The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

If someone told me at the beginning of 2001 that Howard Shore and Elliot Goldenthal would write one score that everyone would like, I would have given him a million dollars. Of course today I would be broke and not affording to purchase anymore soundtracks but luckily there wasn't an idiot like that. Because we have reached 2002 and both Goldenthal (Final Fantasy) as Shore has given us the best examples of their unseen talent. Why these composers don't stick more with the usual way of scoring is their business and most importantly their style but you can surely see they can tackle whatever they can if the time calls for it. Do you start to believe my theory now, no matter what style, each composer will bring a score you will like? Good because if anything, Howard Shore has unleashed the powers of good and evil with The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, the first title and soundtrack of the trilogy. And you must believe it, this is Star Wars on the ground with swords instead of lightsabers. First a little word about the movie, already now a classic and containing dazzling shots, immense beauty of land as astonishing detailed scenes. This movie is a big epic tale and a must see for sure. Now we will continue with the score, Howard Shore's so far highest profile project of his career.

Basically everything a score like this should have is here to be found in glorious constructions of awe and powerful versions of force, meaning a combination of themes and motifs. Of course, its all about putting your priorities straight and in a well developed character movie like this, it is the Hobbit theme that reaches the introduction first, 'Concerning Hobbits' is a joyful, most beautiful piece of music with flute and strings and most likely something even Howard Shore fans didn't see coming. It represents all the childlike innocence of the race and in particular young Frodo himself. But more is here to be found like the majestic and heroic Fellowship theme. This is truly the centerpiece that binds the score together and fans of all styles will adore it in no time. The first appearance of it is light and without power in 'The Treason of Isengard' but its powerful version soon follows in various tracks like 'The Council of Elrond', 'The Ring goes South', 'The Bridge of Khazad Dum' with its multiple performances and 'The Breaking of the Fellowship'. Still, the biggest version of it is discovered way at the end of the soundtrack, after Enya's song has passed. So apart from the good guys themes you will bet that the bad guys themes don't wait. And behold, it strikes you silly with dark momentum whenever it can.

This dark menace appears a lot in the first piece of the album, mostly because the threat and the deceit confronts Frodo and his friends as Gandalf himself. From 'The Prophecy' to 'Flight to the Ford', you will discover it more than ever and it represents everything evil, the high master Isengard, the black riders or ringseekers as the orks that hunt them down. It is almost Final Fantasy's darkest awe meets 'I'm scared like hell' Omen chants. Especially the performance during the 4th track is enough to give you the shivers as the exploding opening minutes of the first track. And finally you discover the fierce themes for the ringseekers ('The Black Rider' and 'A Knife in the Dark') as the enchanting vocal work in 'Many Meetings' as 'Lothlorien'. Several tracks to mention though, 'The Council of Elrond' features the love theme of the movie performed by the main composer of this score (at least it feels that way) Enya. Her style hasn't changed and mainly its her enchanting voice that graces the score's most emotional moments. 'A Journey in the Dark' has a wonderful awe inspiring movement while the immense 'The Bridge of Khazad Dum' becomes easily the highlight of the score, it begins and ends with powerful statements of the Fellowship theme but between it Shore builds an incredible tension movement through the orchestra and choir. In the end it makes the re appearance of the Fellowship theme late in the track seem like the greatest gift on earth.

The last tracks and mainly 'The Breaking of the Fellowship' is unique in its heavenly touch of emotion, representing some of the best damn things I've heard all year. Enya's ticket to Oscar fame at the end closes the score. I find the song good and I've always loved her work but the main reason that makes it sensational is the last performance of the Fellowship theme, culminating this score with the greatest sense of heart and detail, if most with the biggest powerful feeling you can find in Middle Earth. I don't mind her presence on this soundtrack but it actually feels like Enya this and Enya that, and in the end regular buyers will exclude the immense effort coming of Shore which is darn sad. Of course no biggie for the regular fans but still, its something to take hold off. Also the commercial outlet is making sure it will sell. While I find the score a breeze to listen to (nothing sounds boring and for a 70 minute score this can count, because the best tracks are found on the soundtrack) there was still a lot to do about a special release. Costing a lot more money but giving the exact same score material (only more extras), it was a deceiving way to earn extra cash. Please fans, wait for the DVD for the extras and enjoy the score without all that commercial hoopla. Because in the end you want to enjoy Howard Shore's The Fellowship of the Ring like it supposed to be, yes? Then stick with the original selling product, being one of the best scores of the last decades. One score to rule them all, one score to astound them, one score to bring them all to make the score community bind them. Enjoy!

