[Album Review] The Fellowship of the Ring by Howard Shore - Soundtrack

[Krakalakachkn]

                                                                            The Fellowship of the Ring

                                                                                            Released: 2001

                                                                 

 

 

Track Listings:  (Rated in Pink)

1. The Prophecy  3:55    7

2. Concerning Hobbits  2:55    10

3. The Shadow of the Past  3:32    8

4. The Treason of Isengard  4:00    9

5. The Black Rider  2:48    8.5

6. At the Sign of the Prancing Pony  3:14    8

7. A Knife in the Dark  3:34    9

8. Flight to the Ford  4:14    8.75

9. Many Meetings  3:05    8

10. The Council of Elrond (feat. "Aníron (Theme for Aragorn and Arwen)", composed and performed by Enya) 3:49    7.5

11. The Ring Goes South  2:03    9

12. A Journey in the Dark  4:20    9

13. The Bridge of Khazad-dûm  5:57    10

14. Lothlórien  4:33    7

15. The Great River  2:42    8

16. Amon Hen  5:02    9.5

17. The Breaking of the Fellowship (feat. "In Dreams", composed by Howard Shore, performed by Edward Ross) 7:20    10

18. May It Be (composed and performed by Enya) 4:19    9.5

 

 

Howard Shore is a composer that has a broad and vast resume of scores ranging from Lord of the Rings to Silence of the Lambs.  Before he composed LotR, he was known for his work with dark tones and scores on movies such as The Departed and Se7en.  When Peter Jackson was looking for a composer to score his movie, most expected Hollywood veterans James Horner or John Williams to take the job, but Jackson shocked many when he chose the relatively unappreciated Shore.  Shore had a cult following at the time, but wasn't nearly as well known or as popular as composers like Morricone, Horner, Williams, or Zimmer.  Still, his followers and Jackson knew the right person had been chosen, and this was proved when the movie was released. 

 

I was stunned when I saw the movie; the soundtrack blended to easily and effortlessly with the scenes on the screen - it was like magic.  I immediately went out and bought the cd and probably listened to it close to 10 times that first day.  I would wager a guess that from the purchase to today, I've probably listened to this cd over 200 times in its entirety and listened to individual songs, such as Concerning Hobbits, well over 275 times.

 

My biggest beef with composers like Williams, Zimmer, and Horner is that they don't write new music, they recycle old themes over and over again, adding a few new notes or runs here or there.  Listen to Pirates of the Caribbean and you will notice that at times it sounds exactly like Gladiator (one of Zimmer's earlier scores).  Also, Williams relies on tones a lot, where Shore creates themes and songs.

 

 

Overall Album Rating

Overall, I give this album a big 10/10.  The skill with which Shore crafts this album is untouchable (in my opinion) and every song takes me away to frolic among the fields of Middle Earth.  This cd truly is a masterpiece and will probably forever be my favorite album.

 

 

 

[Jeannaisais]

Points

Krak - 3 x 2 = 6

[Locke]

We're playing Fellowship of the Ring music for band. *smiley*

[Cbinpdx]

The music really is beautiful in this movie. You have convinced me to get the soundtrack.

 

But I love John Williams too!

 

.

[The Bard Babe]

Howard Shore's music for all three Lord of the Rings films is just awe inspiring. He is more than likely my favourite contemp. composer for his amazing work on LotR.

I watched the special features on the extended editions of the films (yeah, I know, I'm a nerd) and there were extended sections on the composition and orchestra work that went into the film. The detail that went into Shore's interpretation was just amazing! The character themes he wrote were subtly interwoven everywhere and the characters' state of mind is shown more through the music than the on the screen. I love in particular pieces like the Council of Elrond, where you can hear the themes of Gondor and the hobbits and a thousand others all mix into one.

 

If you knew the themes well enough, you could hear where they were and which characters were on screen just through the soundtrack, which is rather amazing. :)

[Cbinpdx]

OK, so I went and got the soundtrack! Seriously good stuff! Howard Shore is amazing.

