Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep
Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix
Kingdom Hearts Union χ
Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A fragmentary passage-
Kingdom Hearts III
Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind
Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory

Aqua (track)

Revision as of 17:12, 8 October 2022 by Aid1043 (talk | contribs)
This article is about the musical theme.
You may be looking for the character.
Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep
Aqua
Theme Notes.png
Arranger Yoko Shimomura
Composer Yoko Shimomura
Length 2:52
Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A fragmentary passage-
Aqua -Mirror Illusion-
Theme Notes.png
Arranger Yuko Komiyama
Composer Yoko Shimomura
Length 3:39
Kingdom Hearts III
Aqua -Dark Dive-
Theme Notes.png
Arranger Yoshiki Nakamura
Composer Yoko Shimomura
Length 4:00

"Aqua" is a musical composition by Yoko Shimomura that appears in the Kingdom Hearts series. It is the character theme of Aqua.

"Aqua -Mirror Illusion-" and "Aqua -Dark Dive-" are new arrangements introduced Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A Fragmentary Passage- and Kingdom Hearts III. These variants are the boss themes of Phantom Aqua and Anti-Aqua, respectively.

Appearances

"Aqua" appears only in cutscenes, while "Aqua -Mirror Illusion-" and "Aqua -Dark Dive-" appear in both cutscenes and boss battles.

Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep

Aqua's Story

Final Episode

  • "Ventus's Guidance"
  • "Home Is Where the Hurt Is"

Kingdom Hearts Union χ

Medals

Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A fragmentary passage-

Battles
Cutscenes
  • Dark World: "No Going Back", "Phantoms"[1]

Kingdom Hearts III

Battles
Cutscenes
  • The Mysterious Tower: "A Fresh Start"
  • Dark World: "An Unexpected Encounter", "Too Late", "Braving the Darkness"[2]

Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind

Battles
Cutscenes
  • Keyblade Graveyard: "Aqua's Heart"[2]

Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory

  • "KINGDOM HEARTS 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A fragmentary passage-: Chapter 1"

Composition

"Aqua" is approximately two minutes and fifty-two seconds long. It is in the key of D minor, has a time signature of 4/4 time, and is played at a tempo of 60 beats per minute. The entire composition totals twenty measures, including a four measure introduction. Each loop is sixteen measures long. The instrumentation includes: piano, male and female choir "ah's," and a full strings section- violins, violas, cellos, and stringed bass.

The slower nature of this piece creates a well-balanced combination of emotions, one that is spot-on for the character in which it is aptly named. Elements of Roxas's theme can be heard in the harmony; supporting the melody with a moving eighth note passage throughout the piece. The melody follows a simply rhythmic form and is diatonic. The melody mainly follows a step-wise manner, with no disturbing dissonances or intervals.

"Aqua -Mirror Illusion-", in contrast, is a faster-paced, horrific rendition of "Aqua", befitting the phantom Aqua. It lasts three minutes and 39 seconds in Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A fragmentary passage-. This rendition adds in a countermelody of piano.

"Aqua -Dark Dive-" is a more bombastic rendition that lasts four minutes in Kingdom Hearts III. As with "Aqua -Mirror Illusion-", this piece is a faster rendition dominated by more strings and brass. The main melody is led by a female vocalist, with a second vocalist providing a countermelody.

Albums

Notes and References

  1. ^ a b "Aqua -Mirror Illusion-"
  2. ^ a b c d "Aqua -Dark Dive-"