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

[Tydirium 1,399]

That Eregion theme appearance in track 2 is gorgeous (and magical in context). I have a feeling that by the end of this season, that theme will be a favorite of mine. (It’s already well on its way there, the more I hear it on the main OST.) Love the interesting harmony at 4:16!

[Holko 10,391]

10 minutes ago, Yavar Moradi said:

 

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

I was just thinking last week when listening to the S1 OST that I'd love if it returned as a travelling theme.

[Yavar Moradi 3,027]

1 minute ago, Holko said:

I was just thinking last week when listening to the S1 OST that I'd love if it returned as a travelling theme.

 

RIGHT?? Based on that RoP teaser trailer, I thought it was going to be the series' version of AUJ's "Misty Mountains" song which Howard Shore brilliantly adapted into the orchestral underscore for traveling montages and such. It's such a good melody in that form!

 

Yavar

[tomsmoviemadness 3,592]

I'm so excited to hear that 12 minute opening cue!!! I believe none of that has been heard yet, so should be treat with some cool arrangements of the Sauron & Adar themes.

[TheUlyssesian 2,589]

Finished Album 2 - My thought, Sauron is literally everywhere, as in his theme is all over the score.

 

I don't know what consensus is but for Season 1, Galadriel and Rings were the main themes - with Galadriel taking precedence as Bear was kinda hiding the Rings theme a bit. It wouldn't surprise me for Season 2 we think that Sauron is the main theme. At least on Album 2, it is infused into a lot of cues. Also I don't remember if Sauron B was ever used in the score proper in Season 1 outside of the concert suite, but here it is. Even Sauron's theme was a little bit "hidden" in Season 1 and now gets to bloom in Season 2.

 

Honest to goodness, this is a cracking set of themes. With now over 20 themes we are still able to have very good recall speaks to Bear's skill in theme writing. This is unquestionably a high-quality score - considerably above Hollywood's usual standards theses days.

[Stark 565]

17 minutes ago, Yavar Moradi said:

 

RIGHT?? Based on that RoP teaser trailer, I thought it was going to be the series' version of AUJ's "Misty Mountains" song which Howard Shore brilliantly adapted into the orchestral underscore for traveling montages and such. It's such a good melody in that form!

 

Yavar

It’ll be this show’s Misty Mountains by not returning after the first installment!

[Jay 39,745]

Episode 1 album:

 

1. Dawn of the Second Age (12:55)

• New Music!

2. The Last Hope for All Middle-earth (3:24)

• New Music!

3. Bow or Bleed (3:18)

• New Music!

4. Trees of Stone (3:21)

• New Music!

5. Círdan (7:35)

• 0:00-1:37 = 0:00-1:39 of "Cirdan's Perfection" from the season album
• 1:37-end = New Music!

6. Warning in the Words (2:34)

• New Music!

7. To Serve the Lord of Mordor (2:01)

• New Music!

8. Three Rings for the Elven Kings (feat. Benjamin Walker) (6:44)

• 0:00-2:16 = New Music!
• 2:16-5:31 = 1:39-4:53 of "Cirdan's Perfection" from the season album
• 5:31-end = New Music!

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

• New Music!

 

 

 

 

Episode 3 album:

 

1. Shelob’s Nest (4:50)

• 0:00-2:53 = New Music!
• 2:53-end = "Shelob" from the season 2 album, without the cuts the album version has

2. Númenórean Grief (4:19)

• New Music!

3. Enter Damrod (feat. Jens Kidman) (0:57)

• New Music!

4. Mithril for Rings (4:14)

• New Music!

5. The Road to Pelargir (3:52)

• New Music!

6. Funeral Pyre and Reconciliation (feat. Raya Yarbrough) (4:31)

• 0:00-2:20 = "The Pyre" from the season 2 album
• New Music!

7. Isildur and Estrid (3:04)

• New Music!

8. The Wild Men (2:02)

• New Music!

9. The Great Eagle and the Forging (6:46)

• 0:00-1:13 = 0:00-1:13 of "The Great Eagle" from the season 2 album
• 1:13-3:28 = New Music!
• 3:28-5:10 = 1:13-end of "The Great Eagle" from the season 2 album
• 5:10-end = 4:53-end of "Cirdan's Perfection" from the season 2 album

10. The Rings of Power – Title Announcement Trailer (Bonus Track) (1:05)

• New Music!

11. The Rings of Power – Season Two Overture (Bonus Track) (1:26)

• New Music!

12. The Rings of Power – London Premiere Season One Fanfare (Bonus Track) (4:18)

• New Music!

 

 

Unless I missed it, 5:31-end of Emissary at the Forge is not on any of the albums for epiodes 1-3?

