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

[tomsmoviemadness 3,623]

Yeah, I really love the forging theme and your breakdown is fantastic!

 

 

On another note, I read in an interview with the showrunners and based on the things they said about the battle of Eregion, the 11 minute track on the album is like 20% of the entire music that will accompany it.

 

The battle will take place over the span of 3 episodes. Which I think is pretty cool. Which means there's plenty of music to come!!!! Only 2 days (or 3 if the albums release on Friday) till more music.

 

Source

https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/lord-of-the-rings-tv-shows/the-rings-of-power-season-2-siege-of-eregion-battle-exclusive-showrunners-interview/

 

[Jay 39,762]

Ah, the last post of the page curse strikes again.  Hopefully curious people go back a page and read it.

 

And hopefully the theme appears in more cues on the episode albums (though the one on the season 2 album is already pretty great!)

 

I honestly can't recall if the episode albums arrived as soon as the episodes dropped, or some time after the episodes dropped?  It looks like with season 1, the episodes didn't drop until 9PM EST on Thursday nights, but this season they are dropped at midnight EST on Thursdays, so 21 hours sooner?

 

One thing I do remember is that the episode albums were exclusive to Amazon Music and only appeared on other music stores / streamers when the final episode came out.   So everybody talking about them before that happened was clearly an Amazon Music subscriber, of course

[tomsmoviemadness 3,623]

Oh yeah, I see about the page, I hope people go back.

 

S1 episodes indeed dropped earlier, so they were usually available on Fridays if I remember correctly (or that's just me, because I'm in Europe). It would be great to have them release on Thursdays now.

[Jay 39,762]

Right, the episodes themselves didn't show up anywhere, in any country, until it was 9PM EST in the USA on a Thursday night, which would already be Friday in Europe (that's like 2AM Friday UK time).  This was because Amazon had Thursday Night Football games in the USA, so was hoping that people would watch the latest TROP episode right away when the game was over (in reality I don't think there's much crossover between NFL fans and fantasy tv fans).

 

Anyway, what I don't recall was if the episode ALBUMS also didn't show up on Amazon Music until the episodes themselves were available to watch, or if they were on a different schedule.

[Richard P 4,269]

I thought they both dropped on the same day, but only because I don't remember watching an episode and having to wait for the album to drop.

 

I'm currently digging the two big battle tracks - it feels like we're getting a first glimpse of how Bear scores a huge medieval epic. What oddly works well is that halfway through Battle for Eregion we've had Galadriel and Noble Warrior switching in and out, and Bear sneaks in the Eregion theme to start the choral part and it feels like such a natural way for the track to dial down. I get a feeling that this track could be a re-recorded suite given how well it flows from section to section.

[Jay 39,762]

For some reason I think the episode albums were sometimes available before the episodes were out?

 

The big Battle for Eregion track is so much to take in, I feel like I don't have any opinions on it yet!  That article about the battle really being a siege that plays out over episodes 6-8 is really cool.  I'm looking forward to 5 episode albums preparing me for it over the next 3 weeks!

[Tydirium 1,402]

1 hour ago, Jay said:

What do you guys think of The Forging Theme?

 

Here's Bear's blog post where he talks about it: https://bearmccreary.com/the-lord-of-the-rings-episode-108/

 

It only appears in the final episode of season 1:

 

Season 1 Episode 8 album track 2 "An Intriguing Suggestion"

• 5:13-5:31 - racing strings, with female voices backing it up, then Halbrand's theme plays over it as well.  This same passage is on the Season 1 OST album in "Perilous Whispers" from 0:08-0:33

Season 1 Episode 8 album track 3 "Power Over Flesh"

• 3:08-3:51 - racing strings, now backed by mixed (?) choir.  The strings eventually reach a new ending bit that reminds me of the High Fells music from Desolation of Smaug.  This same passage is on the Season 1 OST album in "Perilous Whispers" from 0:39-1:16

Season 1 Episode 8 album track 8 "True Creation Requires Sacrifice", same as Season 1 album track of the same name

1. 1:48-2:42 - racing strings backed by female choir again, then The Rings theme plays over it.
2. 2:46-3:36 - the strings are now more broken up to start, then brass and flute play unique melodies over a more standard iteration of it.
3. 3:52-4:12 - still on strings, but now finally slowed down, playing more like a standard theme instead of an ostinato.  Mixed choir chant on top
4. 5:42-end - back to the racing ostinato version, backed by choir.  This is the final piece of music you hear in the entire season before the end credits.

