Why Zelda’s New Theme is a Perfect Little Melody

[@jjrussell]

I love the message about not overthinking it. There's a reason some of this stuff has worked for hundreds of years. Not everything you do has to be something that no one has ever even thought of before.

[@eosborne6495]

When I’m deep in the weeds of orchestrating and refining, melodies that I thought were fresh and catchy always seem so facile and derivative because I’m listening to them for the 1000th time. I have to always remind myself that if I liked it the first time, the audience probably will too the first time they hear it.

[@johnrussellcomposer]

@@eosborne6495 Yes, so much this.

[@KairuHakubi]

it's funny how we all, somehow, get it ingrained into us that we have to stand out and please our teachers rather than our audience.

[@billmint8122]

Once you progress past the first group of dungeons, the field theme actually starts with Zelda's Lullaby

[@lightyagami1058]

5:13 "Here's what it would sound like if we took those appagiaturas away." *Twix candy bar add.*

[@Frizzly007]

The song is an earworm. I can’t get it out of my head.

[@inkajoo]

@@Frizzly007 it lacks rhythmic variety

[@FilmScoreandMore]

It's catchy! I just watched and it's already stuck in my head.

[@MamaSymphonia]

It'll probably never leave mine after hearing it for 15 hours straight

[@FilmScoreandMore]

@ Wow, you’ve watched the video a lot!

[@MamaSymphonia]

@@FilmScoreandMore LOL

[@Carlos-M]

I beat the game a week ago and I'm still humming this tune constantly!

[@FilmScoreandMore]

@ I know that feeling!

[@holdeenyo8914]

god I love clarinet

[@jgcaba3173]

I love how Echoes of Wisdom is essentially a love story to all the past games theme music, both Link and Zelda. Even the final battle between Null and Link and Zelda. It oscillates between Links Awakening to Zeldas Lullaby to Zelda Echoes song. You providing such a thoughtful explanation makes me appreciate it more.

[@Radien]

OH MY GOD, you told me more about writing a melody than I ever got from anywhere else!! I've only really participated in choirs, band, and a few years of piano lessons, but still. I came to this video looking for a little bit of musical video game joy, but I'm leaving subscribed because I feel like there's more I can learn here!!

[@KairuHakubi]

this song contains the romance theme from Skyward Sword too, doesn't it? I could swear I can hear it. Though... the only part I can think of, is the same part that you pointed out is Zelda's Lullabye. So I guess both songs just contain that? But the lead-in to that three-note part is also very similar in both.. 3:20 oh THAT's what those are called. I love those.

[@jsteele07189]

In the first four bars, I guess technically there's no chord movement since it's all just G major. But, it really _feels_ like there's one chord per bar. Maybe the Gsus4 in bar 2 could be interpreted as a *IV*sus2. The Gsus2 in bar 4 could be interpreted as a *V* with it's third degree missing (that would be D major missing the F#), but that's a stretch.

[@CalebePriester]

Technically there was chord movement even if it stayed on G, but with suspensions. The fact that it starts on G, goes to a suspension of G, comes back to G, goes to another suspension of G and comes back to G again is an indication of movement. The bass didn't move, maybe, because I don't know if it jumped an octave, so in this sense it may have had movement if it jumped an octave, but the inner voices, which make up the chord, surely moved so there was movement.

[@liamfrager]

I don't think that's a stretch at all. It's like a [I, IVsus2, I, Vsus4] progression all over a tonic pedal. It's half way between [I, IV, I, V] & [I, I, I, I] because removing the third from the non-I chords and putting them over 'do' makes them more I-ish. It's got movement, but not too much movement, eh?

[@thisisnotayoutubechannel]

Agreed, not a stretch at all. That’s how I’d analyze it!

[@Snommelp]

I agree with the others, no big stretch. If you rearrange the notes of a Gsus4, you have a Csus2; rearranging a Gsus2 gives you a Dsus4. It's a little weird to have the suspension in the bass, but stranger things have happened when you utilize a pedal tone. You actually have the same effect in Tom Petty's "Free Fallin," which 12Tone analyzed as harmonic movement (I, IVsus2, I, Vsus4) but which could just as easily be interpreted as an open fifth with the inside of the chord moving (I, Isus4, I, Isus2).

[@harrisondisc]

Can’t forget how when you use Sword Fighter form, the music is combo of both.

[@henryauden618]

I missed your tutorial/analysis videos so much :)

[@alanpillow6679]

So glad this theme’s getting some attention! It’s been stuck in my head since the first trailer! 😂

[@Snommelp]

Your references to your students are reminding me of my own student days. I'd be writing a hymn tune and think something like "I really want to include an augmented sixth in here somewhere," but it never fit, and I had to accept the fact that the melody I'd written was asking for a simpler harmonic progression.

[@justindza]

Great video man. I was literally just thinking about the similarities. And your breakdown appeared in my recommended.

[@damaljinev]

0:14 For some reason, I want the 3rd note, C5, to be B4! I feel like the tritone resulting from C5 to F#5 sounds too weak, compared to a fifth from B4 to F#5.

[@jaydenholt8439]

hah yeah i just tried it on my keyboard, that sounds awesome!!

[@damaljinev]

@@jaydenholt8439 Thanks! Edit: After listening to the original for a while, it's growing on me.

