Halo's Music And Why We Love It | Video Essay

After almost twenty years since the release of the first installment, Halo is still heralded as having some of the best soundtracks in a series of games ever. In this video I look at the various themes and leitmotifs used in the game’s soundtrack, analyse what they mean, the importance of their use in the games, how they emotionally impact us, how they’ve maybe been misused in other games after Marty O’Donnell and Michael Salvatori’s departure and discuss where we’re headed next with Halo Infinite.
Also, hang around till the end for a sneak peak of something coming later this year...
Keen to ask me a question, play some games together or just chat? Feel free to chuck a follow on Twitch so you’ll know when I go live!
TWITCH: twitch.tv/laperlarden
MUSIC CREDITED:
Eva -The End
Timestamps
0:00 Intro
2:06 What is a Theme/Leitmotif?
3:24 How Halo Changed Music In Games
5:12 Examples of The Halo Theme In-Game
8:18 So, About Halo 5...
9:51 Continuity of Themes
11:49 The Musical Relationship Between Chief & Cortana
14:42 Halo 4: Cleverer Than You Think
15:34 The Warthog Run
18:45 Emotional Equity
20:33 Halo Infinite
21:12 Don't Make a Girl a Promise...
21:52 Outro and [REDACTED]

[@TheMartyODonnell]

Ok, how did I miss this?

[@TAGSTER_HD]

Always great to see you sir ! Thanks for the amazing childhood !

[@Cobbster92]

I love you, Marty

[@Twohaps]

Ok, how did 343 miss you being the one to make the soundtrack :(

[@aegg8649]

Hello

[@Scruffi]

o7

[@ChrisRayGun]

This is awesome

[@LaperLarden]

Coming from you, that honestly means the world to me. Thank you so much!

[@AnotherHaloGamer]

@@LaperLarden holy shit dude you sound so Australian like me and ur underrated btw I like ur editing style

[@Ragd0ll1337]

Here from Marty's channel - he clarified over there that he meant "equity" in the financial sense rather than the fairness sense, meaning when he builds an emotional connection between the audience and a particular theme/sound, then pulls that same theme/sound out later (as if from a bank account), he's cashing in on that emotional attachment so you feel how Marty wants you to feel. Other than that, bang on!

[@Nailfut]

To be clear: we didn't deserve the mastercraft of both Davidge and Jinnouchi, both did excellent works on their own, trying to contribute to the Halo legacy (those weird Forerunner chants from H4, the Mantis theme and 117 are all iconic to me). Problem was the implementation and 343i's vision for the musical aesthetic of its Halo games, thus the backlash from the fans. With Infinite, we finally get new stuff while still being faithful to Halo's legacy, which is excellent, every track I've heard so far was so evocative, but I still hope we'll get another Mantis theme or To Galaxy as well.

[@LaperLarden]

Definitely. To Galaxy is *the* Halo Multiplayer theme as far as I'm concerned. Hearing it so often in the Halo 4 Wargames menu engrained it into my brain. And I think it'd be a massive missed opportunity to not reorchestrate 117 or Green and Blue for Infinite, especially given the emphasis on Chief and Cortana's relationship.

[@damienmaymdien6367]

117 slaps.

[@Spartan-sz7km]

117 is the best halo track in my opinion

[@HuhJuhWuh]

The best part about the warthog run motif being in halo 4 is its part of 117, which is by far the best track in the game, and incredibly representative of chief. Ultimately the greatest part about Halos music is when the music acts lime a tailwind, galvanizing and inspiring the player.

[@Patrickillian]

Agree.

[@Spartan-sz7km]

People hate on halo 4 but I've really grown to like some of its music and forerunner architecture, that kind of aesthetic blended with older more monastery/ancient aesthetic would be majestic. Imagine an ancient forerunner containment facility reminiscent of bungie-era architecture buried beneath, a dark hidden labyrinth underneath 343i-style beautiful structures glowing with hardlight at night.

[@Firefrab]

117 is one of my favourite pieces of music, it feels like it ties everything together

[@Apollo5752353]

117 and Arrival, beat pieces of music from H4

[@Sporemastercreator]

OMG that transition at 21:12, goosebumps… Amazing how nuanced the musical placement always was, and most of us probably never noticed it, but DEFINITELY felt it!

