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

Encaitare · 09-09-2005, 03:08 PM

Welcome to the Return of the King! Again, thanks to all who have taken part in this thread. This soundtrack is my favorite of the three because of the wide variety of sounds and emotions, so hopefully we will be able to have some good discussions.

The very first thing we hear is an oboe backed by strings. I would say the the oboe could be "Gollum's instrument" since we have heard it used in the Prologue when he is first introduced -- not sure if it's used elsewhere for the same purpose.

Brass then joins for the Ring theme during the titles, which opens each movie. We are also about to get a little history or backstory, like the beginning of each movie. What is different here is that it's a surprisingly calm scene with sweet hobbity music. (Pity it doesn't last!) There's a flute solo, and then the oboe returns with a plucky little tune.

Deagol is pulled under the water, and at 1:38 we hear the Ring theme on solo violin. I remember sitting in the theater seeing this movie for the first time and thinking how odd and artsy the sound of the violin is. It's really quite different from anything we've heard in the soundtracks before.

The last part is the Mordor theme, featuring a variety of instruments including clarinet, trombone, and tuba. This is not in the movie, but A Magpie's Nest suggests that it was an alternative soundtrack to Smeagol's murder of Deagol, whereas in the movie we only have an eerie sound and a thudding heartbeat. I thought the movie version was pretty funky and different from anything in the previous movies as well.

What do you think of this track? As I said, it's not what we're used to from the past two soundtracks. Is that a good thing or a bad thing, in your opinion?

The Tennis Ball Kid · 09-10-2005, 05:15 AM

As a note on the unused music: sync the CD at 1:54 with the DVD at 3:04 (Region1, EE), it plays till Smeagol has gotten a deathgrip; it gives the scene quite a different feel. (obviously

) You can also see a short clip of the scene with the music still present on the sound documentary on disc four of the EE set.

The noise used over that scene was also used in TTT, and later in ROTK, usually when Frodo is being tempted by the Ring. (e.g. right before he claims it at Mount Doom)

As for the track as a whole, Shore obviously uses a similar musical feel for the Stoors as he does for the Hobbits. And there's a very nice rendition of the Ring theme; the last minute however, is what I was humming for weeks after I first got the CD.

TTbk

Kitanna · 09-11-2005, 11:40 AM

The Return of the King soundtrack, gasp!

I know I've said very little in this thread, but I do emjoy it and I am glad we have finally reached ROTK, my favorite of all.

The first song starts out with the Shire feel to it, all happy and what not. As though no evil will come to Smeagol and Deagol and then the Ring theme takes over at 1:38. Then the mood changes. The strings no longer have the light happy feel, instead they are heavy and the evil theme comes into play. A very nice mix I think.

Elladan and Elrohir · 09-11-2005, 09:58 PM

Hey all,

Just want to drop in and say I've been lurking on the thread every once in a while and love the discussion. I love music and I love the soundtracks even though I can't go nearly as indepth as most of you guys can. My favorite soundtrack is FOTR, because it has some of the most memorable (for me) moments, it introduces most of the major themes for the first time, and it features the Shire and Fellowship themes (my two favorites) far more prominently than in the other two, particularly ROTK.

Just a sidenote: It would seem to me that the title "A Storm Is Coming" goes far better with track 2 than with track 1. Track 2 ("Hope and Memory") seems to embody the message musically of "A Storm Is Coming." And, of course, that title doesn't seem to fit with a track mostly concerned with the Smeagol flashback.

OK, back to lurking until I have anything I feel confident enough about to comment on! (Wow, two dangling prepositions in one sentence.)

Encaitare · 09-12-2005, 03:26 PM

It's nice to hear you've been reading, E&E! Please feel free to share your thoughts with us more often.

Lathriel · 09-12-2005, 07:27 PM

I really like this track. Some of the things Howard Shore used reminds of elements that you can often find in ballet music. Especially the beginning where a woodwind begins and strings join in.
When you hear the Mordor theme I have a little theory about it. You can hear the Mordor theme but you can also hear the strings frantically playing against it. The Mordor theme resembles the power of the ring and the strings resemble the good part of Gollum despairing at what is happening to him. At least that is how I like to think about it.

Yeah my 500th post!!!!

The Tennis Ball Kid · 09-12-2005, 09:51 PM

Congrats, Lathriel.

Quote:

Just a sidenote: It would seem to me that the title "A Storm Is Coming" goes far better with track 2 than with track 1. Track 2 ("Hope and Memory") seems to embody the message musically of "A Storm Is Coming."

I'm not sure what you mean here...could you elaborate?

I don't quite understand "A Storm Is Coming" being the title for this track, given that it is a line in the film (EE only), and has nothing to do with the opening scene.