 

Basically all these scenes cover the forging of the three Elven Rings of Power.  I expected it to come back in season when the Dwarven Rings of Power are forged.... and sure enough, it does make an appearance on the 2 OST album:

 

Season 2 album track 9 "Emissary at the Forge"

• 3:15-4:03 - racing strings with female choir on top, then Sauron's theme plays over it now!  This instance gives way to a killer version of the Rings of Power theme afterwards too

I think its pretty cool that the theme is so instantly recognizable, and while its perhaps a relatively simple ostinato, the way he puts different choir over it makes each version different.  But then the way he puts Halbrand's Theme, the Rings of Power Theme, and Sauron's theme over it in three different cues is just brilliant!  Its the three themes that make the most sense to be combined with it for obvious reasons, and the combinations really sound great, every time!

 

It features prominently in “Cirdan’s Perfection” as well. Choir starting at 1:38, racing strings at 2:01, and keeps going for much of the track.

[Jay 39,762]

Oh snap!  I'm gonna check that out right now!

[Tydirium 1,402]

It’s become one of my favorite tracks on the album. I love the major key version of the racing strings at 2:46! Also the haunting solo vocals (child soprano?) from 4:56-5:27, singing the “Where the Shadows Lie” theme followed by Sauron’s theme (with the Sauron string motif underneath). Extremely unsettling.

[Jay 39,762]

 

OK, updated the post, thank you!

[Edmilson 9,134]

1 hour ago, JNHFan2000 said:

On another note, I read in an interview with the showrunners and based on the things they said about the battle of Eregion, the 11 minute track on the album is like 20% of the entire music that will accompany it.

 

The battle will take place over the span of 3 episodes. Which I think is pretty cool. Which means there's plenty of music to come!!!! Only 2 days (or 3 if the albums release on Friday) till more music.

 

Interesting to know that. Doing the math, if 11 minutes are 20% of the score for the battle, then that means it's 55 minutes total.

 

If the battle takes place over the course of 3 episodes, then that means an average of 18 minutes and 20 seconds of battle music per episode. Of course that number can go up or down depending on how much battle each of the 3 episodes has.

 

Last season, each episode had an average of 54 minutes of music (judging by the episodic albums and not considering unreleased cues, because they're what, 8 minutes the entire season?).

 

So, if he mantains that for season 2, that means 34% of the score present on each one of the 3 episodes will be devoted to the battle.

 

Phew! 

[Jay 39,762]

#EdmilsonDidTheMath

[Doo_liss 6,639]

EdMathson?

EdMath?

[Edmilson 9,134]

Assuming there's between 7 and 8 hours of music for the entire season, the 55 minutes of battle will represent between 11.5% and 13% of the entire Season 2 score 

 

In comparison, the Siege of the Southlands track from S1 was about 5% of that season's music (just counting the episodic albums, not including concert suites, etc).

 

I think a better comparison would be finding out how much time the battles of Rohan and of Gondor in TTT and ROTK take from those scores.

