Saria's Song

"Saria's Song" is a song that made its debut in Ocarina of Time and that has continued to made several appearances in various  games. This melody usually serves as background music for places that are related to forests or woods.

Music Theory of Saria's Song
Saria's Song is based on three main notes, F, A, and B. The tonic of the piece is F, resulting in a scalar mode of F Lydian (a major scale with a raised 4th). Although this is where the piece is based harmonically, it is still overall ambiguous in its harmonization, as accidentals in the harmony later on in the piece could suggest that the piece is in fact in C Major and it simply starts on the 4th scale degree and a IV in the harmony.

Either way, the obviously modal basis of the piece is a way to make the song sound more medieval and removed from classical Western music.

The piece is in duple meter and is constructed in binary form (an A section and a B section, with a short intro on tambourine) which is looped ad infinitum. Both A and B sections are characterized by straight-forward dance rhythms in metric groupings of two. The A section is 8 bars long (in 4/4 time) and the B section is 10 bars long, which can be viewed as a 6 + 4 hypermetric grouping.

Ocarina of Time
"Saria's Song" is a tune taught to Link by his best friend, Saria the Kokiri. He learns "Saria's Song" as a symbol of friendship when he visits her in the Sacred Forest Meadow, and playing the song allows him to communicate with Saria at any time. When Link speaks to her, Saria will help the young hero by providing him with useful information about what to do or where to go next in his quest.

Aside from being able to prove Link's friendship with Saria, "Saria's Song" can be used to ease troubled minds, as seen when the young hero plays the melody to cheer up Darunia and receive the Goron Bracelet in return. . By playing this tune to the Skull Kid in the Lost Woods, the two of them will become friends and the Skull Kid will give him a Piece of Heart. Once Link turns into an adult, he must play "Saria's Song" in front of Mido in the Lost Woods to allow the young hero to pass to the Sacred Forest Meadow.

A Goron near the shortcut to the Lost Woods in the Goron City states that all Gorons love "Saria's Song", which serves as the background music for the Lost Woods and the Sacred Forest Meadow.

Majora's Mask
In Majora's Mask, "Saria's Song" serves as the background music for the Woods of Mystery and when Pierre is dancing with Link. It also plays during the scene where Tatl, Tael, and the Skull Kid are playing in the woods. During the ending credits, the Skull Kid mentions that Link has the same smell as the "fairy kid who taught [him] that song in the woods..."

The song makes a last appearance after the tree stump showing a drawing of Link, Skull Kid, Tatl and Tael appears on-screen. After a short while, "Saria's Song" is heard.

The Wind Waker
In The Wind Waker, "Saria's Song" is briefly quoted in the inner Forest Haven's background music.

Twilight Princess
"Saria's Song" appears as the background music for the Sacred Grove, although it has been slightly altered. Moreover, the Skull Kid plays the melody on his instrument from time to time. When Link battles against Ook, "Saria's Song" can be heard remixed in the opening of the battle.

''Freshly-Picked Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland
In Freshly-Picked Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland, "Saria's Song" can be heard as background music for the third dungeon, the Deku Temple.

Super Smash Bros. series
In Super Smash Bros. Melee, "Saria's Song" is an alternative background music of the Great Bay arena, and it is also Young Link's theme song. "Saria's Song" can also be heard at the end of the Ocarina of Time medley in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

Trivia

 * The Daigasso! Band Brothers play "Saria's Song" as part of the Zelda Medley.