The Fellowship of the Ring "3 CD Deluxe Edition"

Having read my review of the Fellowship of the Ring, I must admit I was a fool and a lousy reviewer. Hopefully my experience paid off because I will review one of movie music's biggest and best scores ever. Namely the Lord of the Rings music, divided in 3 parts, 3 scores and soon in 9 different Cd's containing all the same themes and expansions that make it a must to have. A must to have that has still despite everything some very small setbacks, and this merely in the listening experience. I'm afraid 3 Cd's or basically 3 hours is a bit too much really and while its very nice to have everything Shore has written, its a lot to grasp on to. Do not forget, this is not the music heard in the film, but the music heard in the expanded editions of the movies, meaning the non edited film, making only tracks you know by heart longer and covering new ideas. So I think 2 hours and somewhat more should have been enough for most fans. And secondly, as we said it, this is the music for the non edited film and therefore some tracks you recall from the original soundtrack appear to be longer and covering new ideas, this at times makes you a bit uneasy because you have gotten to know them like this, in the film and on CD. Now it changes a bit everything from what you heard and noticed in the film. However do not fear, because while this might make the first and second listen somewhat new and more attentive, it also shows that Shore continued to weave with themes from front to back, start to finish, never a quality loss in the composition, never a moment a theme isn't used, but perhaps being at certain times a bit dull, because as said 3 hours is long. But considering still the fact, while Fellowship of the Ring is perhaps the least action based effort of the 3, this special edition shows new hidden treasures but above all a Shore effort that eclipsed everything he did before that, making for LOTR fans still an intriguing, wonderful and captivating listening experience, enough to dazzle still the persons who thought they heard it all.

With CD 1 we have the beginning of the story, but also the character development and therefore the least action based part of the 3 CD edition. 'Prologue: One Ring to Rule them All' opens with Galadriel's theme and the now famous ring theme (over the letters) before unused action music and heroic music (heard in the subsequent films) would grow to the choral action music and the ring theme, this track is a lot longer and covers despite everything still minutes of new music. 'The Shire' is completely new and surprisingly it captures alongside the hobbit theme already a statement of the fellowship theme, with playful variations on the hobbit theme following. What's also surprising is that the occasional singing of the actors is presented too, like Gandalf's song in 'Bag End' alongside the hobbit theme and a straight jig. 'Flaming Red Hair' is the folksy dance piece seen in the film while 'Farewell Dear Bilbo' shows the journey theme (heard at the end of this film) exploding into feisty racing music (for the fireworks display). 'Keep it Secret, Keep it Safe' is a long new track, mysterious choir growing unrestless over the first display of the ring before the hobbit theme (sung by Bilbo) and the ring theme is performed. What's keen also is the first appearance of Sauron's powerful theme and the signing Merry and Pippin joyously amusing the hobbits. 'A Conspiracy Unmasked' is a lovely hobbit theme once on strings before somber mood unveils Gollum's sad story, the ring theme and the growing Nazgul theme. 'Three is Company' shows again strangely a soft choir leading to the fellowship theme while 'The Passing of The Elves' is completely new, bringing a song not written by Shore. Thanks for 'Saruman the White' we reach again the more interesting and powerful music, hobbit and fellowship themes lead the steam to the big brassy choir and the excellent gothic allure of Saruman's attack with Gandalf. Perhaps you expected 'A Shortcut to Mushrooms' to be more boring but the dark Nazgul motif with choir and brass is still enough to get the chills. 'The Nazgul', the final track brings more new material, combining the Nazgul theme, rhythmic parts of the fellowship theme (with new heroic material) and the singing of Strider to close off a warming up CD number 1.