[@tristananleu4677]

C to F#

[@lightyagami1058]

The fifth measure is actually a resolution to the first bar. The C resolves up to a D. C, F#, and the E natural in the fifth bar all point to that D natural. It almost sounds mixolydian.

[@orca_noob896]

Haha I went to my guitar to try to replay this melody by ear (hadn’t read your comment yet) and I played B4 before realizing it was actually C5. Not sure which I like better.

[@jacobyorton]

7:55 The worship guitarist in me thinks we should play Gsus, only Gsus.

[@IvoryMadness.]

What a great video! Really liked your analysis!

[@ZayaMillis]

I would love to see you do a breakdown of the Hyrule Field theme from Twilight Princess

[@Danilyn_Livao]

You really nails why it’s such a perfect melody-simple yet powerful, capturing the essence of Zelda’s adventure and nostalgia. The way he explains its layers and emotional impact makes you appreciate the theme even more. A must-watch for any Zelda fan! 🙌

[@RinkuSonic41]

It's actually the same exact first 5 notes as Canale 5's jingle, an italian television channel

[@m4r_art]

Considering how much better the music in EoZ than in TOTK you might wanna change that shirt. 😂 By all means it's a better direction for Zelda as it's clearly aimed at classic Zelda fans that crave Lore, Story and the Zelda sound we were used to, with tweaks of course...

[@ulengrau6357]

So, in other words, Zelda's Hyrule theme is derivative of Link's Hyrule theme. What a shame. She should've gotten her own. Nah, I'm just kidding y'all. These are video game characters, not people. I don't care what's derivative of what. This theme is catchy as hell, that's all that matters.

[@poodychulak]

They both live in Hyrule, but they experience it differently. We're hearing their interpretations!

[@dtracers]

Anything too different and it won't be a "Zelda" game (ironic that it is her name that the series is associated with)

[@MataNataM]

There are references to Zelda’s lullaby all over the place. If you pay attention, in Tri’s themes there are bits of reveresed zelda’s lullaby which instantly reminded me of skyward sword’s main theme. Nintendo is getting subtle with these things

[@SteveTreseler]

Cool video. That’s not oringally Links awakening, it’s the OG NES overworld theme.

[@jackatk]

Bwahaaaa I’m not a huge Zelda fan, but even that bothered me lol It reminded me of a mocumentary video where the guy cited Mario 2 as being the first video game with jumping in it

[@kieranmarsh9128]

I thought this was a Charles Cornell vid till I clicked, pleasant surprise!

[@boiyonetta]

Is your course a subscription thing? Or single payment?

[@slenderMax28]

Great video. Kinda feel like I've been used as a guinea pig for a lecture for your students lol

[@j.thomas1420]

Nice analysis thank you

[@MysteriousMusician33]

I just realized they didn't use a Bb Clarinet for that, they probably used an A Clarinet. I say this because the A note sounds like the clarion register, but on the Bb, that's not the case. It could also be a midi or other version of the clarinet, but I'd never noticed before regardless! Edit: nvmd the transcription you wrote is just in concert key dang lol, just a regular Bb Clarinet

[@gianlucabroglia1910]

I think it might be a bass clarinet, both in type of sound and because it sounds an octave lower

[@CalebePriester]

Ryan, I have a question for you. You have recommended the book "Harmony & Voice Leading by Edward Aldwell and Carl Schachter" for those who want to study theory. How many months or years did it take for you to study this book? I know everyone has their own rhythm. Some are more dedicated, some don't have so much time because of x, but how long did it take for you to study this book? I'm asking just so I can have some reference, you know? Because I'm taking my time. I'm writing the examples on Muse Score, doing the exercises. So I'm taking my time. It's a great book. I like its approach. It teaches you about the I and V chord in major and minor and then everything after is an expansion of that. I'm enjoying this book very much. I have the fourth edition, do you know if this one is the last one or if there's a more updated one?

[@Schrogs]

A perfect melody but it’s not very catchy or something I want to listen too all day like I can with other Zelda music.

[@JP-bb9hu]

Is there a particular reason, why all every composer on KZbin ever talks about is Zelda and Anime?

[@gavinleepermusic]

Let's goooooo!! Great video dude!

[@Andrewtm23]

The old black friday content post with the customary link in the description:) nice one

[@Ankhyl]

It’s not perfect because it becomes annoying after a time. It’s not memorable to be hummed. It would be good for a town but not an adventure-like overworld

[@CalebePriester]

I was the like nº 100. Good job and thank you.

[@inkajoo]

I find it a bit grating and breathless. Like it is trying too hard to impress you.

[@alanpillow6679]

I hear it as reserved yet confident! Fits with wisdom being the focus instead of “action-packed”

[@inkajoo]

@alanpillow6679 it lacks rhythmic variation so it gets annoying

[@thisisnotayoutubechannel]

Love the video! But at the risk of being pedantic, the f-sharps are retardations, not appoggiaturas

[@jonsnow4372]

All these fancy gimmicks aside, its not nearly as catchy as the original overworld theme.

[@NickHoad]

Catchiness is subjective, this has been stuck in my head on and off since it first appeared in the trailer

[@CalebePriester]

There are bad tunes, there are good tunes and there are the godlike tunes.

[@seaslug9144]

the original has been around for almost 40 years, it's a bit of an unfair comparison

[@Orangebritches]

Really fun game too.