[SPOILERS] The Music of Rhalgr's Reach

[Hinoto-no-Ryuji]

So, now that the anthem from the Launch Trailer has been confirmed as Garlemald's, and the instrumental version confirmed as the theme for Rhalgr's Reach, I gotta say that I'm very curious about this choice.

Does anybody have any thoughts on this? Is this foreshadowing of some kind, alluding to how Zenos was able to just waltz in there and massacre everyone (don't answer that; I only just finished the Sirensong Sea)? It just seems like choosing that particular melody is at odds with...well, everything Rhalgr's Reach stands for.

[PArcher]

Its also the completion theme for every successful quest...

[StarDrake]

Once the instance issues are out of the way and people can generally get to the end of the MSQ without too much trouble, I believe it will all start to make sense.

[Jennah]

I did notice that the inscription on the giant Rhalgr statue seemed to match up with the lyrics (especially the last line, 'the fury of His Reach'.)
I'm personally thinking it's a situation like "God Save the Queen" / "America the Beautiful"; with one side purposefully re-writing the same tune to change the message...

[Moombaz]

I just signed up to the forums to ask this very question. I've only just saw the cutscene with the anthem being sung.

I did notice that the inscription on the giant Rhalgr statue seemed to match up with the lyrics (especially the last line, 'the fury of His Reach'.)
I'm personally thinking it's a situation like "God Save the Queen" / "America the Beautiful"; with one side purposefully re-writing the same tune to change the message...

Good idea! That sounds likely. May even just be the anthem in this territory. Hmm.

[Enkidoh]

I still think that the 'Garlean' anthem is actually the original Ala Mhigan anthem that Garlemald simply took and replaced all references to Ala Mhigo with Imperial propaganda, and gave it back to the Ala Mhigans as "their anthem". After all, this is the first time we're hearing this theme despite the Empire being shown since 1.0, and that they already have a leitmotif which sounds nothing like it (Imperial Will, which does also show up in SB).

It would definitely explain why the actual music is also used as the BGM to Rhalgr's Reach and a few other things - it's truly Ala Mhigan, only it's been sullied by the Empire. It definitely suits the Empire's MO after all as a despotic autocratic regime.

[Mieck]

I will just say that this is answered in the end

[Saerydoth]

I still think that the 'Garlean' anthem is actually the original Ala Mhigan anthem that Garlemald simply took and replaced all references to Ala Mhigo with Imperial propaganda, and gave it back to the Ala Mhigans as "their anthem". After all, this is the first time we're hearing this theme despite the Empire being shown since 1.0, and that they already have a leitmotif which sounds nothing like it (Imperial Will, which does also show up in SB).

It would definitely explain why the actual music is also used as the BGM to Rhalgr's Reach and a few other things - it's truly Ala Mhigan, only it's been sullied by the Empire. It definitely suits the Empire's MO after all as a despotic autocratic regime.

You're right. When you finish the MSQ, you hear the original Ala Mhigan anthem, and it's the same music with different lyrics. So yes, the Garleans just corrupted the Ala Mhigan anthem.

This is spoilers obviously, but since the thread itself is marked with spoilers there's no problem.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAafBY76Seg

[zuzu-bq]

Someone transcribed it to the Lyrics megathread! If you want a quick refference for the lyrics.

[Hycinthus]

I knew even early on this was not Garlemalds theme. Because I heard this first in Rhalgrs Reach, then the quest completion jingle, and also in many cutscenes, even before the Garlean anthem cutscene. So when I heard the Garlean Anthem play, i just thought immediately that they stole the music.