Music: The Path to Feelings in Movies

The Lord of the Rings films were released in 2001, 2002, and 2003, and are based off of the books by J.R.R. Tolkien.  This series has become one of the most well known in not only the high fantasy circles, but also by everyday people.  The music by Howard Shore has some of the most intricate details for story telling and setting in the movie world.  Many of the songs were written to be sung in a language that was made up entirely from the mind of Tolkien, called Elvish.  These songs were performed and sung by men, women, and children from across the world. 

One of the most recognizable songs from this trilogy is called Concerning Hobbits.  This scene takes place in the first movie, The Fellowship of the Ring as Bilbo Baggins takes us on a narrative journey through the Shire where all hobbits live.  The scene unfolds to look around a town called Bag End where the main character Frodo lives.  We see how they go about their daily life, unaware of the outside world and the goings on around them.  At the end of the song, we are also introduced to a character prevalent throughout the film, named Gandalf, who has come to visit Bilbo for his birthday. The two main instruments with solos are the tin whistle and also the fiddle which which give a lively, happy, and driving quality to the song.  This song sets the tone not only for this place in Middle Earth, but also for the people who live there.  It allows us to get a glimpse into their perspective and how their mind works.  It also lets us see throughout the trilogy where they started and how they progress as the music progresses in their scenes. We, as listeners, are able to start out the movie feeling light and free, as we listen to music that could be considered as for the countryside.

The next song that is one on my personal favorites is called Isengard Unleashed.  This song can be heard in The Two Towers, the second movie in the Lord of the Rings trilogy.  It is used in two different scenes in this movie, during the battle scene at Helm's Deep and also during the march of the Ent's on Isengard.  At Helm's Deep it is used during the battle scene as the soldiers are defending the city against the Uruk-hai.  As the soldiers retreat to the keep and are deciding what to do, the music is played softer in the background, as Aragorn and King Theoden decide to ride out in a last attempt to save the city, the music quickens and a young boy begins to sing a higher melody that gives a sense of justice and finality.  When I listen to this song, it gives me goose bumps and it makes me want to join in the fight against the forces of Saruman. 

This same song is played during the march of the Ent's on Isengard.  This is one on my personal favorite scenes in this movie.  We see Merry and Pippin sitting atop Treebeard as he is supposedly taking them out of the forest.  It turns out that Pippin has told him the wrong direction and takes him toward the destroyed forest outside Isengard.  This infuriates Treebeard and he calls to his kinsmen and they march on Isengard.  The same young boy previously mentioned sings the same melody and it once again inspires the listener and watcher into wanting to take action, much like the Ent's are taking action.

I believe that the music in the Lord of the Rings trilogy not only fits, but makes the movies what they are.  The use of different styles of orchestral pieces and different instruments gives listeners and viewers different feelings for each scene.  The songs evoke strong emotional responses from us and help us to better understand the characters and the plots.