[HairOfTheDog]

Have you guys seen this CD? - Lord of the Rings; Symphonie No. 1 - ~ Johan De Meij (Composer), performed by London Symphony. I saw it today at the record store... It's been out for some time. Wondered if you have heard it/liked it.

Finally bought the soundtrack! Been getting by all this time listening to the live internet stream, which doesn't have everything... About to play it now!

[ecurbh]

YES!! I played The Lord of the Rings Symphony in band in college and very highly recommend it. It wonderfully captures the emotions and characters. The five movements are:

1. Gandalf (starts off a warm noble theme, and transitions into a faster section depicting him galloping along on Shadowfax)
2. Lothlorien (more impressionistic music that then goes to the mirror of Galadriel, where we hear bits of the Gandalf and evil themes)
3. Gollum (two contrasting themes show the conflict between the "Slinker" and "Stinker" elements of the character)
4. A Journey in the Dark (dark plodding music that then becomes very percussive as it depicts the Bridge of Khazad-Dûm, and closes with a melancholy rendition of the Gandalf theme)
5. Hobbits (lively, happy, hobbity music. The movements fades out at the end as the characters are depicted leaving the Gray Havens)

I would recommend this recording, featuring the incomparable U.S. Marine Band.