Rings of Power Bear McCreary's The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings of Power (2022)

[Jay 39,764]

"Nolwa Mahtar" is Quenyan for "Noble Warrior".

 

I don't like using concert arrangement names as theme names.  Because any theme could have multiple concert arrangements.

[tomsmoviemadness 3,623]

Oh, of course. Thanks for reminding me about the meaning of it.

 

 

Also just realised that with the album being 100 minutes long there is still more than 6 hours of music we haven't even heard. There is so much that could still be revealed etc. I'm so excited!!

[tomsmoviemadness 3,623]

I revisited the S1 album this morning and straight after listened to the S2 album. Both are fantastic, although I think S1 has the slight edge because it better represents all the themes.

 

But besides that they're practically equals in my opinion. Some beautiful passages, thunderous action and some great dramatic moments.

I'm always having a hard time choosing my favourite theme, but I'm really starting to feel that The Stranger's theme is it. But the moment I say that I feel I'm not being fair to the great themes for Numenor, The Faithful, Bronwyn & Arondir, Galadriel & Noble Warrior.

I just love the whole thingso much and it'll be hard for me to talk about anything else in the coming weeks. Sorry, not sorry...

[crocodile 8,612]

One of my favourite themes in the show is Elrond's theme and there are some great new variations on the new album.

 

Karol

[Knight of Ren 1,089]

If I had to pick just one theme I would either say Galadriel or the Stranger. Both are brilliant themes and I love all their variations. Sad that the Stranger theme only appears twice on the album but looking forward to hear a lot more variations on the episodic albums. What I'm missing from this release is more variations on all the new themes, which are mostly confined to their own track.

 

I'm really liking the themes in Rhûn and Golden Leaves, and I hope we hear them a lot more in future weeks!

[tomsmoviemadness 3,623]

Only just noticed that the vocals at the end of Candles On The Tide is The Faithful theme. Very cool rendition.

[Knight of Ren 1,089]

Yeah, it's such a great and ominous rendition! Midway through another listen and I love the section that starts at 3:15 of Emissary at the Forge with the creepy arrangement of Sauron's theme and the Forging Ostinato building to that majestic statement of the Rings of Power theme! And I think later there are a couple of variations on the B section of Sauron's theme which as far as I know, hadn't been used in the episodes themselves!

[tomsmoviemadness 3,623]

I think Bear uses the B section of Sauron's theme for Annatar

[TheUlyssesian 2,589]

Full soundtrack now available. Youtube playlist. 

 

 

[Richard P 4,269]

From a very cursory initial aural glance, I definitely get a sense that this is far more of a highlights album than the first one was - clearly there is mountains more music to look forward to in the episode albums. Hopefully many more appearances of Numenor, Stranger, Nori, Galadriel, etc.

 

I'm typically not as much of a fan of 'feature vocal' material than many others here (I get the sense Bear includes a track because someone sang or vocalised somehow in it, and not necessarily because it's a major highlight within the work). However, Golden Leaves is a lovely mysterious, mythical-feeling melody, and contrary to a view prior views, I also like Stone Singers - it hits the emotional notes. The Bombadil reprise surprised me in how sparingly Kinnear and Weyman's vocals are used, but also how well they work. Still don't like Damrod though 

 

Super-excited to hear the extended battle pieces as I love the Noble Warrior (as we're now calling it) theme. I'm not a super fan of Shelob - it doesn't feel like Bear has done anything particularly special or different - just a functional bit of action.

 

I'll probably do a proper listen after the weekend as I'm away, but if the first three episodes are coming out all at once, sounds like we've got loads more music coming imminently!

[Jay 39,764]

Yes the first 3 episodes come out on Thursday (August 29) and if they follow what they did for season 1, the episode albums will be up on Amazon Music the same time as the episodes drop. 

 

IIRC the episode albums didn't show up on other music services until the whole season was over, in an attempt to get people to subscribe to Amazon Music

[Dunge_Onmaster 23]

You can argue about the aesthetics of the orchestral growling in “The Last Ballad of Damrod” (and I say that as both a film music and metal fan), but it is highly creative and probably  effective in scenic context. The musical highlight of both scores (season 1 and 2)  for me is the "The Sun Yet Shines”: Nolwa Mahtar chorale and Galadriel theme FINALLY come to musical bloom over a rapid, but nevertheless varied ostinato, not only in fragments, but fully developed in an orchestral tutti. The basic structure of the piece is very reminiscent of the suite that McCreary conducted at the Comic Con in San Diego in 2022. Unfortunately, there are only amateurish live recordings of it on YouTube. I've been waiting two years for this piece and here it is at last, and even without the a little bit too obtrusive solo violin. Really a great end to one of the best series scores ever. We don't know how TRoP will actually continue... I'm afraid there's not much more to come. But in terms of film music, it's an absolute highlight, both in 2022 and yet again in 2024!

[Jay 39,764]

The Sun Yet Shines is incredible, the best track on the album.  I wonder if its all score from episode 8 of the season, or Bear just knew it was a great album closer

[A. A. Ron 1,953]

It strikes me personally as either underscore for a montage or an End Credit piece.

