️💖♈💭📱🔮 #MiddlebrooksFanatics

[@companionofowls5438]

This is awesome. With what digital instrument did you program the strings into which DAW? I would say an aspiring audio engineer like me could learn from you.

[@elizianecrmaluf]

imagine this in the real game

[@chromatictwovee5033]

Music actually starts at 0:40

[@Youtuubpewp]

This…. But Zelda and Link are venturing beneath Hyrule castle.

[@scanchannel3259]

2:11 is where it really gets gud.

[@esmooth919]

If Nintendo ever remakes LoZ1 in the style of breath of the wild, I hope they license this remix from you

[@blueninjalotus17]

Maybe someone watching tonight can solve one of these unsolved mysteries. Maybe, that someone,..is you?.......

[@Animemusiclover_]

You’re all going to hear my ideas from this soon watch!

[@CatchTEHLight]

The first open world game I played

[@mainmanmooky8820]

Who else loves a bass melody?

[@mikesweeney5619]

"I'll bet you'd like to have more bombs" -100 :)

[@UbarSkwerl]

Is something wrong with the patreon page? I can't find the download link. I am a pledged person, I use your music for my DnD campaigns :)

[@thesecondnarrator]

apologies. totally slipped my mind. uploading now.

[@thelastchannel.6456]

subbed.

[@mrsg1137]

I'm trying to develop a Zelda-Like game and I am struggling on music, I was wondering if I would be allowed to use this piece? Just asking.

[@pablocruz2281]

Wahoo

[@andrewdavidov5618]

Zelda's list lol

[@KronosUniverse]

Where in the world is track 04!?

[@Rhovanion85]

Who's performing it?

[@Pigeon0fDoom]

Just.a.tad.slower and its perfect. (Try running the beginning at 0,75speed, you see, altough, that's too slow)

[@Flymerick]

AAAGGHHH! SPOILER!

[@Wizardof]

Support Patreon? Fuck no. Hell no. I support putting many bottles of pepsi down inside the server clusters and router racks! Too many issues. They don't need everyone's phone #s among other things. Good music otherwise.