 

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

[Tydirium 1,399]

Holy moly, this is incredible music. So many highlights not on the main OST album, and I’m just getting started.

[Knight of Ren 1,082]

The first minute of The Last Hope for All Middle-Earth is awesome, with Nolwa Mahtar, Galadriel and Elrond. The Harfoot theme in Trees of Stone is heartbreaking. The harp rendition of the Sauron theme at the end of To Serve the Lord of Mordor is appropiately creepy, and presents the theme in a setting we hadn't heard before. And then I love that This Wandering Day appears in an instrumental arrangement in Warning in the Words before the track turns somber with the Rhûn theme. And that's just some of the highlights I picked on a first listen of just the first album!

 

Oh and the bonus track with the overture from S1 is amazing. A proper concert presentation of many of his main themes comprised into one energic and vibrant arrangement!

[Gollum Cat 32]

Where can these be listened to? It feels weird not seeing a trace of them online anywhere yet reading all this commentary.

[Jay 39,745]

Yeah, the episode 1 album is pretty good! Not as good as episode 2, but still tons of good stuff.

 

The Last Hope for All Middle Earth starting with that subtle Noble Warrior is a nice sign it will be used as a prominent theme the entire season. The way it goes from that into Galadriel into Elrond is so cool!

 

Halbrand's theme making an appearance in Bow or Bleed was unexpected and sounded really cool. The Stranger sounds cool there too.

 

Then Trees of Stone, wow! Reintroduction of Nori's theme, cool new Harfoot variant, more Stranger.

 

In Cirdan, at 6:00, are those leaping strings playing a new more upbeat version of The Forging Theme? I really wasn't expecting this theme to be all over the first THREE episodes of the show!

 

Warning on the Woods, wow! Another major highlight track. Hearing This Wandering Day turned into underscore is a real treat, and worked really well - I'm sure it'll be even better when we can see the scene. But then the embryonic Rhûn that follows is so cool! I can imagine another world where we didn't already have the season album, and other albums, and saw the episode first. When we heard this passage, some of us would speculate it's a theme, and wonder how it will go when fully developed. But hearing already knowing that theme well from the concert arrangement and episode 2 score, it's still neat to hear this initial introductory version I love it!

 

To Serve the Lord of Mordor tales Sauron's Theme in such interesting new directions, wow!

 

Three Rings for the Elven Kings featuring the theme from Golden Leaves sung again was super cool. This is a theme for Gil-Galad right?

 

And wow, that season one overture sounds great! I don't know why they waited until now to release it, but I'm so glad they did!

 

 

 

The episode 3 album is the weakest of the first three, and also the lightest on themes... Which is maybe why they put so many bonus tracks at the end.

 

No real highlights to mention, other than maybe Mirhril For Rings and Reconciliation. Khazad-dûm and Durin sounding good there!

 

Overall really miss Nori, Stranger, Galadriel, Elrond themes on this album. Might be a boring episode without all these characters...

 

 

Wow, the bonus tracks here are the actual highlight of the episode 3 album, and they are GREAT! The London premiere piece is so good! Freeing these themes from the shackles of sync points and what's the right orchestration and tempo for the show is so fun!

[Doo_liss 6,604]

.Syjc?

Isn't Episode 3 heavy on Isildur and Estrid material?

[TheUlyssesian 2,589]

On 26/08/2024 at 1:21 PM, TheUlyssesian said:

 

I am just going by trailers here but we will definitely hear the Mystics' theme because they appear in the trailer.

 

Now since the lead Harfoot is Nori and she will be in Rhun with the Stranger and she has her own theme, there might not be an occasions for the Harfoot theme to appear. But if we cut back to the other Harfoots, their theme would appear. We know from the cast list that at least Poppy appears. So I am thinking we will hear the Harfoot theme as well. Though I would actually love if an instrumental rendition of Wandering Day could become Poppy's theme.

 

I called it! We do get the instrumental version but dunno if it is for Poppy.

[Dcole4 13]

Where are y'all listening to these? Amazon music page is greyed out. I'm desperate haha!

[tomsmoviemadness 3,592]

Golden Leaves is 100% a theme for Gil-galad. It's used beautifully in The Last Hope For All Middle-Earth

[Richard P 4,263]

No sign of them on Spotify so I guess like before they will be Amazon exclusive until the season ends. Surely this is annoying more people than it's getting them music subscribers?

 

Lovely to hear the Comic Con suite (and The Stranger in that different tempo). I could've sworn I remembered Khadaz-dum being part of this suite but I must be thinking of some other live performance. I can't remember any of the other pieces, but hearing original music from trailers is damn cool - Bear seems to know his audience!

