Martin O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori composed the soundtracks of the accl… Read Full Bio ↴Martin O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori composed the soundtracks of the acclaimed Halo video game trilogy.

They also composed the soundtracks of other Bungie games, including Myth: The Fallen Lords, Myth II: Soulblighter and Oni through their Chicago, IL studio Total Audio. However, the Total Audio studio was destroyed in a fire in 1999 and Marty later joined Bungie as a full time employee.

They began their careers composing jingles and as sound designers for Broderbund, working on such classic games as Riven, The Sequel to MYST.

Their old official site http://www.totalaudio.com/ now redirects to Marty's Inside Bungie profile.

Opening Suite
Martin O'Donnell & Michael Salvatori Lyrics

Instrumental

Writer(s): Martin O Donnell, Michael C Salvatori

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TRACKS

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Comments from YouTube:

ShankYouKindly

10y↑150

possibly the most legendary piece of video game music ever composed.

Ofis

6y↑8

And the most legendary fps first person shooter game as well

rafal szczesiak

4y↑1

Nah dats the truth and reconciliation suite

Nas T

Possibly? It IS

härjaren

No super mario theme? No e1m1 doom'93 music?

Cosmic Skringus

8y↑218

"it's pretty good" 10/5, best soundtrack of 2020.

Deshon Slaton

5y↑3

wow

Stover8118

4y↑1

@Deshon Slaton lol

Ratoz

4y↑18

And guess who's replying IN 2020.

AfroBreezy

4y↑2

Ratoz crazy isn’t it

Ratoz

4y↑6

@AfroBreezy As buck said. ''Some things never change''

12 More Replies...

Martin Smith

9y↑202

That music! Reminds me of the mystery of Halo back then. The sheer Alien horror of the Flood. The implacable Covenant. That haunting monk chant still gives me chills. I long for the day Halo goes back to that. When the Covenant speak their own language, and the Flood consume all! There was just something about Halo Combat Evolved that just struck that haunting buy epic chord. I can't quite put it into words.

Rodolfo Saraiva

9y↑10

I couldn't agree more. No Halo campaing afterwards (Halo 2, 3, 4...) ever felt the same as CE. I'm 100% with you on that one

sinister

9y↑3

Martin Smith Halo is fantastic! but CE was epic.

Bryan Bergh

9y↑3

Martin Smith Even in CE the covenant spoke English.

Vinny G

9y↑2

+Bryan Bergh No, they spoke their "Language" but it was just backwards speech

Bryan Bergh

9y↑4

Vincent Guzzi True and the grunts too spoke actual normal English.

Phrases like "He's gonna kill us all!" and "He killed, elite, run!"

8 More Replies...

CoziestDerik

4y↑11

1:07 something about the violin always gave me chills, halo was one of the greatest things that ever happened to me. 💫

jakem1800

10y↑28

The halo franchise will be in my heart forever <3

The Leaving Goose

+jakem1800 We love you too Bungie and 343, just not Bungie now because they've changed since Activision started their abuse.

MG

3y↑6

1:25 Send chills down my spine every time

WoodlandAsh

14y↑2

This track, along with the Temple of Time theme from Zelda are probably the most memorable game-themes i've ever heard. As soon as the music bleeds into my ears my mind is taken back in time to places as though it were only moments ago, but which were in fact years. Amazing.

CRaptor

8y↑56

This is one of the best futuristic games made.

gub *

4y↑9

Correction, it is the best.

Mr Werewolf

This and DOOM are the best

Broseph8T7

10y↑29

This brings back my childhood :') so angelic

ClassycalMuzak

11y↑2

There's been a ton of creativity unleashed in compositions for electronic game/movie soundtracks within the past forty years; this is an example of one of the best.

TheManOfRash

9y↑67

Still gives me shivers

NO-1-U-NO

+TheManOfRash I felt the same way when I was 8 years old, but now it's sounds so epic!

WhoaJoe

8y↑3

+The Riot Games so do fifty million people

Arthur Jankins

15y↑1

This track is glorious. Sounds like a song that would have missiles flying, bullets sailing through the air, grenades rolling across the terrain, huge explosions shaking the ground, dead bodies resting comfortably on the flora and the injured writhing in pain to it. You know, just some breathtakingly beautiful scenery. Wow, just a majestic work of musicianship.