Perhaps the warming up is needed to get into the majestic flow of the rest but 'Weathertop' is nonetheless the shrieking descending Nazgul music with choir while 'The Caverns of Isengard' is strangely first based on the action music heard in the Khazad Dum track, before the marching Uruk-hai music appears and sole vocal portrays Gandalf sitting on the peak of Isengard. The sound clarity alone here is noticed as it must be said that the entire 3 CD collection portrays a stunning quality and clarity that eclipses the original version easily. 'Give Up that Halfling' is another good track with new twists, soft choral use at begin and end for Arwen and Frodo while in the middle the chasing Nazgul music and the heroic brass of the sweeping river, its great to hear more Nazgul music on CD. Sometimes you encounter pieces of music Shore (presumably) only used in the latter scores but track 4 still shows other explanations while 'Rivendell' shows us the hobbit theme with naturally the wonderful elf theme, followed with variations in 'The Sword that was Broken'. Here I noticed the depth alone in shore's music was astounding, the new things you discover when listening to the full picture is groundbreaking and makes this deluxe edition even for LOTR fans a must. 'The Council of Elrond Assembles' unveils another theme, the love theme for Arwen and Aragorn written by Enya while a lot of people were looking forward alone to the moment Shore softly whispered us his Minas Tirith theme and nobody noticed it in 'The Great Eye', but this track is also noteworthy for the rising of the fellowship theme. Its astounding that Howard Shore already composed the theme for the third movie 2 years before that. He absolutely knew what he was doing. 'Gilraen's Memorial' is another new track and another wonderful addition to the Shore cannon, with soft but moving choral accompaniment with stunning variations on the hobbit theme for strings and growing ethereal choir rising above it, showing once or twice the song theme 'In Dreams' and the powerful fellowship statement on brass when they all pass for the camera (a track that was presented on the original version only as the theme).

With 'The Pass of Caradhras' we hear once again the evil growing over Shore's happy begin, and the sinister strings, the marching Uruk-hai music (loud as hell) and the brass heroics at the end show more of Howard's unreleased music. So too explains 'The Doors of Durin' new tales and this with ethereal choir for the opening of the door and rising dissonance with low dark brass for the water monster (reminding me of Shelob's music, however that track is still more brilliant due to its amazing cohesiveness in dissonance and melody). 'Moria' with its choir in the sinister darkness and the sad 'Gollum') which partly plays the hobbit theme are just warming ups for 'Balin's Tomb', giving us 3 distinctive highlights, first the Moria growing fanfare for the gothic beauty of its deserted structures, then the attack in the tomb with its rhythmic brass assaults (once again new material) before more emotional material lays a somber tone on the whole quest. However part 3 waits until the very end where the fellowship theme explodes with sheer wonder for your ears (heard normally in the begin of the track 'The Bridge of Khazad Dum') but here Shore used it to end the second disc, after the warming up disc 1 this is the explosive disc number 2. With disc number 3 we have the more decisive splitting of the fellowship and the more emotional content of the story, yet this works well considering we've come full circle. However the circle is not reached when we open with 'Khazad Dum', it was the best track on the commercial CD but here the opening of the fellowship theme was used in the last track of CD 2, and now it opens with the dark chanting choir, before an expanded build up is used for the escape of the fellowship, briefly seconds are added to the material you already knew by heart and this makes it still somewhat strange to sing with it, however the spectacular build up to the choral outburst and fellowship theme is nonetheless big. The sad content for the death of Gandalf is too expanded with string variations that touch again the right button.

The long ethereal and mysterious 'Caras Galadhon' shows the other Elfish theme and besides the ring theme we have the Galadriel leitmotif and the Elf musical theme, heard further in 'The Mirror of Galadriel' with only a couple of Sauron statements as difference. 'The Fighting Uruk-hai' is the longest track on the whole 3 part CD yet doesn't bring much action music, the Uruk-hai statements, the Galadriel ethereal whispers, the fellowship theme, the soft hobbit theme and the ring theme make their appearances but no real action music is exploding. This is actually held for 'Parth Galen', the begin of a most spectacular finish. In this track all the themes appear again (with especially the Nazgul motif as most prominent of them all) but its the brilliant strong choral music at the end that makes all the fuzz, bringing new material to an already winning track. 'The Departure of Boromir' is the sad goodbye to a beloved character namely Sean Bean and the sorrowful choral music is finished by a fellowship statement on noble horns. The final track is split in 3 parts, 'The Road goes Ever On ... Pt 1' brings us the wonderful music when Frodo and Sam part their ways from the other group while 'May it Be' is sandwiched in between this track and 'The Road goes Ever On ... Pt 2', where the song 'In Dreams' is heard with an Elfish statement and the final rise of the fellowship theme. Amazing but true is the fact that 3 discs can bring so much music and still so many surprises, the fact never before heard music is presented is of course a reason for this, but for people who know the movies by heart (I include myself in that), it still makes for wonderful listening because of the many surprises. That 2 full 75 minute Cd's would have made the listening experience better is true, but the many theme variations and statements still present a depth of brilliance that no other composer has matched today. Alongside Star Wars, LOTR is a testament in movie composition and craftsmanship and only these 2 saga's have brought us music that inspires, amazes and moves and for all you believers you've heard enough on one disc alone, let I remind you to this.3 discs of heavenly music have opened my eyes that there is more to discover then you ever could have imagined. A lavish release that costs much but brings every penny back in quality design, presentation and performance. A Winner!

