Listen To This Dramatic Harp Arrangement of “Ganondorf’s Theme”
Posted on March 06 2020 by Sean Gadus
The Great King of Evil is one of the best villains in the history of video games. For more than three decades, Ganon has been a thorn in Link’s side, bringing destruction to Hyrule. Furthermore, the tyrant’s musical theme is one of the best in the series. The chilling leitmotif creates an aura of evil and foreboding that is extremely effective.
This harp arrangement of “Ganondorf’s Theme” by Amy Turk is one of the more fascinating versions I have seen. Specifically, Turk based her version on the Ganon’s Castle version of the theme that appeared in the final dungeon of Ocarina of Time. In Ganon’s Castle, The Great King of Evil plays his own theme on a booming organ. The song is full of dramatic arpeggios and intense runs that emphasize the stakes of Link’s final ascend toward Ganondorf.
Turk explains that she chose to base her arrangement on the Ganon’s Castle version of “Ganondorf’s Theme” because it was a “great opportunity to try and bring all that power and bass that I like so much into the performance”. While harps are often associated with peaceful, smoothing music, this harp arrangement has a darker, more-foreboding tone. The haunting arrangement retains the original song’s Gothic flavor while also feeling more melodic than the in-game version. Ultimately, despite the change in instrumentation, the song is as effective as ever.
What do you think of this intriguing harp arrangement of “Ganondorf’s Theme”? Let us know in the comments below!
Sean Gadus is a Senior Editor at Zelda Dungeon. His first Zelda game was Ocarina of Time, and he loves all of the 3D Zelda games from 1998-2011. The final battle of Tears of the Kingdom is one of his favorite final battles in the entire series. He wants to help build a kinder, more compassionate world. You can check out his other written work at The-Artifice.com.
