History AwesomeMusic / TheLordOFTheRings

* Clamavi De Profundis' a cappella rendition of [[https://youtu.be/8PSFN2r6bXY?list=RD8PSFN2r6bXY "The Song of Durin"]] is a simultaneously triumphant and mournful telling of dwarven history.

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y30LAj502mY What Funny Little Things]], which truly captures the joy in which Goblins take in torturing people as they chase the Company up a tree and start a fire.

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y30LAj502mY What Funny Little Things]], which truly captures the joy in which Goblins take in torturing people.

* The "[[https://youtu.be/ZgJYNveHOYU?t=3m50s Lighting of the Beacons]]" is an amazing track all the way throughout. When Pippin lights the first beacon, the song transitions into an chaotic and exciting melody like a wildfire spreading. The music then bursts into the confident and glorious theme of Gondor.

* In ''The Desolation of Smaug'', witness the [[https://youtu.be/kI0RrL7muz8?t=1m6s awesomeness]] of Tauriel's exhilarating new theme dueling with Legolas' theme (a reworking of the classic elven themes heard in ''LOTR'') as they race to the rescue of the dwarves during the barrel-riding scene. The love theme between Tauriel and Kili titled: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gbWL7MJ_kI "Feast of Starlight"]] is a heavenly piece that carries a lovely choir and, in the commentary, is praised as Howard Shores's greatest work by Phillipa Boyens.

* In ''The Desolation of Smaug'', witness the [[https://youtu.be/kI0RrL7muz8?t=1m6s awesomeness]] of Tauriel's exhilarating new theme dueling with Legolas' theme (a reworking of the classic elven themes heard in ''LOTR'') as they race to the rescue of the dwarves during the barrel-riding scene. The love theme between Tauriel and Kili titled: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gbWL7MJ_kI "Feast of Starlight"]] is a heavenly piece that carries a lovely choir.

%%* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJQmsKgqF0A Bilbo's Song]]

%%* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qGEa-Z9T4g Dreaming of Bag End]]

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqDksugN2mw "Heave-ho, Splash-splum! Rolling down a hole!"]] The song played when Bilbo helps the dwarves escape the wood-elves the barrels. In fact, some fans have spliced this song with the escape scene in the Live action film!

* Overall, the feature does an impressive job of making actual songs from the ones used in the book. But it's the original song, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAYoLyO5hCs "The Greatest Adventure"]] acts as an anthem for the theme of the story and Bilbo's own suppressed desire for adventure.

** The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEOM13UyZ0A first official trailer]] for ''An Unexpected Journey'' included the Dwarves singing this in Bilbo's house. The comments on YouTube were full of joy and awe at its spine-chilling ''perfection'' and hope that the whole film was going to be like that.

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0j_IfjXEjrE Radagast the Brown's theme]] starts with a lovely choir and transitions into an energetic and chaotic tune.

%%* The Extended Edition has the Goblin King sing a remix of the Rankin/Bass song, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3W0iA_1RB9Y Down Down Down in Goblin Town.]]
%%What's awesome about it? This is zero-context as written.

* The tear jerking "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCQ53pWxDcE Gray Havens]]" and "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgcoBKWTW14 Into the West]]" playing during the finale of ''Return of the King''.
** In addition to the TearJerker feeling of "Into the West", it's been cited that Fran Walsh, one of the writers for the song, was inspired to write it by Cameron Duncan, a teenaged amateur filmmaker who was dying of osteosarcoma (bone cancer) at the time of filming. The song went on to win the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2004.

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wS-uS9pmho This rendition of the Ents' Marching song. Words cannot do it justice.]]

* The chilling theme of the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPqgEZzSPxA Nazgul]]. The choirs used within the piece makes it feel more terrifying yet badass. Even more awesome and terrifying when hearing the lyrics and reading their translation:

* "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pGaz_qN0cw Concerning Hobbits]]." That little melody is [[SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments heartwarming]] in and of itself.
* "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQ9NOV3KNpY The Breaking of the Fellowship]]" is both [[SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments heartwarming]] and a TearJerker.
* "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMyo8I8AKmY Aniron]]" aka "Aragorn and Arwen", by Music/{{Enya}}. If you weren't sucked into [[{{Mythopoeia}} Middle-Earth]] before this came on, you are now. One of the most ethereal songs ever written? Possibly.
* Short as it is, "[[https://youtu.be/hHAP7NvBOU0 The Ring Goes South]]" is an awesome piece that plays as the Fellowship leaves Rivendell and culminates in literal fanfare accompanying a shot of the Fellowship as they come up over a hill one-by-one.

