Howard Shore's An Unexpected Journey (Hobbit Part 1)

[crocodile 8,361]

If 30 minutes represent half the score, then yes.

Oh, wait. You're wrong.

If I said "half the score" then yes, I would be.

Oh, wait, you're wrong.

Maybe if you hadn't edited your post, I would have been right.

What you just did is cheap. And I don't mean "cheap" in a good way.

Don't insult me Messenger! I would never do such a thing!

I look forward to reading your thoughts just as much as I look forward to Mr. Adams' ruminations. There's room for all of it, you know.

Well, maybe not in a booklet... but still.

That and the fact that he knows all the right answers. We on the other hand would just be speculating

I'm not sure whether something like "right answers" exists in the case of art, dear KK.

Karol

I certainly agree with you But considering he's been with the big man himself for so long (not to mention he can ring him up whenever he needs to), he'll get as close as anyone could possible get.

Oh yes, sure. In terms of the actual process. But the final product is something that exists beyond that. What you think of it, what it means and what piques your interest - that's something quite personal. And that's why I'm waiting for it.

Karol

[gkgyver 1,647]

Am I the only one who are still able to listen to the samples?

The SE samples are down.

[KK 3,308]

Oh yes, sure. In terms of the actual process. But the final product is something that exists beyond that. What you think of it, what it means and what piques your interest - that's something quite personal. And that's why I'm waiting for it.

Karol

Am I the only one who are still able to listen to the samples?

The SE samples are down.

They can be found on youtube though. And the normal OST ones are still up, but I don't think it'll be there for long.

[alicebrallice 134]

No. Not three, nor four. None. We made a promise, Mrs. Brallice. A promise: "Don't you listen to it, Alice Brallice". And you don't mean to. You don't mean to.

go back, boal. I'm listening to the samples alone.

Brass Buttons

OH MY LOOOOOOORD

[Once 662]

Am I the only one who are still able to listen to the samples?

The SE samples are down.

Works for me...

[BloodBoal 7,540]

[KK 3,308]

No. Not three, nor four. None. We made a promise, Mrs. Brallice. A promise: "Don't you listen to it, Alice Brallice". And you don't mean to. You don't mean to.

go back, boal. I'm listening to the samples alone.

Brass Buttons

OH MY LOOOOOOORD

Good! You've joined us at last! Now listen to the rest of em' and be blown away.

All have fallen to temptation but you BloodBoal, and trust me, your time shall come!

[BloodBoal 7,540]

[alicebrallice 134]

No. Not three, nor four. None. We made a promise, Mrs. Brallice. A promise: "Don't you listen to it, Alice Brallice". And you don't mean to. You don't mean to.

go back, boal. I'm listening to the samples alone.

Brass Buttons

OH MY LOOOOOOORD

Now listen to the rest of em'

your words are poison!

but yeah, I've listened to four so far. my god, don't know if I can stop now...

[crocodile 8,361]

I'd rather stab my ears with an ice pick than listen to the samples before getting the OST.

I think you've already listened to them.

Karol

[Richard Penna 3,999]

I've heard probably half the samples... then the SE samples went down right in the middle of one track.

And damn good they are. The action music sounds like a step up even from RotK.

Noticed though that the regular edition has only 20 mins omitted. Seems very odd to issue two different sets which (for such a large score) are so similar in content.

[KK 3,308]

No. Not three, nor four. None. We made a promise, Mrs. Brallice. A promise: "Don't you listen to it, Alice Brallice". And you don't mean to. You don't mean to.

go back, boal. I'm listening to the samples alone.

Brass Buttons

OH MY LOOOOOOORD

Now listen to the rest of em'

your words are poison!

but yeah, I've listened to four so far. my god, don't know if I can stop now...

Oh, but you can't. Who knows what you have spoken to the darkness, alone, in the bitter watches of the night, when all your life seems to shrink, the walls of your bower closing in about you, a hutch to trammel some wild thing in? All the while longing, aching to hear the sweet melodies of the halfling's tale. So fair, yet so cold like a morning of pale Spring still clinging to Winter's chill.

Why do you lay these troubles on an already troubled mind? Go now, do what your heart asks for you. You know you want to hear Lothlorien and Isengard beckon to you together from "The White Council". Go to them...

[gkgyver 1,647]

Youtube videos of the SE samples apparently don't exist.

Yes, they do:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyGydXsoIPE

At the end of the sample to An Ancient Enemy, is that the beginning of the Dwarrondelf theme I hear?

Also, I'm surprised to not hear any "rising chords of doom".

[Koray Savas 2,254]

Damn! Will I be the last one standing? Ah, no, I can always count on KM to stand by my side till the end, I guess.

I rarely listen to samples. Last score I did was The Dark Knight Rises I think, and before that I don't even remember.

[KK 3,308]

Youtube videos of the SE samples apparently don't exist.

Yes, they do:

https://www.youtube....h?v=iyGydXsoIPE

At the end of the sample to An Ancient Enemy, is that the beginning of the Dwarrondelf theme I hear?

