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 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:
 * Realm of Darkness: "An Unexpected Encounter", "Too Late", "Braving the Darkness"

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.