[tomsmoviemadness 3,592]

"Missing" music from Episode 1

Dawn Of The Second Age
Some small cuts, but nothing major missing. Mostly string sustains missing.

The Last Hope For All Middle-Earth
Short passage missing, with a Sauron statement, nothing major.

Bow Or Bleed
Again, just some string sustains missing.

There's some small thriller stuff not on the album, but it never includes any themes.

So when it comes to Ep. 1, I'd say it's very well spotted, there really is just less music in it.

[Bofur01 247]

1 hour ago, Richard Penna said:

No sign of them on Spotify so I guess like before they will be Amazon exclusive until the season ends. Surely this is annoying more people than it's getting them music subscribers?

 

Lovely to hear the Comic Con suite (and The Stranger in that different tempo). I could've sworn I remembered Khadaz-dum being part of this suite but I must be thinking of some other live performance. I can't remember any of the other pieces, but hearing original music from trailers is damn cool - Bear seems to know his audience!

I can’t even find it on Amazon?

[Holko 10,391]

They're up on Tidal but greyed out. Who the hell would it hurt to just release them ffs?

[Richard P 4,263]

26 minutes ago, Bofur01 said:

I can’t even find it on Amazon?

 

They're listed on Bear's page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/music/player/artists/B001OGQZ6C/bear-mccreary

 

One: https://www.amazon.co.uk/music/player/albums/B0DFDYYT2Y

Two: https://www.amazon.co.uk/music/player/albums/B0DFF4SK7P

Three: https://www.amazon.co.uk/music/player/albums/B0DFF2DGDP

 

I had a skim through the first bit of episode one (the show). The recap isn't on the album - I don't know whether it's just tracked. Otherwise it looks similar to season 1 where Bear's made trims during pretty low-key sequences or to remove the odd stinger that probably wouldn't play enormously well. It feels fairly safe to say that nothing major or 'obvious' in the show will be omitted. Tbh, Sauron is all over the first track so the odd missing statement realy isn't anything to worry about.

 

Shore's main title is back from episode 2. Episode 1 uses a neat Noble Warrior statement (beginning of track 2)

[Jay 39,745]

7 hours ago, The Great Gonzales said:

Isn't Episode 3 heavy on Isildur and Estrid material?

 

Yep, and I never really latched into that theme, for whatever reason.

 

 

 

There's no Tom Bombaril or Stoors music in episodes 1-3 right?

 

And is Estrid's theme in the Isildul and Estrid track?

 

And what do people think of that possible Forging Theme variant at 6:00 of Cirdan I pointed out?

[Jay 39,745]

So I haven't had enough coffee yet but...

 

In Episode 1 track 1 "Dawn of the Second Age" is that Elrond's theme around 4:00? 

 

And then there's a drum pattern late in that track that shows up again in ... Bow or Bleed, I think, what theme is that drum pattern a part of?

 

And do I hear Sauron's theme in the middle of Trees of Stone?

 

I totally hear Gil-Galad's theme starting around 1:30 into The Last Hope for All Middle-earth, very cool

 

 

 

BTW, what pieces are used as the end credits of episodes 1, 2, and 3?

 

I'm guessing Golden Leaves for 1, Rhûn for 2, and either Estrid or Last Ballad of Damrod for 3?

 

And I haven't noticed the Adar/Orcs/Nampat theme anywhere in these 3 episodes.  Did I miss it?

[crocodile 8,589]

Do we know why only episode 2 is available to purchase digitally?

 

Karol

[Jay 39,745]

From what I can tell the people who run qobuz made a mistake, and that album isn't supposed to be up for sale until the whole season is over.

 

The episode albums are only supposed to be available on streaming until then from what I understand.

[crocodile 8,589]

2 minutes ago, Jay said:

From what I can tell the people who run qobuz made a mistake, and that album isn't supposed to be up for sale until the whole season is over.

 

The episode albums are only supposed to be available on streaming until then from what I understand.

That would make sense. It's what happened with the first season. The only difference was those episode albums were only available on Amazon's own streaming service initially.

 

Karol

[Jay 39,745]

Are they on other streamers this season?  I don't see them on Apple Music or Spotify.  I guess they are listed on Tidal streaming, that's new.  But can you play them there if you have a subscription?

 

 

BTW.  I didnt' hear Galadriel's theme or Halbrand's theme in episode 3.  If they are really absent there, then those would be the only episode of the entire show without those themes.

 

The only themes from season 1 that were in all 8 episodes were Galadriel, Sauron, and Halbrand.  Sauron's theme appears in all 3 episodes so far this season, so that streak continues.  But it looks like the other two streaks are over.

[Holko 10,391]

10 minutes ago, Jay said:

But can you play them there if you have a subscription?

Nope.

