Composed By: Koji Kondo
1. Title Theme 2. Enter Ganondorf
3. Deku Tree 4. Fairy Flying 5. House
6. Kokiri Forest 7. Open Treasure Box
8. Item Catch 9. Small Item Catch 10. Shop
11. Battle 12. Inside the Deku Tree
13. Boss Battle 14. Boss Clear
15. Heart Container Get 16. Legend of Hyrule
17. Spiritual Stone Get 18. Fairy Ocarina Get
19. Hyrule Field Main Theme
20. Kepora Gebora's Theme 21. Market
22. Shooting Gallery 23. Hyrule Castle Courtyard
24. Enter Zelda 25. Ocarina "Zelda's Lullaby"
26. Zelda's Theme 27. Ocarina "Epona's Song"
28. Lon Lon Ranch 29. Mini Game
30. Kakariko Village 31. Ocarina "Sun's Song"
32. Hyrule Field Morning Theme 33. Goron City
34. Ocarina "Saria's Song" 35. Lost Woods
36. Dodongo's Cavern 37. Middle Boss Battle
38. Dinosaur Boss Battle 39. Zora's Domain
40. Great Fairy Fountain 41. Potion Shop
42. Inside Jabu-Jabu's Belly
43. Ocarina "Song of Time" 44. Temple of Time
45. Open Door of Temple of Time
46. Master Sword 47. Ganondorf's Theme
48. Chamber of the Sages 49. Medal Get Fanfare
50. Sheik's Theme 51. Horse Race
52. Horse Race Goal 53. Ingo's Theme
54. Escape from Lon Lon Ranch
55. Kakariko Village Orchestra Version
56. Ocarina "Song of Storms" 57. Windmill Hut
58. Minuet of Woods 59. Forest Temple
60. Bolero of Fire 61. Fire Temple
62. Ice Cavern 63. Serenade of Water
64. Water Temple 65. Nocturne of Shadow
66. Prelude of Light 67. Shadow Temple
68. Gerudo Valley 69. Spirit Temple
70. Requiem of Spirit
71. Kotake & Koume's Theme
72. Meet Again Zelda 73. Game Over
74. Ganon's Castle Bridge
75. Ganon's Castle Underground
76. Inside Ganon's Castle 77. Ganondorf's Battle
78. Escape from Ganon's Castle 79. Last Battle
80. Seal of Six Sages 81. Ocarina of Time
82. End Credits
Video game music is inherently different from a film score. For the most part, this music is designed to repeat as long as the player stays in a specific area. This also makes it much more difficult to use themes effectively throughout the album. Video game music, by nature, is less immersive than film music. However, it is often more memorable, as it is designed to be more in-your-face.
Overworld Themes
The overworld themes range from the orchestral beauty of "Kakariko Village", to the Spanish styled "Gerudo Valley", to the peaceful pacific feel of "Zora's Domain". It is a very diverse soundscape, and it works well in the game. This diverse nature, however, can cause the album to feel very disjointed. Each theme works well with their respective area, but without having an emotional tie to the game, the music could be frustrating to listen to.
The forest features bright, happy songs like "Kokiri Forest" and "Lost Woods", painting it as a place of innocence. This is fitting because the inhabitants are all children. Going back later to see it infested with monsters is made all the more enraging because of it.
The epic "Hyrule Field Theme" serves a variety of purposes. The main purpose is to convey the feeling of traveling through the wide open field, free to go and explore everywhere. It is also composed dynamically, allowing for a different listening experience every time you enter the field. It is also used for Lake Hylia and Death Mountain Trail, however, which is one of the big downfalls of the music of the game in general.
Lon Lon Ranch features a twangy country style, which makes sense. It is a ranch after all. The "Horse Race" theme is reminiscent of blugrass, and "Ingo's Theme" is a great variation on that.
"Kakariko Village" is a very peaceful place, accompanied by a very peaceful theme. It gets slightly more developed in the orchestral version as the surviving inhabitants of Castle Town make their way here.
"Goron City" is a very interesting percussive track. The addition of Goron noises into the music was an interesting choice, making it feel slightly comedic. However, the Gorons in this game are slightly comedic as well, so it fits.
Lastly, my favorite track on the album is "Gerudo Valley", which has a Spanish feel. It brings the feeling of the desert out perfectly, and is super, super catchy. I could listen to it for hours on end.
Character Themes
The character themes are the only recurring themes on the album. The most recognizable is "Zelda's Lullaby" which has become a staple for the series. It is introduced as "Zelda's Theme" on the album, and exists in number of other tracks.
There also exists a pair of themes for the villainous Ganondorf. The first is introduced in "Enter Ganondorf", while the second doesn't appear until Link thrusts his sword into the Pedestal of Time allowing Ganondorf access to the Sacred Realm. On the album, it is "Ganondorf's Theme".
Some of the minor characters get themes as well, usually named after them. Among the first themes we hear is one for the Great Deku Tree. It helps convey the wisdom of the ancient tree, which he does possess even if he is prone to rambling. "Saria's song" is reprised in "The Lost Woods". The infamous owl "Kepora Gebora" has his own theme which many have come to despise because of the character it represents.
Shiek is one of my favorite characters in the game, and his theme does not disappoint either. It's gentle nature brings to mind the profound wisdom Shiek expresses during your adventure.
The playful theme for "Kotake and Koume" is a highlight on the album as well with its dueling flutes. At the end, it's all Ganondorf and Zelda's themes, finishing out this epic game.
Dungeon Themes
The dungeon themes in this game are among the more memorable of the series. They start off slow and very atmospheric with "Inside the Deku Tree" and "Dodongo's Cavern", but get progressively better as the game goes on, climaxing with the incredible "Spirit Temple" theme.
