Track-by-Track: Soundtrack Discussion and Analysis

[Lathriel]

The first time I was listening to this CD I jumped when this track came on. It actually happened to me several times and I also had moments where I rushed to trun down the volume. I don't like this track very much either. However, I do like the last part. The melody there is actually heard before in the Fellowship when they are climbing mount Caradhras. So I really liked to hear it again.

[Encaitare]

Since I don't really like "Minas Morgul," let's move on to Rohan! Ooh, pretty music!

As the title would suggest, the Rohan theme is featured for much of this track, sounding very militaristic. I love how Shore can bend and shape the same theme into so many different styles. And O! that lovely hardinger, in that lovely minor. Gets me every time, right here. *points at heart*

At 0:52, there is a solo on a wooden flute... I am not sure if it's a theme we've heard before, but it's the part when Theoden tells Merry that he cannot come with the Riders. It sounds like it could be tied into the Shire theme, but at a much more sorrowful extreme. Between the solo and approx. 1:30, the horns and strings build up to the crescendo into Eowyn's little theme, when she scoops up Merry. (It's a nice little theme, really. Fits very nicely with the main Rohan theme.) The track ends very triumphantly as the Rohan theme is varied with new rhythms.

[Himilsillion]

This track is my second favorite track of the entire score. I really like the varitions Shore put into the Rohan theme. You can here some large percussion playing after Eowyn's theme to the end. I think that adds some very nice touch to the harmony and the little details. The way the middle part (flute solo and Eowyn's theme) flows is very nice. I like how the transitions from the militaristic style and the soft emotional middle part.

[Lathriel]

We Made it To Page 6!!!!!!
I also really like this track. The Rohan theme goes well into war mode.( the Lothlorien theme isn't as good at it) I like how this track begins fast, then has a slow middle and a fast ending. Merry's moment is so nice, I always thought it sounded like a variant of the Shire theme.

[Himilsillion]

I agree with you on that the Lothlorien theme dosn't go into "war mode" as well as the Rohan theme does. The Harmony lines in Rohirrim are just better than the The Lothlorien March. Plus there is better balance in Rohirrim in my opinion.

[Encaitare]

An article in my local paper today about the new 4 disc Fellowship soundtrack: Chord of the 'Rings'

Newsday loves horrible puns.

Here's a section from the magazine "Music from the Movies", issue 42 - devoted (almost) to the LOTR soundtrack.

'Hope Fails' has a dark opening with low celli that evolves into a dark and ominous brass part. What does this music lead us to?
This track on the CD begins with the celli playing the music for 'The Army of the Dead' and there are certain motifs that I use for this. The choral music is performed with all-male singers; they are singing a part of the poem called 'The Dimholt Road' in Sindarin. (magpie: there are no voices on this track that I can discern... perhaps the interview preceded the final mix of the track or HS is speaking of that section of the movie... not just the CD.) The structure of the piece, the composition and the orchestration is unique to 'The Army of the Dead'. It's how I arrived at the counterpoint by using long and very fast moving lines. I used Tibetan hanging gongs; the lower extremes of the piano, contrabassoon, bassoons, and the bass clarinet were all used in very specific ways. The writing is modern and using clusters of sound within the voices. 'The Army of the Dead' is based more in the twentieth century than other parts of the score.

About one minute into this CD track there's a part I love which will be on the DVD, but it's not in the film. It's really what 'Hope Fails' was all about; it's a piece I wrote for a scene at 'The Black Gate'. It's a scene when Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas, Pippin, and Gandalf approach the black gate, Sauron sends out one of his emissaries to meet the. He comes out and at one point of their discussion he takes out the mithril vest Frodo was wearing, and he implies that Frodo suffered greatly and he's dead.

My comments:
I've just checked my friend, Michael's, analysis of the ROTK TE and he says this about the Paths of the Dead scene (first part):

Released material: ROTK, 14, 0:01-0:41. Mostly unreleased, with some unreleased choral work as the Army of the Dead gathers around.

so the singing is in the movie but not on the CD.

I don't think the sound Encaitare is hearing at 0:19 is the gong. I wonder if it's the monochord although perhaps not. You might also try listening to the sarangi. Both instruments were used for Lothlorien/Elven music and I don't know that he would use it for such a dark purpose as well.

For a really, odd sound... listen to the sound made when that first Orc falls at Helm's Deep.

oh... and here's a link the article Chord of the Rings ... which I just got, btw (the pun - not the link)... had to think hard there a moment.

[Lathriel]

I like "Hope Fails" because of that strange sound. Now that choral work has been mentioned I can't wait for the complete score of ROTK because it is so difficult to hear all the music when there is dialogue over top.

