Hikari -KINGDOM Orchestra Instrumental Version-

"Hikari -KINGDOM Orchestra Instrumental Version-" is a piece arranged by Kaoru Wada and performed by the New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra. It is an orchestral arrangements of 's "Simple and Clean".

A shorter version of the track, titled "HIKARI - KINGDOM HEARTS Instrumental Version", is also featured in Kingdom Hearts.

Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts Final Mix

 * "Hikari -KINGDOM Orchestra Instrumental Version-" plays during the opening menu cinematic for .
 * In Kingdom Hearts, "HIKARI - KINGDOM HEARTS Instrumental Version" plays in a cutscene.

Cutscenes

 * Hollow Bastion: "Sora's Sacrifice" ("HIKARI - KINGDOM HEARTS Instrumental Version" only)

Kingdom Hearts II and Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix

 * "Hikari -KINGDOM Orchestra Instrumental Version-" plays when Sora is reading Kairi's letter during the ending sequence of Kingdom Hearts II.

Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep and Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix

 * "Hikari -KINGDOM Orchestra Instrumental Version-" plays during the ending credits to Aqua, Terra, and Ventus's stories in Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep.

Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance

 * "Hikari -KINGDOM Orchestra Instrumental Version-" plays during the opening video for Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance.

Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX

 * "Hikari -KINGDOM Orchestra Instrumental Version-" plays during the final game credits for Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX.

"Hikari -KINGDOM Orchestra Instrumental Version-"
"Hikari -KINGDOM Orchestra Instrumental Version-" is approximately three minutes and forty-two seconds long in Kingdom Hearts and the HD remake of Kingdom Hearts Final Mix. The piece has a time signature of 4/4. The opening theme has a tempo of 70 beats per minute, then slightly increases to 80 beats per minute, briefly speeds up with the low brass melody to a tempo of 154 beats per minute, temporarily slows down to 74 beats per minute, and concludes with a tempo around 72 beats per minute before the final rallentando and ritardando.

For instrumentation, "Hikari -KINGDOM Orchestral Instrumental Version-" consists of a full orchestra. This would include: a complete strings section- violin, viola, cello, and stringed bass, flute, oboe, bassoon, clarinet, bass clarinet, trumpet, French horn, trombone, tuba, snare drum, bass drum, orchestral bells, chimes, wind chimes, suspended cymbal, crash cymbal, timpani, piano, and harp.

"Hikari -KINGDOM Orchestra Instrumental Version-" has a very grand and adventurous feel to it; befitting for an opening or ending cutscene. Several different themes are introduced, which can be broken down into five sections: the opening theme/introduction, the second theme, the third theme, the fourth theme, and the finale. Each section represents either a verse or chorus from "Simple and Clean." Throughout the piece are many instrument-specific and unique techniques, such as: trombone glissandos, the various strings extended techniques- vibrato, and the like.

The opening theme lasts for the first fifty seconds on the piece, and, as the opening statement of the composition, lays the foundation for the following themes. The opening theme's magical mood transitions to the second theme's faster, but equally as mystical tone. The third theme momentarily shifts dynamic and features the percussion and brass sections, before returning the melody back to the strings. Resuming control, the strings lead the ensemble into the fourth theme- a slightly livelier and more percussive variation of the first theme. The last theme is the finale, which changes tempo greatly towards the end through the use of rallentando and ritardando. These tempo reductions, along with the brass fanfares and percussive crashes help imply the ending of a grand adventure.

"Hikari - KINGDOM HEARTS Instrumental Version"
"Hikari - KINGDOM HEARTS Instrumental Version" is approximately one minute and nine seconds long in both versions of Kingdom Hearts. The piece has a time signature of 4/4 and a tempo of 74 beats per minute.

"Hikari - KINGDOM HEARTS Instrumental Version" is slightly different, instead preferring a smaller instrumentation of: a complete strings section, flute, choir-ahhs, piano, organ, and a synthesizer that is using a music box MIDI sound effect.

Playing only once, "Hikari - KINGDOM HEARTS Instrumental Version" serves a different purpose: the sacrifice Sora makes in order to save Kairi. As such, this version references parts of previous tracks in order to connect the music to this specific scene. The use of a music box sound effect is homage to Kairi's theme, while the actual melody draws heavily from the chorus section of Simple and Clean. It can also be interpreted that this rendition is a "watered down" version of the full orchestral arrangement.