The music for the The Lord of the Rings film trilogy was composed, orchestrated and conducted by Howard Shore. The scoring requirements of the three films are complex: therefore each strongly features a technique called leitmotif, which is a musical phrase associated with a feature such as a character, object, or location. Threaded through the score(s) are over 80 specific leitmotifs. The music for the three films was influenced by the music of classical composer Richard Wagner,[1] much of whose work was associated with mythology and fantasy. Shore wrote nearly 12 hours of music for The Lord of the Rings and 10 hours of it have been released on CD/DVD (The Complete Recordings collection). He composed it in an emotional, operatic way, and he gave each culture of Middle-earth its own musical style. These styles are categorized with several themes in each category. The scores for The Fellowship of the Ring and The Return of the King won Academy Awards in 2002 and 2004. The latter film also won an Oscar statuette for Best Song, as well the Golden Globes for Best Original Score - Motion Picture and Best Original Song. The score for The Lord of the Rings has become the most successful composition of Shore's career, and is widely considered to be one of the most popular orchestral film scores of all time.
Contents |
Principal leitmotifs
Themes in The Fellowship of the Ring
(Note: These themes' names and descriptions come from Doug Adams' liner notes for the Complete Recordings.)
The Ring Goes South Image:The Lord of the Rings-The Ring Goes South.ogg
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- The One Ring:
- "The History of the Ring": If the scores can be said to have a central theme, then this is it. The tune is first heard as "The Lord of the Rings" text appears, and it reappears whenever the One Ring changes hands or marks significant progress in its journey.
- "The Seduction of the Ring": This theme, performed by a humming boys chorus, represents the One Ring's overwhelming allure. The theme reappears when Boromir, Aragorn, and Faramir each contemplate taking it from Frodo.
- "The Evil of the Ring" (Mordor/Sauron): The third theme for the One Ring is limited to only four pitches, and unwavering in its focus. This material stands for the most villainous inclinations of the Ring and for Mordor itself.
- The Shire and the Hobbits:
(This theme has four settings.) The melody establishes the sense of home, a regular and safe way of life that is threatened by Sauron and the Ring. The Shire theme reminds the audience that for all its spectacle and flourish, The Lord of the Rings is primarily about simple themes: friendship, loyalty, and the sanctity of home.
- "Pensive Setting": This theme is used in the hobbits' recollective moments and often appears as a solo whistle. Once the hobbits leave their home, the theme settles into a sense of longing.
- "Rural Setting": This setting plays as a jaunty, Celtic-influenced peasant melody. It represents the hobbits' gently whimsical life in Hobbiton.
- "Hymn Setting": This rendition grieves the hobbits' loss of innocence as it celebrates their resolve in the face of adversity.
- A Hobbit's Understanding": This setting presents the Shire theme in its most florid guise. Even though it represents the hobbits at their most profound and complex, it remains tender and affectionate.
- The Hobbit Accompaniments:
- "The Hobbit Outline Figure": This simple figure, often heard in the celli and double basses, is used as an expectation of things to come. It is heard quite a bit in the early Shire scenes, portraying the hobbits' playful sides.
- "The Hobbit Two-Step Figure": This short figure appears frequently during the introduction of the Shire, and it often concludes with the End Cap figure.
- "The End Cap": A graceful rim-shot that plays to the good-humored hobbit lifestyle.
- "The Hobbit Skip Beat": This ostinato figure is heard throughout the Shire material, usually as an accompaniment, but sometimes more prominently.
- Gollum:
- "The Pity of Gollum" (Smeagol's Theme): This theme stands for Gollum's sad state of existence. It has a knobby, twisted character, and it remains tonally elusive. The Pity theme becomes a central element in film one, representing Gollum and his influence even as he remains off in the shadows.
- The Elves:
The elven themes use chromatic harmonies, Eastern influences, and unique instruments. The choral passages utilize female voices only, and the orchestra uses higher voices and "clean" harmonies. There is a quality of timelessness in the music, as well as a sadness that speaks to the end of an age.