[@chieftain20]

That transition hit me super hard. It swells up a large amount of emotions that's hard to contain. It's such an impactful piece. Same can be said for the part at 13:26. It's like the emotional connection is instantly repaired and makes us whole again.

[@darkenedhound9633]

Yeah it defintalt hit, cause of well how much this game meant. Thst moment always gets me. He does know his music theory

[@PinkGuy1313]

This is highly underrated for the production quality.

[@MP5DABest]

Glad someone else enjoyed the Halo 4 soundtrack. It took years for it to grow on me but I really do enjoy the story and music of Halo 4 now.

[@ThelVadam7777]

Not a fan of the story for me… I get why peopel like it but they changed far to much for me and ruined the mystery of the forerunners and my favorite species and the arbiter was not in it…. But i can understand why people like it though

[@DualWieldFTW]

Tbh you kinda crystallized in my mind why Chief meeting the Weapon made me wanna cry out in joy. Not just the emotion of the moment, but the realization that whoever's in charge of Infinite's music, they know what the hell they're doing, and they're doing it with well-placed confidence.

[@Spartan-sz7km]

The people behind the music are legends. Gareth coker behind ori music, he's really talented

[@CEOofDontCareInc]

Halo 4's 117 theme is unironically one of the best gaming themes ever

[@Mvb91]

it's a good score, but doesn't sound like "halo"

[@Yayaloy9]

You don't even hear the theme most of the time because of the combat. Atleast in other halo game, u catch on.

[@PongPogPonderan]

This gives a lot of perspective on how to write thematic music for a story

[@haydenblack5648]

That last clip with cortanas theme leading into halo infinite…. Wow bro. I now understand why I got such huge chills during that moment of the trailer. This was an epic video

[@bruceclounie3716]

That, chief diving into the pelican...the second-to-last scene...Infinite gets the motifs right. It all makes sense now. Felt like Halo because of the using the old music at the right times..along with some great new music.

[@Twismyer]

I don't think I'll ever get tired of all these video essays talking about how good the o.g trilogy was.

[@denizhartmann6796]

Oh damn never ever haha

[@elijahbowers1]

Marty posted a snippet of this and holy cow this was stellar. Thank you! Also 117 from Halo 4 was so freaking good!

[@TriCobaltGmg]

That last bit is something I've been screaming into the wind for the past 2 months about, it's why I think Cortana and the weapon will be one and the same by the end of infinite, or perhaps something similar? I'm so excited

[@flavourruling2162]

This aged superb! Good call

[@volt42re]

You perfectly described why I love Halo 4’s soundtrack and the game’s final mission

[@motozealot5176]

Halo music fills me with emotion, nostalgia, wonder, mystery, sorrow, and happiness. The sense of grand adventure and solum rememberance. Marty and Michael managed to capture so much in so little from composition to implimentation in the missions. Thank you for filling my heart and soul

[@mccsfR286]

Halo is basically a musical soundtrack that comes with a free game. Especially Halo Combat Evolved. Can never forget that music... I listen to it everyday. it's like the national anthem of gamers, tbh

[@Snoozie]

Every now and again i just sit down and listen to the halo osts and it always starts with that one piano note. Every single time. I hear it once, get the shivers down my spine and think Yeah. No one does it like marty did halo.

[@thedukeofdjent3399]

Man this deserves more views... There's just so much to talk about when it comes to Halos music, and you really nailed it with why the OG themes feel so forced in 5. At least H4 had the balls to create a truly alien soundtrack with all the electronic stuff. I reckon Infinite is on track to have a banger soundtrack, and you can already hear the return of leitmotifs for Esharum with that solo Doublebass melody in "Set a fire in your heart" (who even writes that?) Keep it up man, and I'm hyped for that music vid!

[@meantcabbage711]

Good news Marty himself posted a short video about him. He plans on doing a reaction

[@artistanthony1007]

The Forerunner Structures and Space were the main presentation for the music and that's what makes it iconic and "alot" to me as a kid to now an adult, the Halo Ring Structures were and are just....overwhelming and an experience.

[@icanhazdnr]

Wait, did we just forget that the main Star Wars theme was actually Luke's theme in the OT?

[@andyclouser5139]

I had the same reaction to the warthog run in Halo 4, I didn't miss it.

