It is funny, though--after my first viewing of FOTR, I expressed great disappointment in the music because there was no tune I went out the door humming--I didn't even *hear* the music in the first movie, so blown away was I with actually seeing it. It took my third viewing before I could listen to any of the background.
Now I listen to the soundtrack, and honestly think that Shore has outdone Wagner, Bizet and the rest.
As for LOTR doodads and collectables--I've never been satisfied. There needs to be lots more junk. I have all the bookmarks with their charms--these are delightful. But I expected a New Line "Banner of Gondor" with the White Tree.
Also, with this new long soundtrack, will I at last be able to hear "Elbereth Gilthoniel"? I know there's a version in the FOTREE with Frodo and Sam and the Departing Elves, but I have also read that these important lyrics were used in the Lothlorian music--and I've never been able to pick them out either in the movies or on a soundtrack.
My hope for this composition is that it will be more symphonic and less sountrack. That is--I hope the themes will be allowed to "finish" themselves and not leave the listener with suggestion. This is not possible in soundtracks, where music is to set the scene and emotion and doesn't stand by itself.
I agree! That'd be neat!
You know what I would like? A really nice frameable poster size map of middle earth with lots of detail and perhaps the routes of travel on it.
ecurbh, my brother, and a couple of others from the hobbit hole are going to see Shore conduct the Seattle Symphony to LoTR in July!
Well, Star Wars has a lot of sentimental value for me, because it was one of the first albums I purchased with my lawn mowing money, and it really helped develop my love for music.
Star Wars has an amazing multitude of themes too - Luke, the force, the Rebellion, Vader, Jabba, Boba Fett, Yoda, Bespin, the Death Star, etc. They are woven together well too. For example, in the last section of The Empire Strikes Back, there is a triumphant version of Yoda's theme morphing into the force theme as Luke puts his training into practice against Vader, interspersed with snippets of the Han/Leia theme, the droid theme, and the Lando theme as the film cuts back and forth between subplots. And I often hear new things subtly woven into the fabric.
It is this tradition that Shore followed, and I think he did a marvelous job. True, Star Wars has less choral work in it (can't even think of a real choral piece in the original trilogy other than that horrid "yub nub" ewok song), but LotR, being based on a book involving extensive use of created languages, is a much more linguistic work.
My hope for this composition is that it will be more symphonic and less sountrack. That is--I hope the themes will be allowed to "finish" themselves and not leave the listener with suggestion.
Mine as well! We are going to see Shore conduct the LotR Symphony in Seattle in July... I'll let you know how it is!
THAT'S the one I want to have on a recording!! I was so disappointed when it wasn't on the FoTR Soundtrack, and when they mentioned an extra track on TTT, I thought it might be that, but it was the Departure from Lothlorien that was featured.
I just noticed in the list above that there will be a performance in HARTFORD!! That's only an hour from me, but it takes place on the weekend that our Parish has it's Family Festival, for which I am one of the Event Chairmen!! I'll have to see if someone can take over the Grille for that Sunday afternoon! WOO HOO!!!!