[Doo_liss 6,639]

Well for ROTK we have:

 

 

Osgiliath Falls:

 

Osgiliath Invaded - 8:48

 

Failed retaking attempt:

The Sacrifice of Faramir - 3:38

 

The Siege of Gondor:

Final Note of EE cue inside "The Paths of the Dead" - 0:11
The Siege of Gondor - 8:53
Grond - 1:32
The Tomb of the Stewards - 3:31 (first 40 seconds covers Sam discovering Frodo is not dead)
The Battle of the Pelennor Fields - 4:20
The Pyre of Denethor - 3:00
The Mumakil - 0:57
Dernhelm in Battle - 2:06
A Far Green Country - 1:28
Shieldmaiden of Rohan - 2:35
Victory on the Pelennor - 2:54

 

Aftermath:

 

Passing of Theoden - 2:16
The Houses of Healing (original intended version) - 3:14

 

[TheUlyssesian 2,589]

The Season album is like a sampler - it is Bear's cut of essentially an 8 hour work - for casuals.

 

I am waiting to see the episodes before doing a deeper dive as it helps me with theme associations and helps me understand the structure of certain cues. 

 

I think we'll all discover much more when we hear the music in context.

[Knight of Ren 1,087]

Yeah, I'm reserving further exploration of the new themes till we have the episodic releases, as I think they will give a much better sense of narrative continuity with both the old and new themes. For example, a theme like Nori's surely has more than one appearance in this season, so I'm wondering how the theme will be used, if the B theme will return, if we'll hear her theme join the Stranger's theme or even the Rhûn theme when they arrive there, and also that perhaps we might hear the Harfoot theme at some point if she remembers her family and Poppy. And that's just an example of what one of S1 themes could offer.

 

So much to discover, and I'm so glad we get to hear all this music outside the show the very same day we get the episodes themselves!

[tomsmoviemadness 3,623]

I've looked back at the way things released with S1 and I'm 100% sure the albums will come out when the episodes air!

 

And like Knight Of Ren says, there are themes that barely have any play time on the Season album, but based on the importance of their characters, it's almost impossible that there won't be much more usage of themes like Nori's, Durin's & Khazad-Dum's, Southlands theme etc.

 

And I can't wait!!!

[Richard P 4,269]

Evidently Bear's focus will be on the new material for this sampler album, given how much Nori/Stranger/Numenor (etc) were on the first album.

 

But with the wealth of soloist performances this season I wonder whether Bear feels obligated to put those on the album for one reason or another, which means he loses other material. It's also nice to have an album that offers a bit more variety to start with - we can hear all his reprisals of existing themes in the episode scores.

[DangerMotif 1,140]

The music isn’t available yet in NZ although it’s possible they will release it on Amazon on Thursday’s and all other platforms on Friday 

[tomsmoviemadness 3,623]

Only episode 2 is available. And only on Qobuz

 

https://www.qobuz.com/nz-en/album/the-lord-of-the-rings-the-rings-of-power-season-two-episode-two-where-the-stars-are-strange-amazon-original-series-soundtrack-bear-mccreary/c0ej8xiinu4sb

[Jay 39,762]

Cool!

 

Episode Two: Where The Stars Are Strange
1 Catastrophe at Khazad-du^m 2:14
2 Glimpses of the Unseen World 5:32
3 Caras Gaer 4:37
4 The Gaudrim 3:43
5 Despair Under the Mountain 4:41
6 Before Darkness Blinds Us All 8:05
7 My Name Is Not Halbrand 9:34
8 Invitation to Eregion 1:39
Total length: 00:40:05

 

Episodes 1 and 3 will surely show up soon.

 

I remember in 2022, the episode 2 album was on Amazon Music for a bit before the Episode 1 album showed up

[Knight of Ren 1,087]

Loving the samples! This is what I picked on those brief seconds:

 

-Catastrophe at Khazad-dûm has an urgent Sauron Ostinato joined by the Khazad-dûm theme

-Glimpses of the Unseen World has the Rings of Power theme in an ominous rendition, with the Sauron Ostinato underneath

-Caras Gaer is basically the same as Rhûn

-The Gaudrim has some beautiful harmonic progressions and a hint of the Eregion theme?

-Despair Under the Mountain has a badass vocal rendition of Khazad-dûm!

