Track-by-Track: Soundtrack Discussion and Analysis

[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.

[Encaitare]

This track is just so beautiful and sad... I love it.

So we start out with strings on a pedal tone under very "round"-sounding brass; the two then merge to a melancholy variation on the Shire theme -- Frodo, while with quite a ways to go, is not the hobbit he was when he first left home. As Sam comes after Frodo, the strings drift along even as he does under the water.

At 1:44, Frodo pulls Sam out, and the theme becomes more hopeful -- especially as the original whistle that we heard in Track 2 returns, although it's much sadder. It shows us that while there will be suffering, at least Sam and Frodo will be together.

Cut to Boromir's boat and those who will be the Three Hunters. There is a snippet of the Shire theme again which then changes to the Fellowship theme. The theme is no longer full; several instruments seem to be missing, as their group is broken.

Percussion grows and then fades in the background as the Shire theme and eventually the whistle return. After this solo, the percussion returns muted under strings. Edward Ross' vocal solo follows, accompanied at times by a boys' choir. It brings in the phrase "there and back again," implying that while hardship will ensue, all is not lost. There is still hope. Strings and brass do a short conclusion of this solo, which leads nicely into the next track... but that's for next week.

Do share your thoughts.

[The Tennis Ball Kid]

Gosh, is it Friday already?

The emotional highlight of the score, don't how much there is to say.....love the tom-toms(?) near the end.


I love In Dreams, it's, as Shore has called it, "The Hobbit Hymn"; I greatly prefer it to what to comes next and wish it came at the begining of the credits in the movie.




ttbk

[Lathriel]

This track announces the end of a wonderful hour of music.I also really like "In dreams" but what annoys me is that sometimes the choir says in dream and doesn't pronounce the s. I know its silly but ever since my music teacher got mad at us for not pronouncing words correctly when singing I have a habit of listening for it when I listen to other singers.
The repeat of the hobbit theme makes me think about the beginning of the story and how far they have come. I also take note of the changing moods that have occured during this soundtrack. In the end the soundtrack has noticably become darker which sets the tone for the soundtrack of TTT.

[Encaitare]

Happy Friday, everyone! TGIF to the max.

We have come to the final track of FotR; this consists of Enya's song followed by an instrumental finale. Lyrics:

May it be an evening star
Shines down upon you
May it be when darkness falls
Your heart will be true
You walk a lonely road
Oh, how far you are from home

Mornië utúlië
Believe and you will find your way
Mornië alantië
A promise lives within you now

May it be the shadow's call
Will fly away
May it be you journey on
To light the day
When the night is overcome
You may rise to find the sun

Mornië utúlië
Believe and you will find your way

Mornië alantië
A promise lives within you now

A promise lives within you now

"May it Be" itself sounds much like Enya's other songs -- in my opinion, this is not a bad thing. It does have the gentle string and vocal accompaniment that she uses often in her songs. Parts of the melodic line are similar to the Shire theme.

I like the use of "Mornië utúlië / Mornië alantië" (Darkness has come / Darkness has fallen) -- I think these were the first Elvish phrases I ever learned. The point that there are indeed dark forces at hand is addressed, but other parts of the lyrics, such as "believe and you will find your way," have a message of hope and encouragement. The lyrics as a whole remind me of the Irish blessing:

May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face.
And rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again, May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.

And note that all the "blessings" given in "May it Be" will eventually come true -- a star will even shine down upon Sam in Mordor.

When the song is over, we hear the Shire and Fellowship themes, first soft and then rising in triumph. While this part of the story ends on a sad note (Boromir's death, the breaking of the Fellowship), it's still evident that there is strength left in the sundered friends.

Since the bulk of this track is taken up by the song, let's talk about that, shall we? How do the lyrics apply to the situations at hand? And to which character(s) do you think the lyrics are directed?

[Lathriel]

I actually have a fond memory of this song. At my highschool we have a Grande Ball. This is the time when the grade twelves wear their grad dresses again.Also the band students provide all the music. So me and my friend got together and I sang "May it be" while my friend provided the piano part.

Appart from that I like this song because it is very like Enya but it also fits the mood of the overall soundtrack. Its neat that they let the previous track,"The Breaking of the fellowship" smoothly flow over into May it Be. I think it might actually be my favourite credit swong out of the three. (Gollum's song,Into the West)
But they have one thing alike,great lyrics. I think the lyrics for every song are excelent.

The lyrics of May it Be clearly bring a message of hope. To me it says that although you will go through some very dark times and there are many dangers ahead,you will make it Frodo Baggins.And when you have made it good wil return.

[Encaitare]

Hey, congrats, guys! We made it to TTT! Still interested?

Right. Track One. The opening brass is like a "welcome back". I envision a thick book, leather-bound and inviting with yellowed pages, being opened to its second chapter. And we, the eager readers, fall back once more into the tale. We are immediately reminded of what's going on by the strings' repetition of the Ring theme. (In the movie, I absolutely love the camera panning over the mountains. Awesome shots there.)

The violins continue; the sound is sad and nothing ever seems to resolve completely. At 1:42, we are whisked back to the Bridge of Khazad-Dum. We hear the brassy battle carry out, and the segment has the same conclusion at 2:30 as it did back in track 13 of FotR -- that low string tone. But since here we see things continue from Gandalf's point of view, the music picks up almost immediately with the choir. At 2:32 we hear:

[Quenya]
Mettanna.
Nurunna!


To the end
To the death!

Chanting in Khuzdul begins as the foes descend ever deeper into the former Dwarven realm. Starting at 2:44:

Irkat-lukhud ma
katabrikihu
Ulfat-atam ma
tanakhi uduhu
bin-nât aznân tarsisi

No shaft of light
Can breach it
No breath of air
Comes from it
Only an endless dark rises

Here, it would seem that the trumpets/brass are Gandalf (as we have heard in past tracks), the throbbing drums are the Balrog ("drums, drums in the deep"), and the ongoing chanting simply represents the setting.

At 3:32, the drums cease for a few moments as Gandalf and the Balrog fall over the surface of the water. I particularly like this section -- it sounds almost more epic than what we're previously been hearing. In fact, it reminds me of some of the victorious music we'll hear in RotK, not surprisingly: since they are about to hit the water, it can't bode too well for the Balrog. At this point we hear:

[Quenya]
Mettanna
Nárendur
An mauya mahtie
Mettanna

To the end
Servant of fire
For you must fight
To the end

Thusly the track ends, and for a little while we are kept in the dark as to exactly what will happen.

Only portions of the written lyrics were used in the actual track. Full Quenya lyrics are here and full Khuzdul lyrics are here.

My apologies for posting this so late (it's almost midnight for me, anyway) -- my internet randomly shut down on me this afternoon.