Celeste OST

Celeste Original Soundtrack
Alternate names	Celeste OST
Artist	Lena Raine
Price	$9
Track listing	01  •   Prologue 02  •   First Steps 03  •   Resurrections 04  •   Awake 05  •   Postcard from Celeste Mountain 06  •   Checking In 07  •   Spirit of Hospitality 08  •   Scattered and Lost 09  •   Golden 10  •   Anxiety 11  •   Quiet and Falling 12  •   In the Mirror 13  •   Madeline and Theo 14  •   Starjump 15  •   Reflection 16  •   Confronting Myself 17  •   Little Goth 18  •   Reach for the Summit 19  •   Exhale 20  •   Heart of the Mountain 21  •   My Dearest Friends
Link to album	Bandcamp
List of music

Celeste Original Soundtrack, abbreviated to Celeste OST, is the official release of Celeste's soundtrack. It is written, performed, and mastered by Lena Raine, and spans twenty-one tracks of varying lengths totaling around 100 minutes.

It is available on a variety of platforms, notably on Bandcamp (where 24-bit FLACs may be downloaded), but also on iTunes, most digital download stores, and most digital streaming services. The success of Celeste and its critically acclaimed soundtrack allowed Lena Raine's works to be officially available on 12" LP, Compact Disc, and cassette.

Practically all A-Side music from the game, up to Core, is included within this album. Some tracks, especially Cassette Tape 8-bit remixes, shorter jingles such as level-end ones, and cinematic (cutscene) music are included in the Madeline's Grab Bag album, which is complimentary to this album and offered for free on Bandcamp. Farewell's soundtrack is included in a different album, Celeste: Farewell OST; B-Side remixes are included in the Celeste B-Sides album.

Several remixes of the Celeste OST, as well as instrumental covers, have been performed for the Celeste Original Soundtrack. Some have even received Lena Raine's blessing herself and are featured on her website.

Track listing

Prologue

Prologue is heard primarily during the prologue. It begins with a soft yet unremarkable piano theme, aiding Madeline to ease into her new journey. This music continues through her conversation with Granny. As Madeline steps onto the bridge and it starts collapsing under her feet, the music intensifies, introducing the "Madeline" leitmotif via synthesizer, before calming back down again.

First Steps

First Steps is the main soundtrack played in Forsaken City. It reintroduces the "Madeline" leitmotif, and further builds upon it, creating Forsaken City's melody. A synthesizer plays the melody, while a piano performs the harmony. Madeline's Grab Bag: 09  •   First Steps (Piano Only), a piano version of this song, plays in certain "outside" sections. Unlike many other tracks within Celeste's soundtrack, only a single tune not subjected to various variations appears. This song has a B-Side remix, 01  •   First Steps (Sever the Skyline Mix).

Resurrections

Resurrections is the main soundtrack played in Old Site. It introduces a completely new melody, with its own leitmotif, and starts off relatively calmly, but builds up throughout its nearly-ten-minute length. An upwards-arpeggio melody is well defined, possibly representing Madeline's climb upwards Celeste Mountain, while a piano harmony gently creates contrast behind. The two sometimes go into a state of dissonance, depicting the unpredictability of dreams. After a cutscene in which Madeline meets Badeline for the first time, and the latter pops out of a mirror, the music becomes livelier, adding percussion, and the piano harmony increases in prevalence. to which point it starts acting as a counterpoint to the synthesizer. This happens at around 2:10 in the OST.

During another cutscene, one in which Madeline confronts Badeline for the first time, the music makes an unsettling turn, many major chords transforming into minor chords. This occurs around 4:25 in the OST. The piano stops, and the synthesizer starts playing the "Madeline" leitmotif, but in a minor inversion: this is Badeline's theme. Following the cutscene, the music intensifies, and the melody, instead of solely ascending, now loops upwards and downwards, representing Madeline's unstable mental state. The same "Madeline" leitmotif is repeated throughout this chase sequence, but in a much more intense way. This continues until Madeline makes it out of the Old Site tower; the music fades away as she approaches the phone booth which signifies the end of the level.

Lena Raine stated in an interview that she wanted to make Resurrections sound distinct from the theme featured in First Steps. "Because all of Resurrections takes place in a lucid dream sequence, my first goal was to make an etherial^[sic] sound evocative of a space that didn’t seem quite real."

