The boss theme that started in Link to the Past and has been used periodically in different fashion in other games....or perhaps boss themes in general?
Twilight princess sound track truly is a masterpiece. It's calls back to almost every game in some shape or form. But on the topic of the video! The castle/king theme is such a bone chiller, giving the king an ominous yet powerful aura. Fit for the King giving props to the poor guy that nearly is always slain.
That one is amazing and also I love how Wind Waker makes a ton of musical homages to OoT specifically. Both are masterpieces in musical homage and leitmotif/theme building.
Thanks! I felt I needed another shot since I missed a few. And I had some chat help on those. That’s such a cool compilation, right? Every time I watch it I end up literally laughing out loud. Can’t believe it.
Zelda music is so rich and densely packed that it never ceases to amaze me. I'm so glad you're here to explore the tracks that I've grown so fond of throughout my life!
Every iteration of this piece is one of my favorites in the entire franchise. So many other songs deserve higher accolades, but Hyrule King is heroic, somber, melancholic. Words I associate with Zelda games.
This very well be my favorite Zelda theme of all time. I’m not sure another one comes close. And Wind Waker, Twilight Princes, BOTW all do it justice including it in several forms. Amazing. I can’t believe this video hasn’t already been done. It took a LOT of research though 🤣
It’s a very dramatic theme with the intro and beginning section sounding very royal and how you’d imagine a castle would but then the ending section is very dark which reflects how the castle has been taken over by Agahnim and the Soldiers have been brainwashed
See this stuff is why I LOVE BoTW heavily! They can now merge past themes revamped, to make better, and more beautiful themes that if skilled enough, our ears can catch them and remind of a childhood once past. Stunningly beautiful.
When this theme was used for King Rhoam in BOTW I was curious as to what they would use as a theme for the castle itself and I was not prepared for BOTW’s castle theme.
Yeah it’s amazing how it was the castle theme, but became mostly the King’s theme. Although, “Hyrule” castle and the kingdom of “Hyrule” is simply the last name of the King himself. King Hyrule. So whether the music represents the castle, the king, or the kingdom, it’s all kinda the same. But yeah Hyrule castle becomes other themes, whereas King Hyrule never has a different theme than this. I love it.
I would love to see the director's cut of a Zelda's Lullaby video. ❤ The music in these games are just masterpieces. I love that you have a channel focused on appreciating and explaining the music. I am learning lots and my ears are happy!
In reference to the twilight princess version that incorporates Ganondorf's theme, here's this awesome piece by Eric Buchholz that not only incorporates the Hyrule castle/king theme but Also manages to do an awesome Joe Hisaishi a la Princess Mononoke theme. Idk if you've heard it but it's one of my favourite renditions! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-S0dJta-0OwA.html
I don't know what it is about your videos that make the cylinders in my brain fire, but when I heard Ganon's theme overlayed over the king's theme, I remembered hearing part of the Ganon fight theme in ToTK where there's like six creepy descending notes that repeat several times, and it reminded me of part of the Death Mountain theme in Zelda 1.
YES I cut it from the final but in DC I go into great detail on that entire track. I almost released it as it’s own video, but it’s only like 5 min long. Check out DC for sure.
Those parts of windwaker gave me goosebumps when I first played them some 20 years ago, and they still do today. Exactly because of the history. Thank you for this video, it's one of the ones I most hoped for in the evolution of series!!
Man, you and me both! One of my fav themes of all time, and for sure scenes of all time. The ending in WW is one of my favorites. Middle school memories for me. True story, first time we beat him with 1/4 of a heart. We thought we died, then Link thrusted his sword into Ganondorf’s head, and we went bezerk. It was one of my most epic memories from all of Zelda growing up. ANd then that theme, man. Haunting, beautiful, emotional, reverent… all the things we feel. Insanely well done game and theme and ending.
Hahaha thanks! I cut a TON from it. I had a 1hr 4min raw footage, edited down to an hour, then 45 min, then 25 min, 20 min, 17 min 🤣 Now I’m not sure how much to include for DC. Probably 35-45 min. But I need a break, this video was very edit intensive. SO much fun to do, but man I was ready to release it already.