[Holko 10,401]

S1's album wrapped up so perfectly that I was expecting a similar great finale, but I really don't think it functions too well as that. That colored my first impression of it a lot.

[Jay 39,764]

Huh.  I think it's a great track!  OK, maybe it doesn't have the same "epic ending" feel as the final track of season 1's OST album, but perhaps he thought the themes used in the finale cue are too "spoilery" so he saved it for the episode album.

 

He did after all edit out Halbrand's theme from one of the cues near the end of the season for the OST album

[crocodile 8,612]

Album now available to pre-order from Made by Mutant on both vinyl and CD.

 

 

Same content as digital album on CD and vinyl removes 4 tracks (Sandstorm at the Well, Forgiveness Takes an Age, Candles on the Tide, Durin's Bane).

 

I suppose the second box will come out eventually, perhaps as a tie-in for S3 (?). Hopefully, sooner than that.

 

Karol

[Jay 39,764]

Press release uses the old title of "Life In The Canyon" instead of the new title of "Concerning Stoors"

 

Actual artwork shows "Concerning Stoors"

[TheUlyssesian 2,589]

Are we use Nolwa Matar is just Galadriel's hero theme? I am thinking could it be a general Elvish hero theme and could it be used for Elrond too?

[Jay 39,764]

We're talking about a melody that appeared in one single scene in season 1.  It didn't even get a real concert arrangement, "Nohlwa Mahtar" is just the cue from the episode, with the vocals isolated and played first to extend the run time and make a face concert arrangement out of it.

 

Now that it's a recurring theme in season 2, there's no way to know what it represents, until the episodes come out and we can watch them.

[Stark 566]

I’m expecting it to be a general “heroic elven” theme, personally.

[Jay 39,764]

I figure its gonna be used for Galadriel's action scenes, and her existing theme will be used for other type of scenes, but we'll find out soon I suppose!

[tomsmoviemadness 3,623]

That vinyl cover is really cool.

 

And I think I'm hearing another cue than you guys because The Sun Yet Shines to me has that epic feel. It's maybe not overtly heroic, but I feel it's a strong ending. Especially those final four notes over the crescendo at the end.

[A. A. Ron 1,953]

I completely agree. I think it works great as an opener or a closer. It's probably my favorite track on the album along with Estrid.

[Jay 39,764]

1 hour ago, crocodile said:

 

 

Where did you find that square banner image you put in your post?  I don't see it on Mutant's website.

[crocodile 8,612]

29 minutes ago, Jay said:

 

Where did you find that square banner image you put in your post?  I don't see it on Mutant's website.

I took it from their email newsletter.

 

Karol

[Jay 39,764]

Ah!

 

 

 

On my second listen now already.  The cool choir from "Rhûn" shows up in "Sandstorm at the Well", so that's one recurring theme for sure.  I'm admittedly not the best Tolkien lorehoud; What is Rhûn, exactly?

[TolkienSS 471]

On 20/08/2024 at 10:53 PM, Chen G. said:

 

There's a track called "Concerning Stoors"? 

 

Life sums things up more perfectly than any essay ever could.

[Stark 566]

34 minutes ago, Jay said:

Ah!

 

 

 

On my second listen now already.  The cool choir from "Rhûn" shows up in "Sandstorm at the Well", so that's one recurring theme for sure.  I'm admittedly not the best Tolkien lorehoud; What is Rhûn, exactly?

Rhun is the eastern land which Nori and the Stranger set off toward - it’s barely described in the books, so anything in the show will probably be show-original.

[Jay 39,764]

Cool, thanks!

[TolkienSS 471]

Of all the things I hate on this show, the outright whimsical new-age elements in the score are by far the worst.

 

Comparing Shelob to, well, Shelob, that comparison really hits home just by how much Howard Shore is the superior composer.

 

Rarely does one get to compare things like these this directly, but wow.

[crocodile 8,612]

8 minutes ago, TolkienSS said:

Of all the things I hate on this show, the outright whimsical new-age elements in the score are by far the worst.

You must really hate May It Be then. 

 

Karol

[Doo_liss 6,640]

Just now, crocodile said:

You must really hate May It Be then. 

 

Karol

Is that whimsical?

[Chen G. 4,719]

9 minutes ago, TolkienSS said:

Comparing Shelob to, well, Shelob, that comparison really hits home just by how much Howard Shore is the superior composer.

 

The approach to the spiders is indeed very different.

 

Shore's spider music is an insane atonal musical entropy.

[Doo_liss 6,640]

It reminded me a lot of this:

 

 

[crocodile 8,612]

3 minutes ago, Chen G. said:

 

The approach to the spiders is indeed very different.

 

Shore's spider music is an insane atonal musical entropy.

It's Shelob as played by Jeff Goldblum. 😀

 

I love it, of course.

 

Karol

[tomsmoviemadness 3,623]

Does anyone know what the theme at 1:35 in Army Of Orcs is?

Could it maybe be a heroic rendition of either Erigion or Gil-Galad's theme? I'm having a hard time recognizing it.

