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![THE COMPLETE HARRY POTTER FILM MUSIC COLLECTION [VINYL]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61VlSXFm82L._AC_UL160_SR160,160_.jpg)
Let me be the first to say (a crime for sure) that although I have sat through both theatrical and extended editions of Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings—all three films— plus all three newer Hobbit installments, I have yet to read the books by J.R.R. Tolkien.
The films are visual tapestries of ancient lore, setting the bar high for story and effects.
Everyone knows the story: nine companions from all walks of life go on a long arduous journey through the imaginary lands of Middle Earth to destroy a ring and face down almost every creature imaginable along the way. Instead of boring you with theme analysis or track by track commentary—you’ll get as much in the extensive liner notes—I want to make a few calculated comments and state several observations, along with my personal opinions on what a great masterwork of the imagination this is—visually yes, but also musically.
First, I want to discuss my favorite tracks and themes. Over 80 lietmotifs—a musical buzz word for sub-themes, exist for TLOTR universe, spread throughout hours of the compositions. They’re used to represent emotions, characters, races, cultures, and everything else to do with Middle-earth.
Here are a few of my favorites:
The Seduction of the Ring. A string drone plays in the background while a boys’ chorus hums or sings a rising and falling melody.
The Hobbits: a penny whistle plays a tune evoking the sanctity of home, and is followed by music very much inspired by the Irish pub jigs. All of the hobbit music is light, airy, and very happy.
Revelation of the Ringwraiths: psycho strings and trembling sounds play in the background as a choir of men belt out a forceful chant in the Black Speech of the book. This evokes the dark Gothic style of Eastern Europe. Many of the movies’ themes have roots in Europe and the Far East of Asia.
Isengard and the orcs (goblins who used to be elves): the clanking of machinery and brass trumpeting out a tune interrupted in one instance by choir and Edward Ross singing solo.
The Elves—2 themes:
a)Rivendell’s angelic women’s choir and harps rising and falling, and
b) Lothlorien’s women’s choir and African drones making creepy listening described as neither hostile nor friendly in the liner notes.
That rounds out my favorite themes. If you haven’t heard the music in some form, you need to. It makes for very intelligent listening and good food for thought. Also included for your listening pleasure are a group of songs, some in invented languages, like Sandarin, and others in our English. Most are featured in separate tracks, but a few are (rather irritatingly for my taste) imbedded into existing tracks, such as with tracks 3, 7, and 14 on disc 1.
These songs come from the poetry of Middle Earth, and honor Tolkien’s world. But for me they kinda distracted from the listening experience. Just as I start to experience the piece, there goes Bilbo singing about life’s many roads. It’s touching, yes. But it’s also rather annoying. Star Wars never bothered the listener with imbedded songs. But then again, according to the liner notes, Howard Shore wanted to immerse the individual into the world of the story.
To call this music beautiful would be an understatement. It is grand; it is majestic; it has amazing power and darkness—just like the books and movies.
So get on Amazon while you still can and buy the Complete Recordings as soon as humanly possible. The price for set one is over $100, and much higher, in the $200s and $300s for sets two plus three, making the final denominator almost $1000 or so—plus an additional $40 for the collector’s book (The Music of TLOTR by Doug Adams) and Rarities Archive CD of score material not featured in any edition of the movies.
This pricing will fluctuate exponentially in days, months, and years to come.
I went ahead and got while the gettin’ was good, as they say, saving up and saving a ton.
You’ll be a LOT poorer, monetarily for darn sure, but you’ll be rich in more ways than one. You’ll have some of the most valued CD sets on the planet.
And You won’t be sorry. I’m not.
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Roberto Pozzi
Lo Consiglio sinceramente agli appassionati del genere fantasy.
Reviewed in Italy on June 18, 2021
