Favourite soundtrack song? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

The Might · 11-02-2007, 05:52 AM

Oh, it seems it's been too long since I last saw the movies.

Folwren · 11-02-2007, 09:56 AM

No, no. I was thinking of the first RotK track. It's called A Storm is Coming, now that I look at it. I don't remember the song Foundations of Stone very well. That's when Gandalf and the Balrog fight, yes?

Can't stay longer to comment.

-- Foley

Macalaure · 11-03-2007, 12:49 PM

What I especially like about the Soundtrack is, that, while you know which song was featured during what scene, you don't necessarily need to connect the music with the actual pictures from the movie. You can just lean back and listen and have your own ideas in your mind at the same time. In the case of tracks which were used in scenes not from the book, I now even connect them with different passages. When listening to "The White Tree", for example, I now imagine the arrival of the Knights of Dol Amroth in Minas Tirith.

The mixing of the leitmotifs is sometimes done very well, sometimes not so much. In "Isengard Unleashed", I think, it makes sense to combine the two themes (the Elf theme at the beginning, of course, makes no sense) because in the story Isengard and Fangorn 'meet', so the themes should do so as well. But then there are also songs like "A Knife in the Dark", where the Nazgûl theme suddenly goes over into the Isengard theme, but for no reason at all.

My favourites are

Concerning Hobbits (of course)
The Shadow of the Past (this track gives me shudders)
The Treason of Isengard (I like the ring-verse-in-black-speech choir, as well as the ambiguous/threatening version of the Fellowship theme)
Flight to the Ford (my favourite among the songs which feature the Nazgûl-theme)
A Journey in the Dark / The Bridge of Khazad-dûm (I know it's fake-Khuzdul, but I think it sounds more than well enough / amazing atmosphere)
Amon Hen (I really like that small "Temptation of the Ring" motif at the beginning and how it develops. Personally, I happen to prefer the "Death of Boromir" music at the end to "The Breaking of the Fellowship" (I can't stand "In Dreams"))

Foundations of Stone
The Riders of Rohan, The King of the Golden Hall, Helm's Deep, Forth Eorlingas (I just love the Rohan theme. Of all leitmotifs used in the
Soundtrack, it's the one which goes through the most variations, I think.)
Evenstar (I have no idea why they use Old English for the songs about Arwen, but the atmosphere it conveys is very nice)
Isengard Unleashed (best song featuring Isengard theme, brilliant ending)

Hope and Memory (one of the shortest songs, but a little gem, I think)
Minas Tirith & The White Tree (of course)
The Ride of the Rohirrim (see above)
Shelob's Lair (it's a little too heavy on the string instruments, but to me, the ending is one of the most powerful parts of the whole Soundtrack)

Actually, I don't like the songs that are actually sung, at least when the language is English (except Gollum's Song). I think I once read somewhere that Gollum's Song was originally intended to be performed by Björk. Does anyone know whether that's true?

The Might · 11-04-2007, 06:35 AM

They first invited Bjork to sing it, but she declined as she was pregnant at the time, and instead they used Emilíana Torrini, also from Iceland I believe.
I like her voice.

I agree with the leitmotifs, sometimes their use doesn't make much sense.

What I however can't do is not think abut the movie when hearing the music. I mean, sometimes yes, but not for example with the White Tree, I always think of the beacons.

Also, I have a question, does anyone know why Requiem for a Dream is not on the soundtrack, I trecall this song having been used for the movie as well.

Nogrod · 11-04-2007, 08:46 AM

I normally tend to be swayed by a bit twisted harmonies - like when a choir or orchestra makes a proggression of beautiful chords with a little modernist dissonance into them.

But with Shore's compositions I seem to have been struck the most with the two quite archaic and moving solo-melodies.

First there is Eowyn's lament on the funeral which kind of let's shivers go through my spine everytime I hear it. There's simple beauty and emotional load in there. Sadly it's only on the extended DVD.

Secondly there is Billy Boyd's self-composed song which Pip sings in front of Denethor while Faramir and his men ran to the futile loss of life.