- "Rivendell":
- "Lothlorien":
- "Arwen Revealed":
- "The Diminishment of the Elves" (Gilraen's Song):
- The Dwarves:
- "Moria":
- "The Dark Places of the World":
- "Dwarrowdelf":
- The World of Men:
- "Realm of Gondor":
- "Minas Tirith":
- The Fellowship of the Ring
- "The Fellowship of the Ring":
- "The Heroics of Aragorn":
- The Monsters of Middle-earth:
- "The Watcher in the Water":
- "The Cave Troll":
- "The Balrog":
- Isengard and the Orcs:
- "Five Beat Pattern":
- "Isengard" (Orc):
- Mordor:
- "Mordor/Sauron" (The Evil of the Ring):
- "The Ringwraiths":
- "The Mordor Accompaniments":
- "Descending Third":
- "Skip Beat":
- "The Mordor Outline Figure":
- "The Threat of Mordor":
- The Fourth Age of Middle-earth:
- "The Power of Mordor":
- Nature:
- "Nature's Reclamation":
- Middle-earth:
- The Ring Quest Themes:
- "The Journey There":
- "Dangerous Passes":
- "Evil Times":
- All Shall Come To Darkness...:
- "The Fall of Men":
- "A Noble End":
- "The Nameless Fear":
- Another Path:
- "Gandalf's Farewells":
Themes in The Two Towers
- Smeagol/Gollum:
- Returning - "The Pity of Gollum" (Smeagol's Theme):
- Debuting - "Gollum's Menace" (Gollum's Theme):
- Debuting - "Gollum's Song":
- The One Ring:
- Returning - "The Seduction of the Ring":
- Returning - "The Evil of the Ring":
- Returning - "The History of the Ring":
- The Fourth Age of Middle-earth:
- Debuting - "The Fate of the Ring":
- The Shire and the Hobbits:
- Returning - "Pensive Setting":
- Returning - "Hymn Setting":
- Debuting - "Lullaby Setting":
- Debuting - "Playful Setting":
- Returning - "A Hobbit's Understanding":
- The Hobbit Accompaniments:
- Returning - "The Hobbit Outline Figure":
- Returning - "The End Cap":
- Debuting - "The Hobbits' Antics":
- The Elves:
- Returning - "Rivendell":
- Debuting - "Evenstar" (Aragorn & Arwen):
- Returning - "The Diminishment of the Elves" (Gilraen's Song):
- Returning - "Lothlorien":
- The Dwarves:
- Returning - "Moria":
- Returning - "The Dark Places of the World":
- Returning - "The Balrog":
- The World of Men: Gondor:
- Returning - "Realm of Gondor":
- The World of Men: Rohan:
- Debuting - "The Rohan Fanfare":
- Eowyn:
- Debuting - "Eowyn Shieldmaiden of the Rohirrim":
- Debuting - "Eowyn and Theoden":
- Debuting - "Eowyn and Aragorn":
- The Fellowship of the Ring:
- Returning - "The Fellowship of the Ring":
- Debuting - "The Fellowship in Rohan":
- Returning - "The Heroics of Aragorn":
- Debuting - "The White Rider (In the Fellowship)":
- The Monsters of Middle-earth:
- Debuting - "The Mumakil":
- Isengard and the Orcs:
- Returning - "Five Beat Pattern":
- Debuting - "Grima Wormtongue":
- Returning - "Isengard" (Orc):
- Debuting - "The Cruelty of the Orcs":
- Mordor:
- Returning - "Mordor/Sauron" (The Evil of the Ring):
- Returning - "The Ringwraiths":
- Returning - "Descending Third":
- Returning - "Skip Beat":
- Returning - "The Threat of Mordor":
- Debuting - "The Way to Mordor":
- The Ents:
- Debuting - "The Ents":
- Nature:
- Returning - "Nature's Reclamation":
- Debuting - "The White Rider (In Nature)":
- Middle-earth:
- The Ring Quest Themes:
