Music in Pikmin: Difference between revisions

Heard after beginning a new game, accompanying the [[Cutscene#Opening|prologue cutscene]]. This eclectic soundtrack begins in space, with synthesized drones and patterns gravitating around C to set the mood that the protagonist of the game is from an alien planet. [[Captain Olimar]]'s idling ship seems to produce a small hi-pass waltz in D♭, almost as though he is listening to a radio. This hint of D♭ resounds in a dramatic string section when a passing meteor approaches; the strings quiet down as the scene cuts back to the [[S.S. Dolphin]], but the drone of C gets more intense as hand percussion and an alarm sound effect join in. Finally as the meteor strikes the ship a cymbal roll and a leaping gesture on marimba and pizzicato strings warp the previous ethereal drone into chaos. The strings descend across stinging triads far from C as the ship plummets to [[PNF-404]]. Finally as the camera cuts to the sky and ground another cymbal roll changes the tempo and genre to an orchestral rock beat in D minor with another alarm sound overlay. The drums and orchestra simultaneously cut out to a residual ring when the ship crashes; as the entire cutscene has no sound effects on its own, this sudden [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tacet tacet] during the expected sound of a crash landing produces a wholly suspenseful effect, only to be resolved when the first [[Day|day]] begins.

Heard when the [[Secret Safe]] is returned to the S.S. Dolphin, meaning all 30 parts have been recovered. This theme begins in C major like the usual Dolphin upgrade march, but immediately turns much more triumphant, with every instrument in the orchestra and synthesizers contributing to the rhythm. Much like the end of a finale in a classical symphony, the entire orchestra ends on uplifting hits of its original key, calling and responding between C major and F major/C while a piccolo trills on top. The very end has cellos, basses, and an impossibly low bass extension of a marimba play C, G, C, G, C while slowing down; this is very reminiscent of the timpani gesture in Richard Strauss's [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rzDXNQxjHs ''Also Sprach Zarathustra''], most widely associated with the film [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001:_A_Space_Odyssey_(film) ''2001: A Space Odyssey'']. The very beginning of the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXGQIuQiqyY Prologue cutscene], with a background of deep space and a drone in C, may also be a reference to this piece and film.

*a bridge (heard at 1:07) in which the melodic instrument becomes melodic, and a minor turn of a melody is played by celeste and marimba playing [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tremolo tremolo].

|'''Oboe''', [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contrabassoon contrabassoon], '''glockenspiel''', '''violin''' (pizzicato and section), violas, and cellos. || Horns, tuba, timpani, snare drum, bass drum, crash cymbals, violins, violas, and cellos.|| '''Tenor recorder''' (or other [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fipple fipple flute]) and classical guitar.

|Harp (synthetically played with mallets), '''acoustic guitar''' (played with slide), [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talking_drum talking drum], tambourine, and contrabass.|| Congas, bongos, gourd shaker, and oscillating sounds resembling [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sizzle_cymbal sizzle cymbals].|| Harp (synthetically played with mallets), [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarod '''sarod'''], and contrabass.

|'''"Cymbalesque"''', celeste, flanged bowed piano, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_tree mark tree], pad strings, and female voice.|| Contrabassoon, timpani, snare drum, bass drum, crash cymbals, piano, violins, violas, cellos, and basses.|| Tenor recorder, clarinet, celeste (regular and echoed), mark tree, '''accordion''', bowed piano, and female voice.

This interesting piece is structured as an organ impromptu, almost reminiscent of the 1922 score to the silent horror film [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nosferatu ''Nosferatu'']. A rotary organ plays an atonal but rhythmically sound piece, accompanied by interspersed bits of hand percussion, and a few blasts of a large echoing cymbal. Even out of context, the piece is quite unnerving, and it certainly builds the necessary tension of this climactic boss battle.

Heard when the player directs Pikmin using [[group move]]. This is a small looping track played on solo oboe, in a bugle call structure reminiscent of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assembly_(bugle_call) Assembly call]. It commands the Pikmin's position like an army.

Heard when a [[gate]] or [[bridge]] obstacle is overcome, independent of Captain Olimar's location. This very small synthesized jingle is a slight variation on the rhythm and arpeggiation of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charge_(fanfare) Charge fanfare].