This is one of two Halo titles I haven't played, as I don't have the Xbox it came on (and 343 and/or Microsoft swear it will never be ported to the MCC, damn it). I'm definitely higher on the music than you are, but by how much I'm not sure. I remember greatly enjoying the album, but I also can't remember much that isn't Osiris Suite, Warthog Trials or Light is Green. Going off what you wrote about style and limited theme quotes, it does beg the question about composer choices vs what the devs wanted from him.

(Also, I bought the album at Wal-Mart, remember when you could buy recent major soundtrack releases at Wal-Mart? The silliest things one gets nostalgic over lol)

My "Albums Listened" insists I listened to Fall of Reach just last year, but damned if I can't remember having heard it (I also haven't seen the film). Also, apparently the video doesn't cover the, y'know, Fall of Reach, so... I wonder if this was a budget choice, or avoiding the canonicity thicket Bungie created by intentionally contradicting book author Eric Nylund's plotting for the titular fall. A bit of a shame, as the space station's sacrifice is considered an iconic novelverse moment (or was when I was reading them).

Also, this great clip from Brian David Gilbert's video on having read all the Halo novels (as of like 2019): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPvIqulJuk0

Again, love love love this series, your recounting and thoughts are so fun and informative!