MARTIN MARTY

ODONNELL
By Sara Rappleye
 Martin Marty ODonnell was born
on May 1, 1955 in Westchester,
Pennsylvania.
Music was always a major part of
his life.
ODonnells parents were his
biggest influence.
Studied classical music and
composition at Wheaton College
Conservatory of Music.

MEET MARTIN MARTY ODONNELL

 ODonnell went to Chicago to teach.
ODonnell then ventured into the music for film.
ODonnell needed a recording studio, he
reached out to his friend Michael Salvatori who
did have one.
Both ODonnell and Salvatori quit their jobs to
start their own company called Total Audio.
Their company progressed and now they are
most well known for their soundtrack of the
popular video game series, Halo.

MARTIN MARTY ODONNELL

TEAMS UP WITH MICHAEL
SALVATORI
 Riven: The Sequel to Myst (PC|PS|MAC|
SAT)
Myth, the Fallen Lords (PC|MAC)
Myth 2 Soulblighter (PC)
Septerra Core (PC)
Oni (PC|PS2|MAC)
Halo:Combat Evolved (PC|XBOX|MAC)
Halo 2 (XBOX|PC)
Halo 3 (XBOX)
Halo 3: ODST (X360)
Halo Reach (X360)

DISCOGRAPHY
HALO THEME SONG 3:01 (HALO)
Composed in the summer of 1999
Composed in 3 days
ODonnel incorporated the Gregorian Chant
Drew inspiration from Beatles, Yesterday
PERIL 2:47 (HALO 2)
Written for Halo 2
Song is centered around strings
Song is written for a sequence in Halo 2
Master Chief is clearing the initial defense
around the landing zone.
NEVER FORGET 3:09 (HALO 3)
Written for Halo 3
Based off of the song Unforgotten in Halo 2
This song features strings, choir, piano, and
French horn.
AT ANY COST 2:30 & WE
REMEMBER 2:06(HALO REACH
Both works written for Halo: Reach
Unlike most of ODonnells works for Halo, these
two pieces features the usual components of
orchestra instrumentals but later adds the
drums and electric guitar.
 0:00 Symbols create a rumbling sound which gradually grows from a piano to a
mezzo-piano
0:06 As the symbols reach a mezzo-piano, a Gregorian Chant comes in as the
symbols continue to rumble and clash in the background.
0:31 Drums start to pound increasing in volume to a forte and leads to string
instruments playing the theme.
1:03 A voice sings a ah: and oh the background.
1:52 Drums stop suddenly but strings going up to a fortissimo.
2:00 Drums re-enter this time the low voices singing an ah dropping back
down to forte but works back up to a fortissimo.
2:24 When drums, voices, and strings reach their highest points it drops back
down to a mezzo-piano with the symbols rumbling and the Gregorian Chant
enters right behind

HALO THEME SONG

 0:00 Song starts at mezzo with strings from violins being plucked and a tambourine
accenting those plucks.
0:24 Cellos enter in a low octave.
0:48 Strings pluck a whole octave higher and cello goes up.
1:04 The tempo increases and the plucking matches the tempo. At this point the music
has built up to a mezzo-forte.
1:08 Voices enter with an ah and the voices build the music from mezzo-forte to forte.
1:37 Strings return to original tempo.
2:03 Voices come to a fortissimo then suddenly stop and strings continue.
2:11 Strings return to the faster tempo and more variation comes from the string on the
melody. Voices re-enter.
2:43 All of the combined instruments and voices come to a fortissimo and suddenly
stops and you hear the echo of the remainder of the noise fade away.

PERIL
 0:00 This song starts out strong with the strings family creating
harmony at a mezzo-piano volume.
0:55 Piano and vocal enter. The piano playing the melody as the
voice accents it with an ah in the background.
1:16 Symbols accent and create an ascension in the song up to a
higher octave. Song is now at a mezzo
1:50 Strings, vocals all fade out and the piano plays a solo back
down at piano.
2:09 Strings re-enter and brings the music back up to mezzo-piano.
3:00 Strings and piano end on the same note and it slowly fades
out until the end of the song.

NEVER FORGET
 0:00 The song starts out with the rumbling of the symbols as
drums and horns take on the beat and the melody at a mezzo-
forte.
0:15 Strings enter accenting the melody of the trumpets.
0:29 Piano enters in the minor key, creating a sense of being
offset.
1:30 The song takes a turn as the drums turn from a tribal
beat to more of a rock beat with symbols.
2:06 All instruments but the piano hold out for four beats as
the piano continues to play the melody and finishes the song.

AT ANY COST
 0:00 Song starts out with a slow tempo at piano with the string
instruments.
0:22 Drums and electric guitar come in on the down beat and increases
the tempo slightly and volume raises to mezzo.
0:29 Guitar takes over the melody while the drums maintain the beat.
1:01 You can distinctly hear the voices coming in the background as a
constant ah.
1:30 Voices fade off as the electric guitar holds the note for 3 beats and
the drums continue to play the beat. The strings take over the melody.
1:56 Drums end on the down beat and violins hold their end note for 4
beats.

WE REMEMBER
 Main Page. Retrieved May 1, 2017, https://www.halopedia.org/
Tong, S. GameSpot Posted on September 18, 2009. Behind the
Games: Meet the Composers Martin ODonnell. Retrieved May
01, 2017, https://www.gamespot .com/articles/behind-the-games-
meet-the-composers-martin-odonnell/1100-6228675
VGMO. Published March 21, 2014 Martin ODonnell Profile.
Retrieved May 1, 2017. http://www.vgmonline.net/martinodonnell/
Watson, A. Published on October 18, 2013. Biography: Meet
Bungies Martin ODonnell. Retrieved May 01, 2017.
http://arcadesushi.com/biography-meet-bungies-martin-odonnell/

WORKS CITED