I am so glad I came across your channel really early on as a Zelda fan and appreciative of its music. While I don’t have knowledge regarding music theory, I appreciate your breakdown, subsequent analyses, and how you make it accessible and an enjoyable experience. Thank you so much and I can’t wait to see future content! PS. I’d think it would be neat to do a “spinoff series” of sorts looking at Majora’s Mask/Link’s Awakening as a lot of their themes are not reused and are very unique!
I address that more in DC- Yes originally, but the concept is the King, Castle, and Kingdom are all kind of intertwined. I wonder who the kingdom of Hyrule is named after? (King Hyrule). So yeah, it came from Hyrule Castle and IS in some ways the castle theme, but not always. The castle theme varies, King Hyrule never changes. So for me, this is the King Hyrule Theme, which came from the Hyrule Castle theme. But honestly it’s kinda both. But for this video, for sure it’s the Evolution of his theme, so it starts with the ALTTP castle and tracks the uses over time.
11:30 - “Did anybody notice what just happened?” Yes. You also missed the Ocarina of Time introduction opening chords by accident. :) totally there. So four main Zelda song references. Probably to include the idea that this is the introduction to the free roaming world you are about to embrace - a nod to the n64 oot open world game! :)
I attempt that last section in Director’s Cut but between the octaves (plus a note) in the right hand and the arpeggios in the left, it’s really tough for me to play up to speed!
@@ZeldaMusicTheory Me too actually! I can actually reach past an octave, but playing the arps with my left hand is not quite ideal. I got very close, but was never quite able to play it flawlessly or with out a small pause here and there. :D
I always loved the fact that in TP the castle theme slowly fades out and is replaced with Ganon's theme as you climb higher and higher in the castle. You really feel that he has taken over and is looming over everything as you get closer to the final fight.
I think it’s evident that the Zelda series holds a personally significant place in the hearts of the nintendo higher ups. They put so much love and effort into every tiny detail.
It’s starts with 15, but the chords are from original title theme Z1, and that melody ALSO goes 15… so I don’t think it’s an intentional quote. I knew about that but left it out. But it’s possible 😅
@@ZeldaMusicTheory Who knows! In context of the game it could both work I guess... I wouldn't base things on chords since most progressions in zelda music are very similar too each other anyway.
I agree with this. I think they intentionally back-composed an ancient theme (Rauru’s theme) from which the modern Hyrule castle theme supposed to be based. It clicked for me when they played the two at the same time in the 3rd totk trailer It fits the narrative that hyrule castle resulted from the events of the imprisoning war
Can't believe you skipped over one of the cleverest references to Hyrule Castle. Parts of Lorule Castle's awesome music in A Link Between Worlds - are parts of Hyrule Castle's theme in reverse!
This theme has so much meaning behind it it’s definitely one of my favorite Zelda songs if not my favorite Dang that cadence hyrule theme has so much swagger - I have to acknowledge that
Thanks! It will be ongoing. In general when I use “Part 1,” there’s an end to it. Like 1/3. But when I use “Episode 1,” that means we’ll just keep making episodes ongoing. So many themes could be done.
You missed LORULE CASTLE THEME from A Link Between Worlds. You can hear references to Hyrule Castle Theme there too if you play it in reverse. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-h3x3EaEA3nI.html
Ugh I'm just frustrated that he doesn't cover how the Hyrule Castle theme is an extension of the Recorder sfx from LOZ1 and SMB3. He even stumbled it around 16:20. All said, fantastic analysis and great music!
Wow it sounds like it at 16:20, but that was just me trying to do a “glissando” on piano 🤣 That sound effect is used in Ocarina of Time’s Opening, but I don’t think it’s used in King Hyrule theme. Let me know if you know something I don’t, I miss stuff all the time.
Link to the Past is the OG of Zelda music. There’s a reason the Randomizer is so beloved by gamers-people STILL play this game, thirty years later. I skipped all the games between Link to the Past and Breath of the Wild, so I have missed out on a lot of the extra themes introduced in those games, but I love how they all trace back to either ALTTP or the original LOZ game. Sometimes the old 8-bit MIDI stuff is really just as good as a full orchestra treatment.