I was really happy this christmas because I got the complete FOTR score and its awesome!!!Now I still have some LOTR things to look forward to at christmas time.

[Orominuialwen]

Originally Posted by Magpie

I don't think the sound Encaitare is hearing at 0:19 is the gong. I wonder if it's the monochord although perhaps not. You might also try listening to the sarangi. Both instruments were used for Lothlorien/Elven music and I don't know that he would use it for such a dark purpose as well.

I don't think it's the monochord. That sounds more like a really low sitar. This sound seems to be more like tympani to me.

As for that mystery theme in the middle of the track, I've always associated it with Gondor.

[The Tennis Ball Kid]

Any thoughts about what that middle section might be?

I might just being hearing things (well, obviously , but you know what I mean...), but I think that might be the "Merry's Simple Courage" theme; heard at 1:36:58, and 1:50:00 on disc one of ROTKEE, 10:35 of the second disc, and at 1:12 of The Ride Of The Rohirrim.



ttbk

[Encaitare]

Okay, let's go with "Enca shall now update this thread either Friday or Saturday of every week, depending on what her schedule allows." And this week, it happens to be Saturday.

Ngîl cennin eriel vi
Menel aduial,
Glingant sui vîr
Síliel mae.

Ngîl cennin firiel vi
Menel aduial,
Dúr, dúr i fuin
Naenol mae.

I saw a star rise high in the
Evening sky,
It hung like a jewel,
Softly shining.

I saw a star fade in the
Evening sky,
The dark was too deep and so light died,
Softly pining.

So this is the part with Arwen and her vision. It's a nice scene, with lovely music, but the best part is, of course, Elrond in his little corsety robe. We can tell she is returning to Rivendell by the arpeggios of the Rivendell theme in the string section. A small oboe solo connects this section with a darker rendition of the same theme as the reforging of the sword is discussed. We then hear this:

An i ú nathant
An i naun ului
A chuil, anann cuiannen
A meleth, perónen

For what might have been,
For what never was.
For a life, long lived
For a love half given

The soloist soars high as it is made clear that Arwen's decision is made.

So: do you like? Not like? Let's talk -- I want responses, especially seeing as you all were so distraught when I didn't update for a while.

[Himilsillion]

I love the Arpeggios!!! The balance is good and the vocals are very pretty. I didn't really like the Oboe solo at 2:05 because it was to short and should have been more prominent in the transition. The transistion might have been better if you added some lower voices to harmonize with the Oboe. Personally I am not a big fan of oboe solos.

[Lathriel]

I really like this track. Sometimes I try and sing along to see how far I can make it. Especially with those high notes at the end! I always end with a squeek so I stopped singing those two last notes. They are just too high for me.
I also love arpeggios and I sometimes call them bridges. That's what they look like on the page and I think they sound like it too.
Isn't Renee Flemming from Canada (I thought I heard that somewhere) I really like her voice. Plus this song goes so well with the scene but it doesn't sound too much like the stereotypical movie music that goes with emotional scenes. In general I think that Howard Shore is good at avoiding the stereotypical sound of movie music. E.G composers who try to write a movie theme that represents the style of the Dragonheart theme.

[Encaitare]

Even though the tracks which correspond with our heroes in Mordor are generally not favorites of mine, this one is plain awesome in all its creepy glory. The first thirty seconds or so feature a solo -- a variant of the Ring theme -- on English horn. Strings move tentatively underneath; their erratic motion takes away the sensation of a metered piece and makes everything seem very free of form. The English horn then moves into a melody that seems related to the Shire theme... and ta-da! We then have the French horn on that same theme. This is the part when Frodo turns Sam away (cue book fans: "Huh?"), and the music is quite sad to match. The strings join the English horn on melody a la Shire music, rather than doing a tremolo underneath as they often do for Mordor, and indeed as they do at the end of this track. At 1:20, the string part initially reminded me of the music when the Fellowship is on Caradhras. But instead, we hear another rendition of the Ring theme on brass.

So, as my 8th grade history teacher used to say: "Questions? Comments? Short stories?"

[Lathriel]

I'm not a fan of the mordor themes either but I do like this one. It is very creepy indeed. Especially when I first heard this track and the movie;it creeped me out.
The beginning of the track really gives me a sense of a barren landscape and the strings in the background make me think of the wind that is howling through the pass.
At the end we once again have the theme that we were first introduced to in FOTR while the fellowship climbed Caradhras, but it isn't as complete this time around since the theme ends in its Mordor alternative. Overall the listener knows that the hobbits have strayed into an environment that is far from hospitable.