I realize that this song is nearly identical in theme to the other MIDI Week Single article we posted back in January for "Overlooking Hyrule - Prelude to Calamity." The bones are almost the same, but the end result is still different. In, we will just refer to it as "Prelude," you have the Age of Calamity theme on the piano and only very light, wispy-sounding chords in the background. Here, there is still the main theme played on a piano, but it now has a string section backing it and the piano is allowed to play beyond the four notes that it could only play in "Prelude." And then you have additional instruments joining in around the 30 second mark, filling out the sound beyond what was once just a nearly isolated piano. And then around 1:02, whatever that flute/oboe instrument is plays a motif reminiscent of Zelda's theme.
This version of the Age of Calamity theme plays after having finished the main campaign and during the post-game content, essentially doing what you were doing during the entire game: looking over a map of Hyrule wondering which of the 20+ quests that just popped up you can and should do next. There is no longer the dread of the impending Calamity, and you do not really have to do anything if you do not want to although (spoilers) if you want to help out your friend then you are more than welcome. And if you want to finish unlocking all of the playable characters (which always felt odd to me; check out a future article about this bit).
What I love about this variation on "Prelude" is that there is all of the pent-up relief that is just overflowing. Maybe it is just the context of the game coming through in the way I feel about it, and I cannot be un-biased in that feeling, but I would like to think that it comes across to those unfamiliar with either Breath of the Wild or Age of Calamity. Maybe part of it is also the last year and-a-half and trying to imagine what the following year will be like and hearing music like this, picturing the After Times, makes me at least hopeful. And I guess I kinda needed that right now.
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