First thing to be said is that because of the nature of Shore's approach to the score, the music doesn't work quite as well in isolation on disc as it does in the film. It does, however, work pretty well, and I've had more very satisfying listens to this CD than any other I've bought for some time. If it does perhaps require reference to, if not the film then the basic narrative of the novel, in order to fully appreciate and get the most out of the music, then I don't think of that as a problem. The album takes you on a journey, tells the narrative of FOTR -- meaning it quite inescapably will conjure up in the mind of the listener the scenes and events of the book and film.

Part of Shore's great respect for the work of Tolkein can be evidenced by the fact that most of the track titles are actually just the corresponding chapter titles from the novel, so you are left with a selection of pieces, each of which is a chapter in the story of FOTR. These CD versions of the cues are actually edited down from the full film versions, omitting some music in order to fit music from as much of the film as possible onto the disc. Whilst this is undoubtedly a shame - I need more music from the mountaintop after Moria - it's a necessary evil for a single disc. This is as good a one-disc release of the music (which totals over two and a half hours in the film) as could possibly be.

The music itself is a huge score for orchestra and chorus, with occasional solo vocalists, and takes on a staggering array of styles, themes and emotional range. The novel itself famously features numerous songs, which have mostly been left out of the film, but to keep this influence, Shore includes a lot of voices in the score, including lyrics for some pieces, e.g. "The Prologue" and the "Lament for Gandalf" (sung in the film by an elf, in actuality the perfectly-cast voice of ex-Cocteau Twin Liz Fraser).

With this being essentially merely a disc of highlights, there's not a dull moment, and far too many great moments to list all of them. However, I'd be remiss not to mention how great some of them are, including the delightfully untroubled folk-like Hobbit theme in "Concerning Hobbits" and the grand choral chants accompanying both the "Treason of Isengard" and the fearful Ringwraiths (e.g. "A Knife in the Dark") - indeed the first half of the album is perhaps a little too heavy on this wraith music - but that's an effect of the narrative and not of Shore's doing. Then there's the ethereal Elf music in "Many Meetings" and "Lothlorien," the primal music for the Uruk-Hai, and the wonderfully musty portrait of the dark interiors of Moria in "A Journey in the Dark," which concludes with astounding rampant aggression (if this doesn't get you primed and up for spilling some foul Orc blood, nothing will). Plus there's the huge statements of the Fellowship and Ring themes in "The Ring Heads South" and "The Great River" respectively, the enormous male choir singing in Dwarfish during the frantic flight to "The Bridge of Kazad-Dhum." The best track, though, is probably "Breaking of the Fellowship," a fine emotional climax featuring gorgeous versions of the Fellowship and Hobbit themes - well, it takes a stronger man than me to listen to this without getting close to tears. After all this, even the voice of Enya sounds great, although if you skip straight to "May It Be," you may be less impressed.

Overall, this is a fine disc, which takes you right to Middle-Earth for an often thrilling and deeply moving 71 minutes. It's a shame there's not more music available - I eagerly await the day a complete version is released.
 

What a brilliant CD for a hopefully and most likely brilliant movie. "Concerning Hobbits..." ah, what an insanely fine song!
 

And yet the music is Shore's and not a copy of the aforementioned milestones. The soundtrack definitely deserves a proud place in my collection.

However, I feel I cannot give it a full five stars for several reasons. I find the variance in the choral pieces too little, and as such it is too omnipresent. Also, I miss the sense of adventure in this score. The moments in which one finds brassy heroism as applied with great success by the likes of Miklos Rozsa and John Williams are few. Only in tracks like "The Ring Goes South" and "The Bridge of Khazad-dum" do they ring clear and fill the heart with the heroic feeling I associate with the works of JRR Tolkien.

Alas, few works leave (almost) nothing to be desired, and those are the very greatest. Perhaps Shore has not succeded completely in this, but it is close, very close indeed.

If the tone of my thoughts be too dark for your taste, let me try to mend it by stating that I highly recommend it to all lovers of great (movie) music.
 

Three thumbs up to Mr Shore (especially for tracks 2, 5, 11 and 17) - I can't wait to hear what he's done with the next two films.
 

