Ground Theme (Super Mario World): Difference between revisions

The "Ground Theme" {{wp|motif}} is used in several different themes throughout ''[[Super Mario World]]'', often changing the {{wp|Mode (music)|mode}} of the theme. The athletic, underground, castle, underwater, [[Bonus game (Super Mario World)|bonus game]], course clear, and game over themes are all arrangements of the "Ground Theme". The "'''[[Athletic Theme (Super Mario World)|Athletic Theme]]'''", 「アスレチックBGM」 (''Asurechikku BGM'', "Athletic BGM"), is an upbeat {{wp|ragtime}} arrangement of the "Ground Theme" in the key of {{wp|C major}}. The underwater theme, 「'''水中BGM'''」 (''Suichū BGM'', "Underwater BGM"),<ref name=SMW/> is a slow {{wp|waltz}} arrangement of the "Ground Theme" in the original key of {{wp|F major}}. The rhythm of the melody is altered to fit the {{wp|triple metre|triple meter}} time of the piece. The underground theme, 「'''地下BGM'''」 (''Chika BGM'', "Underground BGM"),<ref name=SMW/> and the "'''[[Castle (theme)|Castle]]'''" theme, 「砦BGM」 (''Toride BGM'', "Fort BGM"),<ref name=SMW/> are both slow arrangements of the "Ground Theme". They flatten most instances of the {{wp|mediant}} and {{wp|leading-tone}} to put the melody in the {{wp|Dorian mode}}. The theme is transposed to {{wp|C minor}} for the repeating bars of the "Castle". The [[Ghost House]] theme, 「'''[[Obake Yashiki BGM|おばけ屋敷BGM]]'''」 (''Obake Yashiki BGM'', "Haunted House BGM"),<ref name=SMW/> is a foreboding arrangement of the "Ground Theme". The motif of the theme is played slowly in several {{wp|natural minor scale}}s in the arrangement. Additionally, the key center regularly changes throughout the arrangement to produce an unnerving, disorienting effect. The [[Bonus game (Super Mario World)|bonus game]] theme, 「'''[[Bonus Men BGM|ボーナス面BGM]]'''」 (''Bōnasu Men BGM'', "Bonus Screen BGM"),<ref name=SMW>[https://vgmdb.net/album/533 Super Mario World]. ''VGMdb''. Retrieved September 17, 2021.</ref> is a playful arrangement of the "Ground Theme" in the key of {{wp|F major}}. The course clear theme, 「'''コースクリア ファンファーレ'''」 (''Kōsu Kuria Fanfāre'', "Course Clear Fanfare"),<ref name=SMW/> is a brief {{wp|brass}} arrangement of the "Ground Theme". The [[Game Over]] theme, 「'''ゲームオーバー'''」 (''Gēmu Ōbā'', "Game Over"),<ref name=SMW/> is an arrangement of the "Ground Theme" played on {{wp|electric piano}}.