The Lord of the Rings is a MASTERCLASS in Theme Writing 

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Id happily watch a hour of LOTR music analysis honestly

The LOTR soundtrack is one of the only scores that can consistently make my hair stand on end, my pulse rise, my courage swell and my tears fall. It never gets old, a perfect match to this legendary story

The flag of Rohan being ripped away by the wind was actually a happy accident as the crew was filming. They thought it was so perfect that they then added a scene in which the flag lands near Aragorn. And the music brings it together beautifully!

I'll never stop repeating this - even though the other greats, like Zimmer and Williams have written far more iconic soundtracks, the LOTR score is still by far the greatest achievement in film scoring.

When people don’t include LOTR in their top soundtracks of all time, I don’t trust them. It’s a masterpiece and so intricate.

FYI, Spotify has the complete 1:1 score for all three extended edition movies. It’s 12 hours of pure musical bliss

I had the honor to sing the boy solo when the lotr symphony was first played on European soil in Antwerp Sportpaleis Belgium. Conducted by Howard Shore himself. I will never forget this!

I love that Shore uses Hardanger fiddle to introduce the hauntingly beautiful Rohan theme. It feels delicate, ancient, and yet unwavering. Definitely my favorite theme in the trilogy.

The charge of the rohirrim is really one of the best scene I've seen in my entire life. Goosebumps every damn time, I love it !

Howard Shore created something really unique. He gave Middle Earth a voice, a soul, a feel. The scripts are amazing, the acting is as well. Everything about the Lord Of The Rings is magnificent. However the score added so much more to the entire work. As a composer myself I am so happy to live in a time in which people like Williams, Zimmer, Shore, Morricone, Elfman etc. give us these immortal treasures of music.

Peter Jackson had one criteria for a theme - it had to be hummable. I love the fact that the first time you hear the Gondor theme is in solo French Horn over the Council of Elrond scene. You don't hear it properly until the arrival at Minas Tirith in Return of the King (unless you count the Osgiliath deleted scene in the Two Towers extended edition).

You may know, but Shore also said that as he wrote the music with the original books as his guide, unintended but wonderful interplay among themes arose later in the score, which he attributed to Tolkien's astonishing writing.

The music of the Lord of the Rings reminds us that there is still some good in this world, and it's worth fighting for.

I've listened to this soundtrack 1,000 times over the past 22 years and yet I still got goosebumps @ 3:16. Thank you Howard Shore, and thank you Charles!

Howard Shore getting Enya to sing ‘May It Be’ was one of the best choices he made with the music. Amazing singer and she nailed that song.

Hans Zimmer has created some really interesting themes and sounds that live in my head. I've listened to John Williams literally as long as I can remember, and the music of Star Wars in particular is written on my heart. But with Lord of the Rings, Howard Shore somehow set up shop in my soul, and never left.

Apparently they didn't intend for the flag to be ripped away by the wind, and it was an accidental prop malfunction. However, it serendipitously looked so extraordinarily symbolic that they ran with it.

I’d thoroughly recommend the book “The Music of The Lord of the Rings” by Doug Adams, who was able to sit in on much of the music-making process of the films. It covers every single theme used in the trilogy and then musically analyses every scene from start to finish

I remember going to watch The Two Towers at the Royal Albert Hall with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra playing live...... it was then I realised that the score is literally playing all the way through the movie, and it made me realise just how incredibly important Howard Shore's score was. That trilogy would not have been the same without the incredibly hard work that Shore put in.

The Rohirrim arriving at the battle of Pelennor Fields is my favourite scene from any movie, ever. The music when they arrive making you feel the uncertainty of both armies, Theoden's incredible speech with the music building as the camera pans out to reveal the full might of the Rohirrim army, the "DEEEAATH!" battle cry, deafening horn sounding, and then that epic charge. Gets me every time without fail.

Choosing Howard Shore to write the soundtrack was probably the best thing Peter Jackson did in directing these movies. It's perfect. So glad you made this video!

This soundtrack is goosebumps literally every 15-20 minutes. Huge, brilliantly designed set pieces and action... and Howard Shore's music ELEVATES all of it. It doesn't just "support," it directly improves and elevates every element. Brilliance abounds across all three movies.

The inclusion of elven, including some some songs straight up written by Tolkien, in many choirs, is an example of the brilliant collective work done on these films to weave a cohesive world as memorable as in the book.

