Note that my time stamps might differ from yours, since my DVD is distributed by Cinéart Belgium...

Comments are more than welcome!

This is the first half hour:

[center]1a. Prologue: The One Ring
1b. Prologue: Death of a King and a Lord
1c. Prologue: The Passing of the Ring
2. ‘Fellowship Of The Ring’ Titles
3. Concerning Hobbits
4. A Wizard’s Song
5. Two Friends Catch Up
6. Very Old Friends
7. Stretched Like Butter
8. Smoking Pipeweed
9. The Long-Expected Party
10. Dragon Fireworks
11. Bilbo’s Disappearance
12. Defending My Things
13. The Parting
14. Leaving for Rivendel
15. Could It Be?[/center]

[U]1a. Prologue: The One Ring[/U]

00.00.19 A first sober statement of the Lothlorien Theme by strings and choir is heard as ‘Wingnut Films’ is on screen and an elf’s and Galadriel’s voices move in. The Lothlorien Theme is linked to Galadriel here as she is informing us about some of the history of Middle-Earth we need to know about to be able to get into the epic story.

00.00.45 Brass and strings build up to…

00.00.55 …the first statement of the Ring Theme played by strings over the ‘Lord of the Rings’ logo.

00.01.32 The same instruments from 00.00.55, and in the same atmosphere as the Ring Theme, play a sustained note to the transition to Mordor.

00.01.38 The orchestra shifts the mood when the camera shifts to Mordor on the map. You can hear a motif here, with brass or winds sustaining a note while strings play a two-note motif (see 00.03.02 and heard clearly when you select ‘Select a scene’ in the EE version).

00.01.55 Violins play a little motif when we see Sauron in the heart of Mount Doom. What struck me is the three-note motif we hear a lot more throughout the movies, and that’s been played here two times, namely my V-motif; which is a first pitch, followed by a lower pitch and then ended with the first pitch again (it looks like a V when you connect the three pitches on the sheet music, hence the name).

00.02.09 The cue ends (I’m not sure whether I hear a low string chord, because the other sounds are too loud, so I ended my first cue here).

[U]1b. Prologue: Death of a King and a Lord[/U]

00.02.18 A nice and clear first statement of the Descending Thirds Motif is heard as the alliance of elves and men march against the armies of Mordor.

00.02.29 Brass play a sequence of the Sauron Theme…

00.02.35 …which is immediately followed by the choir bringing the Ringwraith Theme.

00.03.03 And just as this theme is to end, we hear a two-note motif (same pitches), which I associate a lot with Sauron… (see 00.01.38)

00.03.06 …since it is clearly played again when Sauron is to be seen on screen.

00.03.17 Sauron is about to crash some of his enemies and the orchestra now brings another statement of the Ringwraith Theme, soon assisted by the choir.

00.03.28 Elendil is bewildered and tries to beat Sauron by himself, but the King is smashed against a rock and is instantly killed. The violins play this four-note motif I recently associated with the ‘Fate of Men’, since this exact same motif is played after Boromir tried to take the Ring from Frodo at Amon Hen, but failed to do so.

00.03.40 Horns play a motif not heard elsewhere –it has been suggested this theme is the Narsil Theme or a variation on it, but I’m not sure if I hear the same or anything sounding the same in the actual Narsil cue-, over the rhythm stated by other instruments and also heard at 00.01.38.

00.03.51 A trumpet takes over the lead in the orchestra with a variation on the V-motif…

00.03.54 …followed by the violins playing the V-motif like at 00.01.55. Meanwhile the orchestra builds up and…

00.04.05 …the trumpets now play a loud V-motif as Sauron is about to vanish physically from Middle-Earth,…

00.04.08 …ending the cue.

[U]1c. Prologue: The Passing of the Ring[/U]

00.04.10 Strings play a low deep chord...

00.04.13 …followed by some other instruments like brass and more strings.

00.04.19 Isildur picks up the Ring and the Ring Theme is played.

00.04.32 The strings play a little motif, reminding me of Rivendell somehow.

00.04.40 There’s some nice action-music here, with notable horns, as Orcs attack Isildur and his men, building up to…

00.05.01 …a brass sustained note as a betrayed Isildur is about to lose the Ring in the river.