[tomsmoviemadness 3,592]

44 minutes ago, Jay said:

So I haven't had enough coffee yet but...

 

In Episode 1 track 1 "Dawn of the Second Age" is that Elrond's theme around 4:00? 

 

That is unlikely because Elrond is nowhere near the prologue.

 

44 minutes ago, Jay said:

And then there's a drum pattern late in that track that shows up again in ... Bow or Bleed, I think, what theme is that drum pattern a part of?

I think this is all part of the Adar/Orcs theme. It's all over the first 2 episodes.

 

44 minutes ago, Jay said:

BTW, what pieces are used as the end credits of episodes 1, 2, and 3?

Episode 1 is Golden Leaves

Episode 2 is Rhûn

Episode 3 is part of My Name Is Not Halbrand (7:14-end)

[A. A. Ron 1,947]

*Not Halbrand

[Jay 39,745]

11 minutes ago, JNHFan2000 said:

Episode 1 is Golden Leaves

 

Nailed it

 

11 minutes ago, JNHFan2000 said:

Episode 2 is Rhûn

 

Nailed it

 

11 minutes ago, JNHFan2000 said:

Episode 3 is part of My Name Is Halbrand (7:14-end)

 

Huh.  Didn't see that coming.  Does that music end the episode, then just repeat immediately as the end credits, or is it only in the end credits?

[tomsmoviemadness 3,592]

6 minutes ago, Jay said:

Huh.  Didn't see that coming.  Does that music end the episode, then just repeat immediately as the end credits, or is it only in the end credits?

The final scene of the episode is Celebrimbor & Annatar working in the forge together. That's why it's used.

 

 

And after seeing the 3 episodes, I'd say just like S1 pretty much all the is on the albums. He edited out some thriller stuff, or long chords etc., but there is also music on the albums that is unused in the episodes.

 

Quite surprisingly for example is the solo male choir Khazad-Dûm arrangement after Stone Singers.

[Tydirium 1,399]

21 minutes ago, Jay said:

Huh.  Didn't see that coming.  Does that music end the episode, then just repeat immediately as the end credits, or is it only in the end credits?

 

“My Name Is Not Halbrand” is from Episode 2. The credits you’re talking about are for Episode 3.

[tomsmoviemadness 3,592]

Thoughts on the 3 albums after seeing the episodes.

*Slight spoilers*. But nothing about bigger specific plot points.

Episode 1

Spoiler

"Dawn Of The Second Age" has some quite dark passages and explores Sauron's theme in some cool ways. The two outbursts of action are excellent with the one at the end nicely mirroring the music featuring in the cue "Adrift" from S1 Ep 2.

The Nolwa Mahtar opening in "The Last Hope For Middle-Earth" is fantastic, with the action scene after that exciting with Galadriel & Elrond's theme playing against each other. The use of Golden Leaves later is the cue is beautiful.

"Bow Or Bleed" is pretty dark mostly focusing on the Adar/Orcs material in different ways. Final moments featuring the Stranger's theme are a bit trippy, which fits the scene very well.

"Trees Of Stone" is such a lovely cue featuring Nori's theme and The Stranger's theme in new arrangements.

"Círdan" is a wonderful cue with quiet and calm statements of the Valinor & Elrond themes. Just beautiful. One of my favorite little moments is 0:49-1:00. Gorgeous.

I'm obsessed with the reprise of This Wandering Day in "Warning In The Words". I don't think it's a theme for Poppy though, it's really tied to a story point.

The harp arrangement of Sauron's theme at the end of "Serve The Lord Of Mordor" is great, perfect for the shot it accompanies.

"Three Rings For The Elves Kings" might be the highlight of Ep. 1 for me. The music and the scene combined are just excellent. Whole cue is musical storytelling at it finest.

The Overture is really cool to finally have!

Episode 2

Spoiler

Combining Sauron's theme and Khazad-Dûm's theme in "Catastrophe In Khazad-Dûm" is excellent to show the spread of his power to different parts of Middle-Earth.

The first part "Glimpses Of The Unseen World" belongs to a vision from Galadriel and is appropriately creepy. The rest of the cue mostly accompanies a conversation between Galadriel & Gil-Galad, but to McCreary's credit he is able to keep it interesting thoughout.

"Caras Gaer" & "The Gaurdim" are great explorations of the Rhûn theme. And I'm so happy that the Mystics theme returned. And I'm hoping it won't be the last time we hear it.

"Despair Under The Mountain" is quite powerful and really made me care even more for Disa's character. Some excellent variations on the Dwarves material.