I love the old school stuff. Grew up on Z1 and some of the others, then OoT obviously, but I wouldn’t even consider that particularly old school. It’s the 8 bit and 16 bit stuff that we all look back on fondly. I still play Z1 to this day and watch speedruns from LackAttack. ALTTP is amazing, and objectively a much better game, but I never beat it as a kid. I was too young and Z1 is faster if you know what you’re doing. My dad was better at Z1 😅 I’d love to go back and beat it streaming with Chat assisting.
Fantastic work! It is truly amazing to see how this theme has evolved, and how the same melody can evoke tension and danger (ALttP), fallen or degraded grandiosity (most uses as "King Hyrule"), and even soft elegance (as Sonia's theme) depending on the tempo, instrumentation, background chords, and other contextual details. It might be the most versatile theme in the franchise!
Looking forward to you covering the Colgera theme. There seem to be nods to the Molgera theme from WW. And Tulin's ability sounds like the beginning melody raised a step and sped up.
Still heading that way, I’m gonna do a 4 part series and I’ve already filmed the first but don’t have the intro or outro. Maybe this weekend I’ll film and next weekend or weekend after begin. SOOO many references.
It does, but only because you guys told me 🤣 So it’s there but not me talking about it, just a quick replay and text overlay for the sake of making it “complete”
It’s almost like it’s less of a “king hyrule theme” or “Hyrule castle theme” and more of a general motif referencing kinda the more pristine or glorious side to Hyrule, most obviously shown through characters like the kings]. I dunno just a theory
For sure- King, Castle, and Kingdom are all kinda the same. Hyrule itself is named after the king, right?? 🤔 So whether it’s the castle or royalty or the citizens, it makes sense.
I love A Link Between Worlds version aswell as Farewell Hyrule King! Also in case you didn’t know Lorule Castles theme is actually Hyrule castle backwards at least part of it is which is so cool and it really does sound good reversed at that part
A King’s Request seems to be also mixing in Zelda’s Lullaby a bit as well as the OoT intro Omg you quite literally mentioned it as I was writing this comment lmao
Love your channel, amazing how many references there are! Hope you're gonna do some MM music (stone tower) one day too :) Also i need to know where i can get that shirt though :O
Wow I had never heard of him, watched his “Miracle Chord” Encanto video and his editing is amazing. Lots to learn. Obviously down to collab any time lol.
Honestly the best theme to me is the farewell Hyrule king that theme means a lot to me and hits so hard, I want that theme to be played at my funeral 😭❤️ I currently been practicing on the piano
Nice! That one is top 5 for me. Amazing. I learned 90% of it on piano. I can’t remember if I posted that one as a How to Play on Patreon or just played a little in the video. I think the second. The first half isn’t that hard to learn how to play
it’s been two months since TotK released, i think you’re good to start bangin out the breakdowns haha there’s so many moments like that scene in BotW with Zelda and the King that we need broken down!
13:01 did you notice that those random waves you hear are a reference to king daphness nohanssen Hyrule from wind waker, he sinked to the bottom of the ocean with his kingdom and the last thing you hear in that game are waves 🥹
I’m not sure, but Father and Daughter is a few minutes long and is on many platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, YT, etc). It’s amazing. I ended it early for brevity’s sake, but go look up BOTW Father Daughter.
Haha recognized your profile pic from Patreon. Thanks man! I did a lot of research for this one. But I LOVE this theme, so I didn’t mind at all. I also keep probably 100 notes open on a variety of themes, scales, modes, chord progressions… so I’m always adding as I hear stuff and when I need an example of something I usually have 5-6 examples right off the bat. For example Groose’s Theme is the same as Tetra’s Theme, same as The Simpsons. Lydian Dominant. Also the same as theme from Father of the Bride, Liar Liar, The Mario Movie main theme… (HAHAHA) I have been keeping notes like this for years. Just didn’t have a place to share it. I’m really glad so many people enjoy it!
Nice! I listened to it, lots of cool motifs. I realized listening to the Hyrule Castle from BOTW that I think there’s a Neapolitan chord right before it loops. Super music theory-y and advanced, but also very cool 😄
@@ZeldaMusicTheory Nice! Thanks for checking it out! Unfortunately im not too much into music theory, but i will do some research. Please continue to make great videos! :)
Really?? WOW I didn’t know that. Going to listen to it right now! Thanks for the suggestion! Most of the research was on my own, I just listened to compilations, used my memory (things like ending WW cutscene) and things I had been taking notes on for months as I listened to osts. And having never played ALBW I see why I didn’t notice. I DEFINITELY would have included it. I can’t believe I did so much research and included 24 different iterations and still missed a really cool one 🤣
Yes! Apart from the secret reference, it’s probably one of my favourite pieces of Zelda music of all. The way it sounds kind of oppressive when you’re at the bottom of the tower and then adds more to it with each challenge you overcome until you’re at the top and it has become totally heroic. It complements the gameplay perfectly!
