Track-by-Track: Soundtrack Discussion and Analysis - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Estelyn Telcontar · 04-23-2005, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Encaitare

I have a question for all readers/participants thus far: is anyone still interested?

Since you're asking readers, not just participants, yes! I don't have the time to participate actively in this discussion, but I do enjoy reading it. So please do carry on!

Anguirel · 04-24-2005, 12:59 AM

I'm certainly still interested.

Some miscellaneous comments:

1. The Breaking of the Fellowship is lovely, but I sometimes feel slightly too remniscent of Titanic. Sort of standard cinematic emotional tune number 16. But I only get that feeling when I'm struck with cynicism...

2. I'm not that fond of "In Dreams", but the choir is omitting the s on purpose, so the soloist alone sings it. This is a means of making sure the s will be synchronised, and will start and finish at the right time. My objection is that there's something a bit blocked up about the soloist's voice, as if he has a slight cold...

3. I love "May It Be". In fact, I find myself singing it under my breath in unguarded moments...

4. The Two Towers, for me, is a motivational CD. I play it when I'm stirring myself to write. The Foundations of Stone are a nice menacing introduction, though they don't quite match either The Prophecy or A Storm is Coming.

5. I never really rate the Taming of Smeagol, or the later Passage of the Marshes. Unlike some of the Rohan tracks, they rely strongly on knowing and seeing what's going on, and aren't much good at conjuring images in their own right.

6. I cannot wait to rhapsodise on how much I love the Rohan theme!

dancing spawn of ungoliant · 04-24-2005, 11:42 AM

Somehow it is much easier for me to listen to TTT's soundtrack than FotR's. I guess the score isn't as gloomy as in FotR and it's more "melodic".
The Shire theme gives me immediately a calm feeling: everything's going to be fine though in the movie Frodo and Sam have just started their lonely and almost hopeless journey to Mordor.
Otherwise I think this is the lamest track in TTT. The song's latter half's dissonant chords are really unpleasant to listen to. And as Encaitare said, it doesn't really happen very much in this piece.

Encaitare · 04-24-2005, 01:48 PM

What I like about the FotR soundtrack are the location themes.

What I like about the RotK soundtrack is the encompassment of every emotion I have ever felt.

What I like about the TT soundtrack is the fact that it blends the two perfectly. We will later hear the Rohan theme (which, like ungoliant, I love to no end) and when the Rohirrim arrive at Helm's Deep, it's a wonderfully majestic version of the theme.

Just my random thoughts.

The Tennis Ball Kid · 04-25-2005, 11:02 AM

I don't really like May It Be....the coda with the Fellowship theme is nice though.

Foundations Of Stone, ahh, I love the way the music starts before the visuals do, and on further viewings it's like you already that you're zooming over mountains.

A reprise of the Gandalf v. Balrog music, but this time instead of etheral ooohs it goes to battle music!

Booming brass, and violent choir as Angel and Demon wrestle within the depths of the earth! I love it!

And then the beautiful moment when the orchestra gives way and the choir is alone in the cavern with the lake and the falling star....

The Taming Of Smeagol, after a brief statement of the Shire theme to re-orient us after the fury of the last track we get a choral piece that isn't in the film, a nice melody that turns menacing (?with hints of Gollum's theme from Fellowship underneath the end?), some suspense music as Gollum's second theme plays as he stalks down the cliff. Then a rapid, dissonant piece as he attacks the Hobbits, then quiets again as they resume their trek to Mordor...

One interesting thing about the album is that, unlike FOTR, it's not in chronological order beyond these first two tracks. Shore used a lot of 'mini-suites' for TTT and ROTK.

ttbk

Lathriel · 04-29-2005, 03:18 PM

Since Encairtare will be back late tonight I have the honour of introducing the next track.

Track #3 The Riders of Rohan

It begins fast but then the melody slows down to make way for the Rohan theme. In this track the Rohan theme is first played by the brass,then the violins and lastly by the Hardinger. The Hardinger is a scandinavian fiddle and it has extra strings that vibrate to give the fiddle's unique sound.

The Rohan theme is central to the second movie and it also happens to be my mom's favourite theme of all the soundtracks. The theme certainly fits the moment in the movie and it gives you a feeling of being swept into ME if you aren't there already.

I myself really like the fact that a folk instrument is used for the theme instead of a more common instrument.

So how do you feel about this track? Is the Rohan theme your favourite?

Aiwendil · 04-29-2005, 03:55 PM

The theme for the Rohirrim might just be my favorite theme from the movies as well. The success of the theme at evoking the character of the Rohirrim continues to astonish me. In particular, something about the tone color of the hardinger instantly conjures up visions of the riders sweeping across the plains, at least for me. Part of what's so striking is, I think, the juxtaposition of the more rustic, perhaps more soloistic, tone color of the hardinger and the more familiar orchestra. My favorite moment is when the hardinger comes to the point where the brass ended the phrase, but instead of ending it leaps up over some climactic orchestral chords.

