{"id":14923,"date":"2023-08-18T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-08-18T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/?p=14923"},"modified":"2023-08-17T15:58:15","modified_gmt":"2023-08-17T22:58:15","slug":"zelda-soundtrack-koji-kondo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/zelda-soundtrack-koji-kondo\/","title":{"rendered":"What Makes Legend of Zelda Music So Good? \u2694\ufe0f"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>What makes a video game epic? The music, of course! Music sets the mood, gets us excited, and makes players feel like heroes as they control their game character through challenging quests and thrilling adventures. Today, we\u2019ll dive deep into what makes a particular video game franchise\u2019s music legendary. That game is none other than <em>The Legend of Zelda.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><p><strong>Table of Contents:<\/strong><\/p><nav><ol><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#who-wrote-the-soundtrack-for-the-legend-of-zelda-about-koji-kondo\">Background (About Koji Kondo)<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#the-theory-behind-zeldas-music\">The Theory Behind Zelda\u2019s Music<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#zelda-sheet-music\">Zelda Sheet Music<\/a><\/li><\/ol><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<span class=\"blue-text-block\"><center><h2 style=\"font-size:22px\"><b>\ud83c\udfb9 Your Go-To Place for All Things Piano<\/b><\/h2><p>Subscribe to <i>The Note<\/i> for exclusive interviews, fascinating articles, and inspiring lessons delivered straight to your inbox. Unsubscribe at any time.<\/p><iframe class=\"email-form-include\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/weeklyemail\" frameborder=\"none\"><\/iframe><\/center><\/span>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"who-wrote-the-soundtrack-for-the-legend-of-zelda-about-koji-kondo\" style=\"font-size:28px\"><strong>Who wrote the soundtrack for <em>The Legend of Zelda<\/em>? About Koji Kondo<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Zelda<\/em>\u2019s iconic music was composed by <a href=\"http:\/\/www.vgmonline.net\/kojikondo\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Koji Kondo<\/a>, who also composed the music for <em>Super Mario.<\/em> Born in 1961 in Nagoya, Japan, Kondo started playing the Electone organ at age five and later played jazz and rock in a cover band. He was also fascinated by film music, <a href=\"https:\/\/shmuplations.com\/kojikondo\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">synthesis<\/a>, and LCD and arcade games.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kondo was hired by Nintendo in 1984 and his first major project was scoring <em>Super Mario. <\/em>The NES console at the time severely limited the music you could make. Kondo was restricted to a four-minute soundtrack of segments that can be endlessly repeated. But his extraordinary sense of melody and use of <a href=\"https:\/\/shmuplations.com\/kojikondo\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">open voicings<\/a> made the music sound fuller than what its limitations would seem to allow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When it came to <em>Zelda<\/em>, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nintendolife.com\/news\/2016\/11\/an_intriguing_tale_of_how_the_legend_of_zeldas_iconic_opening_song_almost_never_happened\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">original intention<\/a> was to use Ravel\u2019s <em>Bol\u00e9ro<\/em> as the opening theme. But the Nintendo team learned last-minute that <em>Bol\u00e9ro<\/em> was still under copyright. So Kondo had to take elements from the soundtrack and re-arrange it into an opening theme in <em>one night! <\/em>Missing that night\u2019s sleep was probably worth it, though, because today, the <em>Zelda <\/em>theme is one of the best-known melodies in gaming, perhaps even popular culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>I&#8217;ll be walking down the hallway in my house, suddenly the music pops into my head. It really doesn&#8217;t happen at work, it&#8217;s always somewhere outside of the office.<\/p>\n<cite>Koji Kondo, interview with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.polygon.com\/2014\/12\/15\/7393129\/nintendo-mario-zelda-music-koji-kondo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Polygon<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/2.0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/7\/7a\/Koji_Kondo_-_GDC_2007_cropped.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Vincent Diamante derivative work: Prime Blue, <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/2.0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CC BY-SA 2.0<\/a>, via Wikimedia Commons<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"the-theory-behind-zeldas-music\" style=\"font-size:28px\"><strong>The Theory Behind <em>Zelda<\/em>\u2019s Music<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>So what makes the music in the <em>Zelda<\/em> series so good? Well, it succeeds in creating the perfect atmosphere. The player feels like they\u2019re on a Medieval quest.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yet, the music is far from predictable. The main theme is rather traditional, with a majestic, fanfare-like opening, but the music in the <em>Zelda <\/em>games can be quite diverse. According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vice.com\/en\/article\/jmakxy\/its-music-that-makes-nintendos-the-legend-of-zelda-series-so-extraordinary-330\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">one music expert<\/a>, Kondo combined \u201cGregorian chant, Hollywood fantasy, rustic folk, 20th-century classical . . . and medieval troubadour.