* "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUIZvAe3RBg The Bridge of Khazad-dum]]" is an amazing track. It starts with a grand fanfare of the fellowship, and then there's the ominous, pants-wetting build-up to the Balrog's first appearance. Apparently a bunch of Maori rugby players chanting in Khuzdul (Dwarvish) sounds just like ''the Choirs of Hell.'' The chants combined with the exciting music create an epic song. It then ends with a sad choir when Gandalf falls to the Balrog.

* "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zi8CUdK3HY0 Foundations of Stone]]" plays at the very beginning of ''The Two Towers''. It starts out with a regal tone with a hint of "Gollum's Song" added in. It then transitions into an epic variant to the Khazad Dum theme during Gandalf the Grey's last stand with the Balrog.
* "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNS2pCVKi4I The White Rider]]" starts in a dramatic fashion as Gandalf makes his return, it then transitions into the lovely theme of Shadowfax. The theme also makes a grand reappearance when Gandalf along with the forces of Eomer [[BigDamnHeroes come to aid in the Battle of Helms Deep]].
* Very little can beat listening to "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_q2mYi7N4s Isengard Unleashed]]" while driving through a forest on a foggy day.

* "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QfHKv86gRQ The Last March of the Ents]]" would have to count. The version that plays at the Rohirrim's charge in the next movie along with that version of Rohan's theme probably actually tops it, and can be heard in "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oaj8OqhJL20 The Battle of the Pelennor Fields]]" from the extended ROTK soundtrack.
* Even his evil themes are awesome. The pounding "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVFCSMf4ECs Isengard/Uruk-hai]]" music simply screams badass, and the raucous [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5acPD7w9l0 theme]] for {{Mordor}} is just plain warped, which makes it perfect.

* The song played during the closing credits of ''The Two Towers'': "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkXbzffVl44 Gollum's Song]]" is an incredibly touching and moving piece about none other than Gollum, originally written for Music/{{Bjork}} and sung by Emilliana Torini. If you didn't feel for Gollum's tragic story before, you almost certainly will after hearing this song.

* "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjeG2En9bHQ The Steward of Gondor]]" starts out with a heartbreaking melody as Faramir leaves to face the enemy, knowing he will not survive. Then we get to hear Pippin sing a beautiful song to Denethor. The song soon begins to grow more ominous as we watch Faramir about to get killed by the orcs.
* Every iteration of the Rohan theme is great, but the one that can get to you the most is the last 30 seconds of "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgsieRxp34c The Ride of the Rohirrim]]". An entire nation of horse-riding badass warriors, saddling up [[GondorCallsforAid for the rescue]]? HELL. YEAH. That glorious music with the old recording of The Professor Himself reading that sequence? A mashup just waiting to happen.
* "[[https://youtu.be/F8oqZ7SJN_8 The Battle for Pelennor Fields]]" channels more awesome into the film as the Rohirrim charge into battle at Minas Tirith. You already got the tense drum-beat of oncoming battle paired to an awesome RousingSpeech from Theoden, a musical build-up paired with the Rohirrim giving an epic BattleCry, which leads to an awesome charge into battle to that awesome Rohan theme which results in a [[TearJerker Tear Jerking]] CrowningMomentOfAwesome.

