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

dancing spawn of ungoliant · 02-16-2005, 06:58 AM

Quote:

do you mean in the Enya half/Aniron or the orchestral half of the track?

I meant the Enya half, well, at least. During Aníron there are basically four different chords. A flat major / E flat , E major, C flat major and D flat major.
After Enya's part the orchestra plays four chords: E flat major, g minor, E flat major again and C major. Now there's this C but to me it sound's that there's no modulation yet. The hobbit theme is definitely in C major, though. The fellowship theme for one contains only major chords (as Aiwendil said already) such as B flat, A flat, E flat and C. The whole track even ends with C major and yet I can't define its key. Either Shore uses a whole lot of naturals and sharps or then there's a modulation...I think.

Encaitare · 02-16-2005, 02:09 PM

Quote:

I meant the Enya half, well, at least. During Aníron there are basically four different chords. A flat major / E flat , E major, C flat major and D flat major.

Ah, my apologies; I misunderstood you. What I was saying about it being in C/c was only pertaining to the latter part of the music, at the actual council. Aníron indeed has D flats.

Encaitare · 02-18-2005, 03:14 PM

A short track, but a triumphant one nonetheless.

The first 45 seconds or so are from Bilbo and Frodo's scene, in which Frodo is given Sting and the mithril shirt, and Bilbo goes a little but crazy. It opens with an English horn and strings, and then changes to a sadder sort of Shire theme, with strings and clarinet. The clarinet is then replaced once more by the English horn.

Thus the second part of the track is introduced, via some strings on a tremolo, a brass pedal tone and melody, and a growing timpani roll. The melody is still that of the Shire, although it sounds far more majestic than our original little whistle could ever hope to be! These four small hobbits are off into the big world, part of an important mission.

A gong crash begins the change to the Fellowship theme in bold brass, as the nine of them (ten if you count Bill the pony) come up over that rocky pass in their Hero Shot. The brass and winds then carry the music down from the trumpet solo's final note.

Kitanna · 02-18-2005, 05:34 PM

Possibly the greatest English Horn solo I have ever heard. And then I love how it picks up in the middle and a brass fanfare takes over (whoa! go brass!)

Nuranar · 02-18-2005, 07:31 PM

This is possibly (but only possibly) my favorite track for this movie, most particularly because of the bold, inspiring rendition of the Fellowship theme. After my father began to learn the cornet - and all three younger brothers picked it up, in varying degrees of dedication - it crystallized in my mind just how much I thrill to the sound of a solo trumpet. As I've already said, the Indiana Jones soundtracks have always been my favorites. Remember what plays that theme? I think most everything John Williams writes leans on the trumpet. Likely that's why his work always grabs me. I usually have something instrumental on for background when I'm working, and invariably the clear, strong sound of the trumpet will catch my ear. It happened just today - listening to Verdi, of all things.

As a point of curiosity, what is the top note that trumpet hits? I ask for a very silly reason, but...

Once, when in the car with my father, we had this track playing. For some reason I started to sing with the trumpet. Although I've never have voice lessons, I think I'm a second soprano. (I sang six months in a choir - a good choir, which my brothers are still in, but still only six months four years ago.) I still love to sing and frequently worked out my range on the piano. Turns out I'm a decent soprano up to G (1.5 octaves above middle C). I can hit the A, but the quality and volume are emphatically not there. (Incidentally, I can also go down a full octave below middle C. It's fun - and quite amusing - to randomly sing a strong tenor during worship.

)

*ahem* When I sang with the track, my voice can hit that top trumpet note well. Relatively well, for my skill at least, but I know it can't be an A. Still, it was definitely at the top of my range, so I hazard that it's that G, or possibly the F or F#. A very unscientific and subjective guess - but what do y'all think? Am I way off base?

All that aside, this is STILL one of my all-time favorite tracks.

Encaitare · 02-19-2005, 09:35 AM

It is an A above middle C, Nuranar... don't underestimate yourself!

Nuranar · 02-19-2005, 02:15 PM

AWESOME!

That has so made my day!

02-18-2005, 03:14 PM	#3
Encaitare Bittersweet Symphony Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: On the jolly starship Enterprise Posts: 1,814	Track 11: The Ring Goes South A short track, but a triumphant one nonetheless. The first 45 seconds or so are from Bilbo and Frodo's scene, in which Frodo is given Sting and the mithril shirt, and Bilbo goes a little but crazy. It opens with an English horn and strings, and then changes to a sadder sort of Shire theme, with strings and clarinet. The clarinet is then replaced once more by the English horn. Thus the second part of the track is introduced, via some strings on a tremolo, a brass pedal tone and melody, and a growing timpani roll. The melody is still that of the Shire, although it sounds far more majestic than our original little whistle could ever hope to be! These four small hobbits are off into the big world, part of an important mission. A gong crash begins the change to the Fellowship theme in bold brass, as the nine of them (ten if you count Bill the pony) come up over that rocky pass in their Hero Shot. The brass and winds then carry the music down from the trumpet solo's final note.

02-18-2005, 05:34 PM	#4
Kitanna Child of the West Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Watching President Fillmore ride a unicorn Posts: 2,132	Possibly the greatest English Horn solo I have ever heard. And then I love how it picks up in the middle and a brass fanfare takes over (whoa! go brass!) __________________ "Let us live so that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry." - Mark Twain

02-18-2005, 07:31 PM	#5
Nuranar Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: STILL a drought Posts: 529	This is possibly (but only possibly) my favorite track for this movie, most particularly because of the bold, inspiring rendition of the Fellowship theme. After my father began to learn the cornet - and all three younger brothers picked it up, in varying degrees of dedication - it crystallized in my mind just how much I thrill to the sound of a solo trumpet. As I've already said, the Indiana Jones soundtracks have always been my favorites. Remember what plays that theme? I think most everything John Williams writes leans on the trumpet. Likely that's why his work always grabs me. I usually have something instrumental on for background when I'm working, and invariably the clear, strong sound of the trumpet will catch my ear. It happened just today - listening to Verdi, of all things. As a point of curiosity, what is the top note that trumpet hits? I ask for a very silly reason, but... Once, when in the car with my father, we had this track playing. For some reason I started to sing with the trumpet. Although I've never have voice lessons, I think I'm a second soprano. (I sang six months in a choir - a good choir, which my brothers are still in, but still only six months four years ago.) I still love to sing and frequently worked out my range on the piano. Turns out I'm a decent soprano up to G (1.5 octaves above middle C). I can hit the A, but the quality and volume are emphatically not there. (Incidentally, I can also go down a full octave below middle C. It's fun - and quite amusing - to randomly sing a strong tenor during worship. ) ahem When I sang with the track, my voice can hit that top trumpet note well. Relatively well, for my skill at least, but I know it can't be an A. Still, it was definitely at the top of my range, so I hazard that it's that G, or possibly the F or F#. A very unscientific and subjective guess - but what do y'all think? Am I way off base? All that aside, this is STILL one of my all-time favorite tracks. __________________ I admit it is better fun to punt than be punted, and that a desire to have all the fun is nine-tenths of the law of chivalry. Lord Peter Wimsey

02-19-2005, 02:15 PM	#7
Nuranar Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: STILL a drought Posts: 529	AWESOME! That has so made my day! __________________ I admit it is better fun to punt than be punted, and that a desire to have all the fun is nine-tenths of the law of chivalry. Lord Peter Wimsey

02-19-2005, 09:35 AM	#6
Encaitare Bittersweet Symphony Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: On the jolly starship Enterprise Posts: 1,814	It is an A above middle C, Nuranar... don't underestimate yourself!