The Return of the King - The Complete Recordings

Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King/Roots and Beginnings
2. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King/Journey to the Cross-Roads
3. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King/The Road to Isengard
4. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King/The Foot of Orthanc
5. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King/Return to Edoras
6. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King/The Chalice Passed
7. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King/The Green Dragon
8. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King/Gollum's Villany
9. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King/Éowyn's Dream
10. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King/The Palantír
11. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King/Flight from Edoras
12. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King/The Grace of Undómiel
13. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King/The Eyes of the White Tower
14. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King/A Coronal of Silver and Gold
15. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King/The Lighting of the Beacons

Disc 2:

1. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King/Osgiliath Invaded
2. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King/The Stairs of Cirith Ungol
3. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King/Allegiance to Denethor
4. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King/The Sacrifice of Faramir (Inc
5. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King/The Parting of Sam and Frodo
6. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King/Marshalling at Dunharrow
7. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King/Andúril - Flame of the West
8. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King/The Passing of the Grey Compa
9. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King/Dwimorberg - The Haunted Moun
10. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King/Master Meriadoc, Swordthain
11. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King/The Paths of the Dead
12. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King/The Siege of Gondor
13. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King/Shelob's Lair
14. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King/Merry's Simple Courage

Disc 3:

1. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King/Grond - The Hammer of the Und
2. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King/Shelob the Great
3. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King/The Tomb of the Stewards
4. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King/The Battle of the Pelennor Fi
5. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King/The Pyre of Denethor
6. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King/The Mûmakil
7. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King/Dernhelm in Battle
8. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King/A Far Green Country
9. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King/Shieldmaiden of Rohan
10. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King/The Passing of Théoden
11. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King/The Houses of Healing
12. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King/The Tower of Cirith Ungol
13. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King/The Last Debate (Includes "As
14. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King/The Land of Shadow
15. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King/The Mouth of Sauron
16. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King/For Frodo

Disc 4:

1. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King/Mount Doom
2. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King/The Crack of Doom
3. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King/The Eagles
4. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King/The Fellowship Reunited
5. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King/The Journey to the Grey Haven
6. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King/Eleanor
7. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King/Days of the Ring (Includes "I
8. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King/Bilbo's Song

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2052 in Music
• Released on: 2007-11-20
• Number of discs: 5
• Formats: Import, Soundtrack, Box set
• Running time: 229 minutes

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Customer Reviews

In one word - a Masterpiece
I have always considered Miklos Rozsa's score to Ben-Hur to be the greatest film score ever composed. The sheer depth of that music, the quantity of themes Dr. Rozsa composed for that one movie (around 10 or 12 different themes) and the magnificent orchestrations he wrote made that score unique. Considering the quality of film scores that are composed today - good, usually adequate, but nothing truly 'great' - I never thought I would come across anything to match this wonder written 50 years ago.

I'm so glad to say I was wrong.

This score will surely go down as one of the great film scores of all time. I wont go on and on about it, as other reviewers have written fabulous reviews here that sum up my feelings. I only want to make 3 comments.

1) If you are a serious film score fan and collector, then try to get your hands on this as soon as possible, before it disappears forever. I read on a website a few months ago that the company making this is having trouble producing enough sets to satisfy demand, which is why it is so hard to track down a copy. After opening my copy, I can see why. This beautiful set screams quality. Everything about it is first class. The case, the folder that holds all 4 CD's, the quality of the printing; this is one of the best produced CD sets I have seen. The included booklet is a wonderful source of information on the music itself, written for serious music lovers.

2) Only buy the hard copy set, don't be tempted to buy the MP3 download version. Of course its easier and quicker to get the downloaded version, but this is a CD set designed to keep on your shelf forever, and look good.

3) Don't buy it here, from unscrupulous privateers that are selling it for some ridiculous prices. £140+ is insane. Only pay these prices if you are reading this years into the future and the set was deleted long ago. I just recieved mine from Amazon.com and I paid around £40, including postage. I was expecting to pay around £15 import duty, but I was very lucky ... it was first sent to Germany, where a Deutsche Post sticker was placed over the U.S. Postal label, so it arrived at my front door duty free. But even with the import duty, it will cost around £55 - one third the cost being sold by the privateers.

I never thought I would get a copy of this, I searched and searched the internet for a copy but I could only find overpriced copies on Amazon and Ebay. But I found it on Amazon.com 3 weeks ago. Its still there today. So get it NOW before its gone forever, which will probably be in about 6 to 12 months from now. (August 8, 2008.)

Monumental
When I walked out of my local cinema on the 17th of December 2003, having just witnessed possibly the best film I have ever seen or ever will see, I was emotionally drained, but also extremely excited to: (a) see the film again on the big screen; and (b) to buy and listen to the soundtrack.

I saw the film one more time, which I believe was enough to both satisfy me and to keep my interest piqued for the soundtrack. It was about a month later when I purchased the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, and never have I been more disappointed.

Film soundtracks somehow always tend to leave out some piece of music that was uniquely memorable to me, however I was horrified to find a good deal of my musical highlights from the film omitted. I understand of course that they have to be ruthless in order to edit a 250-minute score into 70 minutes of CD, but that did not comfort me.

Over time I got used to it, as it appeared to be the only version of the music I was ever going to hear, and I will even admit to loving it: I enjoyed most of the tracks, especially "Minas Tirith", "The White Tree", "The Black Gate Opens" and I still prefer to "Anduril" to the one presented on the Complete Recordings.

