Halo 2, Vol. 2: Original Soundtrack

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Halo Original Soundtrack

Studio album by Various
Released	April 25, 2006
Recorded	Unknown
Genre	Video game soundtrack
Label	Sumthing Else Music Works
Producer(s)	Martin O'Donnell, Michael Salvatori

Halo 2: Original Soundtrack Volume 2, is composed and produced by Martin O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori for the video game Halo 2. This CD sports 12 tracks featuring music that was not previously available from Halo 2: Original Soundtrack Volume 1.

According to Martin O'Donnell (statement below), he and Nile Rodgers, decided in 2004, that it would be a good idea to present the music from Halo 2 in two separate volumes. The first volume would contain songs that were "inspired by" bands and a few finished and mixed themes from the game.

The second volume would then contain the rest of the scores from the game. (Quoted from O'Donnell) "The second volume would contain the rest of the music, some that I was still composing and producing, and would be rearranged for maximum listening pleasure."

The volume is formatted in a 'suite' structure that corresponds with the chapters within the game.

1 From the Artist
2 Track listing
3 Poem
4 Trivia and References
- 4.1 Destroyer's Invocation
- 4.2 Battle of Thermopylae
5 See also
6 Additional information

[edit] From the Artist

In the summer of 2004, Nile Rodgers and I decided that it would be a good idea to present the music of Halo 2 in two separate volumes. The first volume would contain all the music that was finished and mixed plus some "inspired by" music from music groups whose music was being used in the game.

Since the first soundtrack was assembled before the game actually shipped, the second volume would contain the rest of the music, some that I was still composing and producing, and would be arranged for maximum listening pleasure. The music in Halo 2 will play back a little differently each time someone plays the game but on the soundtrack, I have the opportunity to arrange the music in a way that will never change.

I decided to use a "suite" structure that also corresponds to the chapters within the game. In a sense by listening to this soundtrack you will hear the musical representation of the story of Halo 2. Enjoy!

-- Martin O'Donnell

[edit] Track listing

1. Prologue...2:35

I. Rising ...:20

II. Cloistered Expectancy...:25

III. Weight of Failure...1:50

2. Cairo Suite...9:42

I. Cold Blue Light...1:54

II. Waking Spartan...3:36

III. Jeweled Hull...2:03

IV. Chill Exposure...2:09

3. Mombasa Suite...6:41

I. Metropole...1:29

II. Broken Gates...2:47

III. Encounter...2:25

4. Unyielding...3:04

5. Mausoleum Suite...8:10

I. Destroyer's Invocation...4:36

II.Falling Up...1:49

III. Infected...1:16

IV. Shudder...:29

6. Unforgotten...2:09

7. Delta Halo Suite...11:29

I. Penance...2:32

II. Wage...2:42

III. Leonidas...2:28

IV. Dust and Bones...3:44

8. Sacred Icon Suite...7:26

I. Cortege...3:38

II. Opening Volley...:28

III. Veins of Stone...3:20

9. Reclaimer...3:03

10. High Charity Suite...8:27

I. Rue and Woe...1:30

II. Respite...2:17

III. Antediluvia...2:22

IV. Pursuit of Truth...2:18

11. Finale...3:10

I. Great Journey...1:15

II. Thermopylae Soon...1:55

12. Epilogue...3:49

I. Beholden...1:03

II. Road to Voi...2:19

III. Subsume...:27

[edit] Poem

The inlay card of the soundtrack bears a different poem, written in heptameter.

What hope has this alliance/ If we cannot conquer/ Doubt of faith not each other-/ If our belief should falter?

But put an ear to the stones/ Of this Holy City/ Inside Their voices echo still:/ "Seven rings begin the journey!"

-Excerpt, Ratification Parley, High Council of Concordance.

[edit] Trivia and References

[edit] Destroyer's Invocation

When played in reverse, the Destroyer's Invocation can be puzzled out to something like this:

I have walked among men and Angels for 3,000 years.
Time has no end, no beginning, no purpose.
I wander the earth, seeking forgiveness for my horrible crimes against God and man.
I live to see death, destruction, evil over the light.
But the light cannot be extinguished.
I live in the prison of my own demise. 
I am lost in time.

This may not be exact.

[edit] Battle of Thermopylae

A few track names make references to Greek History, particularly the Battle of Thermopylae.

The Battle of Thermopylae was a battle that took place around 480 AD, where 7000 Greek soldiers, including 300 Spartans and allies, led by King Leonidas I of Sparta held the mountain pass of Thermopylae against a vastly numerically superior army of Persian invaders.

The humans must now similarly hold Earth against the vastly numberically and technologically superior army of the Covenant loyalists. Also, in the Halo universe, there were originally 300 Spartans, the same number as the Spartans at Thermopylae.

In the novel Halo: The Fall of Reach, the Master Chief and other candidates of the Spartan-II program are told the story of Thermopylae as children.

Similarily, in the Halo 2 universe, a massive Covenant fleet has just exited slipspace and is preparing to attack Earth at the conclusion of the game, and Earth's defenses are still recovering from the earlier attack at the beginning of the game.

The track "Thermopylae Soon" is the music played at the last cinematic, (barring the one at the end of the credits with Gravemind and Cortana) where the Forerunner ship is shown reverting to realspace near Earth.

This is probably a harbinger of events in Halo 3.