What song comes to mind when you think of Ocarina of Time? Is it a classical piece like Hyrule Field? Perhaps something atmospheric like Shadow Temple. I think of the latter.

The soundtrack of Ocarina of Time consists of two types of songs. The first type of songs have conventional chord structures and instruments like string and wind instruments. The second type of songs forgo conventional instruments and chord structures in favor of atmosphere and interesting sounds.

These songs make use of loops from sample CDs like Distorted Reality. G-Boy's VGM Instrument Source Spreadsheet has sound sources listed for many songs in Ocarina of Time. For example, the song Inside the Deku Tree is based on the sample Enigmatic from Distorted Reality. They also use romplers like the E-MU Proteus 2. The intro to Zora’s Domain uses Steel Drum from Proteus 2.

Despite the electronic nature of these songs, they feel organic, like the sound is coming out of the environment itself.

The songs have simple arrangements using few instruments. In an interview for the book series Game Maestro, Koji Kondo states that he tries “to achieve maximum expression with a minimal amount of sounds”. (English translations by shmuplations)

This simplicity incentivizes a strong “hook” - an interesting sound, feeling, melody, or rhythm. The small amount of instruments also allow the instruments that are there to really shine. Think of the guitar in Gerudo Valley or the chant-like synth in Forest Temple.

I collaborated with my friend Rasmus Sandberg on this song. Inspired by Ocarina of Time, our song is simple. It has a simple rhythm provided by the bell and a background created by the choir and wind. These three instruments alone create the atmosphere. The lead makes the feeling more defined.

These four instruments are the song. The rest of the instruments make the arrangement more interesting but they are less central.

You can listen to the song here: https://www.newgrounds.com/audio/listen/1266047

The full instrument list:

E-MU Proteus 2(rompler, in this case samples from the rompler in a soundfont)

• English Horn - The brass
• Dark Violins - The strings

Best Service Gigapack(Sample CD)

• HAL UUHH C#5 - The choir pad
• PER Sh27 - The bell

Zero-G Ethnic Flavors(Sample CD)

• 21_14_12 - The deep drum

Jungle Jungle - 1989 to 1999 Samplepack(Sample pack)

Mind Congas - The bright drum

Spectrasonics Distorted Reality(Sample CD)

• DEATH MARC-L - The snare drum
• LOST HORZN-L - The swirling synth
• ARCTICWIND-L - The wind

Spectrasonics Vocal Plancet CD 5 - World Voices(Sample CD)

• TUV1 FREE 01 - The throat singing