Track-by-Track: Soundtrack Discussion and Analysis

[Anguirel]

Together, I think the Bridge of Khazad Dum, Lothlorien, and the Great River represent the absolute peak of the FOTR soundtrack.

The Bridge (Track 13, appropriately enough), is quite simply the most dramatic track on the FOTR CD. I see the scene swimming before my eyes. And...how do I describe this...the Fellowship theme is far more...urgent...than in, say, the Ring Goes South. I'm struggling with the musical vocabulary, but there are these sort of higher notes streaming from it, like sparks off a blade. The shadow and flame really emanates from it, and especially later from the choir.

Like others, I at first didn't like Lothlorien, either visually or musically. I remembered the joyous haven, the relief I'd experienced on my first reading; how I was literally begging my book to stay longer, never to leave the safety and beauty of the golden eaves. The "menace" of Track 14 just didn't seem right. But it's grown on me (as has the film interpretation, with the fabulous FOTR EE.) It's simply another point of view, and an interesting one. What must Boromir, Gimli, Merry or Pippin have thought on entering this strange land of dreams, where the branches resounded with laments? The melancholia of the place is caught exactly.

As for the Great River...it's actually the most fully Elven music in FOTR. I can never be satisfied with listening to it once; I have to replay the voyage...

[Lathriel]

I love this track because it portrays the Argonath and their granduer so well while at the same time it has a melancholy tone since the Argonath are a reminder of the Kingdom of Gondor during its greatness and now it is in a weakened state.

Et Eärello Endorenna utúlien.
Sinome maruvan ar Hildinyar tenn' Ambar-metta!

Out of the Great Sea to Middle-earth I am come.
In this place I will abide, and my heirs, unto the ending of the world!

This is actually a foreshadowing of what is to come, the return of the king; because Aragorn sings this in ROTK as he stands in Minas Tirith. I didn't realize that untill now, so thanks for the lyrics Encaitare

[Dragon Reborn]

Just had to say this is a fantastic idea for a thread and as soon as Im not so heavily burdended with schoolwork i will be right on to making some contributions!

[Encaitare]

The track begins sounding rather eerie, with the choir and strings slowly building. At this point, Boromir is trying to convince Frodo to give him the Ring, and the choir sings the following (in Quenya):

i tuo...
i macil...
... (a?)staldaron...
marinyë... cor...
i tuo...
i macil...
a lelyat
túrenna...
i tuo...

the strength...
the sword...
... of-the-valiant (?)...
I-live... ring (?)...
the strength...
the sword...
let they go (?)
to-victory...
the strength...

It seems like a little bit of a rough translation, but it corresponds pretty well to what is going on. Boromir truly believes that he can save Gondor by use of the Ring. After this little episode, the strings become dominant for a bit as Frodo tries to run.

The brass solo which immediately follows reminds me of the Minas Tirith theme that we'll hear in RotK, symbolizing Boromir's fierce loyalty to his land. I have not watched FotR in a long time, so I'm a bit rusty on what exactly is going on after this -- battle shots, I imagine. But at 2:07, the Isengard theme returns with the Uruk-hai. It stops at 2:36, but not before delivering three last hammerblows, which further drive home the point that Boromir, our valiant warrior, is being shot down. The choir returns, mournfully backed up by strings:

... i alda helda
i ehtelë lin(d)a.
Manna lelyalyë
Voromirë...
canelya ... dessë si .... mas

... the tree naked
the spring beautiful.
Where-to you-go
Boromir...
your-valour... ?-in now ... ?

For me this is the most emotional track, because in the movie the sound fades until it seems as though everything is happening very far away, and the music covers most of it up. You can hear Boromir's cries, and see Merry and Pippin's distraught faces just by listening.

Gentle brass and strings playing the Fellowship theme end the track; I believe this is played in the movie when Boromir is finally dead.

One thing I'm not so sure about is this: supposedly, the following lines are sung while Boromir is being shot:

Ú-velin i vegil an aegas
egor i bilin a linnas

I-do-not-love the sword for sharpness,
or the arrow for swiftness

This is of course from Faramir's speech in TTT (the book): "...but I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend: the city of the Men of Numenor..." It's a beautiful passage, and very appropriate for what is going on. However, it doesn't seem to be in the track itself. Maybe it's just in the movie?

[The Tennis Ball Kid]

I have not watched FotR in a long time, so I'm a bit rusty on what exactly is going on after this

This site, has a good run down of what's going when on the soundtracks.

However, it doesn't seem to be in the track itself. Maybe it's just in the movie?

It's only in the EE, thus not on the soundtrack, and it plays while he's defending Merry and Pippin.

I'm very behind, but I'll try to catch up to these three tracks either tonight or tommorow....

Edit:

Does this piece fit your thoughts of what Elvish music would sound like? If not, what would you do differently? How does this (either the contents of the track or your own ideas) fit in with Lorien's history and people?

1. Not really, my ideas for Elvish music prior to watching these films wasn't very in depth beyond "Tra la lally, down in the valley..."

Not sure I'd change anything, the otherworldy Middle-Eastern effect worked well in the film.

The Great River:

Et Eärello Endorenna utúlien.
Sinome maruvan ar Hildinyar tenn' Ambar-metta!

Out of the Great Sea to Middle-earth I am come.
In this place I will abide, and my heirs, unto the ending of the world!

I hadn't noticed that before, it's remarkable how much depth the use of Tolkien's language adds to score, it's something the Bashki cartoon didn't have.

The epic rendition of the 'Ring theme' as they pass the Argonath is one of highlights of the album, in large part because it's the only full statement of the theme on the CD.

Amon Hen:
Together with The Breaking of The Fellowship this one the better musical endings to a film I've ever see_er, heard.

The Seduction theme playing as Aragorn (not Boromir) is tempted by the Ring gives an eerie start to the proccedings.

Then, the brass, which I believe you've correctly connected to Minas Tirith, as Aragorn faces down the Uruk-hai, this minute and a half is some of the best action writing I've ever heard.

The Isengard theme as heard here is frightening, menacing, as Boromir, Merry and Pippin are set upon by the orcs.

The track finishes with a mournful rendtion of the 'Fellowship' theme as Boromir dies, how long ago Moria and that full, triumphiant statement of it seem now...

Missing on the CD are the fantastic additions to the EE; namely: the 'Nature/Moth' theme as Merry and Pippin create a diversion to allow Frodo to escape, and the new choral pieces as Boromir defends the two young Hobbits.



ttbk

[Encaitare]

Thanks for the link!

The Seduction theme playing as Aragorn (not Boromir) is tempted by the Ring gives an eerie start to the proccedings.

Ah, yes, seduction. That was the term I was looking for and just couldn't come up with while writing my last post. Quite an appropriate title for it, too.

[Lathriel]

The Seduction theme is very key in the movies (and in the book) because almost all the characters are seduced by the ring. Even Sam is almost seduced by it. As the dutch title of LOTR says they are Bound by the ring It is one of my favourite theme songs because it doesn't only sound seductive, its also melancholy due to all the evil influences the ring brings with it. It certainly fits with Boromr because he ends up loosing his life in the quest of getting the ring to Mordor. Overall I really like this track due to its contrast between the quiet of the rings power, and Boromir's death compared to the loudness of battle. This is usually split in strings with choir for the quiet parts (and a solo for lowbrass) to Full blown brass for the battles. However, I really like it that Howard Shore decided not to go along this path completely but to turn down the volume of the music halfway through the fight.
Encaitare thanks once again for the lyrics, I didn't know their meaning yet so its great to finally see what they are actually singing.