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[WyndhamPrice]

I have recently been on my semi-regular LOTR kicks (being my favorite book/film/country western band) and part of that has been the consumption of the amazing Complete Recordings editions of the film soundtracks. They're so good you'd almost feel like someone just cut out the video and dialogue from the movies (the ROTK complete recordings alone is 50 something tracks). Plus, they include material that was either only in the EEs or totally cut.

Anyway, I truly believe that Howard Shore's work on the movies is on a level that few others have reached in terms of film score composition. I know that others here feel the same way and I thought we could all start a big ol' circle jerk around one of the best film scores ever.

Personal favorites for me include:

Prologue - One Ring to Rule Them All - I get chills every time. So ethereal, sets the tone for what's to follow so well

Concerning Hobbits

The Lighting of the Beacons - There's a much longer version of this on the ROTK Complete Recordings, so unbelieveably epic.

 

[Discotheque]

Yes. Thread of the forever.

Breaking of the Fellowship

Not only one of the best scenes of the trilogy, but also accompanied by one of the best tracks. I especially like the more 'hopeful' rise at 3:40 onwards

Minas Tirith

2:32 onwards is the most epic motivator ever.

And probably the best track in the whole trilogy:

Forth Eorlingas

 

[Bentendo]

The soundtrack is seriously genius. I have about seven songs on my iPod. I don't remember the names, so I'll try to describe them :lol.

1. Concerning hobbits (remember that name because you listed it)
2. The ending to the second film
3. The ending to the third film
4. The one that plays around the part where the ents go to battle (epic!)
5. The one that's sort of like the main theme in the first one.

I don't remember the other two. :lol

 

[brandonh83]

Evenstar. Holy fuck.

 

[Lkr]

the main theme basically where it goes

DUNNNNNN DUNNN DUNNNNA DA NAAAAA

 

[PhoncipleBone]

Kazad Dum ( spelling?) Balrog chanting ftw
Foundations of Stone, again with the Balrog
The Fields of Pellenor, specifically the charge of the Rohirrim.

And hearing most of this live at the symphony conducted by Shore years ago was amazing. I was about fifty feet from the man during it.

 

[Discotheque]

The Fields of Pellenor, specifically the charge of the Rohirrim.

Yeah I really like that one a lot too.

 

[brandonh83]

The cue at 2:56 of The Crack of Doom, by far one of the best cues in the entire trilogy.

 

[Lkr]

ah yes, the fields of pelennor is a great one too. i didn't know the name until now:lol

 

[WyndhamPrice]

I also really like the theme of Rohan a whole lot despite TTT being my least favorite film in the trilogy.

Although I guess for me that's like saying it's my least favorite supermodel to sleep with.

 

[Salmonax]

I've been watching the Extended Editions for so long, I didn't realize there's no music when Gandalf is singing at the beginning of the theatrical version of FOTR. Just a random observation.

 

[PhoncipleBone]

ah yes, the fields of pelennor is a great one too. i didn't know the name until now:lol

That entire sequence in ROTK is my favorite part of the entire trilogy. The arrival of the Rohirrim, Theoden's bad ass speech, then the subsequent mowing over of orcs. And all with that awesome music build up.

 

[Lkr]

what is the name of the piece with the main arc in the music?

 

[Hasphat'sAnts]

My favorite moment in Lord of the Rings was definitely Gandalf lighting up those endless columns in Moria. Breathtaking vista and score.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ttCJ6uQN_Q#t=02m15s

 

[WyndhamPrice]

I've been watching the Extended Editions for so long, I didn't realize there's no music when Gandalf is singing at the beginning of the theatrical version of FOTR. Just a random observation.

Oh yeah, it's a nice touch that they lifted that poem out of the books and put it on screen that way. You can hear it really clearly on those complete editions I was talking about. The song is called "The Road Goes Ever On and On," and is rolled into a track called "Bag End" in the score.

what is the name of the piece with the main arc in the music?

Do you mean the big "Fellowship walks over a hill" theme? I'm not sure what it's specifically called, as it shows up all over the place in FOTR in bits and pieces, but the big moment where it comes together starts at 3:50 of Gilraen's Memorial on the FOTR CR.

 

[Stinkles]

Concerning Hobbits is one of the most brilliantly conceived and executed pieces of character-specific music ever. It captures their essence before you ever set eyes on one. They're prissy, funny, tiny and with just a hint of adventurousness and melancholy.

 

[ntropy]

the ring of power leitmotif and the beacons lighting up in RotK

 

[Branduil]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCVG9SeMqHA

 

[SCULLIBUNDO]

Breaking of the Fellowship is one of the most stirring scores ever.

 

[Chairman Yang]

For actiony music, the beginning sequence of The Bridge of Khazad Dum.

For spine-chilling badassery, the music that plays when Aragorn faces the huge mass of Uruk-Hai for the first time. It's called Amon Hen.

A cool melancholy song: The Steward of Gondor

 

[TheThunder]

Some of my favorites

The Fields of the Pelennor
The Black Rider
The Bridge Of Khazad Dum
The Breaking Of The Fellowship

LOTR soundtrack is easily THE best soundtrack of anything out there movie, video game ... etc

The movies were truly an amazing experience that were helped greatly by an amazing soundtrack.

 

[Monocle]

All hail Howard Shore's masterwork, the best film score ever made.

And probably the best track in the whole trilogy:

Forth Eorlingas

Thread won.

 

[JB1981]

I have recently been on my semi-regular LOTR kicks (being my favorite book/film/country western band) and part of that has been the consumption of the amazing Complete Recordings editions of the film soundtracks. They're so good you'd almost feel like someone just cut out the video and dialogue from the movies (the ROTK complete recordings alone is 50 something tracks). Plus, they include material that was either only in the EEs or totally cut.

