Peach's Castle (theme)

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The main motif of the Inside the Castle Walls theme played on a vibraphone

"Inside the Castle Walls" is a recurring musical theme composed by Koji Kondo, first used as the background music for Mushroom Castle in Super Mario 64. It is usually associated with Peach's Castle and Princess Peach herself.

Appearances

Super Mario series

Super Mario 64 / Super Mario 64 DS

The original version of the theme is played by a string ensemble. In the A section, all of the parts harmonize the melody's rhythm, aside from pizzicato runs, contrasting the melody with brief silences. This leads into a contrapuntal legato B section.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii

In New Super Mario Bros. Wii, an arrangement of "Inside the Castle Walls" returns as the background music of Peach's Castle, with added marimba in the A section.

New Super Mario Bros. U / New Super Luigi U / New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe

In New Super Mario Bros. U, New Super Luigi U, and New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe, Bowser has remade the castle grounds into a lava world by the time the heroes arrive. To reflect this, the music for the Peach's Castle world map uses a minor key arrangement of the "Inside the Castle Walls" motif. The theme is orchestrated on strings with sitar ornaments and a synth rhythm section.

Super Mario Maker 2

In the Story Mode of Super Mario Maker 2, "Inside the Castle Walls" is incorporated into six background music tracks that build in excitement as progress on rebuilding Peach's Castle grows. Each theme introduces variations on the motif that, in sequence, approach the original "Inside the Castle Walls" melody.

The first theme is a downtempo piece that plays the motif on acoustic guitar, with shaker and wood block in the background, and leads into chords based on the B section of "Inside the Castle Walls". The second theme increases the tempo and plays the motif on pizzicato strings, while also adding flute to the first theme's orchestration. The third theme uses synthesized instruments, playing the motif on synth strings and multiple staccato synthesizers. The fourth theme adds orchestral instruments, playing a variation of the A section on lead synthesizer, and the B section on strings. The fifth theme is a traditional arrangement of "Inside the Castle Walls", but with shaker and wood block remaining in the background. In the emergency theme, the motif is played on a sine synthesizer.

Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!

In Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!, Wrinkly Kong can be seen playing Super Mario 64, as rearrangement of "Inside the Castle Walls" is heard when entering her save cave.

Mario Tennis series

Mario Tennis Open

In Mario Tennis Open, the court introduction theme for Peach's Palace is an arrangement of the A section of "Inside the Castle Walls". The court's background music is a brass rock arrangement. A minor key arrangement is used as the tiebreaker theme for this court.

Mario & Luigi series

Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time

Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time uses a swing arrangement of "Inside the Castle Walls", featuring mallet percussion and a drumset alongside the traditional strings.

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story

The theme reappears in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story while inside Peach's Castle at the beginning of the game. The music contains a few notes from the Forest Maze's music from Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong series

Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem!

Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem! arranges "Inside the Castle Walls" as the background themes for Teatime Twirl, the first attraction in which Mini Princess appears. They are paired with original preparation, course clear, and life lost themes, all based on the original piece.