Photo of Martin O'Donnell, Halo: Combat Evolved's Co-composer.
Halo main theme, performed live by The Danish National Symphony Orchestra & Eimear Noone.
The Music of Halo.
The music of Halo: Combat Evolved is a monumental achievement in video game composition, leaving an everlasting mark on the industry. Crafted by composers Marty O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori, the soundtrack fuses orchestral, choral, and electronic elements to create a soundscape that is epic. The iconic main theme, with its Gregorian chants and driving percussion, sets the tone for the game's grand scale. Throughout the campaign, the music changes to mirror the emotional beats of the story. It extends further into the exploration of tracks of tense battle scores that heighten the stakes. The layering of the music ensures it feels reactive to the player's actions, creating an immersive experience.
What sets the music of Halo apart is its ability to capture the game's duality of wonder and urgency. Tracks like "Under Cover of Night" emphasize moments of solitude, while "Rock Anthem for Saving the World" amplifies the adrenaline of combat and impending danger. The soundtrack's masterful use of melody and rhythm has become synonymous with Halo, inspiring a generation of gamers. More than just background music, it serves as an integral part of the game's storytelling.