Can't wait to read the notes; the music for Eowyn has long been among my favorite parts of the score.

>>>heck there’s music on the OST that’s in no version of the film. (Treebeard’s bassoon, for one.)>>>
The other major unused pieces on the OST being the opening of Forth Eorlingas, the alternate arrival of Shadowfax, the alternate in Taming of Smeagol and the middle section of Breath of Life (intended for "Arwen's Fate"?)

quote:

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you’re referring to is actually a theme that’s between Éowyn and Théoden… which is why it’s nearly identical to her primary theme. This theme climaxes on the fields on the Pelennor when Éowyn slays the Witch-king, so it’s really much more her theme… a theme of self actualization rather than decline.

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There's a theme specifically for Eowyn and Théoden? And yet another thing that's new to me.
But there can't be major differences between those three themes? Don't they all start with that perfect fifth leap?

About the "Wonderment of Treebeard": I noticed that in Treebeard's scenes, there's some kind of electronic- sounding drone in the background, which sounds somewhat like a very distorted flute. Is there some connection to the score?

The music during Gandalf's conversation with Aragorn strongly reminds me of Gandalf's first scene with Denethor in ROTK. I suppose there's some connection ... ?

<<<Actually I thought that Gollum's Song was Smeagol singing to Gollum. Since he is always talking to himself why not sing to himself as well?

-Chad>>>

Hmmm.... we likes that take, we does, my preshusss! Most interestin'!

Permit me one other quasi-gripe... About the endings and who really is the main focus of The Film (vs. JRRT's book):
It seems to me that the humans are much more to the fore in PJ than the hobbits (our 4 heroes and the whole Shire)... The only hobbits who really get much attention are Frodo and Sam... Merry and Pippin are almost entirely comic relief (until late in RotK). Hence, PJ felt justified in dropping the Scouring of the Shire episode, which in my view, is what the whole book has been leading up to. We spend so much time with Theoden, Eowin, Aragorn, Arwen, Denethor, Faramir/Boromir et al, (who are treated very seriously!) that all the early incidents with the hobbits (Merry, Pippin and Sam's conspiracy... and the unavoidably omitted Bombadil and Barrow episodes) are left out... This shifts the entire emphasis of the film to the rising human cultures away from even the Elves to some extent and certainly away from the hobbits and their Shire as the central concern...
So here's one vote for having yet another ending! When, note: WHEN, The Hobbit gets filmed and they have to rebuild Hobbiton, I would like to see a Scouring of Shire episode filmed for inclusion in a 10th anniversary re-edition of The Film... (it indeed would have been too long for RotK as a theatrical release!)
That, plus some (significant!) ommitted bits of dialogue and other scenes would I would gladly pay again for! All appropriately scored by Maestro Shore, of course!!!

Theoden's Funeral...hmmm, I've not thought about that in a long time. It would be neat to see, but, (I've only read the books one time through) if Theoden's funeral takes place in Rohan (I can't remember) then it should NOT be in the film because going back to Rohan towards the end of the film would feel strange and "just wouldn't be right" .

I'm sure that in our lifetime (for those who are around the age of 20 ) we will see another version of TLotR. I hope that it would focus more on certain things that Jackson's version did NOT focus on. More hobbit material, Scouring..., Arwen(?), etc. Also, I'd hope that it would be worth watching. Jackson's version shouldn't be tampered with anymore. The Scouring...scene would NOT work in his version. The same applies to many other things like Bombadil.

Something I've mentioned to Doug in the past was about many of us "LotR score Joes" getting together with Mr. Shore, Mr. Adams, and all of those that have worked on the CR project to celebrate. This might seem very unlikely, but it's a good idea that could happen if many are interested and work together to make it happen. This would be once RotK CR/book has been released. This would be a GREAT opportunity to recognize all of those people that have worked so hard that aren't receiving the amount of recognition that they should. We would be able to meet them and find out just how they've contributed to the whole thing. We could have discussion time, hang out time, food time , etc. I like the idea. What about you-uns?

