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

[Joni Wiljami 1,206]

I'm sure she couldn't resist...

[Wojo 2,453]

Nope. I didn't listen to it either.

But please don't think I'm trying to intrude on your alice fantasies. That's something special I could never hope to have.

[Jay 37,323]

There's nothing weak about listening to samples. I enjoy being familiar with the music before I see the movie

[Quintus 5,399]

On the other hand, the girl surprises me with every day that passes. I take every bad thing I may have said or will say about her.

You'll live to regret it - just wait until she's drunk again!

[BloodBoal 7,538]

[Faleel 5,342]

I take every bad thing I may have said or will say about her.

Why would you have to take everything you said? you already have what you said in your possession!

[BloodBoal 7,538]

[scallenger 483]

I wonder if this sample is the extended version of the track or the regular OST version, since this was one of the tracks marked "extended" for the Special Edition.

[Jay 37,323]

I wonder the same thing.

[OneBuckFilms 319]

I suspect it to be the regular version, as the giveaway is a promotional thing.

We'll know soon enough.

[Jay 37,323]

I too would guess its the OST version and not the SE version

The track, btw, is now on youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9KmkfBAnzw

[Alan 689]

My first thought when I heard it was actually Shore's own score for Soul Of The Ultimate Nation. Especially for those first few seconds. I'm probably way off as I've not heard Soul for a long time. I think it was the voices more than anything.

[alicebrallice 134]

On the other hand, the girl surprises me with every day that passes. I take back every bad thing I may have said or will say about her. She's a keeper.

who... are you?

damn, I can't put my finger on you. and I'm usually very good at putting my finger on people. argh!

I'm sure she couldn't resist...

oh I sure could! and can!

screw the upcoming samples too. I'm not listening to any of this before I've seen the film. BAM! best movie experience ever.

[Faleel 5,342]

The choir recording sounds more dynamic here, than in the LOTR scores...

[tannhauser 101]

I didnt listen, and wont.

[BloodBoal 7,538]

[gkgyver 1,645]

"Not listening ... not listening!"

Oh damn ....

The sound is close to LotR but different - obviously.

I think, as it was very often the case in RotK IMO, Shore makes the images on screen better than they really are. Like with Radagast here.

[KK 3,307]

I keep playing this track again. Its great stuff!

I think we can't say anything definitive about the Radagast scene this music is meant to accompany but it really sounds intriguing as it goes through so many different moods in this little less than 5 minutes. But it really sounds so wonderfully familiar and still new, Shore returning to his sound of Middle Earth with undiminished ingenuity. All the dissonant and harsher sensibilities are here but also the lyricism, the orchestrational skill and nuance and spirit of LotR. The choral writing really reminds me of LotR and the Nature material in tone if not in directly in thematic material.

The opening choral measures really harken back to the Nature material (in tone, not thematically). What I love is the diversity in this once piece, but I doubt it'll be representative of the whole score. I think the only major difference in tone is that where LotR was more graceful to produce that archaic sound, this score will be more dynamic (as heard in the rhythmic and choral work here).

I'm trying to take a guess at any potential recurring thematic ideas that might be present in the track (Doug's mysterious hints had me going). I believe 0:38 is a possible motif a la Nature's Reclamation (although its actual use in context is impossible to guess). I think the opening fiddle motif could either be a skewed variation of Radagast's possible thematic material. 2:56 - 3:38 is classic LotR dissonance.

I'm really loving when the children's choir joins in the end. I'm still trying to wonder what's being scored here. Something to do with spiders attacking Radagast, or the old wizard learning something about the "darkness" in the forest.

[Brónach 1,301]

I think the fiddle music is Radagast the Weird music. Some chorus interventions sound like Radagast the Nature Wizard. The rythm and the dramatic progression sound like Radagast Onto Something.

[KK 3,307]

Something along those lines, yes. Although the fiddle music is still a bit dark for a character's oddities. I think one of those motifs will be associated with the settling shadow in Mirkwood.

No, e.g. the music for the early Black Riders scenes in FotR is full of smaller subtler percussion, not perhaps as sharply tapping as in the preview track for Hobbit though.

Shore has used a great variety of percussion in subtle ways. The Ent music is full of such subtle accents.

[Quintus 5,399]

The fiddle signals the arrival of Michael Caine's cameo.

[OneBuckFilms 319]

Very interesting. Darker than I expected it to be.

[Sharkissimo 1,973]

Just as tedious and narcoleptic as I expected.

[Faleel 5,342]

Just as tedious and narcoleptic as I expected.

Just as deaf as we suspected.

[gkgyver 1,645]

Just as tedious and narcoleptic as I expected.

