Masked Elderwood

Masked Elderwood is a Dark Souls/Bloodborne-inspired boss fight theme with a try to make it sound more Halloween-like. The piece is structured in three different sections, each representing a different phase of the fight.

The main idea was to make it as "evil-sounding" as possible. To do this I tried not to think of harmony in a traditional sense or using a specific key. Also a lot of dissonances, clusters, glissandos, and hard percussion. Though not wanting to have a distinctive key center G minor ended up as my starting point while composing. The base sits on a low D to establish some sense of center/security meanwhile there are a lot of textural things going on (harmonics, tremolos, harp effects, waterphone, cluster voices, etc.). The first phase accumulates and in the aftermath, a solo cello introduces the melody.

Here in the second phase, I wanted to capture some kind of haunting beauty and a freer atmosphere, similar to Dancer of The Boreal Valley or Daughter of Chaos. The tempo is now slower and the melody rarely lands on a beat, and with no accompaniment to establish the pulse the piece feels more free/floaty (some of the few rhythmical elements in this section are quadruplets which again help disorient the listener).

The last section, the third phase combines the melody from the second phase with the rhythmical and percussive aspect of the first phase. The melody is in the front and later a countermelody is added. The biggest difference between the third and first sections, not counting the melody, is the harmony. In this third phase, there is a clear chord progression that revolves and resolves in G minor.

This is the first time doing something in this style so if you listening and have any feedback or comments I'd love to hear them.

Thanks for listening!

Youtube link: