Howard Shore's The Desolation Of Smaug (Hobbit Part 2)

[ChrisAfonso 188]

P.S. I still remember watching the RotK EE and the Mouth of Sauron scene and being blown away by the absolutely brilliant snarlingly heavy set version of Evil of the Ring theme. Unashamedly melodramatic but oh so powerful moment.

Unquestionably one of my favourite parts of all of LotR. You have no idea how many times I've played that cue just for that bit.

Another similar moment I appreciate is "The Foot of Orthanc". All that churning and the snarling statements of Isengard and Gondor, oooh and that finale....LOVE it!

I love these outstanding small short moments in the middle of a track. Somehow the short appearance of the Lothlorien theme on basses in the middle of Shelob's Lair (it's been too long since last watching the film - I believe it's the "Aiya Earendil!" etc. vial moment) gets me every time, so that I often scrub back and repeat it several times... the way it seems to offer a moment of respite (while the trembling violins fade into the background), just to pick up its pace and lead back into the frenzy.

[BloodBoal 7,538]

[Incanus 5,734]

The brass Goblin theme plays twice in the film.

Indeed.

Would you indeed be more specific where?

[SafeUnderHill 205]

[Barnald 377]

I thought I was going mad listening to the first track without looking and it went on longer! 90 SECOND PREVIEWS!

https://soundcloud.com/watertowermusic/the-hobbit-the-desolation-of

Bree music! Warg theme returns! And that's only two tracks in! Glorious

[Jay 37,514]

Woohoo!

What's funny is that they replaced the original file with this new one, so now all the comments listed along the graphic don't line up with the music playing any more

[Barnald 377]

That music in Flies and Spiders is just beautiful. Is that for the bit where Bilbo glimpses through the trees?

Hearing all this new music is making me even more excited, Doug was clearly right about the best stuff being later in the tracks.

[Bilbo 3,710]

Cool!

GAH! That Bree stuff!

[Barnald 377]

Come on this is more than cool!

[Bilbo 3,710]

I was trying to instigate the "cool, very cool, very very cool" stuff.

This is indeed awesome.

[Barnald 377]

That action Mirkwood Elves theme in Forest River is spectacular! Tons of good stuff here.

[Bilbo 3,710]

From Amazon.co.uk. A bit small though.

[Incanus 5,734]

Oooh these 90 second clips reveal even more goodness! Awesomeness should I say!

[Bilbo 3,710]

Thorin's theme in protector of the common folk?

I'm really liking the Lake-Town stuff at the moment.

Thorin's theme seems to be the major recurring theme (Smaug aside) this time.

Thorin, Smaug and Necromancer is the most recurring music from the first film I guess. Small bit of Bilbo stuff in there.

[Dixon Hill 4,234]

Longer samples? Will wonders never cease?

[Bilbo 3,710]

The new Smaug stuff at the end is phenomenal!

My Armour is Iron is my favorite :D

[luke905 18]

Am I wrong, or the first three notes of the Company's theme are in Durin's Folk, at 25:15 after the Thorin's theme?

[Jay 37,514]

Hmmm, it does sound like it somewhat, yea... but it's clearly not enough to give Plan 9 credit on the back cover, it could be a coincidence.

[Bilbo 3,710]

Hmmm, it does sound like it somewhat, yea... but it's clearly not enough to give Plan 9 credit on the back cover, it could be a coincidence.

Plan 9 weren't credited on the back cover of AUJ either I think. It's in the liner notes that that kind of info is found no? I don't have my copies of AUJ at hand to check.

[luke905 18]

Hmmm, it does sound like it somewhat, yea... but it's clearly not enough to give Plan 9 credit on the back cover, it could be a coincidence.

The big statement with which the three notes are exposed immediately reminded me of the Plan 9's theme.

Coincidence or not, I hope that in some way the theme has not been abandoned.

[Dixon Hill 4,234]

90 seconds is not enough after hearing Feast of Starlight cut off where it does!!!!!