However, it cannot be overstated: The Return of the King - The Complete Recordings is magnificent, everything that I've ever wished for in a musical score and an amazing testament to Howard Shore's skill and genius as an artist. It is what I waited 4 years to hear, and I'm truly glad that I lived to see the day when Shore's 10-hour opera was made available on disc.

I'm not going to make any attempt to critically analyse the music and its various thematic elements, etc. - any attempt would be futile, as that has already been done expertly by Doug Adams, and I would refer anyone interested to know more to the comprehensive Annotated Scores for all 3 Complete Recordings to be found on www.thelordoftherings-soundtack.net.

Instead, I can only offer an emotional response to what I view to be the highlights of this monumental recording. First, "Roots and Beginnings" gives us the music that Shore intended to accompany Smeagol's murder of Deagol and his transformation into Gollum, which was replaced by sound effects in the film: it's extremely powerful music.

"The Grace of Undomiel" is another favourite of mine as it features the best segue music I have ever heard: as Narsil is re-forged, the Rivendell theme builds to a crescendo before it flows into the Minas Tirith theme, which is appropriate as the film then flashes to Gandalf and Pippin as they approach the capital city of Gondor. The Fellowship theme sounds in an urgent yet heroic statement and then The Realm of Gondor takes over: incredible!

I was always disappointed with "The Ride of the Rohirrim" on the 2003 Soundtrack as it presented the least stirring of the Rohan melodies when there were 2 other far superior tunes that they could have chosen. "The Lighting of the Beacons" ends with one of those: the Rohan fanfare is presented as similarly heroic and urgent as Theoden and his troops prepare to depart, before it builds through a majestic version of Nature's Reclamation.

"Osgiliath Invaded" is another superb track, and it offers us a rare opportunity to hear music that was composed to an earlier, alternate edit of the film. The Morgul-host clash violently with Faramir's rangers before the fellowship theme interrupts the battle: in this version, Gandalf and Pippin have only just arrived in Gondor and, seeing the Nazgul attacking the retreating Gondorians, they charge the Pelennor fields, Gandalf's staff-light blazing, and the Nazgul flee.

The music Shore composed for all of the Paths of the Dead scenes is actually a lot better than I originally thought that it was: the use of hanging Tibetan gongs was a particular stroke of genius on his part: they're just so haunting and exotic! Similarly, Shore's music for the Shelob's Lair sequences not only showcases what is clearly one of his favourite compositional styles, but also reflects the action on screen perfectly, serving as a musical imprint of events.

I suppose that that goes for the entire score, but mention must be made here of his compositions for "The Siege of Gondor", "Grond - The Hammer of the Underworld" and "The Tomb of the Stewards": the music that represents the evil mechanical might of Mordor is evocative and harrowing at the same time.

Perhaps the one piece of music that I have most looked forward to hearing and have found myself humming many times over the last 4 years comes from one of my favourite scenes in the trilogy: Theoden's charge on the fields of the Pelennor. "The Battle of the Pelennor Fields" on Disc 3 does not disappoint and never ceases to make my hair stand on end as the Hardanger fiddle sings the Rohan fanfare over brave brass doing the same. Fantastic!

The bloody and frantic battle that results from the Rohirrim's arrival is just as well represented musically: from the deep, ponderous percussion of the Mumakil charge to the high, hellish choir that backs the Witch-king's attack on Eowyn, we are presented with a kaleidoscope of melodies that fight for dominance. And yet, amid all the chaos, a clear simple tune calls out during a lull: the Grey Havens theme makes its first appearance in "A Far Green Country", and what a tune, orchestrated differently from the film, but better!

Finally, Legolas' bringing-down of a Mumak serves as a suitable climax to the battle, both visually and musically, before we fall back to earth where Theoden lies dying. I am in constant awe of Shore's aptness to composing simple yet very emotional music for death scenes: Boromir's in "Fellowship" was one, and Theoden's is of a similar kind, as choir and halting strings and brass give the impression of a person's breath slowing and finally giving-out.

However, the true climax of the film, and the entire 10-hour score/opera for that matter, is the destruction of the ring. "For Frodo" sets those events in motion as Aragorn leads the Army of the West against the forces of Mordor and Gollum returns to attack Frodo and Sam on Mount Doom. The incredible choral accompaniment follows these events to perfection as first it sings heroically then its tone turns dark, until it is comforted by the Nature theme.

The Ring is at last destroyed, and the music for "The Crack of Doom" is some of the best I think that I have ever heard. The Fate of the Ring theme, which once appeared briefly when Aragorn and Gandalf were discussing the future of Middle-earth in The Two Towers, is now brought to the fore by full chorus and orchestra as it represents the downfall of Sauron and hope for a new day. I feel sure that if there is ever a Judgement Day, and Evil is destroyed forever, that music will be playing! The Gondor Reborn theme also features, and it is another example of an alternate version to the film, but a far superior one!

Let me make this clear: the entire 10-hour score/opera is amazing, and is an essential for any discerning music lover. If I had the time to write a review for all three Complete Recordings, I would: this all too brief critique has only looked at a small percentage of the music, and then only my personal highlights. The whole set of 10 CDs may look costly, but I assure you that it is worth every penny, and if you loved the films, the books or just good music, then you will find eternal joy in this score/opera, as I have done and still do.

Fantastic boxed set.....
The complete score from the final film is in my opinion so much better than the film itself which I did not enjoy (for me the 2nd film is still one of the best movies I have ever seen). I paid £34.08 for mine from 'DVD Legacy' (via Amazon) so am very pleased it actually arrived today which was better than expected. If you own the 1st two sets then this one is a must have. The DVD A disc quality is superb and the sole reason I own a player capable of decoding the format. Go order it now..... 'My precious'........ ;-)