"Inside Jabu-Jabu's Belly" is a catchy, but very simple piece filled with bowel-movement sounds, which is actually kinda disgusting when you think about it... But it fits with the environment perfectly.
The "Forest Temple" theme conveys the forest nature perfectly in conjunction with the creepy nature of the abandoned, haunted mansion you are delving through.
The "Fire Temple" theme on the album is significantly different than the earlier versions of the game, which featured a Islamic chant that was later removed due to the controversy that ensued. The remaining track is not nearly as interesting as a result.
The "Ice Cavern" theme is a difficult one to handle, but it does convey the frozen despair of ice perfectly, making it one of those themes that works well in the game but not on the album.
The "Water Temple" theme is curious. This theme accompanies one of the most highly criticized parts of the game, but it is a fantastic theme.
The "Shadow Temple" theme is creepy. It helps create insanely creepy atmosphere the temple is known for. It often brings back frightening memories of the place just by listening to it. *shudder*
The "Spirit Temple" theme is a grand, middle-eastern style piece that makes it feel as if the hero has stumbled on ancient religious ruins. Very, very well written piece.
"Ganon's Castle Underground" is another mostly atmospheric piece that works very well in the game. Its pounding piano chords help remind you that you're in the basement of the wielder of the Triforce of Power, on your way to confront him, which is a scary thought.
Offering a more direct connection to the villain is "Inside Ganon's Castle", which you come to find out is actually Ganondorf playing his own theme on the organ. It is a great reminder of why you're there and who you need to go up against, and it creates an undescribable atmosphere as you are rushing to the top of the tower to take out your arch nemesis.
Lastly, the "Escape from Ganon's Castle" cue helps build the intensity and fast paced action of this part of the game, but it has not aged very well.
Also important are the combat tracks. The "Battle" track helps let you know when enemies are nearby so you don't get caught off guard. In this, it succeeds, but it's not particularly exciting to listen to.
The "Boss Battle" track is intense, but lacks the epic feeling of some of the other tracks. It's just not as memorable, which causes it to fall flat a little.
The "Middle Boss Battle" track, however, is much better. It helps create the tension while being epic and memorable at the same time. Awesome music is the key to any good fight, and that's why the Middle Boss Battles are some of my favorites.
Followed closely by the "Dinosaur Boss Battles". This theme plays while you fight King Dodongo and Volvagia. It has a memorable theme, but fell just flat of "Middle Boss Battle".
"Ganondorf's Battle" is an amazing track as well. This one has a unique time signature that helps it feel chaotic and unpredictable, while having an awesome theme. This is by far my favorite combat track in the game.
Followed closely by "Final Battle". This one plays as you are attempting to kill the wielder of the Triforce of Power, who will just not die. Its epic percussion and slow, mournful choral chords help with this. It almost sounds as if there's no hope. This scene is the reason this game has stayed my absolute favorite in the series.
Other Themes
If I had one complaint about the music, it's that the jingles really break up the flow of the album. They are great in the game, but hearing a bunch of them in a row is just not engaging.
There are some other important standouts. The "House" theme plays whenever you are in a generic indoor area, and appears throughout the series. The "Shop" theme is super catchy, and it just makes me feel good about spending money. The "Legend of Hyrule" theme is a great background to the story of how Hyrule was created, and is reprised in "Chamber of the Sages", suggesting they have connections to the goddesses. "Hyrule Castle Courtyard" is another standout as you're sneaking past all the guards on your way to see the princess. The "Mini Game" and "Shooting Gallery" tracks play as you are playing random games trying to catch chickens or shoot rupees to win prizes. They are certainly catchy, but very different from the rest of the album. "Temple of Time" introduces another very important theme for the series: The Song of Time. Once again, "Windmill Hut" introduces one of the most famous songs from the game, the Song of Storms. The short but sweet songs for the ocarina are standouts as well. These include "Prelude of Light", "Minuet of Forest", "Bolero of Fire", "Serenade of Water", "Nocturne of Shadow", and "Requiem of Spirit".
End Credits
The "End Credits" do a fantastic job of bringing everything together musically, and they always make me feel a little sad and emotional, the way you feel right after you finish an amazing series and realize there's no more. The harp at the beginning sets the mood of the end. The first theme, of course, is Zelda's Lullaby, which acts as the main theme of the game. On screen, it is showing you all the different areas you traveled to on your journey.
The next theme that appears is the "Lost Woods". The instrumental variations here are astounding, first showing the Castle Town inhabitants with the same style as the "Castle Town" theme. There's a section for the Gorons when it shows them dancing their hearts out (to their favorite song, no less). Then the festivities fade as The Great Mido and King Zora, looking lonely, look up and notice the sages flying by in their balls of color. Then Zelda's Theme comes out in full force when the sages are revealed. She was the seventh sage, the most powerful, so it makes sense to use the theme here.
Then, after Link is sent back in time, Zelda's Theme accompanies him until Navi leaves him forever. At this point, it is a little like the "Fairy Flying" track at the beginning.
Then, there is a small scene with Link going back to see Zelda, which uses Zelda's Lullaby, and never really concludes. This helps lead straight into Majora's Mask, the next game in the series.
Final Evaluation
The music to this game is amazing. Though it doesn't have the thematic unity that some later games in the series possess, it set a foundation for which the series has built off of. On it's own, it may not be a particularly impressive score, but this is the soundtrack that helps hold the other Zelda soundtracks together.
Score:
Written for Game: Enhancing
On Album: 8/10 "Great"
Words to Describe It: Aged, Majestic, and Varied
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