"Before Darkness Blinds Us All" extends over multiple scenes. The first parts is Elrond confronting Galadriel, while the middle is Elrond seeking counsel from Círdan. Both these parts feature really beautiful music with some nice variations on a few themes. Final parts is that excellent The Stranger action sequence and it adds a lot of heft to the scene. Really powerful.

"My Name Is Not Halbrand" is fantastic. It's the scene where Annatar reveals himself to Celebrimbor and the music adds so much to these scenes. Everything really came together here and the powerful statement of The Rings Of Power theme is such a cool moment in the episode.

"Invitation To Eregion" is mostly just variations of excisiting themes to set up upcoming events.

Episode 3

Spoiler

The opening of "Shelob's Nest" is almost a exact reprise of the music from Ep. 7 when Elendil let's Isildur's horse go, because that scene is replayed here. The latter part works really well in context to show Shelob.

"Númenórian Grief" is multiple variations of the Númenór theme. I especially like the vocal part at 1:38.

I have to say, "Enter Damrod" works pretty well in context. Damrod is quite a force and the way he's introduced with this music was pretty dope.

"Mithril For Rings" is a scene between Celebrimbor, Durin & Disa so has a set of variation on their themes. I really love the woodwinds in 1:40-2:00.

"The Road To Pelargir" features some lonely variations on The Faithful theme, and the first appearance of Estrid's theme. I really love the theme, although I wonder how else it will be used besides the ways we've heard it until now. It's all presented in pretty much the same way.
The burst of action at the end is great, especially the big statement of Arondir's theme.

"Funeral Pyre And Recollection" is solemn and sad, but beautiful. Really liked the emotional dwarves material at the end.

"Isildur And Estrid" is mostly variations of their themes, with some nice transitional pieces in between.

"The Wild Men" is a dark suspense and action cue. I wonder based on the final part of the scene if the music heard at 1:40-1:46 will become a new theme.

"The Great Eagle And The Forging" is a fantastic exploration of the Númenór theme. It's the same as the season album, but because there are some quieter moments in between the big ones, I feel makes it flow a lot better.
The final minute and a half are what the title suggest and therefor features the Forging theme, Rings Of Power theme, Khazad-Dúm theme and more of those cool woodwinds.

The final 3 cues are all really nice to have.

I'm wondering if you guys will keep the S1 trailer cues etc on these albums or add them to the S1 album.

[Knight of Ren 1,082]

Watched the first episode. Really liked it, and I feel it's anpromising start to the new season, more focused on Sauron and the Rings from the get go. The music was awesome in context, being one of my favorite bits the first part of Last Hope for All Middle-Earth with Nolwa Mahtar over the title card. Also, This Wandering Day is used as a sort of travelling theme as someone mentioned here, and since the lyrics of the song seem to be important to Nori and the Stranger's storyline, we might hear more variations on the theme.

 

And then, both Círdan and Three Rings for Elven Kings work great, especially

Spoiler

The moment Galadriel, Gil-galad and Círdan wear their rings, and the light returns to Lindon with that majestic statement of the Valinor theme

 

Also, I think I noticed a motif that appears in both those tracks that seems to be related to either Círdan himself or tied specifically to the three Elven Rings. It appears at 6:57 of Cìrdan right after the Mithril motif, and then again at 3:08 of Three Rings for Elven Kings, joined by the Forging Ostinato, building up to that majestic Valinor statement.

[Jay 39,745]

2 hours ago, Tydirium said:

 

“My Name Is Not Halbrand” is from Episode 2. The credits you’re talking about are for Episode 3.

 

Ahhh, right.  So the music is used in episode 2 as score, then repeated in episode 3 as end credits.  neat.  First time that's happened.

 

 

1 hour ago, JNHFan2000 said:

I'm wondering if you guys will keep the S1 trailer cues etc on these albums or add them to the S1 album.

 

I think the best plan is to keep the season 1 episode albums as-is, and for the season 2 episode albums, drop the bonus tracks.

Then make your own custom "album" of everything else:  The Concert Arrangements from the season OSTs, the new bonus tracks here, and the tracks from the season 1 OST with alternates in them (In The Beginning and Nobody Goes Off Trail)

 

2 hours ago, JNHFan2000 said:

there is also music on the albums that is unused in the episodes.

 

Quite surprisingly for example is the solo male choir Khazad-Dûm arrangement after Stone Singers.

 

Wow, that's crazy that that big of music wasn't used! It's great!

 

 

 

~

 

 

So, no Tom Bombadil or Stoors themes yet, in the first 3 episodes.  I guess that means those character's haven't been introduced yet?

[tomsmoviemadness 3,592]

Correct, those themes haven't appeared yet.

I understand why they released 3 episodes. Almost every storyline ends on it's own cliffhanger, which really makes me want to know what comes next.

