Aqua (track)

"Aqua" is a musical composition by Yoko Shimomura that appears in the Kingdom Hearts series. It is the character theme of Aqua.

"Aqua -Mirror Illusion-" and "Aqua -Dark Dive-" are new arrangements introduced Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A Fragmentary Passage- and Kingdom Hearts III. These variants are the boss themes of Phantom Aqua and Anti-Aqua, respectively.

Appearances
"Aqua" appears only in cutscenes, while "Aqua -Mirror Illusion-" and "Aqua -Dark Dive-" appear in both cutscenes and boss battles.

Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep

 * Blank Points

Aqua's Story

 * Radiant Garden: "A Reluctant Farewell"
 * Mysterious Tower: "Grave News", "Unwavering Friendship"

Final Episode

 * "Ventus's Guidance"
 * "Home Is Where the Hurt Is"

Kingdom Hearts Union χ

 * Medals

Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A fragmentary passage-

 * Battles
 * Dark World: Phantom Aqua


 * Cutscenes
 * Dark World: "No Going Back", "Phantoms"

Kingdom Hearts III

 * Battles
 * Anti-Aqua


 * Cutscenes
 * The Mysterious Tower: "A Fresh Start"
 * Dark World: "An Unexpected Encounter", "Too Late", "Braving the Darkness"

Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind

 * Battles
 * Keyblade Graveyard: Anti-Aqua


 * Cutscenes
 * Keyblade Graveyard: "Aqua's Heart"

Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory

 * "KINGDOM HEARTS 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A fragmentary passage-: Chapter 1"

Composition
"Aqua" is approximately two minutes and fifty-two seconds long. It is in the key of D minor, has a time signature of 4/4 time, and is played at a tempo of 60 beats per minute. The entire composition totals twenty measures, including a four measure introduction. Each loop is sixteen measures long. The instrumentation includes: piano, male and female choir "ah's," and a full strings section- violins, violas, cellos, and stringed bass.

The slower nature of this piece creates a well-balanced combination of emotions, one that is spot-on for the character in which it is aptly named. Elements of Roxas's theme can be heard in the harmony; supporting the melody with a moving eighth note passage throughout the piece. The melody follows a simply rhythmic form and is diatonic. The melody mainly follows a step-wise manner, with no disturbing dissonances or intervals.

"Aqua -Mirror Illusion-", in contrast, is a faster-paced, horrific rendition of "Aqua", befitting the phantom Aqua. It lasts three minutes and 39 seconds in Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A fragmentary passage-. This rendition adds in a countermelody of piano.

"Aqua -Dark Dive-" is a more bombastic rendition that lasts four minutes in Kingdom Hearts III. As with "Aqua -Mirror Illusion-", this piece is a faster rendition dominated by more strings and brass. The main melody is led by a female vocalist, with a second vocalist providing a countermelody. A reference to Sora's theme is present during the song.

Kingdom Hearts Memorial Music Box
The Kingdom Hearts Memorial Music Box website features "Aqua" as one of eight tracks from the Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX soundtrack. The song is represented by Aqua and is accompanied by cutscene images and quotes from Aqua's journey.