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

dancing spawn of ungoliant · 09-28-2005, 05:14 AM

The first 55 seconds of this track make me feel horribly uneasy. It's a really unpleasant part to listen to but it fits nicely to the film. I bet those Gondorian soldiers were feeling a bit uneasy, too, while keeping watch in Osgiliath.

At 1:15 begins a theme that is titled as "Minas Tirith Song" in the sheet music. I love the majestic part from 1:38 to "Mithrandir's Song" (~2:00) and Ben Del Maestro's solo. My favourite has to be Gondor's theme, though. It gives me shivers when at 2:53 the d minor chord (the sheet music has no f in that chord so there are just d and a, but anyway...) turns into Bb major. I wish they had played that whole theme louder so I didn't have to turn the volume up every time I'm watching that part of the movie (though I should probably blame those people who mixed and mastered the score).

I think the brass are an excellent choice for Gondor. As a country which has fought for ages against Mordor, it's theme should have enough feeling of an ancient and noble culture and the bold wind instruments do that perfectly.

Encaitare · 09-30-2005, 10:44 PM

The track begins with Boromir's death music (= true love). Lucky Boromir! He died in the first movie and still get appearances in all of them! It then switches to when Pippin is off to reach the beacon. The quarter slurred up to eighth rhythm reminds me of several other occasions when the hobbits are running somewhere, not in a situation of great danger (as in a battle or fleeing Shelob).

The next theme is a variation of Gondor's, with the same underlying low tones and moving upper strings. It builds and develops, and at 2:35 it becomes the "original" Gondor theme with which we are the most familiar. (Waaaay too familiar during the Oscars! They really needed more than one soundclip.

)

Like the last track, this one doesn't resolve, but rather rolls on into the next one.

Lathriel · 10-01-2005, 01:19 PM

What I like about the ROTK soundtrack is thta most pieces seem to flow together. Maybe Howard Shore wrote the music with a symphony in mind where one movement smoothly flows inot the next.
The music in this track really suits the moment and I love it. The contrast between the strings and low brass is neat! Of course the strings have the runs which means that if this music was translated for band us flutes would have to play them all!!!!

Encaitare:Freaky Avatar!!!

Encaitare · 10-07-2005, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Encaitare:Freaky Avatar!!!

Thanks.

Oh, how I do love this track. It really carries the feeling of resigned despair over from the scenes in the movie. The beginning part is, of course, from when Faramir and Co. are riding through the streets of Minas Tirith and out towards Osgiliath.

Quote:

(Sindarin)

Boe le henio [choir: 0.00]
E sí câr athad iyn [choir: 0.22]
Ane ah a phen [choir: 0.44]
I ú athelitha. [choir: 1.01]

You must understand.
He does the duty of two sons now.
For himself; and for the one
who will not return.

The wooden flute is lovely, but of course I'm biased.

At 1:22 the Minas Tirith theme is heard, and the percussion is the most noticeable even though it has been steadily building for some time. That's one of the coolest things about the music Shore composed for Gondor. Minas Tirith is a fortress, and war is upon its people. The drums, soft but always present, serve as a reminder of that. They grow faster and louder, to a rhythm and speed that might be used for marching.

And at 2:36... Mr. Billy Boyd in his solo debut. The orchestra grows in volume and tension from total silence. I think this scene is very powerful in the movie because it's kind of surreal and artsy like the very beginning of RotK. The fact that we only hear the music, the occasional sound of the horses, and finally the arrows being released was enough to bring me to tears in the theatre, something which scarcely happens. So yay for Howard Shore and Billy Boyd!

Aiwendil · 10-08-2005, 06:24 PM

How could I have missed track 4, "The White Tree", my favorite out of all three scores?

I know we've now moved on to track 5, but I simply must say that, in my opinion, the racing strings leading into the Gondor theme (the sequence with the beacons being lit) is one of my favorite moments in film music. It's a moment where, I think, all elements of the music come together perfectly. The chords are incredible and the orchestration allows the chords to come through splendidly. It sounds to me like there are some fairly distant progressions in the midst of the sequence - as a matter of fact, at certain moments it rather reminds me of Horner's The Wrath of Khan.

As the music moves forward, Shore effects a tremendous build-up of tension. The strings race; the brass becomes more and more insistent; the chords continue to rise and to break through into new tonal territory (or so it sounds to me; I haven't studied the progression). Then we have a tremendously satisfying arrival at the big statement of the Gondor theme. Now, I love Shore's music, but I must say that across the three scores there are many instances of build-ups that lead to nothing, that simply reach their height and stop, or are cut short. Here, however, we have a real arrival and a straightforward, consonant, periodic, and majestic subject. It's a great moment.

Lathriel · 10-10-2005, 06:54 PM

I LOVE this track. Sometimes it makes my eyes all watery. Of course I love the flute solo (go flutes, go!). It is so melancholy and then the Minas Tirith theme comes in with the trumpets proudly playing out. I really like how it builts up untill Pippin sings. This song I really like, and I also like the fact that Billy practically composed it himself. The lyrics are actually from Chapter three;Three is company. Originally the song is happy but you can see how easily you can make it sad.

