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: Oscar Winning Conclusion to a Remarkable music Trilogy
Hit: 5 Stars
After hearing Howard Shore's stunning conclusion to Perter Jackson's epic Lord of the Rings trilogy, I can only state one thing: Excellent. Excellent doesn't really do justice to the magnificence of Shore's work. Like another classic trilogy score (Williams from Return of the Jedi), Shore presents a much more mature version of work. All our favorite themes are there: The Fellowship theme has now evolved into a wistful yet powerful fanfare for Aragorn. The Shire theme makes a return as does the Hobbit theme, both played magnificently by James Galway. Also returning is the Mordor theme, it's menacing notes now grown into a malevolent force. The Rohan theme also makes a brief reappearance, while the elvish theme comes to a full circle, representing Aragorn as he gets his sword in the track Andruil. The beginning of the cd is much more playful than that of the Two Towers, but it swiftly transforms into a majestic fanfare for Minas Tirith and Gondor which is among the greatest moments on the cd. Once again Enya does not sing on this cd, but in a suprisingly powerful decision, Billy Boyd aka Pippin does appear, singing briefly for Lord Denethor, capturing the rift between the Steward and Faramir. In track 17, The Return of the King, Shore takes a listener on a journey of all his developed themes for our heroes. Absent from this cd is Sauruman's theme, the reason being because he is defeated in the Two Towers. Also absent is the treeish theme for the Ents and Treebeard, but the absence of these themes is not at all detrimental to the cd. As for Oscar-winning the song at the end by Annie Lennox, it is a vast improvement over Gollum's song, and captures triumph and tragedy of the conclusion of the Lord of the Rings.Free Music Review: Return of the King Best in Months!
Hit: 5 Stars
I can't say enough about this CD! It is just great. I am 15, yet I can actually listen to the whole CD and imagine the movie scenes. Each song is filled with depth and heart and is truly spectacular!1. A Storm Is Coming - Great beginning song, just throws you into this great CD. 4/5
2. Hope and Memory - GREAT SONG!!!! 4.5/5
3. Minas Tirith - Took me a little while to like it, but now I love it. 4/5
4. The White Tree - This song is very good, but you have to listen to it along with the next song. 4/5
5. The Steward of Gondor - Great song. Billy Boyd (Pippin) has a great voice, and he should make a CD. 5/5
6. Minas Morgul - spooky, great Mordor theme. 5/5
7. The Ride of the Rohirrim - great song. 5/5
8-10. Great songs which need to be listened to as one whole thing. 5/5
11. Shelob's Lair - perhaps one of the best songs on here. The last part where the whole orchastra plays the same part is EXCELLENT! 6/5 (that good!)
12-14. Another grouping of song that need to be listened to as one big song, as they basically are. Great songs. 4.5/5
15. The Black Gate Opens - BEST SONG on the whole album. Great flute (some instrument) solo. This solo gives you hope when you picture it being used in the film. GREAT !! 5/5
16. The End of All Things - Great song again! 5/5
17. Return of the King - the song that made me want to buy it. A very long song but well worth the listen. Viggo is great too! 5/5
18-19. Both should be listened as one big song. Both work together and compliment each other. Into the West is a great haunting song that will make you cry. 5/5
Whole album is great and I encourage all to listen to it, then see the movie!
Free Music Review: "I can't carry the ring, BUT I CAN CARRY YOU!!!"
Hit: 5 Stars
When I'm studying or working I usually like to put some background instrumental music on. This is not that music. This album commands your full attention from beginning to end. It is a story in itself- frightening, dramatic, triumphant, and above all, incredibly emotional. One of the most remarkle tracks is "Shelob's Lair." Most of the song is loud and dissonant- the kind of music that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up, as it should. However, at the end of the song, it breaks into this absolutely stunning and beautiful denouement that still somehow communicates all the fear and despair in the accompanying scene. I have never heard such a successful combination of beauty and fear. I don't know how Howard Shore did it, but it's amazing.
The triumphant and heart-tugging Gondor theme prevails on many tracks while themes from "Into the West" become more prevalent towards the end. The first dozen or so songs work together to drive the music into the climax where one can't help but hear Sam cry, "I can carry you!" Wow. The last songs of the album succeed in conveying the bittersweet peace that Frodo and the remaining Fellowship members feel at the end of the tale.
One improvement in this album over the preceding two is the inclusion of the singing that is in the film. When Billy Boyd starts singing, I have to stop everything I'm doing and just listen.
I find that I can't listen to this album often because it makes me too emotional. However, this is only a testament to its quality. It is a beautiful, engaging, and moving soundtrack for what I consider to be the best movie ever made.
Free Music Review: A Splendid Conclusion
Hit: 5 Stars
The Return of the King soundtrack is a splendid conclusion to the magnificent music which has so enhanced Peter Jackson's movies. It is also worthy of J.R.R. Tolkien's books themselves, than which there can be no higher praise. There are echoes of the scores from The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers throughout this soundtrack, but there is also much new material which is just as beautiful. The first few tracks begin rather softly, which seems odd until you remember that much of the first sections of this movie will inevitably have to retrace some ground. I found Minas Tirith and The White Tree suitably majestic and evocative of the great City of the Kings of Men. The Steward of Gondor has an appropriately martial air, but a nice solo by Billy Boyd adds extra depth at the end. Cirith Ungol and Shelob's Lair have a nice creepy, tense tone. The battle music is among the most stirring I have ever heard.
The most beautiful track is Anduril, which reminds me of the beautiful elven music for Rivendell and Lorien in The Fellowship of the Ring. Probably the most evocative track is The Return of the King, which has numerous echoes from the other movies, including the Concerning Hobbits track from the Fellowship of the Ring, interestingly enough, and includes a short solo by Viggo Morgensen singing Elendil's Coronation Oath.
I have been a Tolkien enthusiast for over thirty years (since I was twelve) and while no movie can ever hope to fully capture the true magic of Middle earth, Peter Jackson's films and their music by Howard Shore are the closest we on these shores can hope to see, hear, and feel of that world.
Free Music Review: A perfect finish
Hit: 5 Stars
The Return of the King soundtrack is truly the perfect finish to this wonderful trilogy. It differs from the first two soundtracks in that there is no single outstanding theme - until the final track.Where Fellowship had 'The Bridge of Khazad Dum ', and Two Towers had 'Forth Eorlingas', much of the music in this third installment seems to be quite neutral in comparison, and a lot is remixing of original themes. However, this is not to say that there are not highlights in the music.
The fifth track, 'The Steward of Gondor', features the almost angelic vocal talents of Billy Boyd who sings a very sad and mournful theme. We are also treated to a short rendition from Viggo Mortensen in track 17, 'The Return of the King'.
The absolute highlight of the CD, however, would have to be the final track, 'Into the West' by Annie Lennox.
Put into context with the feature songs of the two previous soundtracks, 'Into the West' really does finish it off beautifully.
'May It Be' (sung by Enya for Fellowship) was a song full of bittersweet hope. 'Gollum's Song' (The Two Towers) was all about betrayal and despair. 'Into the West' marks the end of the long journey, the renewal of life and hope, and the end of all grief and pain.
The words are poignant:
'What can you see on the horizon?
Why do the white gulls call?
Across the sea a pale moon rises,
The ships have come to carry you home.'
This is the end of Frodo's journey, and he finally has the chance to find peace for himself. The music matches the mood perfectly, and is the most fitting end to this brilliant trilogy of music.