"Hope And Memory" I'll comment on when we get to that track...

ttbk

09-09-2005, 03:08 PM	#1
Encaitare Bittersweet Symphony Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: On the jolly starship Enterprise Posts: 1,814	RotK Track 1: A Storm Is Coming Welcome to the Return of the King! Again, thanks to all who have taken part in this thread. This soundtrack is my favorite of the three because of the wide variety of sounds and emotions, so hopefully we will be able to have some good discussions. The very first thing we hear is an oboe backed by strings. I would say the the oboe could be "Gollum's instrument" since we have heard it used in the Prologue when he is first introduced -- not sure if it's used elsewhere for the same purpose. Brass then joins for the Ring theme during the titles, which opens each movie. We are also about to get a little history or backstory, like the beginning of each movie. What is different here is that it's a surprisingly calm scene with sweet hobbity music. (Pity it doesn't last!) There's a flute solo, and then the oboe returns with a plucky little tune. Deagol is pulled under the water, and at 1:38 we hear the Ring theme on solo violin. I remember sitting in the theater seeing this movie for the first time and thinking how odd and artsy the sound of the violin is. It's really quite different from anything we've heard in the soundtracks before. The last part is the Mordor theme, featuring a variety of instruments including clarinet, trombone, and tuba. This is not in the movie, but A Magpie's Nest suggests that it was an alternative soundtrack to Smeagol's murder of Deagol, whereas in the movie we only have an eerie sound and a thudding heartbeat. I thought the movie version was pretty funky and different from anything in the previous movies as well. What do you think of this track? As I said, it's not what we're used to from the past two soundtracks. Is that a good thing or a bad thing, in your opinion?

09-10-2005, 05:15 AM	#2
The Tennis Ball Kid Animated Skeleton Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 38	As a note on the unused music: sync the CD at 1:54 with the DVD at 3:04 (Region1, EE), it plays till Smeagol has gotten a deathgrip; it gives the scene quite a different feel. (obviously ) You can also see a short clip of the scene with the music still present on the sound documentary on disc four of the EE set. The noise used over that scene was also used in TTT, and later in ROTK, usually when Frodo is being tempted by the Ring. (e.g. right before he claims it at Mount Doom) As for the track as a whole, Shore obviously uses a similar musical feel for the Stoors as he does for the Hobbits. And there's a very nice rendition of the Ring theme; the last minute however, is what I was humming for weeks after I first got the CD. TTbk Last edited by The Tennis Ball Kid; 09-10-2005 at 10:16 AM.

09-11-2005, 11:40 AM	#3
Kitanna Child of the West Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Watching President Fillmore ride a unicorn Posts: 2,132	The Return of the King soundtrack, gasp! I know I've said very little in this thread, but I do emjoy it and I am glad we have finally reached ROTK, my favorite of all. The first song starts out with the Shire feel to it, all happy and what not. As though no evil will come to Smeagol and Deagol and then the Ring theme takes over at 1:38. Then the mood changes. The strings no longer have the light happy feel, instead they are heavy and the evil theme comes into play. A very nice mix I think. __________________ "Let us live so that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry." - Mark Twain

09-11-2005, 09:58 PM	#4
Elladan and Elrohir Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Halls of Mandos Posts: 332	Hey all, Just want to drop in and say I've been lurking on the thread every once in a while and love the discussion. I love music and I love the soundtracks even though I can't go nearly as indepth as most of you guys can. My favorite soundtrack is FOTR, because it has some of the most memorable (for me) moments, it introduces most of the major themes for the first time, and it features the Shire and Fellowship themes (my two favorites) far more prominently than in the other two, particularly ROTK. Just a sidenote: It would seem to me that the title "A Storm Is Coming" goes far better with track 2 than with track 1. Track 2 ("Hope and Memory") seems to embody the message musically of "A Storm Is Coming." And, of course, that title doesn't seem to fit with a track mostly concerned with the Smeagol flashback. OK, back to lurking until I have anything I feel confident enough about to comment on! (Wow, two dangling prepositions in one sentence.) __________________ "If you're referring to the incident with the dragon, I was barely involved. All I did was give your uncle a little nudge out of the door." THE HOBBIT - IT'S COMING

09-12-2005, 07:27 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 really like this track. Some of the things Howard Shore used reminds of elements that you can often find in ballet music. Especially the beginning where a woodwind begins and strings join in. When you hear the Mordor theme I have a little theory about it. You can hear the Mordor theme but you can also hear the strings frantically playing against it. The Mordor theme resembles the power of the ring and the strings resemble the good part of Gollum despairing at what is happening to him. At least that is how I like to think about it. Yeah my 500th post!!!! __________________ Back again Last edited by Lathriel; 09-12-2005 at 07:31 PM.

09-12-2005, 03:26 PM	#5
Encaitare Bittersweet Symphony Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: On the jolly starship Enterprise Posts: 1,814	It's nice to hear you've been reading, E&E! Please feel free to share your thoughts with us more often.

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