* The track "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jJnyyta07k Return of the King]]" is a long yet heartwarming song that plays when Frodo is reunited with the Fellowship, Aragorn is crowned King, and the Hobbits return to the shire. During Aragorn's AwesomeMomentOfCrowning, we hear a lovely song, sung in Quenya by Aragorn, followed by a powerful rendition of the Hobbit's theme when [[KneelBeforeFrodo everyone bows down to Frodo and company]].
* The music which plays after the army of the West is surrounded in ''The Return of the King'': The Black Gate has opened. Aragorn, the fellowship (minus Sam and Frodo, of course), and the entire military might of men are surrounded. Everyone's looking freaked out. Then, Aragorn simply says, "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Jc2j2cjoz4 For Frodo]]", and ''the'' most epic choral rendition of the Fellowship theme kicks in as our heroes charge into battle.
* Five words: "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGDXZR5SjK8 The End of All Things]]." Brilliantly repurposed in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sz4jhvhq8M0 this]] Japanese news report about an unfortunate kiwi bird. In the extended soundtrack, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NETAza-epHk The Crack Of Doom]]. It is basically glory incarnate played during the destruction of [[ArtifactOfDoom The One Ring]]. Although the finale of the song is more quiet and heartbreaking, as everyone begins to suspect Frodo and Sam did not survive.
* The CutSong "Arwen's Song", by... Creator/LivTyler(!), repurposed as "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6UhO9K7F3I Houses of Healing]]", a song about Éowyn, and she definitely has [[Music/{{Aerosmith}} her father's]] chops... It was replaced by the song "Twilight and Shadow" by Renee Flemming during Arwen's vision in the forest of her future son, which Figwit so rudely interrupts.

* "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Io_SPuOVPTc Misty Mountains Cold]]". An orchestral version serves as the Dwarves' '[[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome Do Something Awesome]]' musical cue, and it does not fail to live up to this role.

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0j_IfjXEjrE Radagast the Brown's theme]], it starts with a lovely choir and transitions into an energetic and chaotic tune.

* The catchy theme of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dL6gpYI-ZYI Laketown]].

* In ''The Desolation of Smaug'', witness the [[https://youtu.be/kI0RrL7muz8?t=1m6s awesomeness]] of Tauriel's exhilarating new theme dueling with Legolas' theme (a reworking of the classic elven themes heard in ''LOTR'') as they race to the rescue of the dwarves during the barrel-riding scene. The love theme between Tauriel and Kili titled: "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gbWL7MJ_kI Feast of Starlight]]" is a heavenly piece that carries a lovely choir.

* "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3PApqzWHm0 Guardians of the Three]]" is an excellent track that weaves together the themes of Mordor and the Elves, the best part of the track is the heroic portrayal of the Rivendell theme that plays when Elrond joins the fight.

%%* The Extended Edition has the Goblin King sing a remix of the Rankin/Bass song, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3W0iA_1RB9Y Down Down Down in Goblin Town]].

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNS2pCVKi4I "The White Rider"]] starts in a dramatic fashion as Gandalf makes his return, it then transitions into the lovely theme of Shadowfax. The theme also makes a grand reappearance when Gandalf along with the forces of Eomer come to [[BigDamnHeroes aid in the Battle of Helms Deep]].

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QfHKv86gRQ The Last March of the Ents]] would have to count. The version that plays at the Rohirrim's charge in the next movie along with that version of Rohan's theme probably actually tops it, and can be heard in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oaj8OqhJL20 "The Battle of the Pelennor Fields"]] from the extended ROTK soundtrack.
* Even his evil themes are awesome. The pounding [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVFCSMf4ECs "Isengard/Uruk-hai"]] music simply screams badass, and the raucous [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5acPD7w9l0 theme]] for {{Mordor}} is just plain warped, which makes it perfect.

* The song played during the closing credits of ''The Two Towers'': [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkXbzffVl44 "Gollum's Song"]] is an incredibly touching and moving piece about none other than Gollum, originally written for Music/{{Bjork}} and sung by Emilliana Torini. If you didn't feel for Gollum's tragic story before, you almost certainly will after hearing this song.

* The [[https://youtu.be/ZgJYNveHOYU?t=3m50s Lighting of the Beacons]] is an amazing track all the way throughout. When Pippin lights the first beacon, the song transitions into an chaotic and exciting melody like a wildfire spreading. The music then bursts into the confident and glorious theme of Gondor.

* The CutSong "Arwen's Song", by... Creator/LivTyler(!), repurposed as [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6UhO9K7F3I "Houses of Healing"]], a song about Éowyn, and she definitely has [[Music/{{Aerosmith}} her father's]] chops... It was replaced by the song "Twilight and Shadow" by Renee Flemming during Arwen's vision in the forest of her future son, which Figwit so rudely interrupts.