[Jay 39,745]

1 hour ago, Knight of Ren said:

I noticed a motif that appears in both those tracks that seems to be related to either Círdan himself or tied specifically to the three Elven Rings. It appears at 6:57 of Cìrdan right after the Mithril motif, and then again at 3:08 of Three Rings for Elven Kings, joined by the Forging Ostinato, building up to that majestic Valinor statement.

 

OOOOh, interesting!  A theme without a concert arrangement!

 

@Knight of Ren noticed another one too:

 

22 hours ago, Knight of Ren said:

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?

 

 

 

 

 

~

 

Is "Glimpses of the Unseen World" the only track on the episode 1-3 albums with the Eregion theme in it?

 

Is the Adar/Orcs theme in any of the episode 2 or 3 album tracks?

[Jay 39,745]

The more I listen to "Warning In the Woods", the more I'm loving this orchestral re-interpretation of This Wandering Day.  I hope subsequent episodes feature more versions of this tune!

[Knight of Ren 1,082]

Watched the second episode. The most interesting parts for me right now are everything revolving around the Rings, especially how they're showing Sauron's deception and seduction to everyone around him. Charlie Vicker's performance is one of the best thinsg this season so far. The music in that Annatar reveal with Celebrimbor is the highlight of the episode for sure. I love how it builds with the Forging Ostinato until the climax with the Rings of Power theme in full force. Awesome! Also loving all the Rhûn material.

 

I've done a chrono breakdown of the splitting points of each track. It's mostly chronological with a few exceptions. The weird thing is that there are some bits omitted from the album, but then the album has some fragments that are missing from the show, probably unused or meant for a longer cut of the scenes, like in Despair Under the Mountain, where that solo vocal statement of Khazad-dûm is missing from the show

 

Episode 1

Spoiler

Dawn of the Second Age [0:00 – 1:12]

Dawn of the Second Age [1:12 – 2:04]

Dawn of the Second Age [2:04 – 3:27]

Dawn of the Second Age [3:27 – 5:46] (the section from 3:27 to 3:53 is unused)

Dawn of the Second Age [5:46 – 6:31]

Dawn of the Second Age [6:31 – 8:04]

Dawn of the Second Age [8:04 – 9:30]

Dawn of the Second Age [9:30 – End] (the section from 9:30 to 10:24 is unused)

Last Hope for All Middle-Earth [0:00 – 1:59]

Last Hope for All Middle-Earth [1:59 – End]

Bow or Bleed [0:00 – 1:30]

Bow or Bleed [1:30 – End]

Warning in the Words [1:09 – 1:45]

Trees of Stone [0:00 – 1:55]

Trees of Stone [1:55 – End]

Círdan [0:00 – 2:10] (the Elrond theme at 1:44 is dialed out in the episode)

Círdan [2:10 – 3:37]

Círdan [3:37 – 5:15]

Círdan [5:15 – 6:41]

Warning in the Words [0:00 – 1:09]

Warning in the Words [1:45 – End]

Círdan [6:41 – End]

To Serve the Lord of Mordor

Three Rings for Elven Kings [0:00 – 1:15]

Three Rings for Elven Kings [1:15 – 5:39]

Three Rings for Elven Kings [5:39 – End]

Credits – Golden Leaves

 

Episode 2

Spoiler

Catastrophe at Khazad-dûm [0:00 – 1:05]

Catastrophe at Khazad-dûm [1:05 – 1:34]

Catastrophe at Khazad-dûm [1:34 – End]

Main Title

Glimpses of the Unseen World [0:00 – 1:41]

Glimpses of the Unseen World [1:41 – 2:29]

Glimpses of the Unseen World [2:29 – End]

Caras Gaen (the episode cuts out the section from 0:15 to 1:01)

The Gaudrim [0:00 – 1:40] (the sections from 0:00 to 0:23 and from 1:30 to 1:40 are unused)

The Gaudrim [1:40 – End]

Despair Under the Mountain [0:00 – 2:30] (the episode cuts out the section from 0:58 to 1:50)

Despair Under the Mountain [2:30 – 3:16]

Despair Under the Mountain [3:16 – 3:35]

Despair Under the Mountain [3:35 – End]

Before Darkness Blinds Us All [0:00 – 2:29]

Before Darkness Blinds Us All [2:29 – 4:20]

Before Darkness Blinds Us All [4:20 – End]

My Name Is Not Halbrand [0:00 – 7:12]

My Name Is Not Halbrand [7:12 – End]

Invitation to Eregion

Credits – Rhûn

 

[Jay 39,745]

Wow that's great!  I love knowing where the cue splits are!

 

Did you make similar lists for Season 1?

 

Thanks again for this one!