[The Bard Babe]

Good form, good form!

 

There's some mind-blowing stuff in there.

[Cbinpdx]

I would love to see the full score. Maybe UCLA has a copy?

 

Don't know if Krak is still following this thread, but in defense of Williams recycling themes, its a tradition...J.S. Bach did it all the time!

[The Bard Babe]

Oh, didn't he ever! That's why the Bach suites are so bloody hard to memorise! I end up accidentally swapping movements or suites...anyway...

Oh, the full score would be amazing. Can you imagine the size of that thing?

[Cbinpdx]

It must be colossal! I'm guessing there is some analysis in this book:

 

http://www.amazon.com/Music-Lord-Rings-Films-Comprehensive/dp/0739071572

 

"Howard Shore's Academy Award-winning score for The Lord of the Rings has been hailed as among the greatest film music ever written. Sweeping in scope, it is an interpretation of J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth as music --- an operatic tapestry of cultures, histories, languages, and principles. The Music of the Lord of the Rings Films takes the reader on an unprecedented journey into the heart of this history-making opus with extensive music examples, original manuscript scores, a rarities CD, and fascinating glimpses into the creative process from the composer himself. Includes Exclusive Rarities CD of unreleased LOTR music Color stills from the films. Like the Lord of the Rings story itself, this book is a journey. Adams makes us hear the music, feel the tension or hope or despair through impassioned narrative and a rich musical vocabulary. -Blogcritics ...Could easily be one of the most significant and important books ever written on the analysis of a film score.... a masterwork. -Aint It Cool News An impressive literary debut that will thrill both Rings and soundtrack fans... as meticulous as it is entertaining. -FIlm Music Magazine Compellingly readable... nothing short of masterful. -DauntlessMedia A monumental feat, a superb resource, and above all, a very enjoyable read. -TrackSounds"

 

The book is also featured on the Howard Shore website:

 

http://howardshore.com/

 

 

I might just get the Piano folio at some point. The LOTR Symphony in Six Movements is likely available for rent to orchestras.

[The Bard Babe]

Ooh, I might try to find that Jani.

 

I desperately want to play the Lord of the Rings symphony. XD

That would be soooo much fun!

[Tiinker]

How is "May it be" anything other than a 10?!

 

I love this album.. You can actually hitch the entire symphony off youtube. Which scores were you guys looking for? Violin? Piano? I've got the entire piano collection and could scan a few songs if that's what we're talkin about

[Nyanna al'Meara]

Loooooove LotR soundtracks...

 

How is "May it be" anything other than a 10?!

 

I love this album.. You can actually hitch the entire symphony off youtube. Which scores were you guys looking for? Violin? Piano? I've got the entire piano collection and could scan a few songs if that's what we're talkin about

YES PLEEEEEASE >.> If that isn't considered illegal or summat.

If not, do you have violin too? My masony brother plays teh violin (stood on the roof playing the King of the Golden Hall once, sounded awesome. A forest clearing has amazing acoustics ) And I could play violiny melodies on the guitar too...

 

Especially May It Be. I love singing that. <3 Enya

[Krakalakachkn]

I would love to see the full score. Maybe UCLA has a copy?

 

Don't know if Krak is still following this thread, but in defense of Williams recycling themes, its a tradition...J.S. Bach did it all the time!

[Krakalakachkn]

I just mentioned it to mark Shore's excellence.

 

I do believe that composers fall in love with certain themes and reuse them too often, and sometimes I just find that lazy. Zimmerman in particular.

[The Bard Babe]

Hans Zimmer does re-use themes allllllll the time. I used to hate it, but now it amuses me, it's like a shout out to himself in every soundtrack. He he he...

I'm going to see a viewing of Fellowship of the Ring without audio, but with a live orchestra. It's going to be amazing!!!

[Krakalakachkn]

Jealous.

[Tiinker]

Jealous.

[The Bard Babe]

XD

 

He he he, don't worry, I'll write a gig review on it, it'll be like you were there. :)