Listen To This Haunting Cover of “Ancient Folklore” From Breath of the Wild
Posted on June 23 2021 by Sean Gadus
Myths, legends, and folklore are important parts of the Zelda series. Whether it is the creation of Hyrule in Ocarina of Time, the legendary hero in The Wind Waker, or Hylia’s battle against Demise in Skyward Sword, the world of The Legend of Zelda is steeped in stories about the distant past. These legends help the world feel lived in and full of history. The most recent legend discussed in the Zelda series is the story of the hero from 10,000 years ago in Breath of the Wild. Some people are speculating this legend may be important to Breath of the Wild‘s sequel.
This impressive cover of “Ancient Folklore” by Frederik R (featuring PitTan on violin), truly understands the importance of myth and legends in the Zelda series. This is the song that plays over Impa’s story of the ancient legend from 10,000 years ago. This arrangement highlights the song’s distinct and unusual sound. “Ancient Folklore” combines elements of the disquieting “Shrine of Trials,” the game’s main theme, and its iconic music for Ganon/Ganondorf. The result of combining these three musical themes is an eerie piece of music that sets the tone for an epic and mysterious legend about good and evil.
This haunting cover utilizes four key instruments: the celesta, organ, piano, and violin. If you did not know the celesta, it is the instrument on the left hand side of the video at the 0:20 mark. The celesta looks similar to a piano, although it has smaller keys and usually has a smaller body or cabinet. The violin is mostly used to play elements of the more heroic “Main Theme” while the organ perfectly captures the foreboding nature of “Ganon’s Theme”. I enjoy how the cover (and original song) transition between different musical themes and leitmotifs. As I listen to this song, I can picture Impa’s fable slowly unfolding and moving from story beat to story beat.
What do you think of this four piece cover of “Ancient Folklore” from Breath of the Wild? Let us know in the comments below!
Source: Frederik R
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.