- Returning - "Evil Times":
- All Shall Come to Darkness...:
- Returning - "The Nameless Fear":
Themes in The Return of the King
- The One Ring:
- Returning - "The History of the Ring":
- Returning - "The Evil of the Ring":
- Returning - "The Seduction of the Ring":
- The Fourth Age of Middle-earth:
- Returning - "The Fate of the Ring/The Destruction of the Ring":
- The Shire and the Hobbits:
- Returning - "Pensive Setting":
- Returning - "Hymn Setting":
- Returning - "Rural Setting":
- Debuting - "Heroic Setting":
- Debuting - "Merry the Warrior":
- Debuting - "Bilbo's Song":
- The Hobbit Accompaniments:
- Returning - "The Hobbits' Antics":
- Returning - "The Hobbit Outline Figure":
- The Fourth Age of Middle-earth:
- Debuting - "The Shire Reborn":
- Smeagol/Gollum:
- Returning - "The Pity of Gollum" (Smeagol's Theme):
- Returning - "Gollum's Menace" (Gollum's Theme):
- The Elves:
- Returning - "Rivendell":
- Returning - "Arwen Revealed":
- Returning - "Evenstar" (Aragorn & Arwen):
- Debuting - "Arwen's Song":
- Returning - "Lothlorien":
- The Dwarves:
- Debuting - "Dwarf End Cap":
- The World of Men: Gondor:
- Returning - "The Realm of Gondor":
- Returning - "Minas Tirith":
- Debuting - "Faramir and Denethor":
- The Fourth Age of Middle-earth:
- Debuting - "Gondor Reborn":
- The World of Men: Rohan:
- Returning - "The Rohan Fanfare":
- Eowyn:
- Returning - "Eowyn Shieldmaiden of the Rohirrim":
- Returning - "Eowyn and Theoden":
- Returning - "Eowyn and Aragorn":
- The Fellowship of the Ring:
- Returning - "The Fellowship of the Ring":
- Returning - "The Heroics of Aragorn":
- Returning - "The White Rider (In the Fellowship)":
- The Monsters of Middle-earth:
- Debuting - "Shelob":
- Returning - "The Mumakil":
- Isengard:
- Returning - "Five Beat Pattern":
- Returning - "Isengard":
- Mordor:
- Returning - "Mordor/Sauron" (The Evil of the Ring):
- Debuting - "Mount Doom":
- Realigned - "Five Beat Pattern":
- Realigned - "The Cruelty of the Orcs":
- The Mordor Accompaniments:
- Returning - "Descending Third":
- Returning - "Skip Beat":
- Returning - "The Mordor Outline Figure":
- Returning - "The Threat of Mordor":
- Returning - "The Way to Mordor":
- The Fourth Age of Middle-earth:
- Returning - "The Power of Mordor":
- Debuting - "The Witch King/The Orcs of Mordor":
- Nature:
- Returning - "Nature's Reclamation":
- Middle-earth:
- The Ring Quest Themes:
- Returning - "The Journey There":
- Returning - "Dangerous Passes":
- Returning - "Evil Times":
- The Fourth Age of Middle-earth:
- Debuting - "The Journey Back Again":
- All Shall Come to Darkness...:
- Debuting - "The Army of the Dead":
- Returning - "A Noble End":
- Another Path:
- Returning - "Gandalf's Farewells":
- Debuting - "The Grey Havens" ("Into the West"):
Other Motivic Ideas in The Lord of the Rings
- "There-and-Back-Again shape":
- "Nine-notes idea":
- "Weakness and Redemption in Middle-earth":
- "The Ring's Power 'motive'":
Songs
- "Aníron" (The Fellowship of the Ring) performed by Enya
- "May It Be" (The Fellowship of the Ring) performed by Enya: nominated for the Academy Award for Best Song in 2002.