00.05.08 The Ring escaped from Isildur and we hear the Ring Theme again.

00.05.40 We hear a dark chord as Gollem picks up the Ring and holds it in his hand, calling it his ‘precious’.

00.05.44 The orchestra builds up to…

00.06.00 The first statement of Gollem’s Theme, probably played by oboe, as we see Gollem in his cave.

00.06.19 Frankly, I don’t know what to think of this sequence :S –Marilynn suggested this might be something regarding the ‘Passing of the Ring’ elsewhere, mainly considering wizarding people, i.e. with Gandalf and Galadriel.

00.06.47 The Ring Theme is played as Bilbo picks up the Ring.

00.07.15 And I will end the Prologue cues here ^_^

[U]2. ‘Fellowship Of The Ring’ Titles[/U]

00.07.20 The Hobbits Theme is first played as we see the map going to Hobbiton. Although the basic idea for Hobbits is a simple ascending three-note motif, I divided it into three different uses for it -to make it easier for myself- namely the Hobbits A Theme, which is used here, the Hobbits B Theme and the Shire Theme.

00.07.43 The horns play a first sober statement of the Fellowship Theme and the title of the first movie from the trilogy appears on screen, before the strings play the theme along with the horns.

00.08.13 The cue ends.

[U]3. Concerning Hobbits[/U]

00.08.25 Wind instruments and strings bring a folksy tune underscoring the simple and carefree life of a Hobbit. It reminds me of the more darkened motif from 00.01.38 and 00.03.02, here brightened up to match life in the Shire.

00.08.45 A snare instrument (not sure if it’s a violin or something more folksy) brings a variation of the Shire Theme. I think it’s here when the hammered dulcimer comes in for the first time and that shows up for every following statement of the Shire Theme.

00.08.57 There’s someone knocking at the door and you hear two notes almost underscoring, yet being a continuation of the variation from 00.08.45.

00.09.03 Bilbo continues writing, assuming Frodo will answer the door and this time the Shire Theme is heard, played by that same snare instrument.

00.09.23 We hear some variation on the Shire Theme, by bassoon and strings (only here without hammered dulcimer).

00.09.32 The Shire Theme returns, again followed by some variation, building up to the point when we see the banner for Bilbo being put up...

00.09.53 …and ending the cue.

[U]4. A Wizard’s Song[/U]

00.10.03 We hear a sweet and shy short statement of the Hobbits A Theme played by a flute, when we see the very first shot with Frodo, sitting under a tree, apparently writing something down.

00.10.07 Suddenly Gandalf’s voice comes in and the music, namely strings, starts to underscore the song he’s singing. Later on some sort of other snare instrument and a flute join in.

‘Down from the door where it began
I must follow if I can
The road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began
Now far ahead the Road has gone
And I must follow, if I can...’

00.10.43 The cue ends.

[U]5. Two Friends Catch Up[/U]

00.10.58 The cheerful Shire bass-line reminds us again of the carefree life Hobbits live and the time they have to joke and fool around, in this case with a wizard who also love everything about the Shire and its inhabitants.

00.11.03 As Frodo is about to jump into the big arms of Gandalf we hear the flute playing the sweet Hobbits A Theme again, and this time it’s the full version.

00.11.21 The jolly bass-line returns when they are talking and laughing about Bilbo and his Long-Expected Party.

00.11.30 The camera shifts to the Shire people working on the field and there’s the Shire Theme again (with the snare instrument as in the other statements of this theme) as Frodo and Gandalf’s conversation is over and Bilbo starts to talk again!

00.11.48 Gandalf and Frodo are back on screen and there’s a nice compelling change to the Hobbits B Theme.

00.12.09 However, the mood changes as Frodo expresses his concerns about Bilbo’s behaviour. The strings become darker while a harp or maybe pizzicato strings underscore these –I’m not sure what I hear-, and I’m also not sure but maybe this could be a key change to the same key as the one for the Gollem Theme. Could be too far-fetched though…

00.12.23 The music for this extended edition scene almost contains some funny music for strings, percussion and little brass as Bilbo obviously searches for something. It keeps building up until he realizes the thing is actually in his side pocket…

00.12.46 …leaving only a bass sustained note and the ringing out of a cymbal or gong.

