Grieg for Gimli, Schumann for Saruman - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

03-31-2005, 01:45 PM

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 · 03-31-2005, 03:54 PM

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

Ainaserkewen · 03-31-2005, 07:47 PM

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 · 03-31-2005, 07:53 PM

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 · 04-01-2005, 07:07 PM

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.

Quote:

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!

04-02-2005, 03:48 AM

I was listening tp the radio last night and found another classical piece to match a scene from 'ROTK'

The appearance of the Rohirrim at dawn and the subsequent cavalry charge could again have been orchestratd by Sibelius, this time by the powerful Intermezzo from the 'Karelia Suite'.

At a risk of sounding hackneyed, the coronation of Aragorn could have 'Zadok the Priest' (Handel) as background music.

And finally, if another film theme had to be used, the Ents' breaching of the Isengard dams and the flooding of Saruman's workshops would have just had to have used Eric Coates' Dambusters March.

Orominuialwen · 04-05-2005, 05:03 PM

Quando Corpus, from Rossini's Stabat Mater has always reminded me of Gondor. None of the versions I can find online are quite the way I like it, I prefer it sung faster, the way my choir sings it. I suppose it's rather appropriate that we sang it last Sunday, for the Pope's death, since Tolkien once likened Italy to Gondor. Sample 9.What would you know, when I was looking for the clip on Amazon, I got a little ad on the side for RotK on DVD!

Holst's Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence reminds me of the Elves having to leave Middle-Earth. None of the versions on Amazon sounded very good, so MIDI will have to do.

03-31-2005, 01:45 PM	#1
Mark K Guest Posts: n/a	More musical cues 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"

03-31-2005, 03:54 PM	#2
Gil-Galad Psyche of Prince Immortal Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Above a Parapet Obvious exits are: North, South, and Dennis Posts: 4,734	I can just imagine 'The Flight of the Valkiryres' to the NAzgul's attack on Minas Tirith... __________________ Love doesn't blow up and get killed.

03-31-2005, 07:47 PM	#3
Ainaserkewen Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: A cosmic waiting room Posts: 651	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 __________________ Solus... I'm eating chicken again. I ate chicken yesterday and the day before... will I be eating chicken again tomorrow? Why am I always eating chicken? Last edited by Ainaserkewen; 03-31-2005 at 07:51 PM.

04-02-2005, 03:48 AM	#6
Mark K Guest Posts: n/a	Sibelius at the Pelennor I was listening tp the radio last night and found another classical piece to match a scene from 'ROTK' The appearance of the Rohirrim at dawn and the subsequent cavalry charge could again have been orchestratd by Sibelius, this time by the powerful Intermezzo from the 'Karelia Suite'. At a risk of sounding hackneyed, the coronation of Aragorn could have 'Zadok the Priest' (Handel) as background music. And finally, if another film theme had to be used, the Ents' breaching of the Isengard dams and the flooding of Saruman's workshops would have just had to have used Eric Coates' Dambusters March.

04-05-2005, 05:03 PM	#7
Orominuialwen Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: May 2003 Location: Umbar, but before the corsairs took over. (Ave Maria University, FL, USA) Posts: 632	More music Quando Corpus, from Rossini's Stabat Mater has always reminded me of Gondor. None of the versions I can find online are quite the way I like it, I prefer it sung faster, the way my choir sings it. I suppose it's rather appropriate that we sang it last Sunday, for the Pope's death, since Tolkien once likened Italy to Gondor. Sample 9.What would you know, when I was looking for the clip on Amazon, I got a little ad on the side for RotK on DVD! Holst's Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence reminds me of the Elves having to leave Middle-Earth. None of the versions on Amazon sounded very good, so MIDI will have to do. __________________ Gone for lentSeeyou at Easter! (And on Sundays too, maybe.) Last edited by Orominuialwen; 05-14-2005 at 08:40 AM. Reason: Typos

03-31-2005, 07:53 PM	#4
AbercrombieOfRohan Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 311	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.