Milk Bar Mornings: Fields

Welcome to this week’s issue of Milk Bar Mornings. Today we will be focusing on the themes of various fields present through out the series. Fields play a major role in the Zelda games, being the hub of all areas on the map. From Hyrule Field to the Great Sea, these are places that define the vast world the player will encounter through out their quest. Today we will be analyzing three field themes, exploring the technicalities and the story each song holds. So hit the jump to see what we have in store!

Hyrule Field (Night): Twilight Princess

The Hyrule Field accessible in Twilight Princess is by far the most vast version of Hyrule Field to date. The field is a collection of areas, brought together by paths, creating the area known as Hyrule Field. Many battles are fought on Hyrule field, but like all other places, Hyrule Field does have its calm side. Hyrule Field at night, though monsters are still around, is a dark, lonely area. The song is comprised of a cello being hit, a drum, strings, and someone singing. Though all Midi, the sound created emphasizes the grim, monster-filled area that it is, yet still shows how the field does have its calm side.

The song portrays a story of battle. Link faces many battles on Hyrule Field, but when night falls, those battles are forgotten, and the field seems to let go of the struggle, letting itself heal for the next battle-filled day. Monsters still roam the area, doing what they were born to do, and the monsters of the night, Stalhounds, come out, hoping to kill their target, Link. The cello and the drums together provide a beat, as if each minute on the field is numbered, and haste must be made. The strings create an awareness of the monsters present on the field. The singing represents the desolation present in the field, creating a calmness. Together this sets a stage of healing, Hyrule healing from the battles going on as the player heads forward on their quest.

The Great Sea: The Wind Waker

One thing The Wind Waker is known for is its expansive world. The entire world is simply islands spread out over the sea. Though the Great Sea is not physically a field, it is a central hub to all locations in the game, making it equal to a field. The music of the field is filled with drums, strings, and a horn. The drums create the beat of motion, following the waves. The strings play the melody. The horn provides the sound of danger, reminding the player of the beasts of the sea.

The story presented in the Great Sea is filled with adventure and journeys. The drums provide the quick beat of the waves, and speed, making the player feel free riding across the giant sea. The strings play the melody, but the grandness presented shows a history, the history of the sea. The thousands of journeys people have made through out the sea’s life is presented through the strings, reminding the player that is finally their turn to go on a journey through out the sea. The horns remind the player of the beasts of the sea, yet it still joins in with the melody showing that the beasts are part of the history of the sea.

The Sky: Skyward Sword

The sky is the first field in the Zelda timeline. Though the player can’t physically touch the sky, the sky does serve as a central hub to not just all the floating islands such as Skyloft, but the sky serves as the player’s way to get to different regions on the world below. The theme to the sky is filled with many instruments. This is so, due to Skyward Sword‘s sound track having been completely orchestrated. Each instrument does have its own role, notably the harp, as it is the main instrument of the game. The harp is constantly strumming freely, almost as if they are flying through the sky.

The story presented in the song is a story of safety. The goddess Hylia had sent her people to the sky, hoping that it will keep them safe. It had, and it became a safe haven, no harm anywhere, other than the occasional Octorok. With the addition of the Loftwings, the sky had become a place where the Hylians could thrive. The grandness of the orchestra in the song represents the grandness of the sanctuary the sky had become. The goddess had sent the Hylians to a world where everything was perfect, and the decision Hylia had made, was for the better.

But that is all for this week’s edition of Milk Bar Mornings! Let me know what you thought of this issue. Did you love it? Did you hate it? Let me know in the comments below. Also leave any suggestions you have for next week’s theme. Thanks for reading!

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