Annie Lennox, Howard Shore - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
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Free Music Notes for The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Free Music Review: Not the best of the three,but that can`t put it to shame
Hit: 5 Stars
The first time I listened to this CD I was a little dissapointed. I was looking forward so much to having more Lord of the Rings score to listen to because I have listened to the other two soundtracks so much I`m getting tired of them. At first all of the tracks seemed unclimactic and short, but this could just be because it was 11:00 at night after I had gone to see the movie and I possibly wasn`t paying the closest attention. But now with multiple listens the music is really growing on me and I really can`t go without listening to it for a while.The tracks that I did love from the very first listen were the early cues containing the Gondor theme. Tying with the theme of the fellowship, that is probably my favorite Lord of the Rings theme (out of almost fifteen, if you`ve counted). Combined with visuals in the mind of the beautiful white city of Minas Tirith, tracks like "The White Tree" are absolutely breathtaking to listen to.
There are other tracks that have simple beauty and sadness like "Hope and Memory" and "The Steward of Gondor", though I will not babble about that one because I`m sick of people rating this soundtrack high just because Billy Boyd sings on it. Watch the movies if you just like Billy Boyd. Buy this CD for the music.
There are a couple complaints I do have about this soundtrack. There are a couple extremely noticeable moments in the movie soundtrack that are not on the CD. During the battle in front of the black gate and Frodo and Sam`s climb up Mount Doom there is a most powerful version of the fellowship theme which is accompanied by a loud choir, which has never been done before with that theme and which sounds amazing. I can`t even fathom how they would leave something like that out in the editing process.
I also enjoyed Renee Fleming`s parts on this score, but thought she was a little overused. In the previous soundtracks there were certain voices associated with different themes and situations, but Fleming sings practically every solo part. It gives an individual personality to this film, but destroys the variety of voices. I would rather that Howard Shore had brought back other unique vocalists like Isabel Bayrakdarian. But at least there`s still good old Ben del Maestro, a remarkable boy soprano singer who has "appeared" on both of the other soundtracks.
And "Into the West" also takes a couple listenings, but is a beautifully composed song. The lyrics, in addition to being about the gray havens, can even express an optimistic view of death. I think this is the best of the three songs of the trilogy. I thought Enya`s song was very weak with background instrumentals and "Gollum`s Song" was kind of corny, though a good melody. "Into the West" is a very moving and memorable song.
Free Music Review: Too incredible for words
Hit: 5 Stars
This soundrack is one of the most beautiful I've ever heard, and it fits perfectly for the movie. My favorites are:
2) This song has an exciting and nice tune to it, where Gandalf and Pippin are about to ride off to Gondor.
3) Exciting beat and I love the soloist that comes in right in the middle of the song, where Gandalf rides out on Shadowfax to the soldiers of Gondor and drives away the Nazgul with that beam of light from his staff.
4) WOW! Talk about a wake-up call! I love this track because it builds up and builds up as Pippin lights the beacon and then comes crashing down as the beacons are lit across the mountain landscape, one by one.
5) This song is so sad, and I especially love Billy Boyd's solo on this track, even though it's a very somber,thoughtful song, he did such a beautiful job with it that it may well move you to tears.
6) Sort of a sci-fi horror tune to this, but very exciting and gut-wrenching, where Frodo, Sam and Gollum get to the gate of Minas Morgul.
7) I love the violins in this one with Rohan's theme song. It makes you feel as if you're out there riding to war with the Rohirrim.
11) ANother sci-fi tune, like #6 but I like this one better.
13) PELENNOR ! I like this one too, it makes you feel like even though most of the riders are riding to their doom, there is still a glimmer of light even in the darkest of places.
15) The final desperate march on the gate , and still the warriors ride on trying to give hope to their friends in the midst of a hopeless situation. You can hear a bit of the tune from Into the West at the end of this one.
16) I like the choir, even though it's VERY loud !
17) A peaceful and triumphant song, as you finally see the members of the fellowsip after the quest is completed. Viggo Mortensen did a nice job with his solo in this one, his voice has a sort of calming effect to it.
18) A sad, emotional and beautiful song as Frodo leaves Middle Earth forever on the ship to the undying lands.
19) Simply beautiful and heartwrenching. Annie Lennox definitely knows how to mave an audience to tears. The lyrics describe what I think that the Undying Lands or Heaven must be like, quiet and peaceful, without fear or sadness, and you really get the feeling that these words are coming from the lady Galadriel.
A beautiful soundtrack is what it all comes down to and any LOTR fan or even just a fan of stunning orchestra music should buy this. (and if you DON'T love it, then you are completely CRAZY I cannot emphasize that enough !)
Free Music Review: An excellent score but not as good as FELLOWSHIP
Hit: 5 Stars
Waiting to listen to the Return of the King was like waiting to go to the dentist. I couldn't wait to get it over with, but at the same time i just hoped and prayed it was going to be satisying. The first two scores - especially the first one - really did show how the art of film scoring exceeds beyong any other art. The first score was fantastic, the second a rather heavily influenced score from the previous, but the third was quite a suprising one. What made me go "umm..." was the use of themes that Score embedded into the score. He uses the main themes that he set up before sparingly and rarely uses the Rohan theme at all (but that's only on the album, the film might show otherwise)which was quite suprising. Shore uses these themes and emulates them in different forms. For example he uses the main hobbit hymn in a slightly different arrangement - not bad, but maybe a little too experimental for this score. The themes he sets up for the film alone are quite amazing. The battle themes though are simply amazing, the best i've heard as of late. Shore manages to weave in and out subtle hints of themes in the battle scenes which in turn make the tracks very dramatic. He is able to use the orchestra and the brass especially to really brutalise the battle sequences which is something i haven't heard since GLADIATOR by Hans Zimmer.
