The sun rises over Mount Lanayru, and the princess of Hyrule watches wistfully from the other side of the vast kingdom. She’ll be visiting that snowy mountain tomorrow, and it could be her last chance to awaken her bloodline’s sacred power. Whether she succeeds or not will determine the fate of her kingdom and her people. Princess Zelda has every reason to be terrified, yet she chooses to maintain her last shreds of hope. This moment for Zelda’s character is a big reason that “To Mount Lanayru” is my favorite of Link’s memories from Breath of the Wild. On top of that, it has gorgeous lighting, and its piano rendition of the game’s main theme is absolutely stunning.
A slow version of the horse-riding motif opens the piece, perfect for a memory taking place at Sanidin Park’s iconic horse statue. It’s accompanied by the sounds of a rushing fountain and chirping birds, significantly adding to the early morning ambience. The melody that comes in is yearning and mournful, especially as the first line settles downward into an Fsus2 chord. The second phrase spreads its chords into a rhythmic line, which drives the piece forward with determination. The melody resolves upward this time, leaving a much more hopeful impression.
It’s easy to miss early on, but the whole track is accompanied by a soft choir and string section that add a ton of depth to its harmony. This is a crucial part of what makes the final section, Breath of the Wild’s main theme, hit so hard. Learning to play it on piano left me shocked by how empty it is without its backup; the piano itself only plays the melody and a single bass note for each chord. It’s reminiscent of the ambient soundtrack of present day Hyrule, just with more intentionality behind its melody. To me, the orchestra represents that Zelda is not alone in this moment of vulnerability. Her friends, specifically Link, in this scenario, are there to support her, no matter what.
I find it beautiful how Breath of the Wild’s soundtrack almost exclusively opts for solo piano when Link is alone, and other instruments tend to join when he approaches people or monsters. It’s a fantastic reflection of how Hyrule is affected by the Calamity. Before Ganon’s revival, the kingdom was largely united and prosperous. In the future, shown in the follwoing game Tears of the Kingdom, the people will come together to rebuild what was lost. During the events of Breath of the Wild, the land is largely deserted, and this is why the present’s music is so minimalistic. Link may be alone in this adventure, but his memories are full of friendship.