Encaitare · 10-16-2005, 11:38 AM

Maybe three people are wondering right now, "Hey, wasn't Enca supposed to start a new track on Friday?" The answer is "Yes, but Enca's basement was too flooded to use the computer much, and too noisy to hear any music."

When it's all cleaned up and we no longer have a bevy of fans and wet-dry vacuums lying around, I'll start the next track... probably next Friday.

09-28-2005, 05:14 AM	#1
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	The first 55 seconds of this track make me feel horribly uneasy. It's a really unpleasant part to listen to but it fits nicely to the film. I bet those Gondorian soldiers were feeling a bit uneasy, too, while keeping watch in Osgiliath. At 1:15 begins a theme that is titled as "Minas Tirith Song" in the sheet music. I love the majestic part from 1:38 to "Mithrandir's Song" (~2:00) and Ben Del Maestro's solo. My favourite has to be Gondor's theme, though. It gives me shivers when at 2:53 the d minor chord (the sheet music has no f in that chord so there are just d and a, but anyway...) turns into Bb major. I wish they had played that whole theme louder so I didn't have to turn the volume up every time I'm watching that part of the movie (though I should probably blame those people who mixed and mastered the score). I think the brass are an excellent choice for Gondor. As a country which has fought for ages against Mordor, it's theme should have enough feeling of an ancient and noble culture and the bold wind instruments do that perfectly. __________________ Fenris Wolf

09-30-2005, 10:44 PM	#2
Encaitare Bittersweet Symphony Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: On the jolly starship Enterprise Posts: 1,814	Track 4: the White Tree The track begins with Boromir's death music (= true love). Lucky Boromir! He died in the first movie and still get appearances in all of them! It then switches to when Pippin is off to reach the beacon. The quarter slurred up to eighth rhythm reminds me of several other occasions when the hobbits are running somewhere, not in a situation of great danger (as in a battle or fleeing Shelob). The next theme is a variation of Gondor's, with the same underlying low tones and moving upper strings. It builds and develops, and at 2:35 it becomes the "original" Gondor theme with which we are the most familiar. (Waaaay too familiar during the Oscars! They really needed more than one soundclip. ) Like the last track, this one doesn't resolve, but rather rolls on into the next one.

10-01-2005, 01:19 PM	#3
Lathriel Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Wandering through Middle-Earth (Sadly in Alberta and not ME) Posts: 612	What I like about the ROTK soundtrack is thta most pieces seem to flow together. Maybe Howard Shore wrote the music with a symphony in mind where one movement smoothly flows inot the next. The music in this track really suits the moment and I love it. The contrast between the strings and low brass is neat! Of course the strings have the runs which means that if this music was translated for band us flutes would have to play them all!!!! Encaitare:Freaky Avatar!!! __________________ Back again

10-10-2005, 06:54 PM	#6
Lathriel Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Wandering through Middle-Earth (Sadly in Alberta and not ME) Posts: 612	I LOVE this track. Sometimes it makes my eyes all watery. Of course I love the flute solo (go flutes, go!). It is so melancholy and then the Minas Tirith theme comes in with the trumpets proudly playing out. I really like how it builts up untill Pippin sings. This song I really like, and I also like the fact that Billy practically composed it himself. The lyrics are actually from Chapter three;Three is company. Originally the song is happy but you can see how easily you can make it sad. __________________ Back again

10-16-2005, 11:38 AM	#7
Encaitare Bittersweet Symphony Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: On the jolly starship Enterprise Posts: 1,814	*Notice* Maybe three people are wondering right now, "Hey, wasn't Enca supposed to start a new track on Friday?" The answer is "Yes, but Enca's basement was too flooded to use the computer much, and too noisy to hear any music." When it's all cleaned up and we no longer have a bevy of fans and wet-dry vacuums lying around, I'll start the next track... probably next Friday.

10-08-2005, 06:24 PM	#5
Aiwendil Late Istar Join Date: Mar 2001 Posts: 2,224	How could I have missed track 4, "The White Tree", my favorite out of all three scores? I know we've now moved on to track 5, but I simply must say that, in my opinion, the racing strings leading into the Gondor theme (the sequence with the beacons being lit) is one of my favorite moments in film music. It's a moment where, I think, all elements of the music come together perfectly. The chords are incredible and the orchestration allows the chords to come through splendidly. It sounds to me like there are some fairly distant progressions in the midst of the sequence - as a matter of fact, at certain moments it rather reminds me of Horner's The Wrath of Khan. As the music moves forward, Shore effects a tremendous build-up of tension. The strings race; the brass becomes more and more insistent; the chords continue to rise and to break through into new tonal territory (or so it sounds to me; I haven't studied the progression). Then we have a tremendously satisfying arrival at the big statement of the Gondor theme. Now, I love Shore's music, but I must say that across the three scores there are many instances of build-ups that lead to nothing, that simply reach their height and stop, or are cut short. Here, however, we have a real arrival and a straightforward, consonant, periodic, and majestic subject. It's a great moment.