For all skeptics of the score's power, I have a dare for you: Pick up the CD and set it to any track. Sit down and listen. Now if you do not agree by the end of that track that this is not an excellent score, you are either stupid or have awful taste. As a teenager, I can honestly say that I listen to this score more than say, POD or Linkin Park. This soundtrack is just that good.

From the first track it lifts you up and sweeps you off your feet on an epic adventure. There are no dull or poorly written tracks in the entire 1 1/2 hour score, so picking a favorite was incredibly difficult. The pulse-pounding "wring-wraith" theme is one of my favorites, but I also love the "fellowship theme."

In closing I would just like to say that Howard Shore has done an incredible deed to all Tolkien and LOTR fans, as well as to movie-goers in general. As a reader and fan of LOTR, I can say that this score not only met my expectations, but surpassed them. Way to go Howard! I am looking forward to your next two scores with great anticipation.
 

The epic story of the Lord of the Rings is absolutely breathtaking, so, naturally, the soundtrack is also. The music seems to tell the story as the tracks progress, creating a mental picture in your mind. "Flight to Ford" is absolutely awesome, as well as "The Bridge of Khazad Dum," but the track that effects me the most is definitely "The Breaking of the Fellowship." It is absolutely gorgeous. My feelings towards The Two Towers is equally as strong, and I can't wait until The Return of the King sweeps the movie theaters in December and Howard Shore delivers yet another AMAZING score.
 

Overall, the material in this album is moody, low, brooding and yet somehow powerful. You can tell after one listen that a lot of effort was put into this album, and it sometimes shows its head through minor bursts of the choir, great thematic swells, or soft woodwind motifs.

So, why not give it a four or five star rating? I guess it's the amount of unthematic material in the album (on the bright side, with every listen I pick up on a new motif and theme). Howard Shore has managed to get the feel of the film, unfortunately it usually doesn't show up in the form of a strong theme. Also some of the choir selections seem quite baudy and some out of place.

The good news is this: Overall, I do like the album. Like I said, with every listen I pick up on one of Shore's lesser themes or motifs. I enjoy his sensitive work toward the middle of the album and especially at the end of the album, but I find some of the action material lacking punch. I just seems to be build. All except number 13 ("The Bridge of Kazahd Dum"), which is amazing. Howard was able to create moments of sheer power and emotion which is why I value the album so.

So, should you get this album? If You liked Lord of the Rings, or Howard Shore's work - yes. It certainly shows off some of his better and more planned material. You should stay away from it if you like heavily thematic stuff and light fluffy romantic comedy stuff. Should this score have won the Oscar? Still up for debate, but Shore has created a powerful, if unthematic, work of art.
 

As a last word, it makes me nearly weep with joy to see that you all love the CD as much as I do. We seem to have the same signature on our souls. Look closely at it: it reads "Lord of the Rings will NEVER be forgotten!"
 

The structure of the album is quite something. It ranges from sweet, soft melodies that soothe the soul to intense and agressive pieces of art to pump you up like there's no tomorrow.

I mostly listen to his CD during the winter time. Seems to fit right into the season. That's my opinion of course! In general, it's a very good soundtrack to own.
 

There is a lot of beautiful material here to look at. "Concerning Hobbits" is the beautiful theme of the Shire. A few tracks contain the dark and bombastic Isengard and Uruk-Hai themes. The most majestic and beautiful theme that is scattered throughout the album is the Fellowship theme, which is most dominant in "The Bridge Of Khazad Dum."

Howard Shore definitely captivates us with this first score and gives us a taste of his skill in producing beatiful thematic material. If you decide to get this gem of a score and you like it, be sure to pick up The Two Towers, the dark "Empire Strikes Back" installment of the trilogy.
 

And to sum up I will mention the two Enya pieces: the 1st heard in track 10 for the love theme for Arwen and Aragorn. The last is heard in track 18, the final track called May It Be. The songs say it all. This is music for the ages and without a doubt the greatest film score ever composed. I cannot recommend this enough. I give it ten stars. Enjoy!