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Originally posted by Doug Adams:

Yep, the track list is finalized and has been since late July. I’m guessing that the list will hit the web same as it did with FOTR… some online dealer will get info from the label and post it on their site. Who had it up first last time, Barnes & Noble? I can’t remember. I suppose it’s always possible that the official Howard Shore site will list the tracks first, but I don’t have any info regarding that, sorry.

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Well, the set is up for pre-ordering. No tracklist yet, but Barnes and Noble is my runner up for that matter.

PS: I think I'll stick with my Super Rush delivery at amazon.

>>>http://music.barnesandnoble.com/search/product.asp?z=y&EAN=093624437628&itm=4

Well, the set is up for pre-ordering. No tracklist yet, but Barnes and Noble is my runner up for that matter.<<<

Interestingly the list price is $75.98, while the list for "Fellowship CR" was $59.98!
One wonders what goodies might (I say: MIGHT) have prompted the higher price...
Amazon or Best Buy will probably be cheaper than the B&N discounts.

Timdalf

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Originally posted by Cavalier_of_Palahndtüs:
43 Days to Go!...(44 yesterday I'd no time to post)

Theoden's Funeral...hmmm, I've not thought about that in a long time. It would be neat to see, but, (I've only read the books one time through) if Theoden's funeral takes place in Rohan (I can't remember) then it should NOT be in the film because going back to Rohan towards the end of the film would feel strange and "just wouldn't be right" .

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I would have liked to see it, because Bernard Hill gave one of the most genuine performances in the films, and it felt like the Eowyn/Eomer/Theoden thread could have done with closure. They could have even done it in Gondor, but I guess musically I would have liked to hear the Rohan material reprised one last time. It's not essential, but I liked his performance so much (seriously - not many actors could pull off a line as awful as: 'No parent should have to bury a child...' ) that it seemed a bit ungraceful to leave him there on the Pelennor.

Of course, this is Extended Edition stuff, and I'm probably alone in thinking that the Extended Edition (with the exception of some added scenes for Eowyn) of ROTK was a miscalculation on the part of the director.

The problem is not flow... but it would require returning to the Theatrical version of the scene between Treebeard and Gandalf after the fall of Orthanc and melding it with certain portions of the scene in the EE (the breaking of Saruman's staff after having the "debate" with Theoden, for example)

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Originally posted by franz_conrad:
Of course, this is Extended Edition stuff, and I'm probably alone in thinking that the Extended Edition (with the exception of some added scenes for Eowyn) of ROTK was a miscalculation on the part of the director.

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You are definitely NOT alone in thinking that. I disliked much of what was added for the EE for one reason or another. The extended Paths of the Dead material takes away the surprise when the Dead show up at Minas Tirith, draws the out the length of the picture without a commensurate addition of value, and again plays poor Gimli for comic relief. The extended drinking game...well, I can't bear to think of it. And the Witch King defeating Gandalf was an abomination. If not for some really great added scenes, like Gandalf's mini-lecture to Pippin about the history of Gondor, I would definitely prefer the TE over the EE. As it is, it's a wash.

quote:

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Originally posted by Timdalf:

Permit me one other quasi-gripe... About the endings and who really is the main focus of The Film (vs. JRRT's book):
It seems to me that the humans are much more to the fore in PJ than the hobbits (our 4 heroes and the whole Shire).....
When, note: WHEN, The Hobbit gets filmed and they have to rebuild Hobbiton, I would like to see a Scouring of Shire episode filmed for inclusion in a 10th anniversary re-edition of The Film... (it indeed would have been too long for RotK as a theatrical release!)
That, plus some (significant!) ommitted bits of dialogue and other scenes would I would gladly pay again for! All appropriately scored by Maestro Shore, of course!!!