[@JBOBROSKII]

Everything me and my brother talk about halo (we were around 9 and 10 when alo 3 came out) I come to this and tears just stream down my face with a hug smile. I'm 26 now lol.

[@Ghost996]

I just love how consistent every single Halo game is with it's soundtrack. So many different versions of a song from the first game. Such as the main theme has a Halo CE, 2 and 3 version. The song Brother In Arms is used in a few different Halo games and sound so unique and different but still the same all the time. You'll even have songs from the anime Halo Legends and would recognise said song.

[@spaceperson613]

I never grew up with Halo as a kid, all I had was a gamecube and a wii. I only experienced halo through going to my friends places on the weekends and after school. While I didn't got to experience it myself until recently when it came to pc. But this music is still nostalgic to me despite my limited interaction with it. I suppose that it might be due to how much it seemed different from other music I've heard.

[@theshrew2804]

I’ve sat in line at midnight to pick up halo 4 and it was a highlight to what would be the worst few years of my life. It’s by far my favorite Halo game and the music SLAPS.

[@CopperSucks]

the halo 3 moment where chief finds cortana always stuck out to me and now i know why, thanks !

[@ogredew]

its a great scene

[@suprm4n85]

Thank you for this. Amazing that these songs evoke such emotion from me. Raising the hair on the arm, goosebumps on my skin, and even some tears trying to build up in my eyes at Masterchief recovering Cortana in Halo 3. Outstanding work.

[@Jon-ey4el]

The star wars theme is used in the films. Usually when a heroic action is taking place. When Luke and Leia swing across the gap in the Death Star or when Luke leads the escape from Jabbas sail barge are two that come to mind..

[@Beregond1861]

As a musician who has played Halo and experimented with music since I was 4, thank you so much for making this, man.👍❤🎶

[@ecokrazy]

Trying to focus on the audio makes me re-realize how amazing Jen Taylor is as a voice actor

[@smitemus]

21:12 This simple showcase of clips you put together of 'emotional equity' as described by O'donnell... Just freaking tears.

[@Spartan-sz7km]

That ending clip of cortana made me tear up

[@LoveSickWorld]

I can already see them using the songs in the right way for infinite. When the pelican pilot whipped away the frost revealing Chief and all went quite, only to hear the finish the fight piano, I wanted to cry. That one key means so much I can’t even begin to explain it

[@vibesxyt7368]

Halo : Combat Evolved Is my Childhood memories ✨ [ Nostalgic ] ✨ This music makes me Goosebumps And Sometimes Give Tears in my Eyes

[@neonsolace2748]

Dude i've been noticing these motifs alot a while back and been waiting so damn long for a guy to make a video about them

[@sledgedragon2677]

That Cortana theme playing over The Weapon's cutscene was awesome

[@chickendrawsdogs3343]

"Finish the Fight" is a legendary track among legendary tracks.

[@halometroid]

The gong/cymbals at 3:44 always gives me chills 21 years later. You just know shit is about to go down.

[@balance555]

That beginning part about getting online 10 years later seeing those who you made friends with are no longer active its hard. I felt that haha

[@swat3848]

I was on another tab and I heard the first notes, and I never clicked so fast back into youtube lmao

[@couldntthinkofayoutubename6498]

Holy fucking shit this makes me love the halo 3 music more now. I didnt know it was possible

[@MrKaji010]

When I play this game for the first time and when I just replayed it on the master chief collection on the last mission and when I heard that epic music my my soul puts itself back together

[@ebomb1133]

13:28 Cortana is easily one of my most disliked missions, but gosh darn it every time this cutscene makes it all worth it the moment it plays. The music, dialogue, their inflections...... chef's kiss 👌All that grinding through heavily flood infested corridors, hours of restarts and constant push/pull, all for that glorious cutscene between old friends. Fantastic video as always dude!

[@greatcesari]

Fantastic analysis. This deserves way more views for the insane amount of effort you put into this, and for the sake of spreading informative knowledge about this series' background to newer generations of fans.

[@PipeJM117]

Hi, thank you very much for this video. I loved the relation you made between the scenes of Cortana and Master Chief, you really found the reason because I felt the meeting between the Chief and the Weapon so deep. Greetings from Colombia.

