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NESP Reviews

The Lord of the Rings
The Fellowship Of the Ring

Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Composed, Orchestrated and Conducted by Howard Shore
(CD - Music)

Reviewed by Alfta Reginleif

If you were to bet on the possibility that I would like the soundtrack to the movie as much as I liked the movie you would be a winner. But that would by no means mean that this soundtrack can not stand on its own feet. Everything that makes an orchestral film soundtrack great can be found in this soundtrack; the strings that are beautiful and sweeping one moment and ominous and foreboding the next; the roaring brass section; the booming kettle drums; the otherworldly choirs; it's all here. I have long been a fan of good orchestral soundtracks, such as just about any done by composers like, John Williams, Jerry Goldsmith and James Horner but Alan Shore is one that I have somehow missed over the years. After getting this soundtrack I will be sure to remedy that. Shore's compositions do everything that a great soundtrack should. “The Treason of Isengard” oozes betrayal. “The Sign of the Prancing Pony” sets you on edge. “Amon Hen” conveys ancient evil to such an extent your hair stands on end. In “Concerning Hobbits” the sweeping strings take you to those beautiful lands of the shire. “A Knife in the Dark” is wonderfully ominous and beautifully sad. Simply put this is GREAT STUFF! Enya makes a few appearances on the soundtrack. I like Enya, she has a really ethereal singing style but I can't help but think I am hearing the same song done over and over again each time I hear one of her songs. In any case her music does not hurt the soundtrack at all. You like orchestral soundtracks? You like John Williams? You like Jerry Goldsmith? Then get this soundtrack.

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