[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.

[HairOfTheDog]

Well, had I known it would get such a raving review I would have bought it! - I almost did! - Next trip.

[Sam Cree]

"The Lord of the Rings Symphony"

Excuse me for a foolish question. Does it evoke feelings of the English countryside, as does "Variations on a Theme by Thomas Tallis," or even Howard Shore's score?

[HairOfTheDog]

I am thrilled to finally have the whole soundtrack... Love having the Moria music now, which was not on the live feed... love the ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-chugga-chugga-lugga part! and the sweet song that plays when they are exiting Moria after losing Gandalf...