You’ve heard the saying “a picture is worth a thousand words,” but how many musical notes is it worth? Being able to convey not just a story but also a melody in a work of art is truly unique, and that’s what I’ve found in this beautiful piece of Majora’s Mask fan art by Melissa Gabric. What melody does it contain, you ask? Well, take a look for yourself — if you’ve played Majora’s Mask, you’ll hear it instantly.
While the “Song of Healing” may only be a few simple notes, it carries great emotional weight. Simply hearing or, in this case, seeing something that evokes those first three iconic piano keys really reaches into your soul and reminds you of the bittersweet stories shared in Majora’s Mask. When I look at this artwork, I hear its somber tune play in my head, but the imagery also brings out the other important side of the song that makes it as memorable as it is.
While it is primarily a tragic tune, as it frees departed souls of their sorrows so they can move on from death, in that same vein it is also a song of peace. I think this duality of the “Song of Healing” is why it’s so memorable and powerful to those who’ve played Majora’s Mask, and it’s what Melissa Gabric has aimed to capture in her artwork. Suffice to say, she’s done it beautifully.
In the smaller, bottom half of the image, we see the gloomy scenery of the Lost Woods painted (digitally) with dull greens and browns. Having saved Termina, Link rides away while playing the Ocarina of Time nostalgically in memory of the world and the departed, representing the tragic side of the melody. I can’t read music, so if anyone knows whether the notes he’s playing are actually those of the “Song of Healing,” let me know. But I think the top half of the image makes it apparent what they are meant to be.
As Link plays the song, he evokes a wonderful memory of the souls he helped to free — Mikau, Darmani, and the Deku child who is heavily implied to be the Deku Butler’s Son — and in doing so reminds us of the most powerful aspect of the song: peace. In a stark contrast to the dull woods that Link rides through, the three walk together through a much greener woods, illuminated by a warm and hopeful light and enveloped by the stave and notes of the “Song of Healing” like a delicate scarf.
The greenery and light are enough to evoke feelings of peace and comfort, but it’s fully completed by Mikau’s gentle smile as he hands the soul of the Deku child a flower (Darmani is also holding one). With flowers often representing new life or respect for the departed, I think this is a sweet and warm gesture that reaffirms the acceptance of their fate, which the poignant song played by our hero helped them to achieve.
