The Lord of the Rings - How Howard Shore Makes Us Care

* Howard Shore's scores for The Lord of the Rings contain, perhaps, some of the greatest music ever written for film. This music acts as a reflection of the cultures of Middle-earth, it outlines the emotional landscape of the narrative and also acts as a narrator in itself, commenting and supporting the story over 11-hours of film. And at the centre of this, Shore had to write music to accompany the journey of two hobbits, taking them from the Shire, all the way to the fires of Mordor, and back again. The Shire's music undergoes a gradual transformation through the course of the three films. In this essay, I look at how this music changes, what it changes into, and, ultimately, why this makes us care deeply about Frodo and Sam.

VIDEOS IN THIS SERIES

FURTHER READING/RESEARCH

Judith Bernanke, "Howard Shore's Ring Cycle: The Film Score and Its Operatic Strategy" (From: Studying the Event Film: The Lord of the Rings) New York: Manchester University Press, 2008.

#LordoftheRings #HowardShore

[xslonk]

No one will ever convince me out of the idea, that this trilogy is the high water mark of cinema for all time.

[shashwat]

JRR Tolkein cared. Peter Jackson Cared. Howard Shore Cared. Now, we all care. To the point that the generations to come will care through us. This film makes me believe in what sam said, "There's some good in the world, and it's worth fighting for." LOTR is one of them.

[nicolinejohansson]

The lord of the rings is the only movies that leave me in tears no matter how many times I have seen them. I even cry from seeing an analytical youtube video of them..

[φαρμακεία-πρωταρχικός]

“One does not simply listen to Howard Shore without drawing a tear or two”

[thatguy_]

"Come on, Mr. Frodo. I can't carry it for you. But I can carry you" tears every single time I watch it and hear it. Such a perfect score for a perfect moment in a near perfect story.

[DylanWolfram]

The Shire music is some of the most touching music I’ve ever heard or will ever hear in my life.

[CristiNeagu]

"We don't cry because something is sad, we cry because something is more beautiful than we expected it to be."

[theninkynnk]

That damned look the Hobbits have when they realize Frodo is leaving is the only thing in any film that constantly breaks me

[shenanickans]

The version of "Grey Havens" behind Gandalf and Pippin's conversation about death never fails to make me cry. The actual dialogue, the slowness of it in the chaos of the Battle of Minas Tirith, and the music is absolutely perfect.

[Tichondrius]

This trilogy was not just a movie, it was art, every second of it.

[MusicTheoryInAMinute]

I’m not crying, you’re crying!

😭😭😭😭

[mrmaat]

What Shore did for Lord of the Rings was masterful and on the level of Bach, Mozart, Verdi and Wagner.

It’s nothing short of breathtaking.

[grapefuck]

*Inner me:* _You know it must be watched._
*Me:* _But i just watched it a month ago!_
*Inner me:* _Not the extended version._
*Me:* _Got me there._

[automaton]

The only scene in any movie that consistently makes me cry is the boat scene right at the end of Fellowship, I can't explain why, it's just such a perfect moment with such a perfect score behind it.

[suvari]

I don't think I've ever cried as much watching a video on YouTube. You are an astounding essayist. Masterpiece.

[PakoraToes]

In my mind, no films will ever top LOTR, and no one will ever top Howard Shore. An absolute master of his craft.

[Ben-vtne]

Let me give you a visual:
I'm a 6'6 grown man eating Wendy's and crying at his desk at work.

[Chezame]

wow now I have to watch lotr again haha

[cryhavoc]

8:22 still gives me the chills. The acting and that music! Sean Astin should have won a best supporting actor Oscar. No other character in the three films made the audience as emotional as Samwise did.

[DynterS]

The Lord of the Rings is perfect cinema. There isn't anything as beautiful as the trilogy. It's simply breathtaking and amazing. The music is iconic.