Grieg for Gimli, Schumann for Saruman

[mark12_30]

I have ordered new copies of Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty (both complete.) As they were my main source of elvish and hobbitish imagery (the music, not the ballets) I expect to be re-inspired when they arrive. I shall post accordingly.

Arothir: 1812 for the Pyre of Denethor... His pyre inspires you to celebration?

Sorcerer's Apprentice...

[Arothir]

1812 overture reminds me of explosions and fire, so that's why I think it'd be cool to have that for the Pyre.

If the LOTR soundtrack had to have been filched from existing classical music, my top suggestions would be:

The Shire:
Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony (1st, 2nd or 5th movements), with Bilbo's party characterised by the 3rd movement 'Peasants' Merrymaking'

Another theme for the four hobbits early in the Fellowship :
The fourth movement of Prokofiev's Classical symphony, fast and carefree.

The Black Riders:
'Dies Irae' from Verdi's Requiem

Isengard:
'Mars' from The Planets, in the same 5/4 time as Howard Shore's theme

Fellowship's trek south (where Gandalf leads the way)
'Jupiter' from the Planets (Holst), the slow middle section

Gollum's theme:
The twisted and sly 'The Gnome' from Mussorgsky's Pictures From an Exhibition.

Frodo and Sam's journey in Mordor and the destruction of the One Ring:
The March to the Scaffold, from Symphonie Fantastique by Berlioz. The music becomes violent towards the end (Frodo and Gollum ?), there is a piercing oboe theme (Gollum's last 'Precious!') and the whole ends in a drum roll (the Ring's destruction).

The battle of Helm's Deep, given its 'Nordic' character:
'Finlandia' by Sibelius would be perfect, with its triumphant finale.

The Battle of the Black Gate:
The third and fourth movements of Beethoven's 5th symphony would be good there, as Sauron's doubt could be marked by the switch from minor to major key, and the collapse of the Barad-Dur the magnificent finale.

The Hobbits' return to the Shire:
The second movement of Dvorak's New World symphony (the oboe solo), appropriately based on the folksong "Goin' Home"

[Gil-Galad]

I can just imagine 'The Flight of the Valkiryres' to the NAzgul's attack on Minas Tirith...

[Ainaserkewen]

Chorale from Jupiter - Holst
Jupiter has already been mentioned above, but the Chorale is quite different. I you're in a concert band and you've played it then you understand what a special song it is and how it just seems to throb. I'm matching this song as Frodo's theme song. Not because of any references to Jupiter, only that the chords reflect Hope and movement. Here's a link and if you can imagine this song played live in a huge theater, then you can almost feel the 3/4 heartbeat of it.
St. Amant High band concert 2004

EDIT: Actually, I kind of like this year better:
2001

[AbercrombieOfRohan]

I'm not sure if you would count Jeremy Cohen as classical, but he's usually labeled as classical/jazz so... his piece Felicia always reminds me of Merry and Pippin getting into trouble, especially stealing fireworks.

[Orominuialwen]

Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, by Vaughan Williams, always reminds me of Boromir's death. I probably associate this piece with death and sadness because I first heard it in the movie Master and Commander, where it is only played when characters die. It's the first of the samples.

The battle of Helm's Deep, given its 'Nordic' character: 'Finlandia' by Sibelius would be perfect, with its triumphant finale.

I've always loved that piece. It's great!