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 | Title : The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Author : Howard Shore
Release Date : 20011120
Binding : Audio CD
Regular Price : $19.98
Amazon.com Price : $14.99
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Editorial Reviews :
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 (from the Renaissance pastoralism of 'Concerning Hobbits' to the fiery, Prokofiev-influenced drama of 'A Knife in the Dark'). Key to the score's sense of mystery and magical place are the rich choral passages that are interspersed throughout, some so ominously gothic they make The Phantom Menace's 'Duel of the Fates' sound almost sunny by comparison. Enya's contributions ('The Council of Elrond' and the song 'May It Be') add a sense of organic tranquility, but it's Shore's Wagnerian-scaled orchestral score that should long be cherished by admirers of film music and hobbits alike.
Buyer Reviews :
Howard Shore was certainly a somewhat unconventional choice for the score of 'The Lord of the Rings'. However, it has become obvious now that he was an excellent choice and that he was definitely up to the task.
There are many unconventional tracks on this soundtrack. One of the most unconventional pieces is probably 'The Bridge of Khazad-Dum' where Shore uses a male choir to great effect, building the proper tension for this scene, which is most likely going to be a centerpiece of the movie. Another very interesting cut is 'Lothlorien', which has an 'arabian' feel to it and which features haunting vocals in Quenya and Sindarin (two of Tolkien's invented languages) by Elizabeth Fraser. A favorite of mine is 'A Knife in the Dark', which jumps from dark choir voices and pounding percussion directly to the beautiful and innocent voice of young Edward Ross, an amazing musical moment which can send shivers down the listener's spine. Edward Ross' vocals fit just as well into 'The Breaking of the Fellowship', a mostly sad piece, setting the proper mood for the end of the movie.
Even with these somewhat uncommon tracks, the soundtrack is never overbearing, and there are many atmospheric pieces which are needed to set the proper tone for a movie without distracting from the actual movie events. There are several excellent re-occuring themes, which give the soundtrack a certain consistency without becoming boring.
Howard Shore also uses some celtic elements, especially on the light-hearted 'Concerning Hobbits'. In other places, he uses elvish lyrics or has the choir relentlessly chant verses in the Black Speech for the darker scenes, thus drawing upon the great reservoir of Tolkien's world.
This soundtrack is of course being heavily promoted through Enya's appearance on two songs. 'May it Be' is perhaps not Enya's most catchy tune, but it certainly shouldn't be catchy, as it is intended to be played over the movie credits just after the Breaking of the Fellowship, one of the saddest moments of the whole story. An uptempo tune a la 'Orinoco Flows' would be out of place here. Enya's 'Aniron', which is weaved into 'The Council of Elrond' is perhaps a bit more interesting and showcases Enya's otherworldly voice very well.
This is certainly a great score for anyone who likes good soundtracks which go a little bit beyond the usual 'soundtrack mainstream'. Of course, it is also a must for any Tolkien fan, as it is obvious that the music, even as a stand-alone effort without the movie, is inspired by Tolkien's writings and mirrors their mood very well.
(by tegilbor)
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