Track-by-Track: Soundtrack Discussion and Analysis

[dancing spawn of ungoliant]

This is a great piece. It's unbelievable how even a few bars of the Fellowship theme makes me feel that everything's going to be alright. The repeated use of the theme in scenes involving narrow escapes and friendship has made me link it automatically with hope.

The military version of Lothlorien theme is very nice. Just with changing the rythm a bit and adding some drums on the background it's feeling changes completely. The only negative thing is that I think it somehow lessens the Elves' nobility and gracefulness because their theme resembles now quite much Men's war themes or the idea what such themes could be like. On the other hand it brings the Elves more close to Men and makes those two races more equal comrades in war.

[Encaitare]

Computer is fixed, whee!

Like much of this soundtrack, some of the music is presented out-of-order. The first segment is when Gandalf the White reveals himself to Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli. The second part is when Aragorn and Theoden ride out to meet the Uruk-hai, to when Gandalf and Eomer arrive with the Rohirrim.

This track is almost purely vocal for the first minute, with the adult choir steadily crescendo-ing over the children's voices. Pity I can't find out what they're saying, if anything.

There is really no transition made to the second part of the track. This part, in which Aragorn and Theoden ride out of Helm's Deep, is not quite triumphant, but contains a bold rendition of the Rohan theme. The theme does not resolve, but instead moves into the Fellowship theme as Gandalf arrives with Eomer.

And then comes the solo by Ben Del Maestro-- I cannot describe how much I love it. From Fellowship of the Word-Smiths:

Solo in Old English (Rohirric)

for ðon hé wæs scea hé fæx wæs ford ealra mé du and hé fæx hlá [2.14]

Chorus in Old English (Rohirric) (simultaneous with above):

for ðon hé waes Sceadufæx FE [2.14]
hláford ealra méara

'For he was Shadow...., he, ...fax, was ...lord of all hor..., ...dow..., and he, ...fax, lord...'

'For he was Shadowfax,
Lord of all Horses.'

It is a fragment of The Mearas by Philippa Boyens:

'In the distance they saw him,
White sun caught in his mane.
Logn they called him,
But he would not come.
for he was Shadowfax,
Lord of all Horses.
And he answered only to one.'

I think it's interesting how the horse of Rohan bore the one who brought victory to Rohan in this battle, so cheers to Shadowfax! Even the end of this section doesn't seem to resolve 'normally,' though (on the tonic chord). The strings repeat the melody of the solo in E minor, and the melody finishes on E. But the note below it is A. It establishes the darker tone we will hear in the beginning of the next track.

[The Tennis Ball Kid]

The opening is most probably intended for the place the track title would suggest, Aragorn urging Theoden to go fight, instead of Gandalf's return.

The lyrics (found here: )

Hwær cwóm helm? Hwaer cwóm byrne? Where is the helm and the hauberk,
Hwær cwóm feax flówende? and the bright hair flowing?
Hwær cwóm hand on hearpestrenge? Where is the hand on the harp string,
Hwær cwóm scir fýr scinende? and the red fire glowing?

Or in other words, a continuation of "Where Now The Horse And The Rider" 's use in the last track and in Helm's Deep.

In the film we get a choral rendition of the Nature/Moth/Hope theme, which ties in to the Ents, and the way that theme is used in ROTK. Either way, it's great music.


The second half of this track is a religious experience. 'nuff said.



TTBK

[Lathriel]

Finally, I am home again and have access to the computer.

I love this track and I think it is my favourite. The way it begins quietly with the choir and then builds up till the end when Ben del Meastro sings his solo, which I absolutely love!

You would think I have all the time in the world to post something but ARGH I am so busy. I 'll try to write more later, somehow, somewhere.