Like yourself?

[Sharkissimo 1,973]

Just as tedious and narcoleptic as I expected.

Like yourself?

Grow up.

[Bryant Burnette 654]

Sounded pretty good to me.

[Jilal 569]

The choir recording sounds more dynamic here, than in the LOTR scores...

Yes, it's very clear.

I really like the percussion and the viola.

[Jay 37,323]

I thought it was a violin or a cello, but someone said it was a fiddle

[Incanus 5,713]

Well to me it sounds like violin (or as we say, fiddle) or viola. And it really sounds clear and dynamic indeed. Did John Kurlander record this one?

EDIT

Ah it seems Simon Rhodes is the scoring mixer (someone else mentioned this in the above posts). I have to admit he does a pretty good job here.

[crocodile 7,990]

Well, Simon Rhodes is one of the better people in the business at the moment.

Just listen to Hugo.

Karol

[Luke Skywalker 1,793]

chamber of secrets is the best sounding Potter score to my ears too.

[Jay 37,323]

Yea, Chamber of Secrets sounds amazing, of course that is helped by a spectacular performance by the LSO

[BloodBoal 7,538]

[Luke Skywalker 1,793]

Well to me it sounds like violin (or as we say, fiddle) or viola.

I thought there was a difference between a violin and a fiddle?

the former is the used in orchestras and the other in folk (though the fiddle can be used with the orchestra)

Fiddle = gipsy violin?

[Faleel 5,342]

I hope Dan Wallin gets to work on the two other films, though.

I think your a jerkhead for posting that.

[Koray Savas 2,251]

It's dickhead.

Uncool bro.

[Wojo 2,453]

Well to me it sounds like violin (or as we say, fiddle) or viola.

I thought there was a difference between a violin and a fiddle?

the former is the used in orchestras and the other in folk (though the fiddle can be used with the orchestra)

Fiddle = gipsy violin?

Short answer = A violin can be a fiddle but not all fiddles are violins.

Longer - A fiddle is a catch-all term for bowed string instrument that can include violins, violas, and other medieval instruments that are the ancestor's of today's instruments.

[Jay 37,323]

Interesting

[Faleel 5,342]

It's dickhead.

Not with me.

[Luke Skywalker 1,793]

it's more than that:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiddle

It's also the folk instrument (or fiddling is playing he string instrument in a folkish way??)

[Jay 37,323]

So, which specific instrument is taking the lead in the Radagast track?

And what the heck is making the cool percussion sounds?

[Luke Skywalker 1,793]

is there a difference between a clssical orchestra voilin and a folk violin... (as for example fiddler on the roof?)

[BloodBoal 7,538]

[Joni Wiljami 1,206]

I think it is more how you play it, how you produce the sound.

In the classical music the ideal of the sound is different.

[KK 3,307]

So, which specific instrument is taking the lead in the Radagast track?

It's likely a viola being fiddled with.

is there a difference between a clssical orchestra voilin and a folk violin... (as for example fiddler on the roof?)

It's all in the style of playing. Instruments like "Gypsy violins" are really just violins but played in the gypsy style. But there are specialty instruments like the Hardanger fiddle, which is different from a classical orchestra violin.

And what the heck is making the cool percussion sounds?

I heard a wood block and finger cymbals in there...the rest could be a combination of other things or a specialty instrument.

Just went to Adams' blog and caught some interesting bits.

In the comments section:

Walter: >>>This might be a bit late, seeing as the first trailer came out so long ago, but I was wondering if anyone else had considered parallels between the central, "heroic journey" kind of theme heard in that trailer and the themelet "The Journey There" from LotR? Does anyone think there's a connection?>>>

Doug: You might be on to something.

Doug: I'm telling you, folks, you will want to read [my] book very closely before Hobbit time! It pays to invest oneself in the details ...

So for all those doubting Shore's return to Middle-Earth, it seems pretty clear that the composer will stay very loyal to his magnum opus. And he seems to be thematically building off even the smallest of details in LotR. I expected nothing less of him of course. But considering how some people here were freaking out with the Radagast clip, some folks may need reassurance.

[Faleel 5,342]

I really hope it refrences/expands on that little bit in fellowship, with the map.

[gkgyver 1,645]

I can totally hear a bigger rendition of that theme playing over the ending of the film, when it pans over the Lonely Mountain. Assuming the film ends this way.

[Brónach 1,301]

I think we've all been expecting that for ages.

[gkgyver 1,645]

Just as tedious and narcoleptic as I expected.

Like yourself?

Grow up.

I'm really genuinely stunned that you call this Hobbit track tedious, but consider Skyfall a great score.