Track-by-Track: Soundtrack Discussion and Analysis

[dancing spawn of ungoliant]

I think the first and third track in FotR soundtrack stand out as representing a very different style than any other piece in the whole trilogy. And maybe it's as it should be considering those songs tell about ancient times when the Numenoreans came to Middle-Earth.

The 3rd piece opens with a soft and kind of eerie feeling. Strings back up the solo wind instrument beatifully. After that (1:00) it's a musical mess of different themes. Of course it supports the film perfectly but as a separate piece it's rather anxious and oppressive. I don't really like this track though it has some very nice elements in it because it makes me feel uneasy.

Like Encaitare already pointed out, there would seem to be a little hint to Shelob's theme i.e. the creepy glissando (sliding).
The brass instruments reflect the Gondorian culture though we don't hear the Gondor theme yet. On the other hand Mordor and Isengard use the brass as well so perhaps those wind instruments we hear on the 3rd track refer to Gondor being somewhat under the influence of Mordor.

Btw, I recommend all of you who are interested in LotR soundtracks to visit http://www.elvish.org/gwaith/movie_soundtrack.htm . There you find the lyrics and translations for almost every piece in the trilogy. And if you can get a copy of Music from the Movies (issue 42...I think it sold out) LotR special with 90 pages or so filled with interviews and pics, read it! It provides a nice survey of the film score.

[Sapphire_Flame]

Ah, "Shadow of the Past". The first appearance of my all-time favourite theme in LotR: the Ringwraith Choir! That gorgeous chanting in Adunaic at the appearance of the Nazgul riding out from Minas Morgul is really brilliant; creepy, and yet ancient and commanding. Sho shcary! ^^

I also agree with what Enca said, about the music showing that Frodo and Gandalf have just discovered what this little gold ring really is. Brilliantly shown with music. *huggles Howard Shore*

Abedithon le,

~ Saphy ~

[Encaitare]

Thanks very much for posting those links, ungoliant -- I know I'll be spending a lot of time following the words along the page as I listen to the music!

And speaking of Howard Shore, did anyone yet watch the DVD about the making of the music, which comes with the box set? I've yet to watch it, but I hope it's good.

[dancing spawn of ungoliant]

Alas, I don't have the collector's set but just the regular EE. If there's something very interesting on that dvd, it'd be nice if you (or anyone that happens to own that) could share it in this thread - if it's not completely off topic, of course. Anyway, would it be time for track four? I can't wait to get my hands on that piece

[Encaitare]

When I get around to watching the DVD, I will definitely tell about it here or start a new thread for it. In a little while you'll probably be able to buy it separately, like the National Geographic DVD which came in the FotR box set.

It's time for Track 4: The Treason of Isengard -- I apologize for not posting it yesterday; I have been a bit busy with New Year's and all!

The track opens with soft vocals which sound very mysterious. At this point in the movie, Frodo is still kept a little in the dark, so he is worried about what is going to happen. Yet as the music progresses and as Sam and Frodo travel through the sunlit Shire, it becomes somewhat lighter; again we hear "In Dreams," the Shire theme (1:26), this time on French horn, which becomes the Fellowship theme on various instruments, but only a couple at any one time. The Fellowship in its earliest stages is beginning with the two hobbits.

Then the Fellowship theme is heard again at 2:00, as the style of the music changes completely: it becomes far more serious in tone, and full of brass to announce Gandalf's presence. As it moves on to Saruman, there is a crescendo which heightens the tension and sense of danger. The choir sings the following in Black Speech, part of the poem of the Ring:

Ash Burz-Durbagu burzum-ishi [3:10-3:16]
Daghburz-ishi makha gulshu darulu. [2:55-3:09] [3:17, 3.21-3:29]

One for-Dark-Lord in-darkness
in-Mordor where shadows lie.

Or, to put it in normal terms, One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne / In the land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.

[dancing spawn of ungoliant]

The choir sings its part softly on top of a pedal point for 35 seconds. It gives very old, ancient feeling. Something that has roots in way back history has put things in motion again. The "walking theme" begins at 00:51. The drums play some kind of a marching comp on the background. The melody doesn't sound completely sad or depressed but a bit plaintive. After all, the two hobbits are leaving their home behind for the first time. Until - a glimpse of hope is delivered by In Dreams and Fellowship themes. As Encaitare said:"The Fellowship in its earliest stages is beginning with the two hobbits." So the Fellowship theme is very soft and rather just predicts the things they are going to go through during their quest.

Between 1:56 and 2:20 as the brass take over the melody, the strings have two different pedal points. I don't know if they're used here to refer to the beginning of this track, but to me it seems like things concerning the same historical event are just beginning to happen in the Shire while in greater cities the coming battle, corruption and such are already more concrete facts.

The choir chanting in Black Speech sounds once again ancient but also majestic. It matches the feeling of Orthanc very well since the setting itself reflects both of those adjectives. The choir, drum and brass end this track in forte without diminuendo or ritardando. The music just suddenly stops without any kind of a warning which is perfect to give emphasis to the shock about Gandalf's capturing.

[Encaitare]

More happy Shire music here!

At the beginning the flute plays the theme again, slightly altered. Also returning is the Alberti bass from Track 2, played this time on bassoon. As the hobbits are running away from the angry farmer Maggot, the music takes on an urgent feel. They crash into one another, and we hear a crash symbol at 0:43. Then as they reach the bottom of the hill, the notes become lower and the tempo more slow, ending at 0:50.

At 1:06, the low strings move in descending thirds. Starting around 1:08 , if you listen really closely, I think there's a flexatone in there, making eerie wavy noises underneath the strings and choir. It seems that the brash horns stand for Mordor. The brass notes are high over the low strings, which could very well be our poor frightened hobbits, looking for somewhere to hide. Once more, the choir sings, this time in Adûnaic:

Nêbâbîtham Magânanê
Nêtabdam dâurad
Nêpâm nêd abârat-aglar
îdô Nidir nênâkham
Bârî 'n Katharâd

'We deny our maker.
We cling to the darkness.
We grasp for ourselves power and glory.
Now we come, the Nine,
Lords of Eternal Life.'

By 2:25, the horns and choir fade, and we are left once more with the lower stings, the hobbits.