Sterling Archer

8y↑24

R.I.P. old and good Halo... forever a place in my heart

Youngcore

8y↑2

halo - halo 3 including odst were the shit back in the day. 4 wasnt that bad, still fun, haven't played 5 yet

PsychoMoFoGaming

7y↑6

Long for the day that halo gives us this amazing feeling once more. With epic story writing, great voice acting and beautiful music.

Bobman9420

6y↑3

God is it just me, or when you haven't heard the soundtrack or even the main title screen. When that Male choir hits, it just brings tingles to your spine, and just makes you tear up a little?

Hey Internet!

8y↑50

This song makes me wanna cry when I listen to it, cause it makes me remember how good the older games were (I really liked 4 though) and how much fun I'd have playing them by myself or with my friends back in the day. It reminds me of better times so to say.

Youngcore

8y↑5

i know what you mean. i remember there being in line at eb games just to play this and people taking turns. it was an amazing time in the early xbox era.

killobot2

8y↑3

I know right! Those times were GG!!!!. Halo CE is my fav game of all time.

Hey Internet!

8y↑3

Archie Simpson I think I'm partial to 3 cause it was the first Halo game I played. I remember being so scared of the Brutes and the scenery in the jungle looked so pretty. I was just in awe of the whole thing. CE was good too though :)

Ayloua.x

it is

PollenJock

4y↑25

Probably my favorite cue from any Halo track 0:11

spartan S769

3y↑2

same...uh dear god i'll miss this era of halo

MrRapala91

8y↑11

Still have this game since 2002 on my xbox, and it's my favourite. Not just because of the game itself but also because of the amazing music (^_^)

xtinarulezd00d

12y↑1

Ten years later, I still adore THIS. Still gives me chills. So. Amazing.

Smile. JPG

9y↑103

RIP good halo games...
this was my childhood

Catalyst - D B

8y↑10

+Smile. JPG Halo games don't build off of each other like they should, like the story is. They are similar but they are like their own little world. Not cool. Fore example, with the major improvements in computer processors, software, the gaming platform among other improvements, by Halo 6 alright? We should be seeing duel wielding, vultures, Hornets, Cobras, Grizzly Tanks, Spartan abilities, armor abilities, all vehicles you can carry shit in and not merely just drive or blow shit up with, we should be seeing more free and Halo like story if all these Halo aspects were kept constant. We should be seeing ODSTs, we should be seeing missions where you can assault to take over or destroy covenant ships like illustrated in Halo 1 AND the books. we should be seeing ALL Covenant vehicles and Aircraft as depicted from Halo wars. We should be seeing all covenant weaponry depicted in all games, We should be seeing all UNSC weaponry too. Redundant weaponry can be chosen from kind like how you can choose what time of color or armor you wear no big deal. We should be seeing all brute weapons as depicted in halo wars and Halo 3 and 2. We should have cyclops from Halo Wars to man and heal shit. We should have UNSC bases like in Halo Wars that we can travel to like in Halo Wars. Armor piercing rounds like in Halo Reach, Gremlins from Halo Wars, ODST drops like in Halo 2 and ODST. Alien storylines like in Halo 2 with the Arbiter. Halo 3 fire grenades and abilities should all be accounted for. We should be seeing Alien only missions too like in Halo 2. COME ON? Halo's Maximum potential? :/ Anyone brings up the context justification of each game, I’m already a step ahead of you, if there’s no brutes, no problem, just leave out anything I said about brutes, next game they are? Put it back in, same goes for any other race context counter attack one may dish. Halo Max potential? Haha! Here's the cherry on top, it would be nice to crouch and lay on your belly too. Use devices like the one from Halo 1 that opens locked doors, or be able to take dog tags and recordings from fallen marines back to command or be able to actually make use the space on a warthog. Think about the space and containers and pouches you find on Warthogs or on tanks. Halo CE where you had to keep track of your ammo and sadly sadly leave the access where it lay? Imagine having the ability to carry that access to your warthog to store it there? gamers would care more about what they drive and if they take care of it or not. Just like how John in Halo CE had pouches on his armor to store ammo. Basically Utility of the vehicles and armor you have about you. Not just merely for driving. :/ Give the usable items of the game more depth. This could rival Modern Warfare, Star Wars the Old Republic and other games. Halo could be Apple in the gaming industry damn it. Not seeing it.