[Jay 39,764]

I just realized - is The Mystics' theme not on this album?  Are those characters not in season 2?

[tomsmoviemadness 3,623]

Well, their "dead". So if they were to return, I didn't expect the theme to appear on this album.

[Jay 39,764]

I honestly couldn't even remember what happened to those guys.  They were hunting The Stranger because they thought he was Sauron, right?  But then we learned he's definitely not Sauron, but still don't know what he is exactly, right? They only hinted that he's Gandalf?  How did the three Mystic people die? I honestly can't recall.  I remember a burning tree and The Stranger using magic, but nothing more specific lol

[Doo_liss 6,640]

5 minutes ago, Jay said:

I honestly couldn't even remember what happened to those guys.  They were hunting The Stranger because they thought he was Sauron, right?  But then we learned he's definitely not Sauron, but still don't know what he is exactly, right? They only hinted that he's Gandalf?  How did the three Mystic people die? I honestly can't recall.  I remember a burning tree and The Stranger using magic, but nothing more specific lol

I seen to remember he burnt them to a crisp.

[Jay 39,764]

I looked it up.  Wikipedia says this

 

Nori Brandyfoot, Poppy Proudfellow, Marigold Brandyfoot, and Sadoc Burrows search for the Stranger in the Greenwood, but he is first found by the three mysterious women known as the Dweller, the Nomad, and the Ascetic. They tell him that he is their Lord Sauron, and plan to restore his memories and power.

 

The Harfoots attempt to rescue the Stranger from the women and Sadoc is killed. The Stranger regains some of his memories and uses the Dweller's magic staff to banish the women to the unseen world. Before they go, they realize that he is an Istar. Nori, Marigold, and Poppy return with the Stranger to the other Harfoots where he explains that Istar means Wizard, and he needs to travel east to the land of Rhûn to learn more about his powers and purpose. Nori decides to go with him.

 

So they were "banished to the unseen world".  Is "The unseen world" a Tolkien thing, or a show invention?  If its from Tolkien, did he ever say if its a place you can return from if sent there?

 

If its supposed to be a place you can never return from then yeah, I'd reckon we won't be seeing them or hearing their theme this season.  Which is a bummer, because I really liked that theme!

[Doo_liss 6,640]

From Tolkien Gateway:

 

"The Unseen are objects and creatures of the spirit world that belong to "magic". Some Maiar like Olórin were said to walk unseen among the Elves of Valinor, and Ossë would visit the shores unseen.^[1] All things in Arda fall into the realm of either the Seen or the Unseen. The Unseen world is neither good nor evil and contains both dark and bright spiritual beings. "

[Jay 39,764]

Finished my second listen.  Damn, what an album.  It's rare to get a new film score album (IE for a new score, not a revisit of an old score) these days thats so good from front to back.  That final track is so awesome, and there's SO many highlights throughout the whole album!

 

And boy, what a world we live in that as great as it is to have these 100 minutes of music to digest now, we got another THREE episode albums coming out less than a week from now, then 5 more after that.  Why can't EVERY show get that!?

[Doo_liss 6,640]

52 minutes ago, Jay said:

And boy, what a world we live in that as great as it is to have these 100 minutes of music to digest now, we got another THREE episode albums coming out less than a week from now, then 5 more after that.  Why can't EVERY show get that!?

I know! I see posts on other (sometimes here too) sites complaining about episode albums, and 15+ hr albums and it makes me almost wanna slap them sometimes lol (though I understand it somewhat when the music sucks lol)

[Knight of Ren 1,089]

Yeah, for me this is the golden treatment that the show deserves, and I will always prefer to have more music released than having a shorter presentarion which usually misses many great stuff. Another shows I would have liked to have in this format are Djawadi's scores for GoT and HotD, and also Giacchino's Lost. There are some great tracks missing, especially from earlier seasons in both cases!

[Doo_liss 6,640]

Just now, Knight of Ren said:

Yeah, for me this is the golden treatment that the show deserves, and I will always prefer to have more music released than having a shorter presentarion which usually misses many great stuff. Another shows I would have liked to have in this format are Djawadi's scores for GoT and HotD, and also Giacchino's Lost. There are some great tracks missing, especially from earlier seasons in both cases!

For me, it's Chuck (2007-2012), all it got was a single CD length highlight album.

[A. A. Ron 1,953]

At least that single CD is a great album!

[Doo_liss 6,640]

36 minutes ago, A. A. Ron said:

At least that single CD is a great album!

True.

 

Still, it's a crime we don't have this cue at 1:47:

 

 

[Holko 10,401]

7 hours ago, The Great Gonzales said:

I see posts on other (sometimes here too) sites complaining about episode albums, and 15+ hr albums and it makes me almost wanna slap them sometimes lol

It's not like somebody's putting a gun to their head forcing them to always listen to it all. The only goodish reason for complaining I can think of would be frustration that this [thing you don't like as much] is immediately treated so well respectfully for the fans while [great score] still only has a 35 minute OST release and the rest of it is rotting on shelves partly miscatalogued without anyone caring.