- "In Dreams" ("The Fellowship of the Ring") performed by Edward Ross
- "Gollum's Song" (The Two Towers) performed by Emiliana Torrini
- "The Edge of Night" (The Return of the King) performed by Billy Boyd
- "Into the West" (The Return of the King) performed by Annie Lennox: won the Academy Award for Best Song in 2004.
Deleted tracks
There exist several pieces of music written by Howard Shore that never made it into the final cut of the film trilogy or any existing soundtrack. Among these are various pieces written for battles throughout the film. There was also a special musical arrangement written for the trailer for The Return of the King, which primarily consisted of principle leitmotifs along with movie trailer-like music. Additionally, there was a song entitled "Use Well The Days" sung by Annie Lennox. The song can be found on a supplementary DVD included with the Return of the King soundtrack in some packages released in 2003. It has been announced that alternate compositions, alternate takes, synth mock-ups, session footage, etc. will be presented on a bonus DVD(s) released with the book, The Music of the Lord of the Rings Films, by Doug Adams, due around November, 2008. (Author Doug Adams discusses the project's development regularly on his blog.[1])
Soloists
For the three films Shore worked with many vocal as well as instrumental soloists.
Vocal
Isabel Bayrakdarian
Billy Boyd
Sheila Chandra
Ben Del Maestro
Renée Fleming
Elisabeth Fraser
Annie Lennox
Viggo Mortensen
Enya
Edward Ross
Emiliana Torrini
Instrumental
Dermot Crehan - Hardinger Fiddle
Sir James Galway - Flute, Tin Whistle
Soundtracks
The Fellowship of the Ring
| The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring |
||
|---|---|---|
| Studio album by Howard Shore | ||
| Released | November 20 2001 | |
| Genre | Soundtrack | |
| Length | 71:24 | |
| Label | Reprise Records | |
| Producer | Howard Shore, Suzana Peric | |
First release by Reprise Records. It and all subsequent The Lord of the Rings soundtracks were issued on that label, as it is also the one on which Enya records.
- "The Prophecy" – 3:54
- "Concerning Hobbits" – 2:55
- "The Shadow of the Past" – 3:33
- "The Treason of Isengard" – 4:01
- "The Black Rider" – 2:48
- "At the Sign of the Prancing Pony" – 3:14
- "A Knife in the Dark" – 3:34
- "Flight to the Ford" – 4:15
- "Many Meetings" – 3:05
- "The Council of Elrond" featuring "Aníron (Theme for Aragorn and Arwen)" composed and performed by Enya – 3:49
- "The Ring Goes South" – 2:03
- "A Journey in the Dark" – 4:20
- "The Bridge of Khazad-dûm" – 5:57
- "Lothlórien" – 4:34
- "The Great River" – 2:43
- "Amon Hen" – 5:02
- "The Breaking of the Fellowship" featuring In Dreams composed by Howard Shore and performed by Edward Ross– 7:21
- "May It Be" composed and performed by Enya – 4:16
| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Wo hu cang long (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) |
Academy Award for Best Original Score 2001 |
Succeeded by Frida |
| Preceded by Wo hu cang long (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) |
Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack Album 2001 |
Succeeded by The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers |
| Preceded by Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain (Amélie) |
World Soundtrack Award for Best Original Soundtrack 2002 |
Succeeded by Frida |
| Big Three Film Music Awards (2000) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Academy Award The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring |
