Halo Theme

From Wind Repertory Project
Martin O'Donnell
Michael C. Salvatori

Martin O’Donnell and Michael Salvatori (arr. Robert Sheldon)


Subtitle: From Halo Suite


General Info

Year: 2001 / 2006
Duration: c. 4:10
Difficulty: III (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Orchestra
Publisher: Alfred Music Publishing
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $67.00   |   Score Only (print) - $10.00


Instrumentation

Full Score
Flute
Oboe
Bassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II
Horn in F
Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III-IV, including:

  • Bass Drum
  • Bells
  • Conga
  • Gong
  • Snare Drum
  • Suspended Cymbal
  • Tambourine
  • Xylophone


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

Kids love video games, so what better way to get them excited about playing music? This Robert Sheldon arrangement will be familiar to all your video-game-playing students. A symphonic sound is ensured with this classic video game overture-style theme.

Video Games Live is an interactive experience that drew over 10,000 people to a concert at the Hollywood Bowl last year.

- Program Note from publisher


Halo is a military science fiction media franchise created by Bungie. The franchise is currently managed and developed by 343 Industries and published by Xbox Game Studios.

The central focus of the franchise builds on the experiences of Master Chief John-117, one of a group of super soldiers codenamed Spartans, and his artificial intelligence companion, Cortana. The original trilogy centers on an interstellar war between humanity and an alliance of aliens known as The Covenant. The Covenant, led by their religious leaders called the Prophets, worship an ancient civilization known as the Forerunners, who perished while defeating the parasitic Flood. The eponymous Halo Array are a group of immense, habitable, ring-shaped superweapons that were created by the Forerunners to destroy the Flood, but which the Covenant mistake for religious artifacts that, if activated, would transport them on a Great Journey to meet the Forerunners. They are similar to the Orbitals in Iain M. Banks' Culture novels, and to a lesser degree to author Larry Niven's Ringworld concept.

The music for several of the Halo editions, beginning in 2001, was composed by Martin O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori. O'Donnell came up with the idea of opening the piece with Gregorian chant . The resulting music became the basis for the Halo series' "highly recognizable" signature sound, and what has been called one of the best-known video game themes. The use of the chant in the main theme has been credited with contributing to popular interest in the genre. Halo's music used an interactive engine to change music in response to player's actions; this non-linear method has since become widespread. The scores for Halo and its sequel Halo 2 garnered awards such as The Game Developers Choice Award and Best Original Video Game Soundtrack from Rolling Stone.

- Program Note adapted from Wikipedia


Media


State Ratings

None discovered thus far.


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project


Works for Winds by This Composer


Resources

  • Halo (franchise). Wikipedia Accessed 16 August 2021
  • O'Donnell, M.; Salvatori, M.; Sheldon, R. (2006). Halo Theme: From "Halo Suite": As Performed by Video Games Live [score]. Alfred: Van Nuys, Calif.
  • Perusal score