Tom Guernsey

And it didn't turn out to be a masterpiece? Weird.
 
 

There is a widespread belief among the public that film and television media are monolithic entities, and their individual elements cannot be appreciated independently. I've come across some harsh criticism online. It's perplexing to see someone comment that they "would rather have blood in their stool." While the show's critique can be somewhat justified, the disdain for the music puzzles me. It's likely as lavish and well-crafted as any music produced today. Preferring Howard Shore's style is completely acceptable, but to dismiss this work as subpar is unfair. I enjoy both regularly and see no need to pit them against each other.
 
Karol

Yes. For a soundtrack collector there are many reasons to get this box apart from wanting to listen to every minute of the music.
This score was one of the best of the year and this box represents in so many ways what soundtrack fans would like to have from their favourite francise score.
 
The only thing which makes me wonder, I would expect that this is something especially popular under soundtrack fans who loved the show.
But I just remember comments from Tolkien hardcore fans complaining about the terrible show. For those people I would expect the OST being more than enough. Question for me: Can I love the complete score and hate the show at the same time? 
 
By the way, I really liked the show. And the music.

I don't find myself drawn to the complete albums that often, but there are a few set pieces and moments that are abridged or not presented properly on the OST. Plus when you like a score as much as me (and many) you want the entire thing even if it doesn't get a huge amount of playtime.
 
I really didn't want to pay £80 for a bunch of downloaded files so while this set is 30% or so more, it feels like what we get (all the music plus the OST and the book) makes it worth it, and those who just have the downloads don't feel left out with any content exclusive to this box.

Yes, I've mostly stuck to the suite myself. But partly I think that's because it's an album condensation of the full scores that's very long on its own, but at the same time presents only a fragment of the full scores. My hope is that the complete scores might present a better listening experience on their own by being both shorter and more coherent individually than the longer full season album.

Damn now I’ve ordered it 😂 

I am ever so sorry. Hopefully, you will forgive me one day. 😂
 
Karol

I've only given it one listen, but can't say that it's grabbed me as much as Afterlife did, but it was definitely interesting enough to be worthy of further listens. I'm actually kinda amused by how much nostalgia there is for Elmer's original main theme. It always struck as kinda goofy and a bit awkward (which is perhaps ideal for the original characters?!) but not nearly as famous or memorable as the Ray Parker Jnr. song (which is fun but doesn't half outstay its welcome at 4 minutes). Still, both Marianelli and Simonsen have done a good job of incorporating it and I'm always happy for Elmer's music to get a new lease of life as he's starting to feel like one of those composers whose work isn't as fondly remembered or talked about any more, which is a crashing shame.

Feels like it could have supported a print run of twice as many. Like Star Wars etc., it has significant crossover appeal to those who aren't necessarily into film/TV music so I'm sure plenty went to Tolkien/LOTR fans. Pessimistically/cynically, the risk is that they don't release the individual episode scores digitally next time and the only way to get them will be the boxed set. However, given how much BM seems to care about his music and fans, this seems unlikely. I doubt he'd want to piss them off doing something like that.

It was a series of commercials that all used music to great effect. This was the first (and best) one:
 
 
I have Previn/Tortelier, but I should probably try out some others as well.

https://www.facebook.com/share/xzPXyC4MpBjqgWfS/
After a long wait, the expanded edition arrives next Tuesday. In the meantime, there's this: 
 

It's probably my favourite Dvorak work and favourite cello concerto.

Feels like it could have supported a print run of twice as many. Like Star Wars etc., it has significant crossover appeal to those who aren't necessarily into film/TV music so I'm sure plenty went to Tolkien/LOTR fans. Pessimistically/cynically, the risk is that they don't release the individual episode scores digitally next time and the only way to get them will be the boxed set. However, given how much BM seems to care about his music and fans, this seems unlikely. I doubt he'd want to piss them off doing something like that.

Yeah, I'm just hoping that after The Singularity has been released (which I'm very much looking forward to) he goes back to composing and releasing scores a bit more. Instead of just doing main themes.

Crickey... super tempted... I love that it's the kind of box set that people mock up here (beautifully I might add) but this is actually a real one and of some great music.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power - Season One - 10CD Box Set
 
https://mondoshop.com/products/lotr-rop-10cd-box-set
 

Yes, along with Elgar's Cello Concerto one of the best of the genre.  Also very satisfying to perform.  I played in the orchestra on this piece in a concert and was struck how well it feels and how exciting the ending bars were.  I've noticed that with all Dvorak I've performed, it's very well executed even if you don't play much, each note has purpose.  In contrast, Robert Schumann, I played throughout it but felt much of that served no purpose and wasn't exactly clear what I was needed for.  

Two Hisaishi concerts in Paris!
02.03.2025, 6.00 p.m.
03.03.2025, 8.00 p.m.
https://philharmoniedeparis.fr/en/activite/27162
 
+ meeting
03.03.2025, 6.45 p.m.
https://philharmoniedeparis.fr/en/activite/27946
 
PROGRAMME:
 
Joe Hisaishi
Adagio
Concerto pour harpe
Suite symphonique « Kiki la petite sorcière »

Maurice Ravel
La Valse

Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine
Joe Hisaishi, conductor
Emmanuel Ceysson, harp

Jaw-droppingly good:
 
 
I think this might overtake the New World symphony as my favorite Dvorak composition!

Happy double centenary, Anton Bruckner!
 

One relevant difference is that Uhura being black and Uhura being female were groundbreaking at the time (and still entirely common nowadays). Making her black and female was a deliberate choice and statement. Bond being a white male was ever just… normal.

Surely you know the song by now. Being African is an intrinsic part of her character. You can't change that without changing what the character is all about. 
 
Not so with Bond. (Except, you know.) 

Instead of female Bond, they should just do a movie based on this classic:
 

 
Three diverse female heroes kicking ass in dangerous missions across the globe, using high-tech gadgets and having so much fun with boys in the process. 

I haven't listened to all Jerry Goldsmith, though a while ago I did go through a bunch of 15 minute suites of his scores on Youtube. But I'm still not that familiar with his Star Trek work, for example (in fact I'm listening to it now )
 
That said, my favourite so far is Total Recall. Someone who doesn't know anything about music might dismiss it as a silly action score, and in a way it is silly, but on closer inspection it reveals amazing artistry. And it's an enjoyable listen from start to finish.
 
It's so hard to choose with Goldsmith, though, because all of his works are so diverse. With Williams, even though he has also written in different genres, I feel that you can always pick out a single internal language in his soundtrack work. With Goldsmith it's not so obvious, and he's better at being more chameleon-like. But then I've listened to far more Williams than Goldsmith, so that might just be a bias of mine.
 
EDIT: Just finished listening to The Enterprise for the first time. As if I needed any more confirmation that Goldsmith is a genius! Brilliant track, almost a perfect encapsulation of epic/heroic musical tropes of that time (not in a bad way). Lots of Debussy influences.