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The lack of focus on the Hobbits was precisely Roger Ebert's misgivings about FOTR, but he seems to have gotten over it by TTT. As for including a Scouring on a future release of ROTK, it's an interesting idea, but I doubt it will happen. Personally, I think if they were going to do that, they would need to restore Saruman's death to its proper place at the door step of Bag End, and unless PJ secretly already filmed Christopher Lee for that scene, I think we can forget about that for a 10th anniversary release.

There definitely would be something off in the flow because it's an anticlimax within the story of Return of the King as it was adapted by PJ, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens.
You could adapt any LOTR novel in numerous ways, and each take would be different in focus.
If a LOTR movie was made that incorporated the war that was raging *all over Middle- Earth* (and PJ says in the ROTK commentary that he played with this idea in his mind), then the Scouring probably would make sense, although I find it generally not a very good idea to include it in any ROTK movie that's possibly going to be made.

Plus, it was never mentioned in any film that the Shire actually had the attention of either Saruman or Sauron. It was, rightly so, always about Saruman's war against Rohan, Sauron's fear about Aragorn; it has been clearly pronounced in ROTK that "before the walls of Minas Tirith, our doom will be decided".
On a practical level, how could you ever sell the idea to the audience that with all the strongholds of men leading a war against Sauron and Saruman, the Shire was of any importance to the bad guys at all?

You'd have to completely rewrite ROTK.

>>>You'd have to completely rewrite ROTK.<<<

Just to save space I will not requote your entire message... At first I reacted with "Rubbish!" but then I thought you may have a point, the very point I was making that PJ made this into a Frodo/human story rather than a hobbit story...

>>Interestingly the list price is $75.98<<

::nearly faints::

No but really, at that price I too wonder what wonderful extra gems will packed into this box set!

ruckus

>>Interestingly the list price is $75.98<<

::nearly faints::

Unless the higher price could simply be the effect of rising gas prices? <<<

But gas prices are going down!... and this is a 25% increase in the price over "Fellowship"!! OK, Doug, put on your PR hat and reassure us that this price is not just due to our increased demand!! ;-)

Timdalf

I have to agree and disagree on several bits. LOTR is not a "Hobbit story" as much as it is a story of Middle-earth form the Hobbits' point of view. Which is why I think PJ was right to put much focus on non-Hobbit characters, particularly Aragorn (the only single character directly referred to in a book title, and arguably the main character of the "larger story"). Merry & Pippin's reduction to "funny" characters didn't turn out as extreme as the first movie made me fear (instead, Gimli took over that part, and sometimes became *really* annoying).

That said, I do believe that the Scouring is one of the most important parts of the book, and that removing it also significantly changes the "point" of the story. I honestly don't know how it would fit into the film, but I do hope that someday, somebody comes along and manages to film a good version which includes the Scouring.

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Originally posted by Marian Schedenig:
From what I recall reading, one of the audio book versions (the BBC series narrated by Ian Holm, if I'm not mistaken) cut that part, and that's something I really understand.

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There's a "don't" missing, obviously:

Somehow I don't like "The Voice Of Saruman" appearing in this list. Shouldn't that be saved for ROTK?
I don't know why track titles are so important to me, but I feel they should be simple, yet have some dignity and capture the essence of the content.
"Glamdring" for instance I don't find particulary fitting for such a powerful opening sequence. Or "The Nazgul Attack". Or "The Tales That Really Matter". I like it short and punchy, like "Moria" or "Strider".
Those are too long IMO. They might as well have taken "There Is Some Good In This World Mr. Frodo, And That's Worth Fighting For"

I just adore the poetry of the track titles on all the OSTs, especially names like "The Shadow of the Past" and "Foundations of Stone", and I was really looking forward to seeing the track titles on the TTT CR.

One thought though... if these track titles were real, would they all be in sequential order instead of split like a 3-disc set?

Question for Peter: will these items be shipped separately or will I get my Naked Lunch with Godzilla when TTT arrives?