They're just beautiful!

As a nice sidenote I must say that "the Bridge of Khazad-Dûm" has an interesting kick to us Finns as the Maori-choir sings there repeatedly "musta-musta-musta" which in Finnish means "black-black-black". It really works!

Nogrod · 11-04-2007, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Might

They first invited Bjork to sing it, but she declined as she was pregnant at the time, and instead they used Emilíana Torrini, also from Iceland I believe.

I think Emilíana Torrini is an Italian singer. I think I heard that sometime and her name certainly isn't Icelandic.

Sauron the White · 11-04-2007, 10:16 AM

I believe that Requiem For a Dream was only used in some of the early trailers before the had the Shore score in place. It also may have been used in the 18 minute Moria promo piece that was shown at Cannes and in some early sample reels for distributors. Requiem is popular as a stand in piece for music not yet written for many other films also.

this from Wikipedia

Quote:

The soundtrack has been widely praised and has subsequently been used in various forms in trailers for other films and series, including The Da Vinci Code, Sunshine, Lost, I am Legend and the video game Assassin's Creed. More specifically, a version of the recurring theme was re-orchestrated for the The Lord of The Rings: The Two Towers film trailer.[2] This version is often known as "Requiem for a Tower". It has also been featured in many other commercials and trailers, and as remixes on other artists' albums. For example, psytrance giants G.M.S. are widely known for their mix of the song, titled 'Juice by GMS'. Lil' Jon's track, "Throw It Up", sounds very similar to the song for this movie. Many blame him for stealing or copying.

Folwren · 11-04-2007, 10:20 AM

O-oh! Nogrod! If you know some of the words in The Bridge of Khazad-Dum, what's Hugosanogi mean? My older brother named his frisbee (disk, whate'er you want to call it) that and he practically mourned when he lost it in one of the Great Lakes.

You can probably find Requiem for a Tower on youtube someplace.

-- Folwren

William Cloud Hicklin · 11-04-2007, 10:20 AM

Emilíana Torrini Davíðsdóttir is indeed Icelandic, of Italian extraction.

11-02-2007, 05:52 AM	#1
The Might Guard of the Citadel Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Oxon Posts: 2,205	Oh, it seems it's been too long since I last saw the movies. __________________ “The invisible and the non-existent look very much alike.” Delos B. McKown

11-02-2007, 09:56 AM	#2
Folwren Messenger of Hope Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a tiny, insignificant little town in one of the many States. Posts: 5,076	No, no. I was thinking of the first RotK track. It's called A Storm is Coming, now that I look at it. I don't remember the song Foundations of Stone very well. That's when Gandalf and the Balrog fight, yes? Can't stay longer to comment. -- Foley __________________ A young man who wishes to remain a sound atheist cannot be too careful of his reading. - C.S. Lewis

11-04-2007, 06:35 AM	#4
The Might Guard of the Citadel Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Oxon Posts: 2,205	They first invited Bjork to sing it, but she declined as she was pregnant at the time, and instead they used Emilíana Torrini, also from Iceland I believe. I like her voice. I agree with the leitmotifs, sometimes their use doesn't make much sense. What I however can't do is not think abut the movie when hearing the music. I mean, sometimes yes, but not for example with the White Tree, I always think of the beacons. Also, I have a question, does anyone know why Requiem for a Dream is not on the soundtrack, I trecall this song having been used for the movie as well. __________________ “The invisible and the non-existent look very much alike.” Delos B. McKown

