YouTube Series Breaks Down Iconic Zelda Dungeon Soundtracks From Musical Theory And Cultural Perspectives

It’s no secret that Ocarina of Time has arguably one of the best OST’s in the Legend of Zelda series. I’d say Twilight Princess is a close second, but Ocarina of Time ultimately takes the cake for me. The music at every moment is seemingly perfect and appropriate for the corresponding situation, whether the music is being used to evoke heartwarming or uncomfortable feelings. YouTube user Around The Monitor has created a video series that analyzes some of the best original dungeon soundtracks that Ocarina of Time has to offer, and recently, the creator has added some videos covering soundtracks from Majora’s Mask’s dungeons too.

The series is currently comprised of seven videos, five from Ocarina of Time and two from Majora’s Mask, with Majora’s Mask being an ongoing series. Around The Monitor has categories already distinguished in the playlist, fitting certain soundtracks into the “Best Atmosphere” category, “Real World Inspiration/Influences,” and “Why is *enter theme here* so Uncomfortable?” categories. Whichever category a soundtrack fits into, they are broken down in the same approach. The narrator takes stances from a musical theory perspective, an architectural perspective, and a cultural perspective. The sheet music for the corresponding score is also looked at. Around The Monitor takes all of this into consideration, even including specific instruments, and analyzes how this helps to create the tone that Kondo is striving to portray.

The creator does a great job at making the content understandable, even for those of us who are not musically inclined. A good combination of humor and historical and cultural lessons really make these videos fun and easy to watch. In my opinion, seven videos is not enough, and I’m looking forward to seeing Around The Monitor break down other iconic dungeon themes in the future. You can find the full playlist here.

What do you think of the series? What dungeon theme would you like to see Around The Monitor analyze? Let us know in the comments below!