Nocturne of Shadow

The "Nocturne of Shadow" is a warping song in Ocarina of Time.^[1]

Learning Location and Uses[]

Ocarina of Time[]

The Nocturne of Shadow is one of the Warping songs Link learns as an adult. It is taught to him by Sheik in Kakariko Village after completing the FIre Temple and Water Temple. Sheik teaches him the song so that he can find the source of evil that invaded the village. The melody allows Link to warp to the upper part of the Kakariko Village Graveyard and is the only way to access the Shadow Temple. The "Nocturne of Shadow" is the only song actually required by adult Link to reach a temple.

Majora's Mask[]

In Majora's Mask, the notes for the "Nocturne of Shadow" can sometimes appear on a wall in the northern part of Termina Field, where Link can play a song for Rupees.

Other Appearances[]

Hyrule Warriors[]

Non-Canon Information

In Hyrule Warriors, Sheik can play the "Nocturne of Shadow" with her Harp Weapon to create an area of dark energy that sucks in and damages enemies.

Music Theory[]

The "Nocturne of Shadow" is 7 bars long in 4/4 time and, like the name suggests, hints at emotions relating to night and death. There is no true harmonic progression in the first 4 bars. The melody does not suggest any strong tonic center, and the harmony consists only of fourths moving in chromatic parallel motion. The last three bars do contain functional harmony, with an unusual progression of (bVI/VII - bVII/VII - bVI - bVII - I). The ending harmony is unusual for a nocturne as it ends on a major I cadence. Generally, a nocturne will end on a minor i, or a half cadence.^[2]

The "Nocturne of Shadow" is actually a prelude, as it begins on low, sad notes and builds up to a triumphant note.

Nomenclature[]

A nocturne, derived from the French word "nocturnal," is usually a musical composition that is inspired by, or evocative of, the night, which fits with the dark theme of the "Nocturne of Shadow."

Names in other regions
Language		Name	Meaning
	Japanese	闇のノクターン (Yami no Nokutān) ^(OoT)^[3]	Nocturne of Darkness
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