Who composed the music for Halo: Combat Evolved?

Martin O’Donnell and Michael Salvatori composed the music for Halo: Combat Evolved.

O’Donnell served as the game’s audio director and composer, working with Salvatori on the score. Their music combines orchestral writing, electronic textures, percussion, and choral elements. The opening chant and layered percussion of the main theme became one of the most recognizable musical signatures in video games.

The score supports the game’s changing moods: spacious exploration on the ring, military urgency during combat, and unease when the Flood appears. Recurring musical ideas help connect the human, Covenant, and Forerunner sides of the story while giving the campaign a distinctive atmosphere.

The pair continued to shape Halo’s musical identity in later Bungie-developed games, including Halo 2, Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, and Halo: Reach. Marty O’Donnell is often credited informally under that name, but the composing partnership for the first game was Martin O’Donnell and Michael Salvatori.