[Incanus 5,734]

90 seconds is not enough after hearing Feast of Starlight cut off where it does!!!!!

Yeah that was very cruel!

Wow the Smaug material with that exotic percussion beat at the end of the second disc sounds quite unusual for Middle Earth but also very cool!

[Lewya 360]

Wow, amazing!

[Incanus 5,734]

Beyond the Forest! I am even more flabbergasted than before. Gimme the whole album already so I can hear it in full glory!

It really reminds of Sissel's beautiful work for Asëa Aranion in RotK. Ooooh which reminds me Kingsfoil is Asëa Aranion in Quenya! Perhaps there is some connection musically right there!

[Dixon Hill 4,234]

The Forest River is totally flooring. Wow.

[Incanus 5,734]

The Forest River is totally flooring. Wow.

It is a very extrovert Shore score indeed! Nice swash and buckle in there.

[Lewya 360]

I haven't reached it yet so soush!

[crocodile 8,062]

I think I'll skip all those samples already. Before it'll spoil the whole album.

The only thing I checked was the last track. Might be the best track Shore has written in quite some time.

Karol

[Incanus 5,734]

I think I'll skip all those samples already. Before it'll spoil the whole album.

The only thing I checked was the last track. Might be the best track Shore has written in quite some time.

Karol

It is a striking piece indeed. And you are a man of stronger will than many here Karol.

[crocodile 8,062]

What I would check out, though, is a the complete stream of this soundtrack, same as last year.

Karol

[Barnald 377]

That Dwarrowdelf-sounding bit in Spell of Concealment is wonderous! Looks like that theme first heard in 'In the Shadow of the Mountain' will be important, as Doug says.

[gkgyver 1,646]

Nice, and I can't hear it right now

With 90 seconds samples they might as well release the whole thing

[Lewya 360]

How long is the whole score? Is this 1/3 of the whole thing or less? I'm too lazy to count myself.

[Dixon Hill 4,234]

I think it's now safe to say that this is going to be a very special score.

[Barnald 377]

That version of Smaug's theme at 37:20ish -

[Jay 37,514]

How long is the whole score? Is this 1/3 of the whole thing or more? I'm too lazy to count myself.

Well, the standard OST runs 1:55:51 and the SE OST runs 2:09:17, and this Soundcloud preview is 43 1/2 minutes.... so the preview is about 37% of the standard OST, or 34% of the SE OST.

[Barnald 377]

Wow Beyond the Forest is breathtakingly beautiful

[Dixon Hill 4,234]

Anyone else hear shades of The Lion King in it? It's wonderful!

[SafeUnderHill 205]

[Incanus 5,734]

Anyone else hear shades of The Lion King in it? It's wonderful!

Yeap. But as I said it brings Asëa Aranion from RotK to mind as well.

[Lewya 360]

Gandalf encounter at ~28.10 ish?

[SafeUnderHill 205]

[Jonesy 55]

I hear hints of Nazgûl theme at 18:40.

[Incanus 5,734]

I hear hints of Nazgûl theme at 18:40.

Sounds a bit like the Foot Steps of Doom motif to me. But Shore often uses such slow rhythmic pulses to ratchet up tension in LotR scores.

[Lewya 360]

Sounds like there is a lot of vocal work that we are missing out on.

[Barnald 377]

Gandalf encounter at ~28.10 ish?

Sounds like that new Dwarven/Erebor theme to me, first heard in 'In the Shadow of the Mountain' and returning in 'My Armour is Iron'. It'll be something to do with that statue or the door no doubt.

[SafeUnderHill 205]

[Barnald 377]

If 42 minutes sounds this good, then how good will three times that sound?!

[KK 3,307]

Nice to see positive reactions to the 90 second previews. The TORN reviewer who got the ENTIRE score seemed slightly underwhelmed.

Again, I really wouldn't make judgements on this score based on a review from TORN.

Will be listening to this soon. Looking most forward to Beyond the Forest.

[SafeUnderHill 205]