No, it's not the Dwarrowdelf theme. Sounds more like the new "Thorin's Company" Theme (or whatever you'd like to call it).

Also, I'm surprised to not hear any "rising chords of doom".

Oh I'm sure its there...and if not, its bound to show up in the trilogy sometime!

[gkgyver 1,647]

I'm in general surprised at how much more "active" the music seems to be compared to LotR. And also, in some way, more melodic, meaning that there is not much rest going on. Judging by these samples anyway.

But, Jesus do I get chills listening to the sample of "Erebor".

[KK 3,308]

The samples seem to suggest a more dynamic score. The music seems to deviate from the more graceful harmonic movements of the LotR work and takes on a more vigorous, or as you said it, "active" approach. This likely due to much of the prophetic, ominous and dramatic nature of the original trilogy in comparison to what may be a far more light-hearted film. The Hobbit on the other hand might be almost more along the lines of an adventure romp, and it receives that appropriate vibe in the music.

Having said that, I haven't quite heard any theme as bold as some of LotR's greatest were. Again, I know its far too early to tell based on samples alone, but I'm trying to get a grasp of what the "Fellowship Theme" of this new trilogy is (that was supposed to be the Misty Mountains theme...but that's no longer the case).

[Incanus 5,784]

Guys, I look forward to reading your thoughts just as much as I look forward to Mr. Adams' ruminations. There's room for all of it, you know.

Well, maybe not in a booklet... but still.

Karol

Indeed. Even though there is always the artist's original intention and in film music often very specific intention, art is something open to different interpretations that usually enrich the subject matter and open new views for people to look at it.

The samples seem to suggest a more dynamic score. The music seems to deviate from the more graceful harmonic movements of the LotR work and takes on a more vigorous, or as you said it, "active" approach. This likely due to much of the prophetic, ominous and dramatic nature of the original trilogy in comparison to what may be a far more light-hearted film. The Hobbit on the other hand might be almost more along the lines of an adventure romp, and it receives that appropriate vibe in the music.

Having said that, I haven't quite heard any theme as bold as some of LotR's greatest were. Again, I know its far too early to tell based on samples alone, but I'm trying to get a grasp of what the "Fellowship Theme" of this new trilogy is (that was supposed to be the Misty Mountains theme...but that's no longer the case).

I also hear a bit more playful and in a different way vibrant sound in the music and as you say it might be to do with the fact that the tale itself is not as dark or epically world engulfing as in Lord of the Rings, which I think is a intelligent way of treating this tale. As with the novel no larger evil still looms over Middle Earth but of course PJ will be adding shadings towards that effect to bridge the trilogies and I am sure Shore addresses them accordingly. I can hear some hints of Hugo and things like The Last Mimzy in the samples but rather stylistic similarities, whimsical and light, than quotes from either. The action material wonderfully contains again developments of earlier ideas for Orcs etc. the Mordor material and even hints of the 5-beat pattern slinking around the edges. Shore's music for the Orcs and Wargs has great energetic ferocity and that nearly tortured and violent edge it had in the original trilogy, the music advancing in those flailing bursts that to me seems to depict the unpredictable and evil nature of the creatures.

[Brónach 1,304]

Having said that, I haven't quite heard any theme as bold as some of LotR's greatest were. Again, I know its far too early to tell based on samples alone, but I'm trying to get a grasp of what the "Fellowship Theme" of this new trilogy is (that was supposed to be the Misty Mountains theme...but that's no longer the case).

Yeah I feel the same. Plus now Shore would have to "compete", if that's the apropiate word, with Plan 9's awesome melody.

[BloodBoal 7,540]

[alicebrallice 134]

I'd rather stab my ears with an ice pick than listen to the samples before getting the OST.

I think you've already listened to them.

Karol

of course he has! he's a boal, not some deaf dentist from canada.

and they were nothing less than amazing! so fresh, so new, yet so familiar. I've only listened to them once, so I can't remember them all but I especially loved warg-scouts, brass buttons, a good omen... aaaand... song of the lonely mountain. it really is ridiculously and laughably out of place but I absolutely loved it.

[Brónach 1,304]

There were people in TORN saying the sing was out of an eighties fantasy film lol

[Incanus 5,784]

I found it a rather clashing element in the view of the whole score, the approach definitely more modernized and pop influenced than in any of the three LotR films.

[BloodBoal 7,540]

[KK 3,308]

The samples seem to suggest a more dynamic score. The music seems to deviate from the more graceful harmonic movements of the LotR work and takes on a more vigorous, or as you said it, "active" approach. This likely due to much of the prophetic, ominous and dramatic nature of the original trilogy in comparison to what may be a far more light-hearted film. The Hobbit on the other hand might be almost more along the lines of an adventure romp, and it receives that appropriate vibe in the music.

Having said that, I haven't quite heard any theme as bold as some of LotR's greatest were. Again, I know its far too early to tell based on samples alone, but I'm trying to get a grasp of what the "Fellowship Theme" of this new trilogy is (that was supposed to be the Misty Mountains theme...but that's no longer the case).

