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Early Life and Joining Nintendo

Born in Nagoya, Japan, Koji Kondo developed an early passion for music, learning electronic organ during childhood. He joined Nintendo in 1984 as their first dedicated music composer, revolutionizing game audio when most titles used simple beeps.

Creating Gaming's Most Iconic Themes

Kondo's breakthrough came with 1985's Super Mario Bros., where he composed the timeless overworld theme in a single night—now one of the world's most recognizable melodies. His innovative approach blended catchy melodies with technical constraints, creating the 8-bit anthem 'Ground Theme' that defined a generation.

The Legend of Zelda Masterpieces

For 1986's The Legend of Zelda, Kondo crafted adventurous, looping compositions that responded to player actions. His work peaked with Ocarina of Time (1998), where he integrated melody-based gameplay through ocarina songs like 'Zelda's Lullaby' and 'Saria's Song', making music a core game mechanic.

Musical Style and Innovations

Kondo pioneered adaptive music that changed with gameplay contexts. He fused Western jazz and classical influences with Japanese minimalism, using limited hardware to create emotionally rich soundscapes. His techniques established video game scoring as a legitimate art form.

Later Career and Legacy

As Nintendo's sound manager, Kondo supervised scores for Star Fox 64 and Super Mario 64 while composing for Mario Kart and Smash Bros. series. His works are performed in global concert tours like 'Video Games Live'. Awards include multiple G.A.N.G. recognitions and a 2022 Lifetime Achievement award.

Albums and Published Works

Kondo's music appears on official Nintendo soundtracks including 'Super Mario Bros. 25th Anniversary' and 'The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Original Soundtrack'. Sheet music collections for piano and orchestra are widely available—explore our selection below.

• Kondo initially wanted to be a professional race car driver before pursuing music, a passion reflected in his high-energy Mario Kart compositions.
• The Super Mario Bros. theme was nearly discarded for being 'too melodic'—a decision that would have altered gaming history.
• He composed the Zelda title screen music last-minute using only three chords, creating one of gaming's most emotional pieces under extreme deadline pressure.