To Our Surprise

"To Our Surprise" is a musical composition by Yoko Shimomura that appears in the Kingdom Hearts series. It is primarily used as the battle theme of Wonderland.

Appearances
"To Our Surprise" is the battle theme of Wonderland in Kingdom Hearts, Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories, Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, Kingdom Hearts coded, and Kingdom Hearts Union χ[Cross].

"To Our Surprise" is the field theme for the Hedge Maze and Aimless Path in Wonderland in Kingdom Hearts coded.

Kingdom Hearts

 * Wonderland: Queen of Hearts, Card Soldiers, and Crank Tower

Kingdom Hearts coded

 * Wonderland: "Off with Their Heads!", Event: Defeat the Heartless (Save Alice), Event: Defeat the Heartless (Tea Party Garden)

Kingdom Hearts χ[chi]

 * Wonderland: "A Giant Mistake", "Vegetables from the Garden"

Composition
"To Our Surprise" is approximately two minutes and fourteen seconds long in . In Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories and Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories, the piece is approximately two minutes and twenty-four seconds. For the HD remake, the piece is two minutes and fifteen seconds. "To Our Surprise" is combined with the field theme "Wonderland" for the piano collections version. This version, titled "Wonderland's Surprises," is approximately four minutes and twelve seconds long.

The in-game versions have a time signature of 4/4 time. Regardless of the game, each version has a slight decrease in tempo between 0:21 and 0:24- aka measures 15 and 16. In Kingdom Hearts, and Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories, the tempo is 159 beats per minute. In Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories, Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, and Kingdom Hearts Union χ, the tempo remains at a "presto" speed, but lowers by two clicks to 157 beats per minute.

The piece lacks an introduction and conclusion, allowing for smooth transitions between loops. There are a total of three different variations, each variation introducing new instruments and/or a style change. Each loop is sixteen measures long. The first variation consists of the general theme. After the slight ritardando in measures 15 and 16, the piece transitions into its second variation, this time introducing the cellos. The third variation switches style completely, marked by the driving quarter note pulse provided by the bass drum. This new variation consists of a more "battle"-like tone, complete with underlaying percussion and melodic winds. The piece returns to variation one at the end of variation three, continuing the repetitive loop.

The instrumentation for the Kingdom Hearts version (including the HD remake) consists of: strings, snare drum, crash cymbals, synthesizer, accordion, woodwinds (notably, flutes and oboes), and tuba. For Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories and Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, the instrumentation is reduced, using primarily synthesizer, flutes, snare drum, and strings. In Kingdom Hearts Re:coded, the instrumentation is very similar to Kingdom Hearts.