Hans Zimmer unveiled the principal motif of his latest composition on his official YouTube channel, garnering significant attention in music aficionado circles yesterday. Currently available for streaming on “all major music platforms”, according to a BioWare press release confirming that Hans Zimmer and frequent collaborator Lorne Balfe co-composed the entire soundtrack for the game.
A primary theme drives forward ominously and repetitively, evoking the sense of a menu’s background score. Because the featured song’s melody is surprisingly adaptable, it remains discernible despite changes in instrumentation and shifts between major and minor keys, making it an essential factor in evoking emotional responses from listeners during pivotal moments. While not the most accessible piece from Zimmer and Balfe’s repertoire, it’s still not intended for the general public nonetheless.
The honor would belong to a mysterious observer lurking within, a set of four vinyl records containing music from the Dragon Age video game series, crafted by BioWare and released in the preceding year. Tucked away at the end of the soundtrack composed specifically for the downloadable content (DLC) of two games is a hidden gem: “D’learn Koda,” a pulsating, atmospheric soundscape attributed to Hans Zimmer and Lorne Balfe. While “learn Koda” might have a distinct meaning in different fantasy languages within Dragon Age, it also cleverly references “Dreadwolf,” the working title at the time, as well as “coda,” a musical term signifying the final section.
As of October’s initial release, fans can pre-order the official soundtrack in response to BioWare’s information launch. Available for download at #18 on both iTunes and Amazon Music. The album is slated for release in November. In the years that follow October 31 launch of itself.