MoeTorbote

8y↑2

+Dylan Begazo bet that took 35 mins to write Jesus Christ

Catalyst - D B

8y↑3

Jeremiah Kaufman I don't actually care how long it takes though. It doesn't matter when you enjoy doing something.

King of Snake

8y↑10

I miss playing these with my older brother, he passed away...

Joshua Lammers

k :(

1 More Replies...

UKnow Draco

12y↑1

Wow brings back so many memories, wish i could go back and relive some of those moments, never knew a game could get me so attached, beautiful game. Best of all time in my opinion :')

kittylactose

7y↑2

Back when Halo had that very mysterious feel to it. And the music conveyed it really really really well. It truly felt like a mystery sci-fi kind of gig.

Sterling Archer

8y↑69

Damn, got goosebumps. Nostalgia is real.

Edit: December 2019 I came back again

Sterling Archer

8y↑6

Especially from 00:00 to 00:35

Aathmastralis

8y↑3

+MLG Doge Same

lighturple

14y

God....this music is just amazing. Brings back the most wonderful memories.

teentitans0789

4y↑1

Damn. Tears in my eyes man. What a great time this was for gaming and friends.

gogitassb

6y↑4

You guys have no idea how much i love halo man, halo is life!!! the music omg, the story wow, the characters omg. I am in love!

doG

The nostalgia is undescribable

Erik Dragset

12y

I get super nostalgic and thinking of my many awesome hours playing halo, almost makes me cry. good times! :) <3

Zach Harns

14y↑1

I love the beginning part favorite part of the song. Always have and always will. Thats what at first got me hooked to Halo...

Nacht

16y

the first song gives me the chills....THIS IS AWSOME!!!

ElenaSays FuckThisShit NoMore

12y

those choirs at the beginning are so heavenly...*sigh* thanks for upload all the soundtrack

JoelJoel’s Bizarre Adventure Part 2: Hole in One

Hands down the most iconic soundtrack in video game history.

Alex Bryan

13y

Every time i hear this i get shivers. LONG LIVE HALO!!!

CommanderNova1

13y

I like how that most of the classic Halo songs have that vocals in them. Makes it seem at least 5x more epic.

faithenfire

11y

love playing and the music makes you feel like you are there even more. best games series

Daniel Maxwell

I love this halo theme its so good i got goosebumps!!!!!

YoshiWare

12y

This song will always bring me back when my big brother used to invite his friends over to play halo system link. It was fun because I would play or watch them. I will never forget those days. :,)

TinnyOscar24

13y

That chorus gets me every time.

Potty Wilson

14y

I remember walking around the store as a kid reading my Halo CE game manual because it was THAT DAMN AWESOME!

Cynic

11y

goosebumps to be had whenever i listen to this.

gruffgruff92

14y

@0.38 when the menuscreen chanting started, i got so big goosebumps all over, i remember, now almost 10 years ago when i got my xbox, and along with it came this masterpiece, i cosider this to still be the best game for xbox and the 360 due to all the memories and all the unforgettable moments such as the landing at the silent cartographer or the escape from the crashed pillar of autumn, this game has made a large print in my mind aswell as in the gamingworld halo <3

Derpington

14y

How could anyone dislike the song?!

Joedoeem

2y↑2

even in 2022 this game is MAGICAL

fasthonda

14y↑1

I'll never forget the first time I walked out of the LifePod in the 2nd level, "Halo". It was the most beautiful game I had ever seen.

nazacuckoo98

12y

Even though I played this on the PC just yesterday, and I will most likely play it again today, this still brings back memories from when I first played halo, years ago, when I was just a little kid that didn't even know what "first person" meant Ah.......Good times :}

jimbear7

14y↑1

I wish they would have come full circle and played this at the end of Reach. I recall hearing a little bit around the end toward the credits, but there needed to be more!! this theme is known by anyone that has played any halo game. Finishing the series with the original masterpiece should have been essential!

DevilDog016

14y

Same here. Halo CE was the first FPS game I ever played. The first time I was awed at the scenery, the adrenaline rush caused by running through the maps trying to survive, the growing unrest, the questions asked when the subtle symptoms of the Flood invasion began, the actual horror and fear I felt when walking through the swamps, prison and Library, those were all firsts, and they came with Halo. The Flood was the first thing to ever scare me, and it's one of the few that have in many years.