Resurrections is one of the most well-recognized soundtracks in Celeste, and has been subjected to various covers and remixes. A B-Side remix, 02  •   Resurrections (Black Moonrise Mix), is also officially present within the game.

Awake

Awake is a remix of the theme featured earlier in Resurrections, but solely on the piano. The same piano harmony that formed the song's first half returns, but as the melody. Other leitmotifs from the song are present throughout.

Postcard from Celeste Mountain

Postcard from Celeste Mountain is the main menu theme of Celeste. It consists primarily of a very bass-heavy ambient noise, topped up by a delicate piano melody. It does not directly reference the "Madeline" leitmotif, but comes close to it several times. Ironically enough, Postcard from Celeste Mountain does not play when a postcard is shown on-screen.

Checking In

Checking In is the first soundtrack used in Celestial Resort. It plays throughout the Start chapter and the first portion of Huge Mess. The tune creates a relatively mysterious ambience, while still introducing the "Resort" leitmotif, which serves as Mr. Oshiro's theme. Initially, the synthesizer forms the bulk of the melody here, while the piano serves as a light counterpoint; more synthesizers are added until they form a perfect harmony; in-game, these are added as Madeline progresses through the level. A B-Side remix, 03  •   Celestial Resort (Good Karma Mix), is officially present within the game.

Spirit of Hospitality

Spirit of Hospitality serves as Mr. Oshiro's theme. Consisting exclusively of synthesizers, it plays the same "Resort" leitmotif, but using a different melody. This track plays during many cutscenes featuring Mr. Oshiro throughout Celestial Resort.

Scattered and Lost

Scattered and Lost is the second soundtrack used in Celestial Resort. It remixes much of what is initially heard in Checking In, and builds upon it significantly. Starting with solely a faster-paced piano melody, it transforms into a synthesizer melody, accompanied by a drum beat, as soon as one Clutter Switch is pressed. Pushing a 2nd switch adds another synthesizer to the harmony; pushing a 3rd switch reintroduces the piano melody. The melody is then remixed into a much more intense version of itself, featuring all the instruments previously introduced, for the Presidential Suite sub-chapter, in which Oshiro chases and attacks Madeline.

Golden

Golden is the main soundtrack used in Golden Ridge. It starts off with an ambient tone in the background, paired with a six-note harmony on the piano, but builds up throughout the level, culminating during the final subchapter, Cliff Face. Initially, this starts by imposing a piano melody over the harmony; eventually, a synthesizer harmony and a drum beat are added. A second synthesizer is later introduced, reiterating the piano melody heard earlier; however, this all but changes as soon as Madeline arrives at the final chapter (around 6:25 in the OST), where the music becomes much more intense, depicting the very strong winds there. A B-Side remix, 04  •   Golden Ridge (Golden Feather Mix), is officially present within the game.

Anxiety

Anxiety is the soundtrack that plays in the gondola cutscene at the end of Golden Ridge. It starts with a calm synth line of music, quoting Postcard from Celeste Mountain, but quickly ramps up to feature an alarm-like, dissonant texture, depicting Madeline's panic attack when the gondola stalls. As she calms down, the music fades back out, only leaving the first (calm) synth audible.

Quiet and Falling

Quiet and Falling is the first soundtrack used in Mirror Temple, prior to the Unraveling checkpoint. Its first half primarily consists of a piano and synthesizer harmony, with a piano melody added later; the second half calms down significantly, uses the synth as a melody, and becomes more "mysterious" in tone. The soundtrack does not vary much as different keys are found and doors are unlocked, primarily to depict Madeline's emotions more thoroughly. A B-Side remix, 05  •   Mirror Temple (Mirror Magic Mix), is based off Quiet and Falling.

In the Mirror

In the Mirror plays following the Unraveling checkpoint in Mirror Temple, until the end. It introduces a much more eerie, synth-powered melody, coinciding with Madeline's anxiety starting to peak, and her starting to face Seeker attacking her. Lena Raine stated that she tried to reserve heavy synths only for moments when Madeline's fears are truly apparent; this also happens in Anxiety and Starjump. Shortly afterwards (after Madeline makes it to a large chamber with split paths), a reversed version of Quiet and Falling is introduced. The piano is brought back later, playing a slightly modified but retrograde version of the aforementioned track, as the synth melody from the first part of the track is reintroduced (as Madeline approaches the temple's exit); unreversed sections of the melody are mixed in, to suggest that the end is near.