[Knight of Ren 1,082]

Sure thing! I did it recently while re-watching the first season so I think it's pretty much accurate.

 

Season 1 Chronological Tracklist

Episode 1

Spoiler

Prologue

Forodwaith [0:00 – 6:14]

Forodwaith [6:14 – 6:31]

Forodwaith [6:31 – End]

Beyond Our Wandering [0:00 – 5:10]

Return to Lindon (the section from 2:21 to 3:03 is unused in the show)

Beyond Our Wandering [5:10 – 5:28]

Beyond Our Wandering [5:28 – End]

Gil-Galad’s Gift

The Southlands [0:00 – 1:18]

The Southlands [1:18 – 6:30]

The Southlands [6:30 – 8:50] (the section from 7:43 to 8:17 is unused in the show)

The Southlands [8:17 – 8:50]

The Southlands [8:50 – End]

Strange Skies

The Boat and the Crater

Credits – Where the Shadows Lie (Instrumental)

 

Episode 2

Spoiler

Main Title

Carrying a Giant [0:26 – End]

From Under the Floorboards [1:01 – 2:21] (the section from 1:20 to 1:44 is cut out)

Celebrimbor’s Ambition (the section from 0:48 to 1:53 is unused in the show)

Into Khazad-dûm (the section from 2:30 to 4:21 is unused in the show)

Offering Snails

Carrying a Giant [0:00 – 0:26]

Adrift [0:00 – 1:28]

Adrift [1:28 – End]

Into Khazad-dûm [4:21 – End]

Durin and His Family [0:00 – 2:33]

Durin and His Family [2:33 – End]

On the Raft [0:00 – 0:23]

On the Raft [0:23 – 2:55]

From Under the Floorboards [0:00 – 1:01] (the section from 0:35 to 1:01 is unused in the show)

From Under the Floorboards [2:17 – End] (the B&A theme in the section from 2:22 to 2:42 is dialed out in the episode)

On the Raft [2:55 – End]

Constellation of Fireflies

Bloodthirst

Credits – Khazad-dûm

 

Episode 3

Spoiler

Main Title

In the Trench [0:00 – 2:25]

Into Númenor [0:00 – 5:19]

Into Númenor [5:19 – End] (the section from 6:01 to 6:42 is unused in the show)

The Tests of Isildur and Eärien [0:00 – 2:26]

The Tests of Isildur and Eärien [2:26 – 3:32]

The Tests of Isildur and Eärien [3:32 – 4:39]

In the Trench [2:25 – 3:02]

In the Trench [3:02 – End]

To the Hall of Lore (the sections from 0:41 to 1:26, and from 3:01 to the end were left unused in the show)

Street Musicians [0:00 – 0:40]

The Successor [0:00 – 0:58]

The Successor [1:36 – End]

Nobody Walks Alone

We Wait for You (the section from 3:48 to 4:13 is unused in the show)

Street Musicians [0:40 – 2:13]

The Tests of Isildur and Eärien [4:39 – End]

Both Our Bloodlines

Breaking Chains

Credits – The Stranger

 

Episode 4

Spoiler

Main Title

Civil Unrest in the Island Kingdom [0:00 – 5:59] (the section from 2:06 to 2:50 and 3:27 to 4:04 went unused in the show)

Civil Unrest in the Island Kingdom [7:03 – 8:32] (the section from 8:00 to 8:32 is different)

Civil Unrest in the Island Kingdom [8:32 – End]

Adar, Lord-father

Theo in the Shadows [0:00 – 2:09]

Theo in the Shadows [2:09 – 3:26]

A New Ore [0:00 – 1:08]

A New Ore [1:08 –1:33]

A New Ore [1:33 – 2:52]

A New Ore [2:52 – 3:47]

A New Ore [3:47 – End]

Civil Unrest in the Island Kingdom [5:59 – 7:03] (the section from 5:59 to 6:45 is unused)

The King in the Tower (the section from 3:48 to the end is unused)

Theo in the Shadows [3:26 – End]

A Plea to the Rocks (Sophia Nomvete)

Father Figures (the section from 6:36 to 7:28 is unused in the show)

White Leaves

Credits – Númenor

 

Episode 5

Spoiler

Main Title

The Perils of Migration [0:00 – 1:50]

This Wandering Day (Megan Richards)

The Perils of Migration [1:50 – End] (the section from 3:57 to 4:19 is unused)

Númenor Prepares [0:00 – 0:44]

Númenor Prepares [0:44 – 2:54]

Númenor Prepares [2:54 – 3:46]

Wolves [0:00 – 3:17]

Númenor Prepares [3:46 – End]

The Saboteur [0:00 – 2:26]

Wolves [3:17 – End]

The Fading Light [0:00 – 1:27]