Cyclops

This whole soundtrack makes me wanna cry of all the memories I had playing these games for years

fasthonda

14y

Halo music brings back deep memories from when Halo CE was launched. All of the best video game memories I have are from Halo.

Space

Ah the sound of my childhood, good times

FistyMcBfPunch

12y

Best soundtrack in game history!

Lamprey Milt

12y

Never forget when i first heard this...I just knew then and there at 0:36 that I'm about to play a game that will really stick with me forever.

WallabyWinters

13y

man that were the best times i would love t forget all about halo and play it again to have this awesome feeling <3 HALO

An Enz

14y

c'est magnifique ^^

Philip Christoffersson

Remember seeing the trailer to Halo with this music playing.. the graphics, the setting and the story.. just wow👍🏻 Nowadays They Dont make games like this anymore it seems

Sceptius

10y↑49

Kinda sucks being born in 1998; I never got to experience this masterpiece in it's apex.

Sceptius

10y↑15

Alright then.

Henrik334

10y↑7

SnakeEyesRaw Buy the anniversary game. It's has a classic mode where you play it like the original game.

Sceptius

10y↑19

I will piss on, thank you very much.

34 More Replies...

Nixem

9y↑18

Combat Evolved not just a game, IT's LIFE!!

Jake Batty

Dam. more than 9 years ago this was uploaded, and 15 when the game was released. truly legendary trio of games

notaseagull

11y

the nostalgia is so strong I can taste blood.

Kalim Symonds

Best soundtrack of all time

wire29

16y

love halo :) great song

SonofthePhantom

13y

Halo was the first game I ever played on Xbox, so many epic memories.

BrownSugarV2

4y↑3

0:00 birth of a legend

dulce maria pascacio hernández

13y

I love this music.

mrhalo007

14y

i feel i turned my back on halo by not having played this in years, only playing halo 3 and halo wars. I hear this and remember all the good times i had.

Darkness Skeleton

When i hear this I feel powerless and ALL HUMANITY IS IN MY HANDS. I fight to the end in Halo Reach and when i died. I cried to see the character i made died but died for Reach. REMEMBER REACH

DaBlackSmokeMonster

17y

No problem at all mate, it's a great soundtrack and wanted to share it with all you lot!

Deadpool

DaBlackSmokeMonster 10 years in the future in 2017 TAKE ME BACK TO 2007 PLEASE

🔊𝑻𝒆𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒆𝒈𝒂🔊

DaBlackSmokeMonster Nice soundtrack bro, where did you get it???

DaBlackSmokeMonster

4y↑1

@🔊𝑻𝒆𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒆𝒈𝒂🔊 I bought it :)

🔊𝑻𝒆𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒆𝒈𝒂🔊

@DaBlackSmokeMonster I used to enjoy the Halo CE soundtrack 11 years ago in your channel, buddy ✌🏼

DaBlackSmokeMonster

4y↑1

@🔊𝑻𝒆𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒆𝒈𝒂🔊 glad to hear it mate. Long time ago now :(

Hairy Mike

15y

I think the games are awesome and the music is amazing.

qhfreddy

13y

I played since 2010 it still addicts me better than call of duty and pretty much any other game. A thing in history to be proud of.

esteve rogers

6y↑5

00:11
birth of a legend

Makzimiser

11y

Halo and my childhood are forever linked.

ignoranceandcrisps

13y↑1

The weird thing is, even though I know it's from the opening scene of the first game, the part from 1:25 onwards always puts me in mind of the "100,000 Years' War" bit from Halo 2. Never been able to put my finger on why.

TheGakable

11y

ahh the sound of my childhood

The Great Red Spot

6y↑2

0:00-0:10 I love the good old Bungie intro sound. As a kid I always loved watching that logo animation.

The Irish Texan

This is good stuff here. The anniversary "remastered" soundtrack sounds more like one of those community recreations of the soundtrack in mods for other games, to avoid copyright... They can never recreate the goosebumps and good feelings from the original. That's something you just can't replicate.

TheKillerGMBH

5y↑1

THE MAN, THE MYTH, THE LEGEND
MASTER CHIEF

LALIT NANOSKAR

I never played any halo game but I heard Many things about the game and now I am witnessing.🤩🤩

Michael Gill

14y

Glad to be born in 1992 and take part in this legendary game created in my home state of Washington.