00.12.51 The music from 00.12.09 returns as we see Bilbo cherish something that fits into his hand, and then the camera switches to Frodo telling Gandalf that Bilbo’s ‘up to something’. However not like in 00.12.09 we can hear the hammered dulcimer playing some chords and this time it’s the lower pizzicato strings that underscore the other higher strings playing the motif.

00.13.05 All the strings now play a variation on some Hobbit material (what exactly is it?) before…

00.13.09 …we get a close shot of funny Gandalf and the even funny Hobbits bass-line returns once again.

00.13.18 The Shire Theme is played, only this time without the main melody played by the snare instrument.

00.13.45 Children run to Gandalf as we hear the Hobbits B Theme.

00.13.55 A two-note motif is repeated thrice as the children ask Gandalf for fireworks and he apparently doesn’t listen to them.

00.14.04 But Gandalf couldn’t resist and as he sets off some sparkling fireworks the Shire Theme is back in full glory, the snare instrument joined by a flute.

00.14.16 Once again we hear the Shire Theme without the main melody, after a short beginning variation played by the snare instrument.

00.14.23 Frodo jumps off the cart and we hear the Hobbits A Theme played by flute.

00.14.54 The cue ends.

[U]6. Very Old Friends [/U]

00.15.10 Strings play a quicker version of the Hobbits A Theme when Bilbo opens the door and sees Gandalf.

00.15.34 The Hobbits bass-line comes in as Bilbo asks Gandalf to come in and Bilbo starts to joke and laugh a little. The bass-line is followed by some variations concerning the pitch (sequences) and instruments (for example a bassoon enters at 00.15.51.

00.16.01 The clarinets playfully come in as the too big Gandalf walks into the chandelier and bumps his head against the wall.

00.16.10 Mysterioso strings take over as Gandalf walks into what seems to be Bilbo’s study and takes a good look around.

00.16.20 A boy’s choir starts to hum, accompanied by strings, as Gandalf spots the map on Bilbo’s desk he made from his former trip to the Lonely Mountain and picks it up to inspect it more closely.

00.16.40 But after a last unresolved chord, the frivolous bass-line is back, with variation, as Gandalf is now behind a tea-offering Bilbo.

00.16.47 The music abruptly stops as Bilbo’s family knocks on the door.

[U]7. Stretched Like Butter[/U]

00.17.42 I think I hear the serene chords, joined by a harp, from one of the Hobbit Phrases, probably Hobbit B.

00.18.11 Eventually the chords start to live an own life, and the further reference to a Hobbit Theme fades as Bilbo starts to speak about how he feels. Perhaps this is also a key change closer to the Gollem Theme as we know how Gollem changed because of the Ring and the same is starting to happen to Bilbo.

00.18.21 The clarinet plays a familiar sounding little motif, but I can’t really place it…

00.18.28 The music makes a change once again and this little fragment reminds me of the music from 00.12.23, only instead of thirds we hear diatonic steps and…

00.18.37 …I ended the cue here.

[U]8. Smoking Pipeweed[/U]

00.18.38 The flute plays the Hobbits A Theme as Gandalf and Bilbo are sitting outside, smoking pipeweed and watching the last preparations for Bilbo’s party.

00.18.58 A nice ending variation on the Hobbits A Theme is played here…

00.19.05…ending the whole scene.

[U]9. The Long-Expected Party[/U]

00.19.07 This is the first diegetic music in the movies, played by Plan 9, a band from New-Zealand. The music is some kind of Hobbit folksy tune –with the folk instruments like flutes, fiddles, percussion, other snare instruments…-, or at least, what we would expect to be typical realistic Hobbit music. The music is party music, i.e. dance music which makes you feel good, happy.

00.20.42 The music stops.

[U]10. Dragon Fireworks[/U]

00.20.57 Some brisk strings play a nice melody as Bilbo notices his family, the Sackville-Bagginses, again and hides from their view.