The Fading Light [1:27 – 6:02]

The Saboteur [2:26 – End] (the section from 6:00 to 6:30 is unused, and the section from 6:47 to the end is different in the show)

The Fading Light [6:02 – End]

Only Blood Can Bind

Destined for Darkness

The Confession and Sailing Into Dawn

Credits – This Wandering Day (Janet Roddick)

 

Episode 6

Spoiler

Main Title

March of the Orcs [0:00 – 2:59]

March of the Orcs [2:59 – End]

The Coming of Night

In Defiance of Death [0:00 – 3:20]

In Defiance of Death [3:20 – End]

The Siege in the Southlands [0:00 – 6:54]

The Siege in the Southlands [6:54 – 9:12]

The Siege in the Southlands [9:12 – 13:41]

The Siege in the Southlands [13:41 – End]

Transformed by Darkness [0:00 – 3:47]

Transformed by Darkness [3:47 – 6:32]

Street Musicians [2:46 – End]

Transformed by Darkness [6:32 – End]

Sorrow, Water and Flame

Credits – Nolwa Mahtar

 

Episode 7

Spoiler

Main Title

Crimson Aftermath

The Grove

Fire and Rock [0:00 – 3:29] (the section from 0:33 to 1:04 is unused)

Fire and Rock [3:29 – End]

Only Grey [0:00 – 2:17]

Only Grey [2:17 – End]

The Apple

Memories of Dancing

The Vein

The Extinguished Torch [0:00 – 1:02]

The Extinguished Torch [1:02 – 2:51]

The Extinguished Torch [2:51 – End]

Infirmary

A Leaf Burns

Credits – Nampat

 

Episode 8

Spoiler

Encountering Servants

Main Title

An Intriguing Suggestion [0:00 – 3:29]

An Intriguing Suggestion [3:29 – 6:54]

An Intriguing Suggestion [6:54 – End]

Power Over Flesh [0:00 – 5:47]

Confronting the Mystics [0:00 – 3:06]

Confronting the Mystics [3:06 – End]

Black Flags [0:00 – 0:39]

Black Flags [0:39 – End]

Power Over Flesh [5:47 – End] (the section from 5:47 to 6:33 is unused)

The Broken Line and Broken Silence

Wise One [0:00 – 1:26]

Wise One [1:26 – End]

True Creation Requires Sacrifice

Credits – Where the Shadows Lie (Fiona Apple)

 

Quite a lot of unused segments in both seasons, but I guess it makes sense, especially with the first season which would be scored almost wall-to-wall if it weren't for those excised bits. Also, beware that sometimes a cue in episode is a bit different, longer, or has clean openings/endings, so it's not possible to have the music exactly as heard on the show, but I think the albums don't miss any important stuff, save for a couple of brief thematic references here and there.

[Jay 39,745]

Amazing!!

 

Thank you!!

[Tydirium 1,399]

On 24/8/2024 at 10:33 PM, Tydirium said:

Part of me wonders if the French horn at 1:34-1:46 of “The Great Eagle” could be part of a character theme. (Maybe one that isn’t heard elsewhere on the soundtrack? Pharazôn?) Or it could just be a random little melodic bridge.

 

Sure enough, in the episode this plays during a close-up of Pharazôn. Does anyone recall whether he had a theme in Season 1?

[tomsmoviemadness 3,592]

 

[Jay 39,745]

Season 1 was the exact same way, so really the only difference here is that qobuz accidentally listed episode 2 early, and Tidal accidentally listed them early too (but you can't stream them)

[Jay 39,745]

Just noticed that "Before Darkness Binds Us All" ALSO opens with a harp statement of Sauron's theme

 

 

I basically haven't stopped listening to these three episode albums since they came out.  What treasures!

[Doo_liss 6,604]

What's funny, is that IIRC that one harp statement plays right after someone says basically "he played you like a harp"

[Jay 39,745]

ONE harp statement? There's (at least) two:

 

ep 1 "To Serve the Lord of Mordor" @ 1:45

ep 2 "Before Darkness Binds Us All" @ 0:00

[Luke Skywalker 1,961]

Is this season music more similar to shore's? it seemed to me so.

[Knight of Ren 1,082]

The harp statement in To Serve the Lord of Mordor is awesome, as it gives the theme an oddly calm vibe, which makes it all the more unsettling. I like that the Sauron theme is becoming the main character of the show, but every variation is different and interesting, ranging from those soft statements to full choral statements. The constant repetiton of the theme and the ostinato could make it feel repetitive, but the fact thay it goes through many different variations makes it constantly engaging.

 

My favorite track so far is My Name Is Not Halbrand/Emissary at the Forge, with all those different Sauron and Rings of Power variations!