Echoes of Wisdom has quickly become one of my favorite Zelda games, and its soundtrack has predictably followed suit. It has a cozy feeling of togetherness that I feel much of the series doesn’t always incorporate. Of course that’s not inherently a flaw; I’d consider it a feature in most cases. Link tends to mind his own business a lot of the time, and the music reflects a world he’s simply a guest in. But when Zelda travels the land, she’s far more involved. As the kingdom’s princess, she’s a very important part of these communities as she contributes not only socially, but musically as well. Nearly every settlement theme in the game features some type of flute, which I interpret as Zelda’s presence. So, when Zelda spins up to Hyrule Ranch (the type of place that’s already expected to have maximum cozy vibes) and that music starts to play, it feels even more like home.
Right off the bat, I’m sure we all recognize the motif from Epona’s Song. While that is a clear inspiration for this piece, it builds upon it in new ways. This song’s particular flavor comes from its two intertwined recorder melodies. The higher voice sings loudly and proudly, and the lower voice provides forward momentum as well as a pleasant harmony. With these two dancing together so gracefully, not much else is required.
An acoustic guitar plays its chords and arpeggios, and some simple percussion clops along. A plucked string instrument bridges the two main sections, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of Skyward Sword’s Lumpy Pumpkin. The latter section (starting at 0:46), which I’d consider the “chorus” of the piece, is what makes me love Hyrule Ranch as much as I do. I find it so deeply relaxing, even as the world is devoured by insatiable rifts. The two recorders effortlessly weaving around each other paints such a comforting picture, and I can’t help but feel at peace.
This piece singlehandedly changed my perspective of the recorder. It’s often thought to be a super basic instrument with little potential outside of an elementary classroom, but the harmonic movement and stellar vibrato here prove that to be false. With nothing else but guitar and auxiliary percussion, Hyrule Ranch has reminded me that art can be made with any set of tools.
