Lord of the Rings Music

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The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King [SOUNDTRACK], Howard Shore
This final chapter of Peter Jackson's sprawling adaptation of Tolkien's "Ring" trilogy closes out one of the most accomplished cycles in cinema--and film music--history. As he's done for the saga's first two installments, composer Howard Shore has honed a mature, brooding orchestral masterpiece that's long on subtle shadings of mood and nuance, while eschewing the hollow bombast that's characterized all too many mainstream action and adventure films for three decades. If anything, he's pared this chapter of his music for Middle Earth even closer to the bone, the trilogy's familiar themes repeated with a sparing hand that only heightens their dramatic power. Like Herrmann before him, Shore has a preternatural understanding of orchestral timbres and their almost mystical connections with human emotions, and he's used it here to close out this remarkable trilogy with Wagnerian dramatic sweep, yet one with a distinctly modern, understated melodic sense that is Shore's alone. James Galway and Renee Fleming make key instrumental and vocal contributions, respectively, while Annie Lennox's soulful "Into the West" makes the expected, if unobtrusive, bow to the theatrical pop song conventions. (UK , Canada )

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers [SOUNDTRACK], Howard Shore
Howard Shore's music for the massively successful first film chapter of Tolkien's Ring saga won him the Oscar® for Best Original Score, something of a surprise given the music's ambitious scale and determinedly dark overtones, factors that handily blurred the line between typical film fantasy music and accomplished concert work. Its sequel takes the same, often Wagnerian-scaled dramatic tack, following the film's story line into even more brooding and ominous dark corners. The score's looming orchestral clouds are brightened by Shore's masterful choral writing, which infuses ancient liturgical influences with various solos. (UK )

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack [SOUNDTRACK], Howard Shore, Enya, Various Artists
Score composer Howard Shore has informed this first installment of the Lord of the Rings trilogy with his distinctly modern sensibilities. Revolving loosely around a brief, heroic brass theme, this epic is infused with a powerful rhythmic thrust and a musical range that encompasses centuries. Key to the score's sense of mystery and magical place are the rich choral passages that are interspersed throughout.

The Starlit Jewel: Songs From J. R. R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" & The Hobbit, Broceliande
Songs from J.R. R. Tolkien's THE HOBBIT and THE LORD OF THE RINGS, with musical settings by fantasy author Marion Zimmer Bradley (author of THE MISTS OF AVALON), Kristoph Klover and Margaret Davis. These musical settings are fully authorized by the Estate of J.R.R. Tolkien - this is the only American CD with this authorization. Beautiful Celtic and Medieval-flavored musical settings for 1-3 part vocals, guitar, harp, recorder, and other acoustic instruments.