Track-by-Track: Soundtrack Discussion and Analysis

[Lathriel]

I like this track(Well I like every track anyway) Everytime I hear it I feel hope. In fact all I have to do is think of the song and it plays in my head as most of the LOTR tracks do. I love the fact that the instruments are clearly heard. The rest of the orchestra basically provides the harmony while the clarinet (Or is it an Oboe, maybe the sound is too sharp for a clarinet,at least my brother's clarinet can be extremely mellow at times), the French Horn and the Trumpet are clearly heard rising above the rest of the orchestra and giving their clear melody. Sometimes it gives me goosbumps.
After this track the sound of this CD changes instantly and we don't hear the fellowship theme in its full glory anymore.
Also another thing I like about this track is that before the trumpet takes over the strings announce its coming, they increase the intensity untill finally the lower brass comes in, and then the trumpet gives the fellowship theme in its full glory. All I can say is Beautiful!!!

[Encaitare]

The rest of the orchestra basically provides the harmony while the clarinet (Or is it an Oboe, maybe the sound is too sharp for a clarinet,at least my brother's clarinet can be extremely mellow at times),

They switch off; you can hear the transitions if you listen closely.

[Lathriel]

I think I'll listen to the track again. It makes sense.

By the way I like your signature.
I guess the like TPotO a lot too.

[Encaitare]

Dwarf music time!

First we have a men's choir, singing in what Gwaith-i-Phethdain calls "Neo-Khuzdul," since Tolkien did not provide many examples of the language. It goes as follows:

Durin ku binamrad
Ugmal sulu addad ku ba
Abad ku ganaga
Tur ganad
Abanul Durin
Ku bin Amrad
Ku ba kana a na aznan
Un du abad
Ku gan aga aznan.

The full poem by Philippa Boyens is:

Durin who is Deathless
Eldest of all Fathers
Who awoke
To darkness
Beneath the mountain
Who walked alone
Through halls of stone
Durin who is Deathless
Lord of Khazad-dum
Who cleaved
The Dark
And broke
The silence
This is your light!
This is your word!
This is your glory!
The Dwarrowdelf of Khazad-dum!

Some tentative strings and brass come softly over the choir, our Fellowship moving through the ancient Dwarf city, trying to be inconspicuous. Much of the first part of the piece really establishes the dark mood of the place.

Beginning at 2:06, one of my favorite bits of the score occurs: Dwarrowdelf. The music is no longer dark and mysterious, but beautiful and uplifting, a reminder of city's "glory days." It becomes more expansive, as if it is resonating throughout the great chamber even as we listen.

But alas, soon our marveling heroes are besieged once more. At 3:18, it quickly takes on an urgent pace. The fanfares of brass are the heroes trying their best to fend off the enemy. One thing that's interesting about this track is this little sound at 3:35 -- it sounds like a shake on a flute, but it reminds me of an orcish whoop or something.

While the music is very important, the decision not to use music is equally important. I remember seeing FotR for the first time, and being surprised by the way the music just drops out when the Fellowship is fighting the orcs in the chamber of Mazarbul. Shore simply chose to let the sounds of battle do the job for him.

[Lathriel]

Every time I hear the opening notes of the second half of this track I hold my breath.

Then when it reaches its climax I give a small gasp because I can truly see the dwarven halls before me. (Just like Gimli in the movie)Because the melody speaks of glory and ancient beauty. It just breathes awe of a greatness that is gone, vanished in the passage of time. Also it is so full there is not one lone instrument but many who let their sound burst forth.

The first part of the track has the Gollum theme which strongly indicates that he is not out of the picture but is entering it to become of greater importance later.

I like it that there is no battle music for the fight with cave troll because that gives us variety and also adds to the suspence. However the music leading up to the fight does make you get ready. Brain:"Okay music is increasing in tempo, something is afoot."

[The Tennis Ball Kid]

The eye opening moment when Gandalf lights up Darrowdelf and that glorious music plays is probably my favorite moment in the score, and maybe the movie. Wow! Just wow!

Shore simply chose to let the sounds of battle do the job for him.

Actually it's probably a combination of Shore and PJ; quite often the the composer would work together with the director to decide which parts would have music and what it does.


ttbk

[Encaitare]

If there's a track on this which is effective for waking you up in the morning, this track is definitely it. It starts out with the Fellowship theme in bold brass with strings.

The time signature seems to change a lot in the beginning section, something I never really paid any attention to until now. It starts out in 4, then seems to change to 6/8 at 0:09. Then at 0:17, it switches to being in 5, like the Isengard theme.

At 1:04, the music, having grown somewhat chaotic, stops. Here comes the Balrog! The "dwarvish" choir sings:

Urus ni buzra!
Arrâs talbabi fillumâ!
Ugrûd tashniki kurdumâ!
Lu! Lu! Lu!
Urkhas tanakhi!


Fire in the deep!
Flames lick our skin!
Fear rips our heart!
No! No! No!
The demon comes!

The tension grows as they realize exactly what it is they must face, and then as they begin to run, the strings get a little frantic. Reminds me of the hobbits running back in the Shire -- except this time the one chasing them is a wee bit scarier than Farmer Maggot.

There is plenty of brassy stuff while the Fellowship runs, with the drums (drums, in the deep) and the choir, becoming more fervent as they repeat the final line -- "the demon comes!" I really like knowing that... it makes the words more than just a cool choir. Now I actually know what they're singing about, and it makes me as the listener feel stress... I can only imagine what the Fellowship is thinking!

The Fellowship theme is repeated again, a little bit of triumph before a tragedy. At 4:17, Gandalf casts down the Balrog, but he too falls at 4:37.

We then hear some low chords, and another lovely male soprano solo; words are not even needed here. All in all, a great track, full of excitement and also sadness.

[Lathriel]

This is the last time we hear the fellowship theme in a triumphant style. (In FOTR anyway)

The choir certainly cranks up the tension. I really like the story attached to it, they got a bunch of maori football players together to do the chanting. this was because all their voices were pretty low and therefore perfect for dwarvish.

Of course the vocal solo at the end is very beautiful and it suits the moment beautifully which is why I often feel my eyes brimming with tears.