I absolutely love video game soundtracks. And there are some amazing soundtracks out there. But recently, one of my favorites has become the music Hollow Knight. If you haven’t played the game, I do recommend checking it out. Great game. But seeing how this is a blog about music, I want to focus on that. And the thing I love most about the music in Hollow Knight is the use of leitmotifs. The leitmotifs through Hollow Knight’s music do a fantastic job of helping to connect story elements together.
*SPOILER ALERT* To discuss leitmotif’s within the music of Hollow Knight, there are some story elements that need to be address. So if you haven’t played the game but plan to, this is your warning to not read too far ahead.
What is a Leitmotif?
Music Theory Level: 6 / 10
This article touches on the chord inversions, non-harmonic tones, or basic formal structure (sentences and periods).
I recommend being familiar with the basics of part-writing, harmonic progression, melodic construction, and counterpoint (species 1, 2, and 3) before reading through this post.
To learn about this level system and determine what you should be learning, be sure to check my master guide on learning music theory.
In music, leitmotifs are small phrases that represent a specific person or thing. These have been used all throughout opera (especially the works of Richard Wagner). Modern times see leitmotifs used all throughout film scores and video game soundtracks.
Star Wars is a perfect example. The Imperial March of Darth Vader. The Force theme. Leia’s theme. Luke’s theme. Padme/Amidala’s theme. The list goes on.
Fun fact, in addition to their own motif, most of these also prominently use different intervals. Good for ear training!
The Hollow Knight’s Leitmotif
Without going to far into the lore (which itself is great), the main character is the Hollow Knight. He is hollow in order for him to contain “the radiance”, a type of plague found that has destroyed the kingdom (this will be important later). The Knight’s main leitmotif plays on the title screen and introduces the ideas we’ll find later.
Sealed Vessel
The Sealed Vessel refers to the game’s final boss: another hollow knight that is currently sealed away to completely contain the radiance inside of itself. Thought to be a perfect vessel, it has failed and the radiance is now spreading. Thus, our characters purpose. The purpose of the Vessel and the main character are identical, and thus the leitmotif ties this concept of the two together. Except as expected from a final boss, it is completely flipped on its head in terms of intensity. See how many similarities you can hear.
Broken Vessel
In the middle of the game, you come across a similar boss fight called the Broken Vessel. As the name implied, this is a similar character that once attempted to hold the radiance as well, but failed. And similarly, the music has many elements of the Knight’s theme.
Other Tracks
There are two other prominent examples of this leitmotif.
First is “Enter Hollownest”. I’m not sure this ever appears in-game (let me know in the comments if it does). I remember seeing it on an early trailer for the game. Being the main characters leitmotif, it would make sense.
Second is the track “False Knight”. Similar to Sealed Vessel or Broken Vessel, the concept of a hollow knight is played with (albeit in a different way).
Be sure to check those out.
The King’s Leitmotif
The other major leitmotif that appears in the game is that of the White King, ruler of the kingdom and create of the vessels (thus, the Hollow Knight himself). Here’s the main theme:
While the story never explicitly states that characters are tied together, the king’s leitmotif appears in several places that suggest their relation. Let’s take a look.
The White Lady
Being a king, you would naturally expect a queen as well. And on the opposite side of the world from the king’s palace, you find the Queen’s Garden and the White Lady. You can definitely hear the similarity.
Fantastic use of the ♮6 of the dorian mode to give a bright and optimistic feel as opposed to the king’s darker b6 version.
Hornet
Throughout the game, you encounter a repeated boss named Hornet. Again, the name never explicitly states her purpose. But through her main theme, you can tie her to the White King and White Lady. In my opinion, this places her as some member of the royal family (possible their daughter?).
Other Tracks
Again, there are two more examples of this leitmotif (although one is more subtle).
First is “Resting Grounds”. An obvious reference to a graveyard, the Resting Grounds could be assumed to be a monument of all the kingdom’s inhabitants laid to rest due to the White King’s failure to create a vessel to contain the radiance. Thus, it naturally has a slow and somber take on the White King’s leitmotif.
Second is the track “Dung Defender”. And this one is a little more of a stretch. But the main melody has strong similarities to the White King’s theme. And with him once being in service of the king, I don’t think it’s too far of a stretch to relate them. (Whether intentionally done or not.)
Be sure to check those out.
Final Thoughts on the Music of Hollow Knight
The music of Hollow Knight does an absolutely fantastic job of helping tell the narrative of the world. Even if you have no intention of ever playing the game, I highly recommend taking the time to listen to the soundtrack. You can get some great ideas about how you can develop your own motifs in various ways. Often to some wildly different outcomes.
My favorite tracks are “City of Tears” and “Nightmare King” (still get anxiety on that fight…)
If you enjoy the music, you can purchase the Hollow Knight Piano Collections book. It can be a great way to analyze the leitmotifs we’ve discussed. Plus it’s just plain fun to play. I own the book myself and definitely recommend.
Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. By clicking the link and purchasing the item, I receive a small commission. This is at no extra cost to you. Read my full affiliate disclosure for more information about affiliate links and why I use them.
Are you like me? Do you absolutely love the music of Hollow Knight? Have any other examples of leitmotifs that I missed? Let us know in the comments below!
