Track-by-Track: Soundtrack Discussion and Analysis

[Kitanna]

Originally Posted by Lathriel

sadly my parents don't want me to follow music as a career. snif. I would just love to play in the London Philharmonic.

That sucks! You should at least try for it, even if it doesn't work out. My parents (at least my mom) would be thrilled if I tried to get into the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, too bad for me I'm no good. Hopefully you'll get the chance to get in the London Philharmonic, Lathriel!

Encaitare~ Can't wait for the next track.

[Encaitare]

We begin here with a single sung note, which is then harmonized by a children's choir. Most of the harmonies sound like minor thirds to me. Then strings and eventually an English horn join in. This beginning part is Arwen doing her dreamy white glowy vision self.

It continues with strings and what sounds like a French horn, all very quiet and romantic for Arwen and Aragorn to have their moment.

At 1:38, the brass comes in, which is -- ta da! -- the Ringwraiths, back for another go at getting that pesky short dude who just keeps on evading them. Nice timpani and a gong are used to build up the tension, and then there is an awesome upper brass bit as the Ringwraiths chase Glorfindel -- whoops, I mean Arwen, and Frodo.

2:31, the choir comes in with the same Adunaic we've been hearing for several tracks, in a slightly different order, though, for anyone who cares to follow along as s/he listens:

Bârî 'n Katharâd
Îdô nêd nêpâm
Nêtabdam dâurad
Nidir nêpâm
Nêpâm nêd aglar

A fanfare follows this as Arwen challenges the Nazgul; a loud gong seems to be what signals their being swept away by the river. After this it all becomes very soft once more as Frodo fades and turns a nice shade of green. There are strings and a soft choir with some very subtle chord progressions.

So, here is where we first actually meet an Elf -- does the music sound elvish enough to you?

[Kitanna]

The music that is played when Arwen first appears doesn't seem all that Elvish. It's more dreamy and trallala. I suppose though that Elves themselves are too dreamy and tralala. I like this becasue is has that same contrast as The Black Riders. Starting with the music of good and then bringing in the theme of evil

[Lathriel]

Thanks for your support because next year I'll be going to university so I have to really pick what I want to do.

About track 8

It's one of my favourite tracks on the FOTR soundtrack.Of course the intor always takes my breath away. For me the rinwraith theme isn't the biggest part. I like the part where the trumpets sound announcing that the waters in the Ford have rissen. That part of the son isn't actually in the movie but I like it because I can simply see the horses in the wave as I listen to that part.

I also like it that the song starts very subtle. That it isn't a couple of voices that begin to sing but that it is just one voice and that slowly as you see more of Arwen in the movie more voices are added to make the dreamlike image more compact untill you see Arwen completely. I like it when a composer gets the music spot on with the image without being cheesy or overdoing it.

[dancing spawn of ungoliant]

Ah, this is a very beautiful piece. I like the lyrics at the beginning:
Tinúviel elvanui
Elleth alfirin [0.00-0.40]
(Tinúviel elven-fair
Immortal maiden)

It's nice how the lyrics sang during the first appearance of Arwen refer to Luthien. It is very calm and dream-like song until the brass come along. The soft ending ties the piece nicely together.
I had this impression that Peter Jackson actually played the gong himself in some of the tracks but I can't remember if it was this one. I think they showed it on one of the EE DVDs.

Just watched the LOTR symphony DVD and it was excellent. Makes me wish I was good enough to be involved in something like that.

Yeah, tell me about it! Despite I play in a very decent youth orchestra at the moment, there's no way I could get a profession out of that.

[Encaitare]

PJ played the gong when Eowyn is standing in front of Meduseld, then Aragorn looks away and when he looks back she is gone.

Thanks for pointing the elvish lyrics out; that's a nice tie-in with Luthien.

[dancing spawn of ungoliant]

Oh, right, now I remember. So the gong was in TTT then.
About track 8 and it's Elvish aspect... apart from the lyrics, I don't think it's particularly elven-like. But that doesn't really bother me. On screen there's emotionally a lot going on. There's this creepy feeling that the Ringwraiths are close and they might just jump out behind the nearest bush. Frodo is convulsing and gasping and it doesn't seem probable that Aragorn & co. could manage to escape.

But then: the next thing we know there's this elf lady in her fluffy gown looking, sounding and acting like an angel. I think this piece doesn't refer to Rivendell or Mordor as much as the emotions during Arwen's first scene. Of course there are clips from different themes but in the film the track (in my opinion) rather emphasizes emotions than reveals any new cultural matters. For me it works really well.

[solarisa]

*real short post, and i haven't heard that "quenya" part before. normal people would believe it's elvish if howard stuck rubbish lyrics init.
...hmm i don't know what soundtrack its on (but its in the movie) i like the hobbit-part, with the celtic flute (?) its really quite peacefull (not off topic, am i?)

[Kitanna]

This is my favorite track on TTT soundtrack. Mainly because at 3:13 the Lorien theme returns (or to me what sounds an awful lot like the Lorien theme...correct me if I'm wrong). Only this time it's the Elves are going to war. I always loved that little piece of music right there. With the brass melody and the drums beating in the back.

And of course then it goes into the Rohan theme again, only a more fierce version.

[Lathriel]

Don´t worry Kitanna, you are right. It is the Lorien theme.

I actually really like the beginning with the voices chanting. I also like how the music builds up till the climax at the end.

[dancing spawn of ungoliant]

This is a great piece. It's unbelievable how even a few bars of the Fellowship theme makes me feel that everything's going to be alright. The repeated use of the theme in scenes involving narrow escapes and friendship has made me link it automatically with hope.

The military version of Lothlorien theme is very nice. Just with changing the rythm a bit and adding some drums on the background it's feeling changes completely. The only negative thing is that I think it somehow lessens the Elves' nobility and gracefulness because their theme resembles now quite much Men's war themes or the idea what such themes could be like. On the other hand it brings the Elves more close to Men and makes those two races more equal comrades in war.