Nocturne of Shadow

The Nocturne of Shadow is a song learned in, which also makes an appearance in.

Ocarina of Time
The Nocturne of Shadow is one of the Warping songs Link learns as an adult.

Learning Location
It is taught to him by Sheik in Kakariko Village after completing the Water Temple and receiving the Water Medallion from Princess Ruto. Sheik teaches him the song so that he can find the source of evil that invaded the village.

Uses
The melody allows Link to warp to the upper part of the Graveyard and is the only way to access the Shadow Temple. The Nocturne of Shadow is the only song actually required by Adult Link to reach a temple.

Majora's Mask
In northern Termina Field, on a cliff face in the area with Dodongos or Eenos, a picture of the Skull Kid is drawn, along with a staff showing the notes of the Nocturne of Shadow. If Link plays the song here, three green Rupees will pop out of the drawing of Skull Kid (and the notes on the staff will disappear).

Name Etymology
A nocturne, derived from the French word nocturnal, is usually a musical composition that is inspired by, or evocative of, the night, which fits with the dark theme of the "Nocturne of Shadow." Strangely, however, the Nocturne of Shadow is indeed a prelude (being that it begins on low, sad notes and builds up to a triumphant note).

Music Theory
The Nocturne of Shadow is 7 bars long in 4/4 time and, like the name suggests, hints at emotions relating to night and death. Harmonically, the Nocturne is a bit of an anomaly in the ocarina song list. There is no true harmonic progression in the first 4 bars. The melody does not suggest any strong tonic center, and the harmony consists only of fourths moving in chromatic parallel motion. The last three bars do contain functional harmony, with an unusual progression of (bVI/VII - bVII/VII - bVI - bVII - I). The ending harmony is unusual for a nocturne as it ends on a major I cadence. Generally a nocturne will end on a minor i, or a half cadence.