Golden Globe Moulin Rouge! |
BAFTA Award Moulin Rouge! |
|
The Two Towers
| The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers |
||
|---|---|---|
| Studio album by Howard Shore | ||
| Released | December 10 2002 | |
| Genre | Soundtrack | |
| Length | 72:46 77:09 (Limited Edition) |
|
| Label | Reprise Records | |
| Producer | Howard Shore | |
- "Foundations of Stone" – 3:51
- "The Taming of Sméagol" – 2:48
- "The Riders of Rohan" – 4:05
- "The Passage of the Marshes" – 2:46
- "The Uruk-hai" – 2:58
- "The King of the Golden Hall" – 3:49
- "The Black Gate Is Closed" – 3:17
- "Evenstar" (featuring Isabel Bayrakdarian) – 3:15
- "The White Rider" – 2:28
- "Treebeard" – 2:43
- "The Leave Taking" – 3:41
- "Helm's Deep" – 3:53
- "The Forbidden Pool" – 5:27
- "Breath of Life" (featuring Sheila Chandra) – 5:07
- "The Hornburg" – 4:36
- "Forth Eorlingas" (featuring Ben Del Maestro) – 3:15
- "Isengard Unleashed" (featuring Elizabeth Fraser and Ben Del Maestro) – 5:01
- "Samwise the Brave" – 3:46
- "Gollum's Song" (performed by Emilíana Torrini) – 5:51
- "Farewell to Lórien" (featuring Hilary Summers) – 4:371
1 Only included on the Limited Edition release of the album.
| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring |
Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack Album 2002 |
Succeeded by The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King |
The Return of the King
| The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King |
||
|---|---|---|
| Studio album by Howard Shore | ||
| Released | November 25 2003 | |
| Genre | Soundtrack | |
| Length | 72:05 | |
| Label | Reprise Records | |
| Producer | Howard Shore | |
- "A Storm Is Coming" – 2:52
- "Hope and Memory" – 1:45
- "Minas Tirith" (featuring Ben Del Maestro) – 3:37
- "The White Tree" – 3:25
- "The Steward of Gondor" (featuring Billy Boyd) – 3:53
- "Minas Morgul" – 1:58
- "The Ride of the Rohirrim" – 2:08
- "Twilight and Shadow" (featuring Renée Fleming) – 3:30
- "Cirith Ungol" – 1:44
- "Andúril" – 2:35
- "Shelob's Lair" – 4:07
- "Ash and Smoke" – 3:25
- "The Fields of the Pelennor" – 3:26
- "Hope Fails" – 2:20
- "The Black Gate Opens" (featuring Sir James Galway) – 4:01
- "The End of All Things" (featuring Renée Fleming) – 5:12
- "The Return of the King" (featuring Sir James Galway, Viggo Mortensen & Renée Fleming) – 10:14
- "The Grey Havens" (featuring Sir James Galway) – 5:59
- "Into the West" (performed by Annie Lennox) – 5:49
| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Frida |
Academy Award for Best Original Score 2004 |
Succeeded by Finding Neverland |
| Preceded by Lose Yourself from 8 Mile |
Academy Award for Best Original Song 2004 Into the West by Annie Lennox |
Succeeded by Al otro lado del río" from The Motorcycle Diaries |
| Preceded by The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers |
Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack Album 2003 |
Succeeded by Ray |
Complete Recordings
The Fellowship of the Ring
| The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring: The Complete Recordings |
||
|---|---|---|
| Studio album by Howard Shore, Enya | ||
| Released | December 13 2005 | |
| Genre | Soundtrack | |
| Length | 3:00:35 | |
| Label | Reprise Records | |
Second release by Reprise Records. This release also includes a DVD-Audio disc containing the entire score in 5.1 and 2.0 surround sound (at 48 kHz, 24-bit). Disc One (58:30)