04-24-2005, 12:59 AM	#2
Anguirel Byronic Brand Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: The 1590s Posts: 2,778	Catching Up I'm certainly still interested. Some miscellaneous comments: 1. The Breaking of the Fellowship is lovely, but I sometimes feel slightly too remniscent of Titanic. Sort of standard cinematic emotional tune number 16. But I only get that feeling when I'm struck with cynicism... 2. I'm not that fond of "In Dreams", but the choir is omitting the s on purpose, so the soloist alone sings it. This is a means of making sure the s will be synchronised, and will start and finish at the right time. My objection is that there's something a bit blocked up about the soloist's voice, as if he has a slight cold... 3. I love "May It Be". In fact, I find myself singing it under my breath in unguarded moments... 4. The Two Towers, for me, is a motivational CD. I play it when I'm stirring myself to write. The Foundations of Stone are a nice menacing introduction, though they don't quite match either The Prophecy or A Storm is Coming. 5. I never really rate the Taming of Smeagol, or the later Passage of the Marshes. Unlike some of the Rohan tracks, they rely strongly on knowing and seeing what's going on, and aren't much good at conjuring images in their own right. 6. I cannot wait to rhapsodise on how much I love the Rohan theme! __________________ Among the friendly dead, being bad at games did not seem to matter -Il Lupo Fenriso

04-29-2005, 03:18 PM	#6
Lathriel Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Wandering through Middle-Earth (Sadly in Alberta and not ME) Posts: 612	Since Encairtare will be back late tonight I have the honour of introducing the next track. Track #3 The Riders of Rohan It begins fast but then the melody slows down to make way for the Rohan theme. In this track the Rohan theme is first played by the brass,then the violins and lastly by the Hardinger. The Hardinger is a scandinavian fiddle and it has extra strings that vibrate to give the fiddle's unique sound. The Rohan theme is central to the second movie and it also happens to be my mom's favourite theme of all the soundtracks. The theme certainly fits the moment in the movie and it gives you a feeling of being swept into ME if you aren't there already. I myself really like the fact that a folk instrument is used for the theme instead of a more common instrument. So how do you feel about this track? Is the Rohan theme your favourite? __________________ Back again

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

04-24-2005, 11:42 AM	#3
dancing spawn of ungoliant Mischievous Candle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: So near to Russia, so far from Japan, quite a long way from Cairo, lots of miles from Vietnam. Posts: 1,234	This is one my fave threads! Somehow it is much easier for me to listen to TTT's soundtrack than FotR's. I guess the score isn't as gloomy as in FotR and it's more "melodic". The Shire theme gives me immediately a calm feeling: everything's going to be fine though in the movie Frodo and Sam have just started their lonely and almost hopeless journey to Mordor. Otherwise I think this is the lamest track in TTT. The song's latter half's dissonant chords are really unpleasant to listen to. And as Encaitare said, it doesn't really happen very much in this piece. __________________ Fenris Wolf

04-24-2005, 01:48 PM	#4
Encaitare Bittersweet Symphony Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: On the jolly starship Enterprise Posts: 1,814	What I like about the FotR soundtrack are the location themes. What I like about the RotK soundtrack is the encompassment of every emotion I have ever felt. What I like about the TT soundtrack is the fact that it blends the two perfectly. We will later hear the Rohan theme (which, like ungoliant, I love to no end) and when the Rohirrim arrive at Helm's Deep, it's a wonderfully majestic version of the theme. Just my random thoughts.

04-25-2005, 11:02 AM	#5
The Tennis Ball Kid Animated Skeleton Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 38	I don't really like May It Be....the coda with the Fellowship theme is nice though. Foundations Of Stone, ahh, I love the way the music starts before the visuals do, and on further viewings it's like you already that you're zooming over mountains. A reprise of the Gandalf v. Balrog music, but this time instead of etheral ooohs it goes to battle music! Booming brass, and violent choir as Angel and Demon wrestle within the depths of the earth! I love it! And then the beautiful moment when the orchestra gives way and the choir is alone in the cavern with the lake and the falling star.... The Taming Of Smeagol, after a brief statement of the Shire theme to re-orient us after the fury of the last track we get a choral piece that isn't in the film, a nice melody that turns menacing (?with hints of Gollum's theme from Fellowship underneath the end?), some suspense music as Gollum's second theme plays as he stalks down the cliff. Then a rapid, dissonant piece as he attacks the Hobbits, then quiets again as they resume their trek to Mordor... One interesting thing about the album is that, unlike FOTR, it's not in chronological order beyond these first two tracks. Shore used a lot of 'mini-suites' for TTT and ROTK. ttbk

04-29-2005, 03:55 PM	#7
Aiwendil Late Istar Join Date: Mar 2001 Posts: 2,224	The theme for the Rohirrim might just be my favorite theme from the movies as well. The success of the theme at evoking the character of the Rohirrim continues to astonish me. In particular, something about the tone color of the hardinger instantly conjures up visions of the riders sweeping across the plains, at least for me. Part of what's so striking is, I think, the juxtaposition of the more rustic, perhaps more soloistic, tone color of the hardinger and the more familiar orchestra. My favorite moment is when the hardinger comes to the point where the brass ended the phrase, but instead of ending it leaps up over some climactic orchestral chords.