I'm so glad you talked about this. My favorite musical moment from the films is the lighting of the beacons when both the Gondor and Rohan themes are melded together so wonderfully. Gondor calls, and Rohan answers.

I love that when the Rohan theme comes back, though its strong and sort of triumphant, its also still mixed with pain. It's the defeated soldier regaining his strength to stand his ground, and while that is a victory in of itself, the battle still isn't won and wounds still aren't healed. And so through the truimph the theme still carries its weakness with it, rising in spite of it, with renewed determination and trepidation of whats to come.

On my most recent rewatch of LoTR, I noticed the Rohan theme and straight up cheered when the theme changes from strings to brass when the King is healed to give it that triumphant feel. And when they bring back the strings and then the entire brass section when they ride to battle. I couldn't keep myself from crying from just how masterful the music is used. Bravo Howard Shore!

I'll admit, I was disappointed it wasn't Williams when Shore was announced. But Jackson said, he didn't really want it to sound like Williams. He wanted something different. And yes, I love what Shore did. He created incredible themes that worked well through six films. Oh my Go to Bed alarm just went off. It is the Hobbits theme from LoTR. I love its gentleness, urging me to rest. Did I mention I love what Shore did?

When the Rohan theme becomes more full and glorious it really matches Theoden's character story. A king and father who's son is dead but still pushes to lead his people. Unlike Denethor. I love how it builds and grows more glorious up to the battle of Pelennor Fields.

I will forever believe the music underneath Gandalf telling Pippin about the "Far green country" is an absolute masterclass in how very simple harmonic progression and melody can be the most powerful way to underscore a moment. Howard Shore had a lot of complex harmonic/melodic moments , but he also knew when to let a simple melody play, moving between the I, IV, and V. That type of restraint is what makes this score legendary.

The LOTR soundtrack…they really took every emotion that humans can experience and put you through them with music. Listening back to it you hear horror, thriller, action, inspiration, love, and loss all in a fantasy movie. Incredible. Part of the reason your heart can’t help but love this story

Greatest score ever. There’s one part in the 3rd movie where stopping the music was just as effective as the music itself. When the oliphants showed up in Pelennor fields, the rohirrem turned towards them and charged. The music was triumphant and really confident. Then the oliphant swing it’s tusk, took out a bunch of guys and the music (like the charge) came to a screeching halt. Just amazing.

The Rohan theme is my favorite theme of the entire trilogy, so much subtlety and beauty within this piece

It's also definitely worth noting Shore's brilliant use of the Gondor theme for the lighting of the beacons scene. Chills every time there.

I think I remember hearing the flag getting torn away at Edoras by the wind wasn’t scripted. It was just a windy day and they happened to catch the moment on film. It’s such a powerful moment for setting the mood in that scene.

Its really amazing when you consider how much the score 'speaks', how much it communicates to the audience about a particular moment, about a character's emotions, without words. It's inpossible to imagine those scenes without it.

Shore's music with Jackson's direction is, in my opinion, the most epic soundtrack ever to go with the most epic movie(s). Nobody does locations and sets like this anymore, its all green screen. The sheer number of themes and different applications is insane. You could do a series of all the main themes and I'd watch every one multiple times.

This was really cool. The thing that also never fails to give me goosebumps with this soundtrack is the use of abrupt silence at impactful moments, for example the moment when the rohirrim collide with the orcs at Minas Tirith or that Boromir scene. Absolutely brilliant

Clicked instantly when i saw the title

It's crazy how much psychology is behind scores and how they can capture the emotion. I think that what makes a score memorable is not only its catchyness but also the way it is used in scenes.

It doesn't get talked about as often, but one of my favorites absolutely has to the Last March of the Ents. It gets me so emotional every time, and then it returns when the Rohirrim arrive at Pelennor an AUGH.

My favorite piece of music from the trilogy is the March of the Ents when they head to Isengard. Gives me goosebumps every time.

I realised when I watched this that the change in Rohan's theme to the half note down darker sound is way too familiar to the audience. It's what we've heard over and over in The One Ring's theme. That might also be one of the reasons that we instantly react and know that it signifies evil. It's absolutely amazing how the music is composed!