This man is so imposing and powerful that his theme music has gone almost entirely untouched 😂 dude just steps into the room and immediately hits you with the DUN-DUN-DUNN DUNNNN DUN-DUN
Hey hey I don’t know if you remember this, but sometime earlier I told you that I had my AP Music Theory test coming up Just wanted to tell you I got my scores back recently, and I got a 5! I got a 4 on the aural and a 5 on the non aural. Still a 5 overall just not a sweep
Wow that’s AWESOME! I really enjoyed about half of music theory and found the other half irrelevant (probably shared that with you). I think it’s a tough exam, so great job! What’s next? Majoring in music or keeping it on the side?
@@ZeldaMusicTheory that’s tough. Still haven’t decided I’ve had amazing choir experiences, and have considered going towards that route, but am also have many doubts about it If indecisiveness were a person it would probably be me I know I want to do music in college though!
Nice! I majored in Music Ed but ended up in other areas full time. I should have done composition if it were just for my passion. I don’t regret my decision but would not generally recommend others do what I did. Only those brave enough to ignore the advice are the ones who probably should major in music despite the caution 😅 I’ll pray for you briefly right now. Let me know how things work out whenever that time comes.
Awesome video! I'm surprised you didn't mention the brief Hyrule castle theme from the wind temple theme, it appears in phase 2 and 5 (that theme honestly deserves its own video, it has so many references) Edit: there's also a brief reference in the Wind Temple Approach theme! Crazy!
Wait really?? This is timely because I’m about to begin the SUPER in depth music breakdown for Wind Temple, and I haven’t heard this one!! Could you send me a link with times please? I’ll definitely vet this one out.
Actually I think I might know… So go listen to Attacking Vah Medoh… It goes 5b37b31. King Hyrule goes 1b2b37b31. Both have a flat 3 and raised 7th, but not quite the same theme. For me a very clear reference to Attacking Vah Medoh, but not intentionally quoting King Hyrule. Just coincidental. If they threw in a b2, I’d reconsider. Boy, just wait for that Wind Temple breakdown. SOOO Many references.
SPOILERS for Breath of the Wild In the Father and Daughter track, that memory is of the last time Zelda ever spoke to her father. If you find the King’s diary in Hyrule Castle, he talks about how he regrets being so harsh on her and that when he next sees her, he will apologize and try and make amends. But, the Calamity happened before he could do that. 😢
oh man I'm so glad you included cadence of hyrule. although it's a spin-off zelda game, the music is so funky and delightful, while still being faithful to the original songs. Please make sure to mention it in future vids! I'm loving this series, thank you!!
Yeah, there are a lot of moments where it relates directly, esp WW and BOTW. But it’s commonly used for both. And the kingdom (and castle) of Hyrule and King of Hyrule are almost interchangeable.
I love how BotW and TotK are giving us A LOT of easter eggs, maybe a few notes in a particular part of a cinematic or something like that... it's amazing, I keep finding them . This theme is a very good example of how they do it. Thank you Kevin for this video!
Absolutely! Btw I went ahead and filmed the Easter Egg video last night, so possibly out this weekend! I may decide to do the other recommendations too, we’ll see.
Ayyyyy the Star Fox 64 stuff made it in a vid, that's awesome man! I'm hoping there's gonna be more Tears reference coverage coming up soon. I know you're dying to get your hands on that OST just like we all are. Wanted to share an early one with you that I haven't seen anywhere online and get you first dibs 👌 Yiga Clan Hideout Minigame (ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-uiMVZ12rJyo.html) shares an upper-register flute melody riff with a dungeon from Oracle of Seasons, Dancing Dragon (ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-xhGS79bPPCI.html). AFAIK, this is the only music reference to either Oracle game in either BOTW or TOTK.
