Editing Sinister Sundown

"Sinister Sundown" is approximately fifty-five seconds long and plays at 156 beats per minute. It has a time signature of 4/4 throughout the entire piece and is written in the G Dorian mode. <!--same key signature as D minor but different tonic--> Like many field themes, "Sinister Sundown" lacks an introduction and conclusion, allowing for smooth transitions between loops. Each loop is thirty-six measures long. The instrumentation consists of violins, trombones, French horns, flutes, and cellos. The percussion section includes snare drum, timpani, tambourine, harp, piano, synthesizer, and xylophone.

The piece is characterized by a persistent eighth note ostinato in the trombones in perfect fifth intervals and staccato xylophone and flute melodies, creating a bouncy and lively atmosphere for field combat. It consists of five four-measure phrases. The first phrase features the flute and xylophone melody, occurring for four measures and repeating itself, adding timpani. The second phrase consists of a call and answer between the flute and xylphone, and a horn divisi, adding snare upon the repeat. The third phrase reprises the melody from the first phrase, adding a countermelody in a lower flute register along with tambourine, repeating itself. The fourth phrase beings the second melody with a syncopated dotted quarter note rhythm. It is in this phrase that the chords change, shifting from Eb Major to C Minor to G Minor. The fifth phrase repeats the beginning notes of the second melody, but instead changes from Eb Major to F Minor to G Minor as the phrase concludes.