-Before Darkness Binds Us All contains a pretty sad variation on Elrond's theme

-My Name Is Not Halbrand obviously plays the Halbrand theme but in a somber rendition

-Invitation to Eregion has a hint of Galadriel

[Jay 39,762]

Catastrophe at Khazad-dûm kicks off the album with Sauron's theme..... and it sounds like it morphs into Adar/Orcs at the end!  Then there's cool Khazad-dûm music

 

Glimpses of the Unseen World is awesome!  Galadriel's theme goes to Sauron's theme, which goes into a great statement of the Rings of Power theme!  Later there's a cool choral passage, sounds great!

[DangerMotif 1,140]

How do I get access to the full tracks?

[Jay 39,762]

The first half of Caras Gaer is a fun version of Rhûn music!  Like an urgent, cue style instead of a slower, concert arrangement style

 

The second half has The Mystics theme!

[Tydirium 1,402]

I thought these episode albums were supposed to be Amazon Music exclusives at first? Obviously I’m not complaining if that is not the case, but strange to see just one of them on Qobuz. My first thought was that they could have accidentally jumped the gun on that one.

[tomsmoviemadness 3,623]

They're not continuing with Amazon Music exclusive release, because apparently it with S1 it didn't make people subscibe to it. So it's all releasing now on all platforms. Why only episode 2 is now on there probably has something to do with the servers or whatever.

[Jay 39,762]

Wow!  The first part of The Gaudrim features a great new version of The Stranger's theme!  Later, we get a super fun version of the Rhûn choir backed by ethnic instruments, sounds great!

[tomsmoviemadness 3,623]

Are you able to listen to the whole thing?

[Holko 10,401]

Nah he's manifesting it into his brain

[Tydirium 1,402]

8 minutes ago, JNHFan2000 said:

They're not continuing with Amazon Music exclusive release, because apparently it with S1 it didn't make people subscibe to it. So it's all releasing now on all platforms. Why only episode 2 is now on there probably has something to do with the servers or whatever.

 

When did they change that? I must have missed that update. The press release earlier this month stated:

 

Quote

Following each episode, Amazon Music will release a weekly soundtrack album containing the score for that episode, only available on Amazon Music.

 

https://press.amazonmgmstudios.com/us/en/press-release/ithe-lord-of-the-rings-the-rings-of-poweri-season--1

[tomsmoviemadness 3,623]

Well, then maybe this is just a mistake with one episode

[Jay 39,762]

 

The first 54 seconds of "Despair Under the Mountain" is a slightly edited-down version of "Stone Singers" from the season album

 

This is followed by an awesome version of the Khazad-dûm choir that's almost acapella at first, followed by a bold brass statement of the same theme.  Some nice noble music leads into Durin's theme, then a nice, but sad version of Elrond's theme ends the track

 

 

Before Darkness Binds Us All... more sad Elrond's theme in the first half.  Second half has The Stranger's theme giving way to more fun Rhûn choir again!  Strangely, this theme didn't "wow" me on the season album, but it sounds so good on this album!  Rhûn leads us right back into a powerful, bold statement of The Stranger's theme backed by choir, its great!  The music sounds like a really big event is happening here as there's tons of choir climaxing in another statement of The Stranger's theme

 

EDIT: Oh, I'm a dummy.  4:18-end of this track is identical to "Sandstorm At The Well" from the season album

 

"My Name Is Not Halbrand" opens with really cool mysterious music.  Not sure of themes except parts of it sounded like its trying to get to The Stranger's theme?  Then we get a sort of, defeated version of Halbrand's theme to end this section.  2:34-end is "Emissary at the Forge" from the season album, BUT its extended with extra music that got snipped out of the season-album version.   Although, the choir-ending of the season-album track (5:31-end) is not here!  It must be from a different episode.

 

"Invitation to Eregion" brings Galadriel's theme back, then Khazad-dûm to end the track and album!

 

Phew!  There's a ton of good music here!