Xavier D

13y

I love this song and the game is in my opinion the greatest halo game in the series and possibly the greatest of all time

Dreadon1

15y

Me and my little brother would play for hours trying to win the game on ledgenary mode. Ah good times.

Barrett Jackson

13y

if you close your eyes you can picture everything perfectly.

bmbxgen 1

16y

there sure is! love it!

Peter Ian Staker

12y

Same, I dont really like the actual gameplay very much but the creativity of the universe it takes place in and the music is amazing.

Frederico Heim

8y↑1

These soundtracks make for me the master chief to the greatest hero of all times, without exactly these songs he would be half as epic

Naijeru Sama

13y

This is inspiring music that makes you cry

Izithel

16y

Evrybody loves Halo.. It got a great story, A nice background of the plot, good graphicks and not to mention the many great Charaters =D

ben merrin

14y

this gaming soundtracks should to be being to bring back not only true story from players but help tell stories of the player i had this sound track. i wish more games take this note follow like halo has

EbeneezerSqueezer

12y

The song that started it all...

Vani Fair

13y

awesome <3 i wish i were six years old again,when i played this game the first time...

Avenged

11y

The game that started it all!

Jaylee

11y

The music is what got me to play the game

Brayden Dini

8y↑1

every time I listen to this soundtrack I remember when I watched my dad play this game.

Mike U.

8y↑4

The first game I ever played was Halo CE. I was 3, and my neighbor would always come across the street to play it with my older sister (ahh, the good old days, when real friends could use system link to play instead of getting connected to 6 teenagers who are surprisingly experienced with using slurs). One day, I asked them if I could play, and I grabbed that controller. In that moment, I went from a mere child who's only achievement was he could use the toilet instead of a diaper (who may very well have been the OG Squeaker), to the godly cyborg that is the Master Chief. I have been playing games for 10 years since, and I've since become a super soldier who can't no scope like everyone else and still has the skills of a 3 year old...

killobot2

The first game i ever played was halo 2. played it when i was 7 and even though i had no idea what i was doing i found it so funny when the grunts squealed. Went over to my friends house every weekend to play it =D. 5 years later i get a 360 and i buy halo CE anni for it. I then rediscover the whole halo series. =) along the way i have some awesome memories.

At 4 i was cut off from the series but since then i have kept up with the series and i will never lose faith in 343. They will hit the spot one day. If that comes i might just buy an xbone and the adventure will continue... Once more.

Mike U.

Archie Simpson I feel the exact same way. Unfortunately, I fell off of the Halo bandwagon for a while, too. After my older sister stopped playing video games, and so I had no one to play co op with, I started playing CoD campaigns and occasionally forge on Halo Reach.Then for a while, I stopped playing Halo completely. When the MCC was announced, I didn't hear about it until a cousin told me. For my birthday this year, I got MCC and Halo 5. I haven't played 5 yet (I want to play every Halo game that I have in order, with MCC, Halo 5, Reach, and then Halo Wars :)

Marién Lugo

i was 2 when i played halo but it was halo 2 (and i sucked) LOL!! but now that i got the mcc i kick ass !!

Mike U.

Marién Lugo Same for me!!! (I still play on easy though :) )

Wim Grundy Space

The first game I ever played was CE, as the tender age of 57. Still playing REACH Campaign - on my exercise bike - at the ripe old age of 67!

ost sweinen

10y↑8

Halo 1 multiplayer was the best multiplayer I've ever played next to Uncharted 2

ZombryaTheDark

10y↑7

Fuck yeah! Pistols and snipes and blood gulch!

John Stuart

12y

the first time i heard this got me to where i am today :)

Randy19

13y

Man i remember the first time i played Halo. That mystic singing in the background and then that massive ringworld. It was such a WTF Moment.

Joao Lobo

13y

this brings me back to a time were i didnt have to think about anything. just halo

iTotalityXyZ

8y↑170

1:24 "Cortana all i need to know is did we lose them".

Optimus97

8y↑38

I think we both know the answer to that.

yangsdump

8y↑39

Sigh "We made a blind jump, how did they-"

Optimus97

8y↑33

"Get here first? The Covenant ships have always been faster. As for tracking us all the way from Reach...at light speed, my maneuvering options were limited."