Film Music - Lord of the Rings Trilogy

Watch the film summary, then describe in 2 paragraphs the plot of the Lord of the Rings – The Fellowship of the Rings:

Howard Shore composed, orchestrated and conducted music for the trilogy.

What was Howard Shore’s reason for orchestrating (deciding which instrument should play which part and the combination of different instruments used in the film- not all film composers orchestrate the music they composed!) the film himself?

Which orchestra was used to record the music for LOTR?

Can you guess why Abbey Road Studio was famous?

Due to the large scale of the storyline and setting, the music was composed in an operatic

fashion.

Characters or important themes are represented musically throughout the film. This is called 'leit-motif'.

Leit-motif can be clearly identified, and is usually modified on subsequent appearances (in rhythm, harmony, orchestra or accompaniment).

Clips of the character/theme leit-motif will be played to you. Watch and listen carefully.

Describe how each of the following leit-motif sound, and the effect it has on the audience:

-The Ring

-The Fellowship

-The Shire/Hobbits

-The Black Riders

-Isengard/Wizard

-Lothlorien/Elves

-Ents/Trees

SOUND DESIGN

How were the sound of the Watcher created?

How were the sound of the Moria Orcs created?

How were the sound of the Balrog created?

How were the sound of the Ringwrath created?

How were the sound of the Ringwrath created?

Why were most of the dialogue re-recorded again in post production?

In summary what does the sound design team do?

Watch the following scenes & answer the questions in short sentences.

Scene One

What's happening in the movie?

Which leit-motif did you hear? Where was it played?

Scene Two What's happening in the movie?

Which leit-motif did you hear? When/Where was it played?

Which leit-motif did you hear? When/Where was it played?

The leit-motif concerning the hobbits was played with quite a few different changes in music element (rhythm/speed/instrument). Describe 2 scenes where you heard the leit-motif being played, and how it was altered to suit the scene better:

Scene Three

What's happening in the movie?

Which leit-motif did you hear? When/Where was it played?

Which leit-motif did you hear? When/Where was it played?

Which leit-motif did you hear? When/Where was it played?

Scene Four What's happening in the movie?

Which leit-motif did you hear? When/Where was it played?

What was happening when the music was interrupted? How was the use of the new idea described the action and emotion of the scene?

Scene Five

What's happening in the movie?

Which leit-motif did you hear? When/Where was it played?

What was happening when the music was interrupted? How was the use of the new idea described the action and emotion of the scene?