Shore really does manage to get your heart pounding whilst listening to the score. The track SHELOB'S LAIR is a stunner and by the looks of it, the scene in the film is going to be one hell of a showstopper - and that's just listening to the background music!
I was very impressed with the score as a whole and i am glad that Shore finishes off in style. As a score alone, it excels and i would strongly recommend it for this Christmas. When comparing this to the other two, i felt it was slightly better than the TWO TOWERS because Shore has tied up all the loose bits of string beautifully. In regards to the first score, it just simply doesn't hit the mark. The FELLOWSHIP was a fantastic score and it will remain a fantastic one, but i felt that RETURN OF THE KING wasn't as good as the FELLOWSHIP. Shore has made a decent attempt at outdoing the first one but i felt that the first one was a stunner.
I was suprised yet glad at this score. It wasn't a score i was expecting which, in a way, distinguishes this one from the other previous scores, but i was happy with it. It's a great listen and after hearing Annie Lenox's song you'll be dying to see the movie!
I strongly recommend this score to you.
Free Music Review: A masterpiece in every sense of the word!
Hit: 5 Stars
Of the three soundtracks, this is the one that I love the most. All of our favorite themes are represented.A Storm is Coming-a wonderful display of the theme for the Ring. Got to love the silly "hobbitish" interlude.
Hope and Memory-Prokeffiev all the way! I love the part that is in 3/4 meter. A beautiful melody!
Minas Tirith-now it's all about the theme for Gondor. A slow intro leads to one of the most heroic statements of this theme on the album.
The White Tree-Yeah! Low brass finally get the theme! This is the best version of the Gondorian theme on the whole CD!
The Steward of Gondor-Perhaps the most modernistic piece on the album. Pretty flute solo followed by a nice solo by Billy Boyd.
Minas Morgul-one of the most fun pieces to listen to on the CD! Cool version of the Sauron/Orc theme followed by a quotation of the Mass for the Dead.
The Ride of the Rohirrim-all about the Rohan theme. The beginning rythym is transformed again and again, with particularly nice solos from the Norweigan fiddle. A nice pan flute solo and a heroic end!
Twilight and Shadow-georgeous solo by Renee Fleming. Beautiful writing for the strings.
Cirith Ungol-nice oboe solo. Good version of the Sauron theme.
Anduril-Elvish motive is beautiful! The choir writing adds an atmosphere of mystery.
Shelob's Lair-one of the most bombastic pieces for orchestra ever written! The creepy tingling effect achieved is truly awe-inspiring.
Ash and Smoke-nice effect with the boy's choir. Only part I can play on a violin because it's the only part where you are allowed to play out of tune!
The Fields of Pellenor-nice drum parts. I love the triple tounging near the end!
Hope fails-quiet opening. Love the dramatic organ effect near the end.
The Black Gate Opens-nice opening before one of the best statements of the fellowship theme ever. The flute solos bring tears to your eyes, as does the quotation of Into the West at the end.
The End of all things-amazing choral writing, with nice solos from Renee Fleming.
The Return of the King-the longest cue. Most of the major themes are played, ending with the capracious hobbit theme.
The Grey Havens-GEORGEOUS!!!!! Nice "small orchestra" with the most beautiful and wistful choral effects on the album. The ending Into the West quotations brings me chills.
Into the West-You gotta love Annie Lennox! Her far carrying voice is perfectly suited to this melody of the beautiful piece. The orchestral ending is georgeous, reminding you Silmarillion fans of Valinor.
Free Music Review: Howard Shore's "Ring" Comes Full Circle
Hit: 5 Stars
There was a time, not long ago, when film scores existed only in limited form on LPs that were misnamed for they contained only reprsentative parts of the music for a film. Today, the CD has eased that problem to a certain extent. Still, many soudtrack albums are unable to present a full musical score, unless of course they are offered in multi-disc sets, which is not a bad idea. The bad news about Howard Shore's soundtrack recording for "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" is that like the previous "Ring" CDs it is hardly the full score. The problem here has been further complicated by the fact that Shore has added new music to the earlier films that has yet to appear in any recording. The absence, so far, of a full recording is sadder yet because it is a phenomenal, film and musical triumph. Howard Shore has done something that no other film composer has ever done. He has devoted his full focuse to a single film production that has spanned over four years...and is yet to be fully completed. No doubt there will be new music for the extended version of "Return of the King." The current soundtrack is wonderful, and the score with the film is even better. Shore brings us through epic batttles, timeless love stories, and to the very edge of doom, and home again to the Shire. By use of themes that have been added to the earlier films, we now see the full scope of Shore's musical vision. The key, new theme in "Return of the King" is the Gondor theme, but it is not really new. It has appeared in the first film during the Council of Elrond and briefly for an added scene for Boromir in the second. It is a grand flourish representing the best elements of the Stewards of Gondor and the new king. In this recording, it appears in several scenes and forms, but is particularly effective in as it underscores the warning fires from Gondor to Edoras. There is so much more to be admired and enjoyed here that it would take a sequal review to complete. If "The Lord of the Rings" is given just due, it will be counted as one of the greatest film projects ever done. Howard Shore's music was no small part of that achievement. It is a masterpiece. Bravo, indeed! The soundtrack album is well produced and nicely packaged by Warner's. But one hopes that soon we will see a multi-disc recording of the full score. It is well worth waiting for.