- "Prologue: One Ring to Rule Them All" – 7:16
- "The Shire" – 2:29
- "Bag End" – 4:35
- "Very Old Friends" – 3:12
- "Flaming Red Hair" – 2:39
- "Farewell Dear Bilbo" – 1:45
- "Keep It Secret, Keep It Safe" – 8:45
- "A Conspiracy Unmasked" – 6:09
- "Three Is Company" – 1:58
- "The Passing of the Elves" – 2:39
- "Saruman the White" – 4:09
- "A Shortcut to Mushrooms" – 4:07
- "Strider" – 2:34
- "The Nazgûl" – 6:04
Disc Two (59:05)
- "Weathertop" – 2:14
- "The Caverns of Isengard" – 4:54
- "Give Up the Halfling" – 4:49
- "Orthanc" – 1:06
- "Rivendell" – 3:26
- "The Sword That Was Broken" – 3:34
- "The Council of Elrond Assembles" – 4:01
- "The Great Eye" – 5:30
- "Gilraen's Memorial" – 5:01
- "The Pass of Caradhras" - 5:04
- "The Doors of Durin" – 6:03
- "Moria" – 2:27
- "Gollum" – 2:26
- "Balin's Tomb" – 8:30
Disc Three (63:01)
- "Khazad-dûm" – 8:00 sample
- "Caras Galadhon" – 9:20
- "The Mirror of Galadriel" – 6:21
- "The Fighting Uruk-hai" – 11:32
- "Parth Galen" – 9:13
- "The Departure of Boromir" – 5:29
- "The Road Goes Ever On... (Part 1)" – 5:58
- "May It Be" – 3:26
- "The Road Goes Ever On... (Part 2)" - 3:41
The Two Towers
| The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers: The Complete Recordings |
||
|---|---|---|
| Studio album by Howard Shore | ||
| Released | November 7 2006 | |
| Genre | Soundtrack | |
| Length | 3:08:12 | |
| Label | Reprise Records | |
As with the Complete Recording release of the first score, The Two Towers is spread across three audio CDs and one DVD and was released on 7th November 2006. Disc One (63:04)
- "Glamdring" – 3:50
- "Elven Rope" – 2:19
- "Lost In Emyn Muil" – 4:14
- "My Precious" – 2:56
- "Uglúk's Warriors" – 1:41
- "The Three Hunters" - 6:12
- "The Banishment of Éomer" – 3:54
- "Night Camp" – 2:50
- "The Plains of Rohan" – 4:14
- "Fangorn" - 5:13
- "The Dead Marshes" – 5:07
- "Wraiths On Wings" – 2:07
- "Gandalf the White" – 6:47
- "The Dreams of Trees" – 1:54
- "The Heir of Númenor" – 6:50
- "Ent-draught" - 2:53
Disc Two (63:59)
- "Edoras – 4:34
- "The Court of Meduseld" – 3:10
- "Théoden King" – 6:12
- "The King's Decision" – 2:07
- "Exodus From Edoras" – 5:42
- "The Forests of Ithilien" – 6:37
- "One of the Dunedain" – 7:13
- "The Wolves of Isengard" – 4:22
- "Refuge at Helms Deep" – 3:59
- "The Voice of Saruman" – 1:11
- "Arwen's Fate" – 3:58
- "The Story Foretold" – 3:38
- "Sons of the Steward" – 6:02
- "Rock and Pool" – 2:54
- "Faramir's Good Council" – 2:20
Disc Three (61:12)
- "Aragorn's Return" – 2:11
- "War Is Upon Us" – 3:35
- "Where Is the Horse and the Rider?" – 6:15
- "The Host of the Eldar" – 2:50
- "The Battle of the Hornburg" – 2:52
- "The Breach of the Deeping Wall" – 3:03
- "The Entmoot Decides" – 2:06
- "Retreat" – 4:40
- "Master Peregrin's Plan" – 2:31
- "The Last March of the Ents" – 2:31
- "The Nazgûl Attack" – 2:45
- "Théoden Rides Forth" – 5:47
- "The Tales That Really Matter" – 12:01
- "Long Ways to Go Yet" – 8:05
The Return of the King
| The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King: The Complete Recordings |
||
|---|---|---|
| Studio album by Howard Shore | ||
| Released | November 20 2007 | |
| Genre | Soundtrack | |
| Length | 3:49:15 | |
| Label | Reprise/WMG Soundtracks | |
