From the moment they saw sky islands in the Tears of the Kingdom trailer, the call went out from fans of Skyward Sword: Will we be able to ride Loftwings again? While the answer remains shrouded like the land beneath Hyrule’s cloud barrier, Tim de Man provides a speculative track that combines the musical styles of both games to imagine what it might be like. In his composition “Soaring on High”, we’re invited to chart a clear path for a possible future full of soaring skies and aerial danger.
The track begins with the blare of a horn, reminiscent of a medieval hunt. With that, we’re off like a Loftwing pawing at the starting line of the Wing Ceremony. A repeating melody builds suspense as we climb higher and higher, gaining greater altitude and intensity before breaking into an extremely chill tune. The use of an accordion, flute, and other instruments in this section create a very mellow feeling. For some reason, the accordion in particular reminds me strongly of Skyloft, though I would also connect that instrument closely to Kass — it connects the two games together in my mind. Aboard our aerial Loftwing, the skies feel clear, leaving us to explore each nook and cranny of the various floating islands.
About halfway through the song, the tone changes. The calm skies turn dark and thunder rolls as the sound of drums rises. Alongside this change, Tim de Man begins incorporating more of the melodies we’ve heard from Tears of the Kingdom so far. It’s easy to imagine Link’s exploration ruined by strong winds that threaten to throw him from his mount. As a descending melody plays, our imaginations conjure the return of various aerial enemies like Kargaroks that Link might need to combat as he plummets back towards Hyrule’s surface. With a flurry of rising notes, the hero defeats the enemy and returns to sunny skies — and the track comes to an end.
Tim de Man’s music is like a Loftwing. It’s a tried, true, and reliable friend that will be there to catch us fans when our emotions plummet during the long, long wait between titles. Like a tailwind from the Goddess Hylia, his music allows our imaginations to take flight and fill in the blanks of what might be next for Link and his companions.