When In the Mirror is reversed, Madeline, voiced by Lena Raine, can be heard talking about her anxieties; when played back normally, it merely sounds like glitch sounds in the audio.

Spoiler
“Sometimes, I don't really know what's going on anymore. I… I don't know who I am… I just look in the mirror and don't know who I'm looking at… or who's looking at me. I think a lot about where my train of thought is going, it's not always a good place… and it scares me. I don't like scaring myself… I don't…” ~ Lena Raine (as Madeline)

Madeline and Theo

Madeline and Theo plays throughout Madeline and Theo's conversation at the beginning of Reflection. The "Madeline" leitmotif, on piano, is combined with a guitar representing Theo to form a duet of sorts, as they talk over the night sky. 55 seconds after the track starts, the synthesizer from Starjump starts playing.

In chapters Forsaken City and Old Site at the screen with Theo, as well as during the beginning of the end cutscene in Golden Ridge, only the guitar is played.

Starjump

Starjump plays during the Start checkpoint of Reflection, after the starting cutscene (but its motive appears in Madeline and Theo 55 seconds into the song). It borrows many cues from Anxiety, but otherwise doesn't use any leitmotifs. It quickly intensifies as Madeline flies upwards and talks to Badeline. This track is played exclusively using a synthesizer.

Reflection

Reflection plays during the Lake, Hollows and Reflection sub-chapters of Reflection. It starts with a soft, mildly depressing synthesizer melody, one that depicts Madeline's disappointment in herself as she realizes how far she has fallen. The melody eventually becomes more lush and filled as Madeline gets closer to Badeline throughout the chapter.

Confronting Myself

Confronting Myself plays during the Badeline boss fight in Reflection. It brings back the "Madeline" leitmotif, in a minor key, and features several synthesizers working in parallel, alongside a "Heyya" voice sample being slipped in throughout. Later in the song and game, the music begins to glitch out and starts repeating short parts of itself, most prominently the "Heyya" voice segments.

Confronting Myself plays at 132 bpm, making it one of the faster tracks in the game. A B-Side remix, 06  •   Reflection (Center of the Earth Mix), is based off Confronting Myself.

Little Goth

Little Goth plays during the "Resolution" sub-chapter of Reflection, following Badeline's boss fight and the "Level Up" cutscene. Once again, the "Madeline" leitmotif makes a reappearance. Unlike many songs in previous chapters, it is played exclusively on the piano.

Reach for the Summit

Reach for the Summit is The Summit's main theme. It integrates cues from each previous chapter's music, alongside the "Madeline" leitmotif, into an eleven-minute synthesizer and piano duet. The music changes every time Madeline arrives at a new sub-chapter.

Owing to how this is the final chapter in the base game, it is very well recognized and has been remixed on several occasions. A B-Side remix, 07  •   Summit (No More Running Mix), is based off Reach for the Summit.

Exhale

Exhale plays during the Epilogue following The Summit, and during the credits following the Summit. It is played primarily on the piano, with a synthesizer joining along at a few moments as a harmony.

Heart of the Mountain

Heart of the Mountain is the music playing in Core. It can be divided into "Hot" and "Cold" variants, which switch back and forth in the game as Core Switches are toggled. It starts with a soft piano melody, a leitmotif exclusive to this track, before introducing the synthesizer. During the final sub-chapter, aptly named "Heart of the Mountain", the music intensifies significantly as the lava/spiky ice starts chasing you upwards (or downwards). A B-Side remix, 08  •   Core (Say Goodbye Mix), is based off Heart of the Mountain.

My Dearest Friends

My Dearest Friends is the final track in the Celeste OST, and plays during the credits (when opened from the main menu). It is primarily on the piano but is also accompanied by a synthesizer. It is a very calm track. Lena Raine stated that this track didn't fit in well with the rest of the game, but was a fitting goodbye nonetheless.

Trivia

• While the piano used in Celeste is played by Lena Raine herself, the piano is actually a MIDI keyboard wired up to the Spitfire Felt Piano library.
• Most of the Celeste OST was composed using the Ableton Live digital audio workstation, except First Steps, which is one of the earliest tracks composed for the game, was composed using Cakewalk SONAR.
• The "Hey ya" voice sample used in Confronting Myself is taken from a VST called Vocalisa, made by Impact Soundworks.