[@ethanhegel8576]

You just explained how I’ve felt about the music of Halo for so long, including Halo 4’s music which I’ve defended for years. 🙂

[@SixEighthOfficial]

9:59 This is something I as a music artist relate to, it's really hard sometimes to get a song together on an empty plate per say, it's much easier to take a baseline and tinker it, which leads to a better overall product because it has a solid foundation.

[@platrover5110]

This made me love the songs even more man i didnt know i neeeded this essay but im glad martin shared this with us so we can find this video thanks alot Martin and thanks for this video essay man keep it up

[@Jorary209]

The entire video was a whole nostalgia trip and just appreciating that I was able to experience it at a young age (and really being spoiled because music like this is very hard to come by in FPS). But that ending you did was just great mixing in the classic theme with the Infinite trailer was 🤌🏾

[@SuperGoose42]

I agree with you, the way the warthog run was used in Halo 4's final mission was spectacular and it might be my favorite use of it as well. It's half the reason that mission is my favorite in the game.

[@theneoreformationist]

I think the reason it's not appreciated as much is because the warthog levels are simply more fun. But musically, I think it's an amazing piece.

[@MlSTERSANDMAN]

I really like the halo 4 main menu theme: Atonment. Very moving. Similar to the gregorian chant but also very different!

[@damienstitchman1981]

Yo Marty O'Donnell posted this on his Twitter! Congrats dude!

[@adamniehaus5835]

Seeing "last online 9 years ago" really hits you

[@mopadrider6012]

The music of halo feels like being in a movie

[@trillionbones89]

one of my proudests achievements is playing "one final effort" on piano. i can play it by heart, but it's rare to have a perfect performace (as in zero mistakes). it was a lot of work writing down all the notes from a youtube video i watched and then hammering them into my head for 2 years. that was over 10y ago. i can still play it.

[@zonerdarkrevention6223]

the first time I heard that one track from Halo 4, maybe this was the fight he was worth waking for.

[@nathanielt.7747]

That ending gave me chills

[@Nethseaar]

Note: The Star Wars theme does occur outside of the opening credits, associated with Luke's heroism during the last part of the Death Star trench run. It's at 7:08 in the track "The Battle of Yavin" Also, I suspect O'Donnell meant "equity" in the "shares in a company" sense - it's a store of value invested in Halo thanks to the music. Great vid! Leitmotifs need all the attention they can get, 'cause the clever use of leitmotifs can take a good movie or game over the top into legendary greatness!

[@ErikLosLobos]

I love how the simpler less produced music hits harder than the big scale stuff in later games

[@bebospartan1173]

1:01 at this point he says we can remember a bunch at the drop of a single note as soon as I heard 1:19 I had the biggest flash back to me playing halo 3. The entire campaign flashed before my eyes and I remembered a particular time when i was on the mission The covenant in 2007. I was laying on my back with my head hanging off the end of the couch upside down facing the tv, trying to finish the entire mission while looking at it upside down. At the time I was about just about to turn 4. I genuinely remember this period of my life. Loading the game on easy cause at the time I was bad at halo, and I also remembered my first custom game against my dad 14 years ago. In hind sight I think he let me win. Damn those were the days. Not a care in the world.

[@MbV9320]

Excellent essay! Really enjoyed it.

[@yato1127]

Glad to see this video and channel finally get the recognition it deserves! Congrats mate! First time I finished the video, the transition of Cortana’s theme made me quite teary-eyed. Great job!

[@ikanilegui5982]

You made me cry. This video was perfect.

[@todddouglas7231]

This is one of my favorite videos on KZbin. Thank you

[@nachdruck.]

maaaaaan what a video. i had so many moments of crazy goosepumps in it. great work. i see great success in this channel!

[@dragons3471]

This video is put together so well, I love it

[@boylikegirlz]

Video is really awesome, thank you for making this

[@DazToke]

Yea you summed up that beginning tune perfectly

[@MasterCheeseII7]

Top quality content, seriously love this stuff man

[@LaperLarden]

Thanks!

[@jarg8]

The Halo 4 soundtrack is underappreciated. I always enjoyed it. No comparing to the original stuff but it's really quite good in its own right.

[@garretttekampe9564]

This is perfect I've been waiting for someone to flesh out the thematic transformation in this music and you did it perfectly. I learned so much about these themes being put together from this video I never realized before, and it made me cry. Complete with a comment from Marty.

