Lord of the Rings Music

The Lord of the Rings soundtracks is one of my very favorite movie scores. Howard Shore did a remarkable job creating distinctly different themes for each place and set of characters, which is impressive considering the scope of Tolkien's novels. Any fan I've ever met agrees that the music is perfect for the movies. I'm personally quite content to have any part of the Lord of the Rings soundtrack stuck in my head, which is something I definitely can't say for every song out there.

The Lord of the Rings has long been one of the most popular book sets in publication. The sweeping narrative and detailed characterization has drawn readers in for decades. When Peter Jackson began to adapt the beloved series into movies, there was doubt among fans of whether is was possible. Once the first movie was released, though, that doubt was erased. While the success of the movies is the result of a huge team, one of the factors is the amazing score put together by Howard Shore. It accents each scene and without it, the movies just wouldn't be the same. I know for me, personally, each time I hear a piece of the music it brings me right back to the movies and makes me want to watch them all over again.

The Hobbit soundtracks are probably the most popular at the moment. I love that the current soundtracks pay homage to the original Lord of the Rings films while also having their own distinct sound. The similarities help to tie together the two trilogies but they aren't so overwhelming to make the soundtrack feel "used."

The Fellowship of the Ring begins us on Frodo's epic quest. From the spirited atmosphere of The Shire, to the fellowship's peril and the loss of Gandalf in the depths of Moria, to Frodo and Sam's parting from the fellowship--re-live the experience.

In the second installment, we follow what remains of the fellowship as they attempt to stop Saruman from destroying the people of Rohan. We also get a closer look at a favourite character of many fans: Gollum.

If you're not sure if you really want to purchase the soundtrack, check out this youtube video. It plays a good length of the Rohan theme, an integral part of The Two Towers soundtrack. It shows an image of Edoras, the main city of Rohan. When my tour group climbed Edoras, we all had the music running through our heads. It is by far one of the best pieces of music in movies.

Howard Shore doesn't disapoint in the final chapter of the trilogy. He continues to deliver a stellar score, including the battle of Pelennor Fields and, of course, The Return of the King. This is not to be missed if your collection is incomplete.

If you don't already have the extended editions of the movies, you need to get them! With deleted scenes inserted directly into the movies and a tweaked score to go with them, they are an absolute must for any true Lord of the Rings fan. Once you've seen them, you'll never go back to the originals.