I also hear a bit more playful and in a different way vibrant sound in the music and as you say it might be to do with the fact that the tale itself is not as dark or epically world engulfing as in Lord of the Rings, which I think is a intelligent way of treating this tale. As with the novel no larger evil still looms over Middle Earth but of course PJ will be adding shadings towards that effect to bridge the trilogies and I am sure Shore addresses them accordingly. I can hear some hints of Hugo and things like The Last Mimzy in the samples but rather stylistic similarities, whimsical and light, than quotes from either. The action material wonderfully contains again developments of earlier ideas for Orcs etc. the Mordor material and even hints of the 5-beat pattern slinking around the edges. Shore's music for the Orcs and Wargs has great energetic ferocity and that nearly tortured and violent edge it had in the original trilogy, the music advancing in those flailing bursts that to me seems to depict the unpredictable and evil nature of the creatures.

Indeed. I've heard several shades of Hugo in the Shire material. But what really impresses me is the sound of the action material. They definitely seem to be able to compete with LOTR's best.

I'd rather stab my ears with an ice pick than listen to the samples before getting the OST.

I think you've already listened to them.

Karol

and they were nothing less than amazing! so fresh, so new, yet so familiar. I've only listened to them once, so I can't remember them all but I especially loved warg-scouts, brass buttons, a good omen... aaaand... song of the lonely mountain. it really is ridiculously and laughably out of place but I absolutely loved it.

It sounds like something you'd hear after a Disney film.

[Brónach 1,304]

I am annoyed that song is in the film. I will have to skip the credits. This kind of decision without thinking it through can make a film worse.

[BloodBoal 7,540]

[Jonesy 55]

I want to make a suite with the bonus tracks. I will call it An Unexpected Suite.

[BloodBoal 7,540]

[alicebrallice 134]

I have to say, I am really disappointed and saddened by Alice's behaviour. When she joined the forum, I thought she was just an average superficial girl, with strange musical taste (The Terminal? Thomas "Snoozefest" Newman? Really?)... Then she surprised me in a really good way when she said she loved the Voldemort video (which, let's face it, is bloody awesome) and she said that she wouldn't listen to The Hobbit samples before watching the film. I thought: "What a strong-willed and refined woman!".

And now, she listened to The Hobbit samples and even said she likes Song Of The Lonely Mountain. She just became that average superficial girl again. Such a shame...

Yet, I think she still has the potential to be great again. After all, Williams composed Chamber Of Secrets just before he did Prisoner Of Azkaban. So I'll look forward to some of her upcoming posts... Hoping for the best, fearing the worst...

shush, now...

we all know you think I'm great. search your feelings... you will know it to be true.

[BloodBoal 7,540]

[Koray Savas 2,254]

Damn! Will I be the last one standing? Ah, no, I can always count on KM to stand by my side till the end, I guess.

I rarely listen to samples. Last score I did was The Dark Knight Rises I think, and before that I don't even remember.

Yeah, but you don't count since you don't really care about that score. I remember you saying that LOTR is one of your least favourite Shore's score. You prefer all of his Cronenberg collaborations. So it's not hard for you not to listen to it.

I didn't listen to Lincoln samples, or War Horse samples, or John Carter samples...

It's not hard for me to listen to samples because I'm a normal person and can wait for the actual CD. I do have the Special Edition pre-ordered if that makes any difference.

[BloodBoal 7,540]

[Koray Savas 2,254]

I despise all persons

[Brónach 1,304]

I listen to samples. Life is short.

[BloodBoal 7,540]

[Koray Savas 2,254]

So if you somehow you die in the two weeks between the samples being available and the score being available, you'll go out kinda knowing what you would have missed?

[Brónach 1,304]

Why the hell would I be thinking on a film score while I'm dying?

[gkgyver 1,647]

Yeah, you will stick around JWfan as a ghost.

I figured that's what Boal is doing, nobody living can possibly be that annoying. I assume he killed himself after the bunny affair.

[Koray Savas 2,254]

Why the hell would I be thinking on a film score while I'm dying?

How the fuck would I know? You said "I listen to samples. Life is short." Do you understand that expression?

[Brónach 1,304]

Yes. And I'm kidding.

[BloodBoal 7,540]

[Jonesy 55]

I can hear more hobbit material.

[BloodBoal 7,540]

[gkgyver 1,647]

I can hear pure bliss.

I think I need a cigarette after finishing the soundtrack.

[Richard Penna 3,999]

Shire theme in action mode - neat

Awesome track.

[Alan 697]

Great to hear a new take on the theme, as nice as it was to hear the more familiar versions in 'Old Friends'. Dec 10th can't come soon enough.

[gkgyver 1,647]

I can't get over how awfully jarring that song is.

And it just came to me how utterly ironic it is that the most adventurous score this year comes from a composer who was known for his subdued style and thriller scores.

[KK 3,308]

I love the new variations of the Hobbit material. It's awesome to hear the Shire material in such bustling action!

[Incanus 5,784]

Now that was wonderful and indeed it was a great treat to hear the bustling playful Hobbit material grow into that broader statement of the Shire theme. Gkgyver is right, the complete score might be an orgasmic experience.