People who don't have a musical background sometimes miss the importance of the soundtrack in a video/movie project. But it is so core to the feel of the movie, and, not to take anything away from the amazing directing, visual effects, casting, etc. that makes a good movie, one of the hardest things to get right. Just think, in normal life we don't have music just playing when stuff happens. And yet, in a good movie, the music fits the scene so well it feel natural. The music adds to our experience without distracting from the visuals that are the centerpiece.

I don't know how Tolkein himself would view the films, but i've absolutely no doubt he'd adore the score. It is just sublime.

This OST is absolutely nuts!! Insane! There's a moment in the 3rd movie, when Pippin light up the lighthouses to alert Rohan, the orchestra just goes crazy and it's unbelievable! Great movie saga with a great OST!

Did you know the theme for the nine Nazgul is a Dmadd9 chord for nine voices and nine successive notes? There’s a lot of clever stuff happening in the score. Also 4:30 is one of the best musical moments in the saga - also loved how you discussed the recontextualization of the Rohirrim theme. Great video as always, Charles!

The Rohan theme when Theoden is freed from Wormtongue still brings a tear to my eye. That is deep. LotR is such an epic film and the score is just the cherry on the cake. Just beautiful. If you haven't yet watched the extended version of the films, i suggest you do. It's just extra.

So many great moments and choices in the soundtrack. My ultimate favorite is still Gandalf shedding light on the city of Dwarrowdelf in Moria. It isn’t a repeated theme but such a glorious minute or so.

i was watching lotr + orchestra + choir live once and was crying my eyes out the whole time. couldn't help it at all. one of the most amazing experiences, and i'm not a huge lotr fan.

I think that you definitely could (and 100% should) make a series about LOTR’s music.

When we first hear the Rohan theme, they use a violin solo who plays in a very "exposed" way. The way they use vibrato makes you feel uncertain that the next note will be hit. Then the brass comes in and lays down a stable pitch that makes the violin sound a lot more confident. I like that in the scenes we see, the theme originally represents the hope of the people of Rohan, tenuous and exposed. When Theoden wakes up from his possession, the stable monarch of the country is represented by the stable sound of the brass. Finally, the two combine when the people of Rohan respond to his reawakening and are united in purpose. The music perfectly translates and accompanies the story in this section.

The LOTR trilogy is the most epic thing I've ever experienced in cinema going history.

I think, during the charge of the Rohirrim, what also occurs to me is that the change from strings to brass gives me not only a feeling of triumphant hope on its own, but it also gives me the feeling of courage, in that it strikes me as exactly what these brave men need in that moment. It's the feeling of fear being overcome by hope and strength, as the horns of war push them on. I don't know if I am looking way too far into that, but it's a thought that crossed my mind.

11:45 “Great thematic writing doesn’t need to come from complex harmony [etc.].” I second this. Some of the greatest cinematic themes are, well, great because they’re simple-often hummable or whistleable!

Completely agree. The building strings during the sweeping shots as they depart Rivendell is brilliant. One of my favourite parts of the trilogy.

11:00 I like the callback to the strings as if it was the sadder version of the Rohan theme because 1) The horse hoof sounds tell you it's different this time around, and the contrast to strings is great 2) As some people put it, "This is the time where Theoden screams 'DEATH!' as his battle-cry and all his men charge with him on that." It is the time of Men that they will be tested, even if it might seem like certain doom. So I always interpret it that by Return of the King things are still really bad in Middle-Earth but what changed was that people were rallying together to meet the evil. So parallelisms between how Rohan is first depicted and the Charge of the Rohirrim at Pelennor Fields completes this kind of progression.

8:30 it's honestly such an effective choice - it's in no way subtle, but that just means you know EXACTLY what's happening, as Theoden, head clearing from Saruman's influence, finds his vigour, and as soon as he starts to come down off that rush... he immediately remembers Wormtongue and now with no fog to cloud his mind there is only rage.

I read the title and I highly agree! It's what makes the movies so amazing, and plays a bigger role in their success than most would think

The Ride of the Rohirrim as they all ride to death and battle is still the most powerfully emotional moment in the entire trilogy, and the music is a tremendous part of that

Even as a little kid watching the movies when they came out on VHS, I knew the music was special. So many great pieces! The Shire theme has a huge amount of nostalgia for me, and I get goosebumps every time The Ring Goes South. The Fellowship theme might be the first time I was actually aware of a repeating theme in film.

