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

Himilsillion · 11-05-2005, 05:05 PM

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 · 11-06-2005, 03:02 PM

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 · 11-09-2005, 08:19 PM

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 · 01-01-2006, 11:43 AM

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

Newsday loves horrible puns.

01-01-2006, 10:25 PM

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 · 01-03-2006, 04:10 PM

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 · 01-03-2006, 06:04 PM

Quote:

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 · 01-04-2006, 09:42 AM

Quote:

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 · 01-08-2006, 01:04 AM

The track opens with a pounding, steady rhythm. This then moves into a cool medley that moves between themes: Rohan, Gondor, and finally the Fellowship theme at 0:31. Men of the West indeed!

At 0:50, it quiets down, and at 1:00 we hear the most excellent Sir James Galway on tin whistle, playing a sadder variation of the Shire theme.

At 1:40, the rest of the orchestra enters, soon after joined by the choir. They sing an excerpt of this:

Quote:

Caedo, losto. Ú-erin davo.
Amman harthach? Anim únad.
Le tûg nach. O hon ú-wannathon.
Ú-moe le anno nad. Ónen a hon beth nín.
Gurth han ristatha. Ta han narcho Gurth.
Gar vethed e-chúnen, go hon bedithon na meth.

Lie down, sleep. / I cannot yield.
Why do you still hope? / I have nothing else.
You are a fool. / I will not leave him.
You owe him nothing / I gave him my word.
Death will break it. / Then let death break it.
He has the last of my heart. / I will go with him to the end.

Meanwhile, the tin whistle continues with a similar melody to before, and finally culminates in the "Into the West" theme with full orchestra. *loves Sir James Galway to little bits*

Lathriel · 01-08-2006, 05:22 PM

I LOVE James Galway( the way he plays the flute) If I ever could play like that,well...
He manages to get such a smooth sound out of his flute and I know how hard it is because my flute is always sharp. (My flute has tuning issues)
The first time I heard that track I was so touched and it is one of my favourites. Not only does it go so well with the movie, it goes very well on its own too.

11-06-2005, 03:02 PM	#2
Lathriel Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Wandering through Middle-Earth (Sadly in Alberta and not ME) Posts: 612	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. __________________ Back again

11-09-2005, 08:19 PM	#3
Himilsillion Animated Skeleton Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: In Sweet Home Chicago Posts: 30	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. __________________ Elwood: It's 106 miles to Chicago. We got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes; it's dark and we're wearing sunglasses. Jake: Hit it!

01-01-2006, 10:25 PM	#5
Magpie Guest Posts: n/a	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. Last edited by Magpie; 01-01-2006 at 11:50 PM.

01-03-2006, 04:10 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 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. __________________ Back again

01-08-2006, 05:22 PM	#10
Lathriel Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Wandering through Middle-Earth (Sadly in Alberta and not ME) Posts: 612	I LOVE James Galway( the way he plays the flute) If I ever could play like that,well... He manages to get such a smooth sound out of his flute and I know how hard it is because my flute is always sharp. (My flute has tuning issues) The first time I heard that track I was so touched and it is one of my favourites. Not only does it go so well with the movie, it goes very well on its own too. __________________ Back again

11-05-2005, 05:05 PM	#1
Himilsillion Animated Skeleton Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: In Sweet Home Chicago Posts: 30	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.

01-01-2006, 11:43 AM	#4
Encaitare Bittersweet Symphony Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: On the jolly starship Enterprise Posts: 1,814	An article in my local paper today about the new 4 disc Fellowship soundtrack: Chord of the 'Rings' Newsday loves horrible puns.