The Complete Recordings for The Return of the King was released November 20, 2007. The set contains the entire score, almost three hours and fifty minutes of music, and spans four audio CDs. Also included is a fifth DVD-Audio disc containing the entire score in 5.1 surround sound. Unlike the first two complete recording sets, The Return of the King: The Complete Recordings is currently available for download via the Apple iTunes service.[2] Disc One (57:31)
- "Roots and Beginnings" – 6:31
- "Journey to the Crossroads" – 2:17
- "The Road to Isengard" – 2:18
- "The Foot of Orthanc" – 4:45
- "Return to Edoras" – 1:51
- "The Chalice Passed" – 1:51
- "The Green Dragon" – 0:35
- "Gollum's Villainy" – 2:10
- "Éowyn's Dream" – 1:24
- "The Palantir" – 3:10
- "Flight from Edoras" – 2:18
- "The Grace of Undómiel" – 6:21
- "The Eyes of the White Tower" – 4:34
- "A Coronal of Silver and Gold" – 8:27
- "The Lighting of the Beacons" – 9:03
Disc Two (66:03)
- "Osgiliath Invaded" – 8:47
- "The Stairs of Cirith Ungol" – 2:41
- "Allegiance to Denethor" – 3:20
- "The Sacrifice of Faramir" – 4:08
- "The Parting of Sam and Frodo" – 4:04
- "Marshalling at Dunharrow" – 4:57
- "Andúril - Flame of the West" – 3:28
- "The Passing of the Grey Company" – 4:12
- "Dwimorberg - The Haunted Mountain" – 2:26
- "Master Meriadoc, Swordthain" – 1:40
- "The Paths of the Dead" – 6:22
- "The Siege of Gondor" – 9:01
- "Shelob's Lair" – 8:53
- "Merry's Simple Courage" – 2:09
Disc Three (59:43)
- "Grond - The Hammer of the Underworld" – 1:33
- "Shelob the Great" – 5:13
- "The Tomb of the Stewards" – 3:58
- "The Battle of the Pelennor Fields" – 4:10
- "The Pyre of Denethor" – 2:59
- "The Mûmakil" – 0:57
- "Dernhelm in Battle" – 2:06
- "A Far Green Country" – 1:28
- "Shieldmaiden of Rohan" – 5:07
- "The Passing of Théoden" – 2:16
- "The Houses of Healing" – 2:58
- "The Tower of Cirith Ungol" – 4:41
- "The Last Debate" (feat. Sissel) – 4:21
- "The Land of Shadow" – 6:30
- "The Mouth of Sauron" – 8:15
- "For Frodo" – 3:17
Disc Four (45:57)
- "Mount Doom" – 4:09
- "The Crack of Doom" – 4:02
- "The Eagles" – 2:24
- "The Fellowship Reunited" – 12:18
- "The Journey to the Grey Havens" – 7:35
- "Elanor" – 1:28
- "Days of the Ring" – 11:10
- "Bilbo's Song" – 2:57
The Annotated Score
Each album came out with its own Annotated Score by Doug Adams which reviews all the music tracks and provides information about the process of composing and recording the score, as well as a detailed list of all musical instruments, people and organizations involved. The annotated score may be downloaded from the official site free of charge.
The symphony
Following the theatrical release of all three films, Howard Shore reworked the film scores of the trilogy into a more structured six-movement work for orchestra and choir, loosely titled "The Lord of the Rings Symphony". This has been performed, accompanied by a light and visual art show, in various concert halls around the world in the aftermath of the films' success. It is not yet known whether the "LotR Symphony" will be officially recorded and released as such.
References
- ^ IGN: Howard Shore Interview. Retrieved on 2006-11-28.
- ^ "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King - The Complete Recordings" Set for Release November 6, 2007 on Reprise/WMG Soundtracks:. Retrieved on 2007-09-12.
External links
- Official soundtracks site
- Complete score analysis
- Official website of Howard Shore
- List of CD releases for Lord of the Rings on Soundtrackguide.net
- Doug Adams's blog on the scores and the upcoming book.