[Jay 39,762]

So basically the episode 2 album breaks down like this

 

1  Catastrophe at Khazad-dûm 2:14

• New Music! {Sauron, Khazad-dûm, Durin IV}

2 Glimpses of the Unseen World 5:32

• New Music! {Galadriel, Sauron, Rings, Eregion}

3 Caras Gaer 4:37

• New Music! {Rhûn, The Mystics}

4 The Gaudrim 3:43

• New Music! {Nori, The Stranger, Rhûn}

5 Despair Under the Mountain 4:41

• 0:00-0:54 = shortened edit of "Stone Singers" from the season album
• 0:54-end = New Music! {Khazad-dûm, Durin IV, Elrond}

6 Before Darkness Blinds Us All 8:05

• 0:00-4:18 = New Music! {Sauron, Galadriel, Elrond, Rings}
• 4:18=end = "Sandstorm At The Well" from the season album

7 My Name Is Not Halbrand 9:34

• 0:00-2:34 = New Music! {Halbrand}
• 2:34-4:47 = 0:00-2:04 of "Emissary at the Forge" from the season album (with the season album version being slightly shortened for listening purposes at one point)
• 4:47-5:29 = New Music!
• 5:29-6:34 = 2:04-3:09 of "Emissary at the Forge" from the season album
• 6:34-7:14 = New Music!
• 7:14-end = 3:09-5:31 of "Emissary at the Forge" from the season album

8 Invitation to Eregion 1:39

• New Music! {Galadriel, Khazad-dûm}

 

So with that in mind, I think we've learned that on the season 2 album:

• Tracks 1-4 and 8 are concert arrangements (Old Tom Bombadil, Rhûn, Concerning Stoors, Golden Leaves, Eregion)
• Track 5 is from episode 1 (Cirdain's Perfection)
• Tracks 6-7 and 9 are from episode 2 (Stone Singers, Sandstorm at the Well, Emissary at the Forge)
• except the ending of track 9, which isn't in episode 2.

 

The doc is fully updated: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1iPZSq84CsDwNeyokPVDh4adCyagChXIEW9X_-sYu5sc/

[DangerMotif 1,140]

https://filmmusicreporter.com/2024/08/28/the-lord-of-the-rings-the-rings-of-power-season-2-episodes-1-3-soundtrack-albums-details/

9. The Rings of Power-Season One Overture (Bonus Track) (3:40)

COMIC CON MUSIC SUITE!!!!

[Jay 39,762]

THAT'S SO GREAT THEY ARE FINALLY RELEASING THE SEASON 1 OVERTURE!!

 

 

[DangerMotif 1,140]

 

10. The Rings of Power – Title Announcement Trailer (Bonus Track) (1:05)
11. The Rings of Power – Season Two Overture (Bonus Track) (1:26)
12. The Rings of Power – London Premiere Season One Fanfare (Bonus Track) (4:18)

 

 

[Jay 39,762]

Yes, the Title Announcement trailer uses The Stranger's Theme

 

 

Not sure what those other two things are

 

 

[TheUlyssesian 2,589]

7 minutes ago, DangerMotif said:

https://filmmusicreporter.com/2024/08/28/the-lord-of-the-rings-the-rings-of-power-season-2-episodes-1-3-soundtrack-albums-details/

9. The Rings of Power-Season One Overture (Bonus Track) (3:40)

COMIC CON MUSIC SUITE!!!!

 

So this is Nolwa - Galadriel - Sauron - Stranger - Galadriel - Nolwa. I am guessing a new recording as the Comic Con sound would be too noisy?

[tomsmoviemadness 3,623]

Tracklist for all 3

 

 

Here’s the track list of the Episode 1 (Elven Kings Under the Sky) album:

 

1. Dawn of the Second Age (12:55)
2. The Last Hope for All Middle-earth (3:24)
3. Bow or Bleed (3:18)
4. Trees of Stone (3:21)
5. Círdan (7:35)
6. Warning in the Words (2:34)
7. To Serve the Lord of Mordor (2:01)
8. Three Rings for the Elven Kings (feat. Benjamin Walker) (6:44)
9. The Rings of Power-Season One Overture (Bonus Track) (3:40)

 

 

Here’s the track list of the Episode 2 (Where the Stars Are Strange) album:

