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

Himilsillion · 11-12-2005, 05:16 PM

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 · 11-18-2005, 10:32 PM

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 · 11-19-2005, 02:43 PM

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 · 11-19-2005, 04:02 PM

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.

Folwren · 11-19-2005, 04:49 PM

I missed number eight, and I'm really sorry I did, because that's one of my favorites.

Nine. . .This track I've always seen as cold and hard, as is really great because that's what it's supposed to be. It sounds hopeless to me, and that's really sad.

Not much else to say on this one.

-- Folwren

Himilsillion · 11-20-2005, 02:38 PM

I love the solos the solos are what make this piece. I like the solos a lot.

Encaitare · 11-20-2005, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Folwren

I missed number eight, and I'm really sorry I did, because that's one of my favorites.

This goes for everyone: if you miss a track and would like to comment on it anyway (as long as it's a relatively recent one), please feel free to do so! This thread is far from rigidly managed.

11-12-2005, 05:16 PM	#1
Himilsillion Animated Skeleton Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: In Sweet Home Chicago Posts: 30	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. __________________ 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!

11-18-2005, 10:32 PM	#2
Lathriel Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Wandering through Middle-Earth (Sadly in Alberta and not ME) Posts: 612	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. __________________ Back again

11-19-2005, 02:43 PM	#3
Encaitare Bittersweet Symphony Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: On the jolly starship Enterprise Posts: 1,814	Track 9: Cirith Ungol 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?"

11-19-2005, 04:02 PM	#4
Lathriel Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Wandering through Middle-Earth (Sadly in Alberta and not ME) Posts: 612	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. __________________ Back again

11-19-2005, 04:49 PM	#5
Folwren Messenger of Hope Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a tiny, insignificant little town in one of the many States. Posts: 5,076	I missed number eight, and I'm really sorry I did, because that's one of my favorites. Nine. . .This track I've always seen as cold and hard, as is really great because that's what it's supposed to be. It sounds hopeless to me, and that's really sad. Not much else to say on this one. -- Folwren __________________ A young man who wishes to remain a sound atheist cannot be too careful of his reading. - C.S. Lewis

11-20-2005, 02:38 PM	#6
Himilsillion Animated Skeleton Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: In Sweet Home Chicago Posts: 30	I love the solos the solos are what make this piece. I like the solos a lot. __________________ 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!