One of the best Movie Soundtracks of all time! Howard Shore was at the absolute top of his game during the making of these movies, the music adds so much to them and makes them some of the best movies ever.

The dark turn of tune with Theoden's look has a lot of similarity to the beginning of "duel of the fates" and I love it so much.

It's incredible how significant this series of movies is to my life that EVEN A MUSICAL ANALYSIS I'm unable to watch without crying. Amazing video Charles!!

I never get tired of hearing LOTR leitmotifs, as opposed to anything in Marvel (avengers in particular).

Could you at some point breakdown the choral sections of the LotR soundtrack? I found that the moments where the choir comes in are easily some of the most impactful moments musically. I also find it very interesting especially since the voice I feel is a very underrated and under-utilized instrument in film scoring and the LotR soundtrack even includes actual songs which is very unique for film scoring. The choral sections and songs are also interesting because words, speaking, singing, and anything to do with the voice is incredibly important in the magic system and world building of LotR. There also a ton of parts where the choir is singing in one of Tolkien's many invented languages and are using very interesting vocal tecniques.

The Fellowship theme is so powerful. I still involuntarily well up when it comes in with the choral accompanyment right as Aragorn charges at the Black Gate (followed by the HOBBITS before anyone else, no less).

Was really hoping to see a discussion of Gondor's theme in here; it's easily my favorite in terms of how it evolves over the trilogy and especially how it changes when it's used for Boromir and Denethor versus when it's invoked for Aragorn. Still, awesome video, love seeing stuff about this soundtrack

I hope you do more than just one video on this soundtrack. It deserves more. I could watch a whole series on this

To anyone interested in the Lord of the Rings score, I can't recommend Monoverantus enough. He has analysed every single track, complete with themes, lyrics and translations. I would love to see you two do a collab!

These themes are so evocative; they take me back not only to the parts, places, and people of the story but also to my teens when they came out. Masterful!

The scene of the Rohirrim charging across the fields of Pelanoir is, in my opinion, the absolute best scene in the trilogy, and the Rohan theme is a huge reason why. Even as great as the acting performances are in that scene, it still would not have near the emotional impact without that theme to carry the weight of that emotion.

My favorite part of the soundtrack is "The Lighting of the Beacons". It is so epic.

Hearing how enthusiastic, he is about the sound track, of an iconic movie brings joy and light into my life.

I get tears of joy every time I hear these themes. It's so so tremendously beautiful.

Not only is TLOTR the greatest trilogy of movies, but it also has quite possibly the best score in any Movie,Game or TV show. I love just about everything in The Lord of The Rings.

I showed this to my 16-year-old son and he said, “I really want to watch those films again.”

For french-speakers, there is a trilogy of long videos about LOTR soundtracks made by "Partoche". It's not the same, it's very complementary ! Sooo many themes and other techniques in this soudntrack that make it amazing. Love watching this video and I would want even more haha, thank you for making it

The unscripted flag flying away at Edoras created the perfect accidental metaphor: a kingdom losing a sense of itself, only for the flag to fall at the feet of and be caught by the man who will restore it. A wonderful unintended symbol. I'm not religious, but God loves artists.

"I go to my fathers. And even in their mighty company, I shall not now be ashamed." God Bless Bernard Hill

Thank you for posting this video! I love to hear talk about using themes in writing for film. One of the things you may not know is that when you talk about Rohan at 5:45 and the flag coming off of the pole, that was NOT planned beforehand. As they were filming and the wind blew, it pulled the flag off of the pole, and Peter Jackson and the team thought it so well embodied what had happened that they kept it.

The White Tree is still one of my favorite pieces of music ever written. Anytime I'm explaining "build" in music theory to someone, I play that song and it brings me to tears every time.