[@mrtoad8630]

The 117 theme from Halo 4 might be my favorite piece of Halo music of all time

[@flipscuffle6107]

I really appreciate these videos. You put a lot of effort into them. You definitely deserve more subs.

[@soyboyiii8771]

Actual goosebumps at the ending

[@lindholmaren]

That end got me really excited Now I gotta check that too

[@mute_psycho697]

That intro was relatable, only for me it started with CE Anniversary and Reach.

[@Greez1337]

Most Halo tracks don't really put me in nostalgia zones all that much, but I kinda get into the "zone" of the song. I love taking long walks just hitting play on Halo 2, 3, or ODST's OST.

[@miniDwarfB0y]

Recently found your channel and loved this vid. Leitmotifs are a fascinating subject, Howard Shore uses them brilliantly in his LOTR compositions.

[@ShapedS1lver]

This video is so friggin good! Your editing and the way you talked about it all was awesome! I almost cried lol. Thank you for making this amazing piece of content!

[@Xbox3851_]

I love the classic music of Halo. I'll never experience the days of being there personally but I'll always respect the music and the older games

[@zow8238]

I actually liked Neil Davidge and Kazuma's osts for their respective Halo games. I think the circumstances and aesthetics surrounding the music is what brought it down in the end.

[@Spartan-sz7km]

In another timeline, halo 4 launched with halo infinite's polish and artstyle. Maybe a halo 4 anniversary remaster?

[@jamesvargheseabraham1242]

Halo 2 soundtrack is like the best out all other games cuz of its nostalgia and memorable moments of me playing Halo 2 when I was a kid

[@JohnWilksBooth907]

That ending was almost too much well done sir you’ve made my childhood even better a now I’m gonna play every halo again including reach and ODST

[@smallzthehomie7603]

Good video bro, the music can just send you outta this world, I imagine many of these songs in a movie

[@frankiewestmoreland2965]

Love this so much! But as a Star Wars fan, I have one nitpick. The Star Wars main theme was originally meant for Luke, and it does represent him in the first film. But as the franchise went on after Return of the Jedi, it became much more of a main theme like you suggest here. The Prequels only use it a couple of times in action cues. Other than that, I love everything you have to say about the music of Halo - subscribed now after seeing Marty promote you!

[@StrikeAxl]

This video is mind blowing. Thank you!

[@fusedjames1173]

Honestly thought this was a massive channel.... videos are so well put together 😱. You have my sub sir. Will be an awesome journey to 1 mill ! 💪

[@homeyduh]

Oh gosh, why did the ending have me in the feels?

[@AyeForScotlandVideoEssays]

I always wondered why the track '117' was the only real standout piece of music from Halo 4 that was added to my playlist and this video perfectly explained why. Awesome video and great analysis of Halo's music.

[@trueblueyahoo6185]

Great video! I would love to see you talk more about the music of Reach and ODST, which are both incredible as well.

[@tankgunner9860]

This is such a great video essay

[@elijahrasmussen1641]

Can't wait for the compilation of music you mentioned!

[@LaperLarden]

It's a bit of a wait till it releases, but I'm hoping it'll be well worth it!

[@UnfundedCheese]

The soundtracks for this series can still make me tear up at times. Some of it is because of how much I enjoy the games. But most of the time it brings back memories of all the LAN parties and late nights of gaming with my friends. All of which we still do today.

[@thehappyguardsman9085]

One of my favorite renditions of the Halo theme itself appears in the track from Halo 3 “Roll Call”, when the newly formed ring rises from the ark right in front of Chief and Arby…. It’s immaculate🔥 Also Halo 2’s menu theme gives me the most nostalgia 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@lleytonmariscotes9390]

This explanation made me want Halo music to be taught in schools as requirement

[@kmanalpha453]

Halo 4 is my favorite Halo game, and it took me until about 3 years ago to realize many apparently hated it

[@warwolf715]

This was a lesson on music theory.. by using my favourite tracks ever. If Only I had this during school, I'd have concentrated and done so much better. Better late than never! Seriously awesome stuff man, I wish your channel success, you did an amazing job

[@TheHaiko117]

this made me very emotional at some parts. i will love halo forever with all of my heart and one of the biggest reasons will be the music. thank you for this video. we will watch your career with great interest :)