00.21.09 The strings from 00.17.42 (chords from the Hobbits B Theme) return as Bilbo apologizes to Frodo and already says goodbye without Frodo realizing it.

00.21.35 The main melody of the Hobbits B Theme returns here.

00.21.54 The strings underscore Merry and Pippin’s pranks. As the fireworks go up into the air, becoming a dragon and coming back down again, they build up to…

00.22.16 …a first climax and then continue once again to build up to the second climax as the fireworks explode into a million zillion sparkles…

00.22.37 …and with this climax the cue ends.

[U]11. Bilbo’s Disappearance[/U]

00.23.53 As Bilbo reaches for his Ring and puts it behind his back, a high note is played and sustained by strings, before these change pitches and are joined by other strings who play a rapid four-note figure and strings who play some staccato bass-notes.

00.24.11 Some high notes are sustained again, building up the tension to the moment when…

00.24.21 …Bilbo puts on the Ring. The staccato strings are back again, together with high strings playing what sounds like chase music, probably based on the quick four-note figure from 00.23.53, very hasty and a lot of notes in a short amount of time. It’s almost like a game of descending and ascending as we see the suggestion of an invisible Bilbo running up to Bag-End. I can hear some strange instrument playing along with the high strings, but I’m not sure whether it’s some melodic percussion or something with a keyboard. It does sound metallic though… Or is it wood?

00.24.43 And like in fairy-tale movies, when Bilbo appears again we here a harp building up to that moment and the bells and some brass join in.

00.24.47 Woodwinds take over the part of the staccato strings and together with crawling strings they build up to a relative climax…

00.24.53 …as we hear and see Gandalf, ending the cue.

[U]12. Defending My Things [/U]

00.25.40 The choir holds a note as Bilbo looks at his Ring and cherishes it.

00.25.49 The strings come in with a flair of sadness and the music soon dies out.

00.26.04 Some woodwinds take over the part from the choir as the strings retake their figure from 00.25.49 and again the music dies out.

00.26.17 The Gollem Theme comes in referring to Bilbo becoming something like Gollem as he calls the Ring his own, his ‘precious’ –I’m not sure which instrument is playing the theme though.

00.26.27 The strings dramatically descend as Bilbo gets angry at Gandalf, trying to defend his things, meaning the Ring.

00.26.34 Gandalf speaks up as a mighty wizard and all of a sudden the strings go up a few registers, underscoring Gandalf’s possible power.

00.26.49 A silence between this and the following gives even more ‘power’ to Gandalf.

00.26.51 Strings and flute bring an almost romantic piece as Bilbo becomes aware of his selfishness and hugs Gandalf.

00.27.17 The cue ends as Bilbo says ‘the Ring must go to Frodo’.

[U]13. The Parting [/U]

00.27.31 Low strings precede…

00.27.38 …the Descending Thirds Motif, with a mysterious sounding choir over it, foreshadowing the danger involved carrying the Ring.

00.27.53 Brass ominously ascend, leaving this short cue quite unresolved.

[U]14. Leaving for Rivendel [/U]

00.28.06 The Hobbits A Theme is played softly by strings followed by some other instruments as Bilbo and Gandalf say their goodbyes to each other.

00.28.40 The cue ends.

[U]15. Could It Be?[/U]

00.28.56 Very low strings begin to play as Gandalf’s hand reaches for the Ring, slowly building up as the wizard thinks over what just happened and what the Ring could possibly mean to Middle-Earth.

00.29.15 More strings play the commonly known run-up to…

00.29.22 …the Ring Theme, softly played by sad strings.

00.30.00 The strings sustain a note and play a crescendo as Gandalf gives Frodo an envelop to put the Ring in.

Oh, by the way, now that I've found out you can't underline things... how do you do a bar line and a URL?

When these analysis threads are complete, you should really create a website with them.

We have a MSN group. Why don't you join us? It'd be nice to have you there. Any other LOTR Score fans are welcome ^_^

It's quite a new group and we still have a lot of work, but slowly it's coming together!

This is the link (THANK YOU !) :Shore's Musical Middle-Earth

My biggest and nearest goal is to publish my thesis about the music for the trilogy. If that doesn't work out I'll make a real website about it ^_^

~Jelle