Howard Shore Enya - The Lord of the Rings The Fellowship of the Ring (18 tracks) +Album Reviews

What you get with the LTD edition.

Robert | Memphis, TN United States | 12/02/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I really liked this CD. The music is reviewed elsewhere, so I won't be redundant. I first got the Limited version, and I describe it here: It is in a red leatherette folder which reminds me of the red slipcase edition of LOTR. Open it, and there are two pockets. One holds the CD, and the other holds a small booklet with Elvish/English lyrics from the soundtrack as well as pictures from the movie. This booklet and case are exclusive to the Limited Edition.
The CD itself can be played on computer to go to a special website where you can view trailers, interviews, etc... This is VERY nice, but be warned--the regular priced CD also has this feature.
As to the regular priced CD, the first run of these are packaged with a card depicting one of 6 characters: Frodo, Bilbo, Strider, Arwen, Gandalf, and Saruman. The card is on the cover of the CD, so you know which one you get. Completist geeks will want all 6 versions, as these are very nice cards. The folder in this version is not quite as nice as the limited edition's booklet, but you get the essential information. And, yes, the CD is enhanced for use on the computer in this version.
It is not clear if future pressings of the CD will be enhanced, and I don't expect the cards to be in subsequent runs.
So now you know it all! Which one or ones are you gonna buy!"

Beware the Limited Edition!

Robert | 03/25/2002

(1 out of 5 stars)

"While the musical score of Fellowship of the Ring is quite beautiful, the "Limited Edition" packaging is a shining example of how genre films brutally exploit their fans.The music on the Limited Edition CD is identical to the less expensive version of the disk, and all the buyer gets for nearly twice the price is a [faux]-leather slipcase and picture booklet with lyrics to the vocals on the CD. There is nothing substantial in the Limited Edition packaging to warrant the greater expense. Nothing. For it's price and fancy packaging, it looks as though it should contain a second disk, but in doesn't. Don't be fooled.To justify buying this edition, you have to consider a red leatherette package and lyric book worth an additional 10+ dollars. If you love the music (which is outstanding, and worthwhile), buy the less expensive version and have money left over for another CD."

Good music, poor packaging.

Robert | 12/10/2001

(1 out of 5 stars)

"While the music of this CD is exquisite fantasy fare, the "Limited Edition" packaging is far from magical. For almost twice the price of the regular version, you receive almost nothing in the way of extras and exactly the same music as on the regular edition disk. The additional cost is apparently accounted for in the "leather-like" slipcase and the "art book" that are small recompense for the additional cost. It's no wonder the sheet on the back of the package says nothing with regard to the "limited edition" contents, since there is almost nothing extra offered.This product is clearly just a stab at the "fan" market with the hope that by adding the "limited edition" stamp to the title it will fool more buyers into spending nearly twice the price. If you are simply interested in the excellent soundtrack, buy the regular version. I wish I had. I could have used the difference in cost to buy another CD.Five stars for the music, one big star, for the disappointing exploitation of fans."

Excellent Score! Possibly one of the best ever!

J. K. Moser | Flemington, New Jersey USA | 09/11/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Before The Fellowship of the Ring, I never paid much attention to Howard Shore, but after I heard his excellent score, I started to get more music composed by him. The music revolves around four basic themes: The theme for Isengard, the theme for the Black Riders, the theme for the Fellowship, and the theme for Hobbits. The range of music is extremely wide. The Black Rider theme is a very dark, gothic theme, while the Hobbit theme is very light and playful reminiscent of an old countryside folktune. The theme for Isengard is very strident percussion and brass with emphasize the evil building under Orthanc. The Fellowship theme is a very bold theme, only heard in its full glory 2 times on the soundtrack on tracks 11 and 13. The hints of most of these themes play in almost all the tracks of the film, however all of these tracks stand alone. For exapmle Amon Hen track 16 is one of my favorite tracks, because it provides a visual picture of what is happenning on the movie screen. The cd is over 70 minutes long, and I wish it could be longer simply because the music is so enjoyable. Shore's score to this epic film belongs on the top ten score's of all time and it truly deserved the Academy Award that it won."

Good at first, Magnificent after repetition!

S. A. Cain | Indiana USA | 01/07/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD is wonderful! I ran out to the store and bought it the day it first became available, and I have listened to it for hours. I enjoyed it the first time I heard it. After watching the movie (four times & counting) nearly a month later, I haven't been able to take this out of my CD player for very long (sometimes switching it for Blind Guardian's "Nightfall in Middle Earth" for variety).Howard Shore has really captured the sweeping emotions of Peter Jackson's excellent film: from the mythic opening track "The Prophecy;" to the simple and delightful "Concerning Hobbits;" to the imperious and frightening "Shadow of the Past" and "Treason of Isengard;" to the enchantment of "The Council of Elrond/Aniron;" to the determination and triumph of "The Ring Goes South;" to the desperation and grief of "The Bridge of Khazad Dum;" to the weirdness of "Lothlorien;" to the bittersweet "Breaking of the Fellowship." Enya's haunting "May It Be" is the perfect ending to the soundtrack.My favourite bits of the soundtrack are tracks 11, 12 & 13, 15, 17, 18. Shore uses very powerful choral work in several of the pieces, performed stirringly by the London Voices, The London Oratory School Schola. Edward Ross, in particular, makes "The Bridge of Khazad Dum" incredibly powerful."Concerning Hobbits," which becomes the hobbit theme, reminds me of the hymn "This is My Father's World." I think that's appropriate, because of the innocence and simplicity of the hobbits.The soundtrack is made infinitely more powerful by viewing the movie. I think that's true of all movies, of course; after seeing the movie you know exactly what's happening during moments of the soundtrack. Just as there were parts of the movie that moved me to tears, there are parts of the soundtrack that nearly do so, during repeated listenings.This is probably one of my top five soundtracks of all time, and it's coming close to edging out number one Gettysburg and number two Gladiator. I heartily recommend this CD!"

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