Sinister Sundown

"Sinister Sundown" is an instrumental piece composed by Yoko Shimomura. It was first featured in Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories.

Appearances
In Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, Kingdom Hearts II, and Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, "Sinister Sundown" appears as the field battle theme in Twilight Town, playing whenever regular Heartless appear.

Kingdom Hearts Re:coded
In Kingdom Hearts Re:coded, "Sinister Sundown" plays as the boss theme for the Trickmaster I and Trickmaster II.

Other Appearances
In Kingdom Hearts Magical Puzzle Clash, "Sinister Sundown" plays as the main background theme during regular levels and in-game menus.

Composition
"Sinister Sundown" is approximately fifty five seconds long and plays at 156 beats per minute. It has a time signature of 4/4 throughout the entire piece and is written in the key of d minor. Like many field themes, "Sinister Sundown" lacks an introduction and conclusion, allowing for smooth transitions between loops. Each loop is thirty six measures long. The instrumentation consists of violins, trombones, french horns, flutes, and cellos. The percussion section includes snare drum, timpani, tambourine, harp, piano, synthesizer, and xylophone.

The piece is characterized by a persistent eighth note ostinato in the trombones in perfect fifth intervals and staccato xylophone and flute melodies, creating a bouncy and lively atmosphere for field combat. It consists of five four measure phrases. The first phrase features the flute and xylophone melody, occurring for four measures and repeating itself, adding timpani. The second phrase consists of a call and answer between the flute and xylphone, and a horn divisi, adding snare upon the repeat. The third phrase reprises the melody from the first phrase, adding a countermelody in a lower flute register along with tambourine, repeating itself. The fourth phrase beings the second melody with a syncopated dotted quarter note rhythm. It is in this phrase that the chords change, shifting from Eb Major to c minor to g minor. The fifth phrase repeats the beginning notes of the second melody, but instead changes from Eb Major to f minor to g minor as the phrase concludes.