11-04-2007, 08:46 AM	#5
Nogrod Flame of the Ainulindalë Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Wearing rat's coat, crowskin, crossed staves in a field behaving as the wind behaves Posts: 9,308	I normally tend to be swayed by a bit twisted harmonies - like when a choir or orchestra makes a proggression of beautiful chords with a little modernist dissonance into them. But with Shore's compositions I seem to have been struck the most with the two quite archaic and moving solo-melodies. First there is Eowyn's lament on the funeral which kind of let's shivers go through my spine everytime I hear it. There's simple beauty and emotional load in there. Sadly it's only on the extended DVD. Secondly there is Billy Boyd's self-composed song which Pip sings in front of Denethor while Faramir and his men ran to the futile loss of life. They're just beautiful! As a nice sidenote I must say that "the Bridge of Khazad-Dûm" has an interesting kick to us Finns as the Maori-choir sings there repeatedly "musta-musta-musta" which in Finnish means "black-black-black". It really works! __________________ Upon the hearth the fire is red Beneath the roof there is a bed; But not yet weary are our feet... Last edited by Nogrod; 11-04-2007 at 08:54 AM.

11-04-2007, 10:20 AM	#8
Folwren Messenger of Hope Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a tiny, insignificant little town in one of the many States. Posts: 5,076	O-oh! Nogrod! If you know some of the words in The Bridge of Khazad-Dum, what's Hugosanogi mean? My older brother named his frisbee (disk, whate'er you want to call it) that and he practically mourned when he lost it in one of the Great Lakes. You can probably find Requiem for a Tower on youtube someplace. -- Folwren __________________ A young man who wishes to remain a sound atheist cannot be too careful of his reading. - C.S. Lewis

11-03-2007, 12:49 PM	#3
Macalaure Fading Fëanorion Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: into the flood again Posts: 2,911	What I especially like about the Soundtrack is, that, while you know which song was featured during what scene, you don't necessarily need to connect the music with the actual pictures from the movie. You can just lean back and listen and have your own ideas in your mind at the same time. In the case of tracks which were used in scenes not from the book, I now even connect them with different passages. When listening to "The White Tree", for example, I now imagine the arrival of the Knights of Dol Amroth in Minas Tirith. The mixing of the leitmotifs is sometimes done very well, sometimes not so much. In "Isengard Unleashed", I think, it makes sense to combine the two themes (the Elf theme at the beginning, of course, makes no sense) because in the story Isengard and Fangorn 'meet', so the themes should do so as well. But then there are also songs like "A Knife in the Dark", where the Nazgûl theme suddenly goes over into the Isengard theme, but for no reason at all. My favourites are Concerning Hobbits (of course) The Shadow of the Past (this track gives me shudders) The Treason of Isengard (I like the ring-verse-in-black-speech choir, as well as the ambiguous/threatening version of the Fellowship theme) Flight to the Ford (my favourite among the songs which feature the Nazgûl-theme) A Journey in the Dark / The Bridge of Khazad-dûm (I know it's fake-Khuzdul, but I think it sounds more than well enough / amazing atmosphere) Amon Hen (I really like that small "Temptation of the Ring" motif at the beginning and how it develops. Personally, I happen to prefer the "Death of Boromir" music at the end to "The Breaking of the Fellowship" (I can't stand "In Dreams")) Foundations of Stone The Riders of Rohan, The King of the Golden Hall, Helm's Deep, Forth Eorlingas (I just love the Rohan theme. Of all leitmotifs used in the Soundtrack, it's the one which goes through the most variations, I think.) Evenstar (I have no idea why they use Old English for the songs about Arwen, but the atmosphere it conveys is very nice) Isengard Unleashed (best song featuring Isengard theme, brilliant ending) Hope and Memory (one of the shortest songs, but a little gem, I think) Minas Tirith & The White Tree (of course) The Ride of the Rohirrim (see above) Shelob's Lair (it's a little too heavy on the string instruments, but to me, the ending is one of the most powerful parts of the whole Soundtrack) Actually, I don't like the songs that are actually sung, at least when the language is English (except Gollum's Song). I think I once read somewhere that Gollum's Song was originally intended to be performed by Björk. Does anyone know whether that's true?

11-04-2007, 10:20 AM	#9
William Cloud Hicklin Loremaster of Annúminas Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 2,330	Emilíana Torrini Davíðsdóttir is indeed Icelandic, of Italian extraction. __________________ The entire plot of The Lord of the Rings could be said to turn on what Sauron didn’t know, and when he didn’t know it.