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| | The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (With Bonus DVD) | | | Music Style : | | General | | Record Label : | | Warner Bros / Wea | | Release Date : | | 2003-12-09 | | Discs : | | 2 | | Store Price : | | $29.98 | | Artistopia's Price: $29.98 | |
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CD Tracks/Songs
Disc 11. A Storm Is Coming
2. Hope and Memory
3. Minas Tirith - Ben del Maestro
4. The White Tree
5. The Steward of Gondor - Billy Boyd
6. Minas Morgul
7. The Ride of the Rohirrin
8. Twilight and Shadow - Renee Fleming
9. Cirith Ungol
10. Anduril
11. Shelob's Lair
12. Ash and Smoke
13. The Fields of the Pelennor
14. Hope Fails
15. The Black Gate Opens - James Galway
16. The End of All Things - Renee Fleming
17. The Return of the King - Viggo Mortensen
18. The Grey Havens - James Galway
19. Into the West - Annie Lennox
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Customer Reviews of This Album/CD |
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 The stuff of legends!
Submitted on: 2006-10-02 |
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What can I say that hasn't already been said about Howard Shore's magnificent score for the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy? A soundtrack can define the whole atmosphere of a film, and this fully orchestrated work certainly does that with sweep, splendor and wonder, alternately humanizing (hobbit-izing?) the characters, imbuing the landscape with magic and capturing the world-shaking impact of events of mythic proportions. And this was no easy task considering the iconoclastic status of the story and the superb quality of Peter Jackson's filmmaking. This is a truly a soundtrack for the ages--a fitting accompaniment to a film for the ages! Every aspect of life, from the extreme to the mundane, is captured in this music. Listening to it can make every remembered moment of the movie come alive again in your mind, from the most horrific battle to the smallest moment of humor or kindness. And the battle scenes in "Return of the King" are incredible visuals, blending live action and computer-generated imagery so seamlessly and densely that it boggles the mind. But what would they be with only screams and snorts and scuffles to give them voice? It's Shore's frenetic, string-laden, brass-filled, drum-spurred fury that truly gives them life, waxing, waning and cueing the audience as to when the greatest menace is about to threaten the war-weary heroes. The musical themes from the first two movies continue to be developed here, wending their way in and out of expanded interpretations whose dense complexity rivals that of Tolkien's story, not to mention Peter Jackson's filmmaking itself. The total effect is utterly convincing and utterly transporting. Peter Jackson chose well when he picked Shore as his score writer. Very, very well! Be sure to get the scores from the other two movies in the trilogy as well - "The Fellowship of the Ring" and "The Two Towers." They seem to be available in no end of different packagings, including ones with bonus DVDs about the creation of the score. Also, make sure to get the extended edition DVDs of the movie itself, with hours and hours of fascinating commentaries and behind-the-scenes documentaries about the making of the films. Truly a bargain at any price! And for authentic music from bygone ages, try the real thing! There are many fine groups out there. Here's just a sampling: Anonymous 4 (pure-voiced sacred chant by four women), The Baltimore Consort (jaunty popular music from the Renaissance), David Munrow's Early Music Consort of London (simply perfection), Christian Mendoze's Musica Antiqua (lively, percussive Renaissance dance music), The Toronto Consort (great variety), Ensemble Unicorn (worlds of fun!), Wolgemut (brash buzzies and bagpipes with attitude), and the magical early/folk fusion of Cantiga and Burlap Lute. Have some fun with them and live your own fantasy!
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Best Soundtrack Ever
Submitted on: 2005-05-27 |
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| When I was watching the movies, I would hum along with the music. I finally bought the soundtrack, and I absolutely love it. It completely captures Middle Earth, and it's cultures and themes. I never really liked classical music or that sort of thing, but I can not stop listening to the Lord of the Rings Soundtracks. The Return of the King is my favorite. My favorite tracks are 2- Hope and Memory, 8- Twilight and Shadow(the elvish music is so relaxing and comforting!), 17- The Return of the King, and 19- Into the West. I really shouldn't say I have a favorite because all of the tracks are so SPECTACULAR. This album didn't win an Oscar for nothing, it truly is the best. |
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The Return of the King Sound Track
Submitted on: 2004-07-26 |
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| OMG- U've got to buy this cd!! Its the best sound track ever!!!The Best songs and stuff!!! |
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Howard Shore - A Brilliant Composer
Submitted on: 2004-07-04 |
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I love the movies and love the soundtracks also! Howard Shore is a brilliant composer.
I heard that late this year or in 2005 will be released a BoxSet with 9 CDs of the complete LOTR Movies Soundtracks in Extended Editions. It's a box with the complete soundtracks to all the LOTR Trilogy Movies as seen on screen - Theatrical Versions - YES!
It will be 2 CDs for FOTR, 3 for TT and another 3 for ROTK and an extra CD with rarities and unreleased music from the films with commentary from Howard himself!!
What a BIG surprise! |
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Amazing and Inspiring
Submitted on: 2004-04-27 |
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This CD is perhaps one of the most inspiring CDs I have ever heard. I am an aspiring author, and several tracks have provided inspiration for themes or characters in my stories, most notably the track The White Tree. That one piece gave me a basis for an entire plotline. Also inspiring was the Riders of Rohan, the Fields of the Pellenor, and The Steward of Gondor.
Getting off the inspirational aspect, the music overall is just stupendous. Howard Shore has clearly showed his mastery in composing, and I hope to hear his works in other upcoming movies. |
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