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And if we look at the music theory, we can really appreciate all the work that goes into making <em>Zelda <\/em>memorable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"majestic-quest-vibe\" style=\"font-size:24px\">Majestic Quest Vibe<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>From the 8-bit chiptune to modern orchestral arrangements, the iconic <em>Zelda <\/em>theme succeeds thanks to a heroic, descending chord pattern in the parallel minor. The progression behind the majestic theme is B\u266d-A\u266d6-G\u266d-D\u266d-C\u266d-B\u266dm-C-F. Try it yourself!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Zelda Main Theme Song\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/cGufy1PAeTU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"majestic-quest-vibe\" style=\"font-size:24px\">Playful Fountain Theme<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The fountain theme is interesting because while it\u2019s beautiful, there\u2019s an eeriness to it. It uses a technique called sequencing, where we take a phrase and then repeat it in different pitch levels. We also have a polyrhythm happening during this theme\u2014the accompaniment is in 12\/8 and the melody is in 4\/4. So, there\u2019s a slight <em>jaggedness<\/em> to the peaceful melody!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Great Fairy&#039;s Fountain - The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/id0kbyKCG8c?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"majestic-quest-vibe\" style=\"font-size:24px\">Pastoral Hyrule Field<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This music paints a pastoral, peaceful feeling. We get these vibes thanks to a melody based on the Lydian mode. The Lydian mode is a major scale with a raised fourth and is what gives the melody that dreamy feel with a touch of mystery.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Field - Day (The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild OST)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/xGi23M_5lXg?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"majestic-quest-vibe\" style=\"font-size:24px\">Pretty Lullaby<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This is the famous tune you play on the ocarina! Again, it\u2019s based on the Lydian scale! The first few measures begin with a Cmaj7-D\/C-Cmaj7-D\/C progression and it\u2019s that D major triad over C that creates the Lydian sound. Then, the next half of the song is based on a Bm-B\u266dmaj7-Am11-D7 progression that\u2019s reminiscent of other video game music harmonies.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Zelda Ocarina Of Time - Zelda&#039;s Lullaby\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/EPhfbtjqWM8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"majestic-quest-vibe\" style=\"font-size:24px\">Riding Horsies!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The horseriding theme perfectly captures the playful, clip-cloppy feeling of riding a horse! And guess what? We\u2019re in Lydian mode <em>again.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Horse Riding - The Legend of Zelda: Breath of The Wild- Extended\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/B0UfYdN6TuE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"zelda-sheet-music\" style=\"font-size:28px\"><strong><em>Zelda<\/em> Sheet Music!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Want to play Zelda music on the piano? We have full transcriptions of songs from the franchise in the Pianote Members Area. Not a Member yet? Try us out for 7 days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<span class=\"blue-text-block\"><center><h3 style=\"font-size:22px;\">\ud83c\udfbc <b>Play Your Favorite Songs<\/b><\/h3><p> As a Pianote+ Member, you\u2019ll get access to our 10-step Method, song library, and growing community of piano players just like you. Plus: get coached by world-class pianists who have played with rock stars.<\/p><center><a class=\"join\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/trial\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">TRY PIANOTE FOR 7 DAYS<\/a><\/center><br><\/span>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Get into the musical world of The Legend of Zelda. Piano teachers Lisa Witt and Kevin Castro react to Koji Kondo\u2019s masterpieces.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":39,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[510],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14923","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-theory"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14923","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/39"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14923"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14923\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14977,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14923\/revisions\/14977"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14923"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14923"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14923"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}