On a separate note, next weekend I get to take my 12 year old daughter to see all 3 extended releases in the theaters. She has never seen them. I’m so excited to go on this journey with her! I got to see Howard Shore conduct his LOTR symphony back in 2005. The highlight was the finale music from ROTK and it was magic. Full symphony, 100 person choir, female soloist to do the Renee Fleming parts…

Howard Shore is certainly one of the greatest movie composers of our time. There are other great ones, John Williams (whose other, non-movie works I also highly recommend), foe instance. But Shore‘s work, especially in LotR, is probably the prime example of thematic composition. An interesting point is that this method, using themes for certain items, persons or locations, was used first (at least to this extent) in Opera not so long ago. Richard Wagner, the grand master of music theater (he never really called his works „opera“, instead went as far as calling his last work „A stage consecration festival“ - „Ein Bühnenweihfestspiel“) utilised this method in the 19th century (for music historians, it‘s the Romantic period, or more precisely, the Late German Romanticism). He allowed the audience to identify the characters even in disguise, for instance in the 1st act of Siegfried: At one point, an old man comes to the home of Mime and Siegfried. He introduces himself as „The Wanderer“, and this is also the name in the dramatics personae - but for the audience, his appearance is accompanied by Wotan‘s theme. My favourite opera is Parsifal, and here he also very prominently changes and mixes the themes, especially the Grail theme comes into play at several points of epiphany for Parsifal. I‘ve seen Parsifal live about 6 times by now, and every time I‘m blown away - despite its run time of nearly 5 hours. Besides Wagner’s works I have seldom encountered any other piece of music that utilised the thematic composition technique as brilliantly as Shore in LotR.

Mr Shore really loves to use dissonance throughout the movie series in situations where there are conflicting emotions. Like for example when Pippin sings for Denethor while the soldiers are riding to their doom on his command. Pippin's melancholic singing is underlined by a dissonant and very ominous orchestral chord.

Charles - what a gift you have - both your musical ear and your playing ability. Thanks for sharing with us! And thanks for doing anything related to the LOTR trilogy - definitely a MASTERCLASS.

I couldn't tell you the number of times I've seen that fellowship introductory scene in my lifetime, and yet it still gave me goosebumps.

Just the music of these films makes you wanna watch them over and over again

I’ve always loved the use of themes in these movies, like how the Gondor theme is foreshadowed when Boromir reaches Rivendell, and as he speaks to Aragorn in Lothlorien, I don’t think we get it agin until Return Of The King, but it’s magnificent how it implants these ideas and touchstones that conjure emotions when we hear the themes in different contexts. These movies are just a triumph from top to bottom, I’ll never tire of them.

Love how Howard used a minor v chord (Em) to lead into the an Major I chord (A major) in the fellowship theme. Masterful. Em-Cm at the end of rohan theme. Also same chord progression for imperial march.

Howard is the one that makes me sleep, think, laugh, cry, and so many more emotions. Just like Vangelis and Kitaro.

This is without doubt the most beautiful written film score ever. I doubt someone will top this.

I put on the LOTR soundtrack while driving up through the hills towards Yosemite a few years ago. Came out of the tunnel and around the bend right at sunset when the whole view of the valley with the waterfall and Halfdome in the distance came into full, staggering view right as the full Fellowship theme crescendoed in! Absolutely stunning and unforgettable moment in my life.

Pleeease do more of these! You have not yet covered some of the more tender scores, or the choral ones. When Elrond and Arwen discuss reforging Narsil and she drops the book in despair, and Elrond is immediately overcome with fatherly concern. The music there simply forces tears from me. Also themes like the Uruk hai theme are cool to analyze!

If I were to jump off my couch and shout “hell yeah!” at the TV, it would be to LOTR. Not even watching sports gets me so excited. And the LOTR music is a huge part of that. Thanks for this analysis! ❤

0:31 THE QUAKING STRINGS IN THE BACKGROUND SHOWING THE PERILOUS UNCERTAINTY OF THEIR GOAL, WHILE THE BRASS SECTION IS MANAGING TO KEEP EVERYTHING TOGETHER AND NOT DEVOLVE INTO A SUSPENSEFUL HORROR MOVIE SOUND 6:01 and though the flag ripping away was meant to happen, the fact that it landed upside down (which is a sign of distress) is just amazing

Charles, as a companion piece to this I'd recommend checking out Johan de Meij's Lord of the Rings Symphony, it's a masterpiece

this soundtrack just fills me with warmth. It’s so emotional it really adds so much to the story and it wouldn’t be half as good as it is without it. Amazing

When that violin kicks in when the Rohirrim charge at Pellenor. Makes me cry every time

LOTR is LIFE! Triumphing through the dark with purpose, acknowledgement of one’s own selfish desires, and to move forward if not for yourself, for those you love.