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?

09-09-2005, 03:08 PM	#11
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?