The Fellowship of the Ring: ****1/2
The Fellowship of the Ring "3 CD Deluxe Edition": *****

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. The Prophecy (3.55)

2. Concerning Hobbits (2.54)

3. The Shadow Of The Past (3.32)

4. The Treason Of Isengard (4.00) Excellent Track

5. The Black Rider (2.48)

6. At The Sign Of The Prancing Pony (3.14)

7. A Knife In The Dark (3.34)

8. Flight To The Ford (4.14)

9. Many Meetings (3.05)

10. The Council Of Elrond (Featuring "Aniron" *) (3.49) Excellent Track

11. The Ring Goes South (2.02)

12. A Journey In The Dark (4.20)

13. The Bridge Of Khazad Dum (5.57) Excellent Track

14. Lothlorien (4.33)

15. The Great River (2.42)

16. Amon Hen (5.02)

17. The Breaking Of The Fellowship (7.20) Excellent Track

18. May It Be: Enya * (4.17) Excellent Track

* Composed and performed by Enya

Total Length: 71.29

The Fellowship of the Ring "3 CD Deluxe Edition"

Disk One: 58.37

1. Prologue: One Ring To Rule Them All (7.16) Excellent Track

2. The Shire (2.29)

3. Bag End (4.35)

4. Very Old Friends (3.11)

5. Flaming Red Hair (2.38)

6. Farewell Dear Bilbo (1.45)

7. Keep It Secret, Keep It Safe (8.53)

8. A Conspiracy Unmasked (6.09)

9. Three Is Company (1.58)

10. The Passing Of The Elves (2.39)

11. Saruman The White (4.09) Excellent Track

12. A Shortcut To Mushrooms (4.07) Excellent Track

13. Strider (2.34)

14. The Nazgul (6.04)

Disk Two: 59.09

1. Weathertop (2.14)

2. The Caverns Of Isengard (4.54) Excellent Track

3. Give Up That Halfling (4.49) Excellent Track

4. Orthanc (1.06)

5. Rivendell (3.26)

6. The Sword That Was Broken (3.34)

7. The Council Of Elrond Assembles * (4.01)

8. The Great Eye (5.30) Excellent Track

9. Gilraen's Memorial (4.01) Excellent Track

10. The Pass Of Caradhras (5.04)

11. The Doors Of Durin (6.03)

12. Moria (2.27)

13. Gollum (2.26)

14. Balin's Tomb (8.30) Excellent Track

Disk Three: 63.03

1. Khazad Dum (8.00) Excellent Track

2. Caras Galadhon ** (9.20)

3. The Mirror Of Galadriel (6.21)

4. The Fighting Uruk-hai (11.32)

5. Parth Galen (9.13) Excellent Track

6. The Departure Of Boromir (5.29) Excellent Track

7. The Road Goes Ever On ... Pt 1 (5.58) Excellent Track

8. May It Be *** (3.26) Excellent Track

9. The Road Goes Ever On ... Pt 2 **** (3.41) Excellent Track

* featuring "Aniron" (theme for Aragorn & Arwen), composed & perf. by Enya

** featuring "Lament for Gandalf" performed by Elizabeth Fraser

*** composed & performed by Enya

**** featuring "In Dreams" performed by Edward Ross

The use of artwork or photos is posted for non profitable reasons

=== Link to Composer Site: Howard Shore ===