 

1. Catastrophe at Khazad-dûm (2:14)
2. Glimpses of the Unseen World (5:33)
3. Caras Gaer (feat. The Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices) (4:38)
4. The Gaudrim (3:44)
5. Despair Under the Mountain (feat. Sophia Nomvete) (4:41)
6. Before Darkness Blinds Us All (8:05)
7. My Name Is Not Halbrand (9:34)
8. Invitation to Eregion (1:39)

 

 

Here’s the track list of the Episode 3 (The Eagle and the Sceptre) album:

 

1. Shelob’s Nest (4:50)
2. Númenórean Grief (4:19)
3. Enter Damrod (feat. Jens Kidman) (0:57)
4. Mithril for Rings (4:14)
5. The Road to Pelargir (3:52)
6. Funeral Pyre and Reconciliation (feat. Raya Yarbrough) (4:31)
7. Isildur and Estrid (3:04)
8. The Wild Men (2:02)
9. The Great Eagle and the Forging (6:46)
10. The Rings of Power – Title Announcement Trailer (Bonus Track) (1:05)
11. The Rings of Power – Season Two Overture (Bonus Track) (1:26)
12. The Rings of Power – London Premiere Season One Fanfare (Bonus Track) (4:18)

[Stark 566]

Sweet!!!

[Richard P 4,269]

Wow, these look great!

[Jay 39,762]

Google doc fully updated (Season 2 tab)

 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1iPZSq84CsDwNeyokPVDh4adCyagChXIEW9X_-sYu5sc/

[TheUlyssesian 2,589]

1 hour ago, Jay said:

So basically the episode 2 album breaks down like this

 

1  Catastrophe at Khazad-dûm 2:14

• New Music! {Sauron, Khazad-dûm}

2 Glimpses of the Unseen World 5:32

• New Music! {Galadriel, Sauron, Rings}

 

So far,

1 also has Durin at 1:05.

2 has Eregion at 4:00.

4 has Nori at 0:00 and 1:30.

6 has Sauron 0:00 and Rings at 2:50

[Jay 39,762]

Nice, I hear both!

[Knight of Ren 1,087]

I'm loving the variations on the Rhûn theme! It's nice to hear some more variations apart from the concert arrangement. Also really like the second half of Despair Under the Mountain, with the noble arrangement of Khazad-dûm including the B theme at 2:30.

[Jay 39,762]

Yeah that noble Khazad-dûm is aces!

 

And I can't believe how much more I like Rhûn now.  Caras Gaer and The Gaudrim are so good!

[Knight of Ren 1,087]

Done listening! I love the softer variation on Sauron's theme at the start of Before Darkness Blinds Us All, followed by Galadriel's theme! And at 1:21 of My Name Is Not Halbrand I heard a brief reference to a motif that appears at the beginning and at 6:40 of Battle for Eregion. So i guess that's a new idea, but I don't know what it represents. Perhaps it's a motif for Celebrimbor?

[Yavar Moradi 3,031]

1 hour ago, DangerMotif said:

10. The Rings of Power – Title Announcement Trailer (Bonus Track) (1:05)
11. The Rings of Power – Season Two Overture (Bonus Track) (1:26)
12. The Rings of Power – London Premiere Season One Fanfare (Bonus Track) (4:18)

 

If some of the future five volumes are also going to include previously-unreleased original season 1 music, I hope this is included:

 

 

I don't know if Bear McCreary even had any involvement or whether it was just someone else adapting Plan 9's song. I do really like the cheerful version of "Wandering Day" in the series proper, and I appreciated Bear McCreary including it on the albums of his own music. But my introduction to the melody was in this teaser trailer, and I remember being rather disappointed that we never got this darker adaptation within the series itself. I find this arrangement of it far more haunting and memorable. I love the orchestral tag adapting it at the end of the teaser, too. Would love to have this trailer score... or better yet, a full version of the song in this version, if more was recorded and then just cut down for trailer use.

 

Yavar