LOTR: ROTK Soundtrack Features a Special Song by Annie Lennox

Yahoo ^ | 10-28-03 | Press Release / New Line Cinema

[Starbug]

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- The original soundtrack to "The Lord of the Rings: The Return Of The King," the final installment in Peter Jackson's epic "The Lord Of The Rings" trilogy, will be released on Reprise/WMG Soundtracks on November 25. The film opens nationwide on December 17 from New Line Cinema.

With music composed, orchestrated and conducted by Oscar and Grammy Award winner Howard Shore, who composed the scores to the two previous films in the Trilogy, "The Lord of the Rings: The Return Of The King" also features the new song "Into The West," performed by Grammy Award winner Annie Lennox, and spotlights guest appearances by acclaimed soprano Renee Fleming, renowned Irish flautist Sir James Galway, and others.

"I have enjoyed working with Howard and Fran [Walsh] immensely," remarked Annie Lennox. "It has been a fascinating experience to be a very small part of this vast jigsaw puzzle entitled 'The Lord of The Rings.' The dedication and commitment to the project is awesome in every way. The song 'Into The West' is hauntingly beautiful and emotional, which befits the final scene of the trilogy."

"The Lord of the Rings: The Return Of The King" is being made available in four separate configurations. The CD format will feature 19 original selections from the film. A special limited edition package will contain the best-selling soundtracks from all three installments of "The Lord Of The Rings," including "The Fellowship Of The Ring" (2001) and "The Two Towers" (2002), which have sold over 3 million units worldwide.

A deluxe CD DVD edition will contain "The Return Of The King" CD and an exclusive DVD that will feature bonus material including a "The Lord of the Rings" "supertrailer"; a "The Return of the King" photo gallery from the recording sessions; film stills; and poems and lyrics from "The Return Of The King." It will also contain the special feature, "Use Well The Days: A Behind The Scenes Portrait of Howard Shore," a 20-minute documentary focusing on Shore's work in London during the recording of the film score by documentarian Elizabeth Cotnoir; as well as a second Anne Lennox track recorded especially for the DVD. Finally, an internet-only version of the CD DVD package will be available only to online buyers with additional "The Lord Of The Rings" extras. CD formats will contain a weblink to exclusive multi-media content from the films and liner notes written by Howard Shore and director Peter Jackson.

"Howard has always understood the emotional truth that lies at the center of this story," remarks "The Lord Of The Rings" director Peter Jackson. "He has succeeded in drawing the audience into the very heart of its beauty, heroism and sadness. Howard's music weaves seamlessly from image to image, scene to scene, film to film, binding score, characters and story into the rich tapestry of a far bigger and more complex picture. This has been his great strength as a composer, for Howard has shaped the score for 'The Lord of the Rings' not over one, but three films, establishing and developing powerful themes, that much like Tolkien's work itself, 'grew in the telling.'"

"'It is good to begin well; it is better to end well,'" comments Howard Shore. "This simple phrase has come to mind often as I approach the end of this epic project. I believe that we all have felt a great spirit leading us and guiding us to the finish. We all focused on perfecting the small details of our work each day in the hope that, together, they would produce a wonderful whole, a complete world to experience and for generations to enjoy. We worked seriously and steadily, but always with good humor."

Standout selections of "The Lord of the Rings: The Return Of The King" include such Howard Shore originals as "Minas Tirith," "Twilight And Shadow;" "A Storm Is Coming" and "The End Of All Things." The film's title track features Sir James Galway, Renee Fleming and "Lord Of The Rings" star Viggo Mortensen.

Music for "The Lord of the Rings: The Return Of The King" was produced by Howard Shore. Executive Album Producers are Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Paul Broucek. Executive Producer for WMG Soundtracks is Danny Bramson.

On December 17, New Line Cinema's "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" concludes the compelling journeys at the heart of J.R.R. Tolkien's revered trilogy. Produced, co-written and directed by Peter Jackson, 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' is produced by Barrie M. Osborne, Fran Walsh and Peter Jackson. The screenplay is by Fran Walsh & Philippa Boyens & Jackson based on the book by J.R.R. Tolkien. Cast members include (in alphabetical order) Sean Astin, Sean Bean, Cate Blanchett, Orlando Bloom, Billy Boyd, Brad Dourif, Bernard Hill, Ian Holm, Christopher Lee, Ian McKellen, Dominic Monaghan, Viggo Mortensen, John Noble, Miranda Otto, John Rhys-Davies, Andy Serkis, Liv Tyler, Karl Urban, Hugo Weaving, David Wenham, and Elijah Wood.

[Starbug]

I hope this hasn't been posted already. I searched under every keyword I could think of. I had to alter the title also so it would fit the guidelines.

I can understand James Galway, but Annie Lennox? I'll need to hear it first. I love her voice, but I just don't picture it with this movie. Should be interesting.

[Starbug]

Interesting.

[No.6]

Sweet Rings are made of this
Who am I to disagree?
I travel Arda
and the Sundering Seas
Everybody's looking for One Ring
Some of them want to use it
Some of them want to be used by it
Some of them want to abuse it
Some of them want to be abused...

[Starbug]

I should have seen that coming LOL ;-)

Ring ping? (unless it's already posted somewhere else....)

[big'ol_freeper]

Ping

[ecurbh]

Ring Ping!!

There and Back Again: The Journeys of Flat Frodo

Anyone wishing to be added to or removed from the Ring-Ping list, please don't hesitate to let me know.

[2Jedismom]

Fetch my medicine! I can't wait!

[SuziQ]

So many choices for what to buy! I may ask one of the kids to get me the CD with accompanying DVD for Christmas!

[Rocko]

They're really milking the collectors, I see.

[HairOfTheDog]

Get in line!

[Mamzelle]

When they say Nov 25, do they really mean that, or maybe...sooner?

[maquiladora]

Well, to tell you the truth, I have heard 34 seconds from the soundtrack. The last 34 seconds of Track 18 - The Grey Havens. Somebody gave me the link to it, it has been pulled since then. But it was hauntingly beautiful in its own right and more melancholic than uplifting.

[maquiladora]

Yeah I knew about Annie doing a song since about August I'd say. I think it was an accident, she happened to be in the studio while Howard was writing and they just plucked up the courage and asked her.

[Keme]

I was surprised as well. Why couldn't they have Loreena McKennitt do a song. She fits in perfectly with the LOTR genre.

[Vast Buffalo Wing Conspiracy]

She's got a good voice. And this way, they'll have a female voice singing the closing song to each movie, so that works out too.

[BradyLS]

I like Annie Lennox' voice, but I think a track using Annie Haslam's voice would have been great, too.

[El Sordo]

"renowned Irish flautist Sir James Galway..."

You'd think he'd be Mexican.

[Mamzelle]

You're flouting the rules of good taste...

[HanneyBean]

I've been thinking the same thing about McKinnett. She is one of my favorite singers and her songs remind me so much of LotR. She would have been PERFECT.

[FReepaholic]

Here's a short clip of the song from soundtrack.net:

"Into the West" performed by Annie Lennox