Genshin Impact Main Theme is a soundtrack from the album The Wind and The Star Traveler.
It has the following variations:
On December 19, 2021, this track was re-released in the Featured Original Soundtrack (2021), Genshin Impact's first OST album recorded with Dolby Atmos technology.[1]
Soundtrack Usage[]
Event Gameplay
- Concert Pass
- Overture of Wandering Notes (before and after finding notes)
Special Gameplay
- Login Menu (day)
Media
Other Arrangements[]
Production Credits[]
| Position | Staff[2] |
|---|---|
| Composer | Yu-Peng Chen (陈致逸) |
| Conductor | Yu-Peng Chen (陈致逸)[3] |
| Orchestra | London Philharmonic Orchestra |
| Recording Studio | AIR Studios |
| Recording Engineer | Nick Wollage |
| Pro Tools Operator | Laurence Anslow |
| Mixing Engineer | Nick Wollage |
| Mastering Engineer | John Webber |
| Production | HOYO-MiX |
Developer Insight[]
The creative direction of the main theme of Genshin Impact was decided very early on, so there weren't many times where we second-guessed ourselves or went back to the drawing board. When creating theme music unique to each city in Teyvat, we chose instruments and musical elements that most fit the distinctive styles of the locations.
After the main theme started to take shape, questions of particular details arose, such as which area's music should have a rapid tempo, which environments should have music that conveys a more leisurely feeling, and other unforeseen questions that required nuanced adjustments. Production was a continuous process of improvement.
Despite all this fine-tuning, however, the overall essence of the main theme has remained largely unchanged. The melodious, elegant tune borrows the voices of instruments to express the spirit of adventure: freedom, sincerity, and purity. These key elements embody how we have understood and recreated the world of Genshin Impact on the musical plane.
Although our direction was clear, we encountered many bumps on the road of production. Even the demo alone had over 10 versions.
Players might be curious: what was the process of creating this music from the very beginning?
The main theme was actually just a demo performed on piano at first.
This early demo underwent countless changes and polishing to grow into the full-fledged theme music we hear now. Below we can see the development across different versions:
Main Theme Demo Versions / by Yu-Peng Chen
Login BGM (Daytime) Versions:
V0: A solo piano (right hand) performs the main theme melody. In this version I was testing to see: (1) how this melody sounds by itself without any accompanying harmony or instruments, and (2) its potential for developing variations later.
V1: After determining the main melody, I added the harmony (left hand). This piano-only version was the login BGM in the first closed beta, and it was quite popular.
V2: I tried adding some basic string arrangements to the piano-only V1. This version was previously used as the dusk login BGM. (The current dusk login BGM is a newer version.)
V3: Here I tried playing the main theme with an Irish whistle myself.
V4: This is where I began formal composition and production, exploring the possibilities of this theme and expanding its musical depth. I strived to give this composition the narrative-like quality of a grand orchestral movement filled with waves of emotion, bringing to life the vast world of Genshin Impact. I hope when players hear this tune, they will be eager to start the game.
V5: This is the final version, the one performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra. I replaced the piano in the prelude with a harp, changed the violin solo to Irish whistle, and added accompanying female vocals.
Login BGM (Night) Versions:
V1: The Genshin Impact main theme with only a woman singing unaccompanied by any instruments. Here I wanted to convey a graceful, ancient voice from a faraway land.
V2: The female singing remains, but this version utilizes acappella harmonies. (I sang most of said accompanying harmonies myself.)
V3: Here I wondered how I could further develop the "ah" singing of the previous versions, so I came up with lyrics that invoke a feeling of religious chanting. They are just different sounds without any specific meaning.
V4: In the end, I decided to do away with the lyrics, as they didn't sound quite right and contained inconsistencies in detail. I tried instead changing "ah" to a more gentle "ooh" in mezzo-soprano. The deeper, steadier sound added a holy air to the gracefulness of previous versions, fitting perfectly with the night login screen visuals.
We always strove to perfect the login screen BGM, as this element serves as a player's first memory of a game, and is often the most unforgettable. Even years after a game from our childhood has been stored away on the shelves of history, when we are reminded of the game's login screen music we still find ourselves unconsciously humming a few lines. One could argue that music is a more pure language than even pictures and writing — it so easily invokes memories of experiences in the distant past, even feelings of those we no longer consciously remember. We hope that the main theme of Genshin Impact will do the same for you.
Other Languages[]
| Language | Official Name | Literal Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| English | Genshin Impact Main Theme | — |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 原神 Yuánshén | Genshin |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 原神 Yuánshén | |
| Japanese | 原神メインテーマ Genshin Mein Teema | Genshin Main Theme |
| Korean | 원신 메인 테마 Wonsin Mein Tema | Genshin Main Theme |
References[]
- ↑ Twitter: Featured Original Soundtrack Announcement
- ↑ NetEase Cloud Music: Genshin Impact Main Theme 原神
- ↑ Genshin Impact Official Website: Developer Insight #3 - Behind the Music of Genshin Impact (1)