Anyway, I truly believe that Howard Shore's work on the movies is on a level that few others have reached in terms of film score composition. I know that others here feel the same way and I thought we could all start a big ol' circle jerk around one of the best film scores ever.

Personal favorites for me include:

Prologue - One Ring to Rule Them All - I get chills every time. So ethereal, sets the tone for what's to follow so well

Concerning Hobbits

The Lighting of the Beacons - There's a much longer version of this on the ROTK Complete Recordings, so unbelieveably epic.

Yes. Seriously.

 

[BowieZ]

All hail Howard Shore's masterwork, the best film score ever made.

:lol

 

[dark_chris]

The Bridge Of Khazad Dum

My favorite. =)

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Breaking of the Fellowship is by far my favorite, especially when the chorus starts. Those kids have absolutely amazing voices.

Another favorite that wasn't mentioned yet is Samwise the Brave. It's a really stirring piece at an emotional point in the film.

 

[Dead]

The End of All Things

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MWxAAQoNiw

One of the most epic piece of film music of all time

at 3:51

The single greatest moment of music in the entire trilogy.

 

[RyanDG]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jY9dQ8hUi7U

Pippin's song to the Steward of Gondor. This part makes me a blubbering idiot. The juxtaposition of the Steward's eating and the scene of Faramir's charge is just too much.

Edit for the right hobbit.

 

[civilstrife]

I really like the song that goes:
daaa daaa da da dum! da da daaaa da da daaaa da da daaaa da da daaa daaa da da dum! da da daaa da da daaa da da DAAAAAA!!!

 

[ahoyhoy]

Bridge of Kazadum. Nuf said.

 

[Lion Heart]

You guys are killing me. Im dying to watch the bluray trilogy I bought but I'm waiting for my new tv which I wont have for a few months

 

[Stinkles]

I really like the song that goes:
daaa daaa da da dum! da da daaaa da da daaaa da da daaaa da da daaa daaa da da dum! da da daaa da da daaa da da DAAAAAA!!!

Am I the only one who played it back in his head to make sure?

 

[Monocle]

:lol

Compelling counterpoint. Your third example was especially persuasive.

 

[SCULLIBUNDO]

Am I the only one who played it back in his head to make sure?

No.

 

[BowieZ]

Compelling counterpoint. Your third example was especially persuasive.

I apologize. I was more so laughing at the "All hail" wording. But yeah, I hate this score. It just feels really "thin" to me, and I can't quite explain why -- and we can't discuss that in here ;-)

 

[j_k_redtail]

I also really like the theme of Rohan a whole lot despite TTT being my least favorite film in the trilogy.

Although I guess for me that's like saying it's my least favorite supermodel to sleep with.

Is there a particular version you really like? If you're thinking of the tune I'm thinking of, it comes up in several tracks.

 

[SCULLIBUNDO]

I apologize. I was more so laughing at the "All hail" wording. But yeah, I hate this score. It just feels really "thin" to me, and I can't quite explain why -- and we can't discuss that in here ;-)

SHOTS FIRED!

 

[Monocle]

I apologize. I was more so laughing at the "All hail" wording. But yeah, I hate this score. It just feels really "thin" to me, and I can't quite explain why -- and we can't discuss that in here ;-)

Fair enough. I meant for my phrasing to seem a bit campy. I can't agree with your opinion of the score, of course. I think its quality is outside the realm of personal opinion because it has all the features popular consensus associates with fine art. I can go into more detail if necessary, but I'd hate to derail a thread that celebrates something I love just to prove a point.

 

[BertramCooper]

I'm a big fan of the Minas Morgul theme.

Very epic and sinister. Made for a very creepy and surreal scene.

 

[Fun Factor]

All hail Howard Shore's masterwork, the best film score ever made.

Not even close.

 

[Veidt]

Don't forget Gollum's Song : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkXbzffVl44

Her voice..angelic.

 

[Spire]

It's pretty damn great, up there with Bernard Herrmann's Taxi Driver score as one of my favorites. I have all of the Complete Recordings and I put it sometimes when I write. It just takes me to a certain place, you can get lost in it. Howard Shore is a god.

 

[_Isaac]

I really like the song that goes:
daaa daaa da da dum! da da daaaa da da daaaa da da daaaa da da daaa daaa da da dum! da da daaa da da daaa da da DAAAAAA!!!

I actually think I know which one you're talking about. I like that one too, but I have no idea what it's called.

 

[Clydefrog]

LOTR soundtracks were my mainstay for "studying music" in college... well, that and Pink Floyd. As well as a whole a bunch of classical music.

 

[Snuggles]

I love the LOTR soundtrack, I used to listen to it while falling asleep.

"The End of Things"
Epic.

"Twilight and Shadow"
I love this one, it's so ethereal.

"Breaking of the Fellowship"
Gives me the chills. Oh god when the flute kicks in...I'm about to cry.

So this thread just inspired me to put the LOTR blu rays at the top of my queue. I forgot how much I loved this music, thanks duder.

 

[MisterHero]

My favorites are when Narcil is being reforged and when the beacons are being lit

why yes, RotK is my favorite of the three

 

[GDGF]

I forgot how much I loved the music to these movies. I've got the complete soundtrack playing right now.

(concerning hobbits, btw)

 

[Monocle]

Not even close.

Whoa, deja vu! It's almost like this is the second time in an hour that someone's attacked my post without daring to name even a single score they think is better than LOTR's.

 

[Snuggles]

Oh and my favorite:

"The Council of Elrond"

 

[_Isaac]

My favorites are when Narcil is being reforged and when the beacons are being lit

why yes, RotK is my favorite of the three

I love this part. The loud booming music and the landscapes were just way too much epicness in such a short amount of time. My eyes were watering.