**RotK Soundtrack**

[Tigerlily Gamgee]

I think I've managed to listen to it about 3 times now. I love it! I still don't know how I would compare it to the other two soundtracks, though. I can't really pick a favorite of all three at this point.<P>I love the Gondor theme. I love the fact that it was touched on in FOTR and in the EE TTT, but now we hear it full force. Some of the brass parts are stunning at times! I love the epic sounding Gondor theme in "Minas Tirith" and "The White Tree."<BR>It seems as though each soundtrack has had a feature instrument. For FOTR it was mainly voice (the choir is used a lot in that one), for TTT it was the fiddle (Rohan theme), and for ROTK it is the whistle.<BR>I think that the whistle is a great addition to this soundtrack. You get the low-tones whistle in "The Steward of Gondor" and then the higher pitched whistle in "The Black Gates Opens" and "The Grey Havens" - it kind of gives these pieces a bittersweet sound.<BR>Billy's voice is stunning. I love the way that the suspenseful music starts to creep in under his voice. It's great when two different sounds can create such an effect.<P>I think that one of my favorite tracks has to be "The Black Gate Opens" - I really don't think that it is the music that is playing when the Black Gate does open... but what it sounds like to me (at parts) is music that could possibly underscore when Sam is holding Frodo in his arms atop Mt. Doom.<P>I still need to listen to it more. But, I am still a fan of "Into the West." I liked it when I heard the clip, but hearing it right after listening to "They Grey Havens" is a real tear-jerker!