* The tear jerking [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCQ53pWxDcE Gray Havens]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgcoBKWTW14 Into the West]] playing during the finale of ''Return of the King''.

----

* The chilling theme of the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPqgEZzSPxA Nazgul.]] The choirs used within the piece makes it feel more terrifying yet badass. Even more awesome and terrifying when hearing the lyrics and reading their translation:

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pGaz_qN0cw "Concerning Hobbits"]]. That little melody is [[SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments heartwarming]] in and of itself.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQ9NOV3KNpY "The Breaking of the Fellowship"]] is both [[SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments heartwarming]] and a TearJerker.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMyo8I8AKmY "Aniron"]] aka "Aragorn and Arwen", by Music/{{Enya}}. If you weren't sucked into [[{{Mythopoeia}} Middle-Earth]] before this came on, you are now. One of the most ethereal songs ever written? Possibly. The beautiful [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=im5CIpMFo4Q Evenstar]] is also worth mentioning.
* Short as it is, [[https://youtu.be/hHAP7NvBOU0 The Ring Goes South]] is an awesome piece that plays as the Fellowship leaves Rivendell and culminates in literal fanfare accompanying a shot of the Fellowship as they come up over a hill one-by-one.

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUIZvAe3RBg "The Bridge of Khazad Dum"]] is an amazing track. It starts with a grand fanfare of the fellowship, and then there's the ominous, pants-wetting build-up to the Balrog's first appearance. Apparently a bunch of Maori rugby players chanting in Khuzdul (Dwarvish) sounds just like ''the Choirs of Hell.'' The chants combined with the exciting music create an epic song. It then ends with a sad choir when Gandalf falls to the Balrog.

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zi8CUdK3HY0 "Foundations of Stone"]] plays at the very beginning of ''The Two Towers''. It starts out with a regal tone with a hint of "Gollum's Song" added in. It then transitions into an epic variant to the Khazad Dum theme during Gandalf the Grey's last stand with the Balrog.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNS2pCVKi4I "The White Rider"]] starts in a dramatic fashion as Gandalf makes his return, it then transitions into the lovely theme of Shadowfax. The theme also makes a grand reappearance when Gandalf along with the forces of Eomer come to [[BigDamnHeroes aid in the Battle of Helms Deep.]]
* Very little can beat listening to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_q2mYi7N4s "Isengard Unleashed"]] while driving through a forest on a foggy day.

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjeG2En9bHQ "The Steward of Gondor"]] starts out with a heartbreaking melody as Faramir leaves to face the enemy, knowing he will not survive. Then we get to hear Pippin sing a beautiful song to Denethor. The song soon begins to grow more ominous as we watch Faramir about to get killed by the orcs.
* Every iteration of the Rohan theme is great, but the one that can get to you the most is the last 30 seconds of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgsieRxp34c "The ride of the Rohirrim"]]. An entire nation of horse-riding badass warriors, saddling up [[GondorCallsforAid for]] [[BigDamnHeroes the]] [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome rescue]]? HELL. YEAH. That glorious music with the old recording of The Professor Himself reading that sequence? A mashup just waiting to happen.
* [[https://youtu.be/F8oqZ7SJN_8 "The Battle for Pelennor Fields"]] channels more awesome into the film as the Rohirrim charge into battle at Minas Tirith. You already got the tense drum-beat of oncoming battle paired to an awesome RousingSpeech from Theoden, a musical build-up paired with the Rohirrim giving an epic BattleCry, which leads to an awesome charge into battle to that awesome Rohan theme which results in a [[TearJerker Tear Jerking]] CrowningMomentOfAwesome.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tyz5WxiW6w The variation of Éowyn's theme when she speaks with Aragorn right before he departs to take the Paths of the Dead.]] It was played on a unique double fiddle constructed specifically for the film. It differs from the Hardanger fiddle used elsewhere for the Rohirrim in that while the Hardanger has four played strings and either four or five sympathetic strings[[note]]the played strings are actually bowed, while the sympathetic strings are allowed to resonate freely[[/note]] the double fiddle has 8 strings arranged in pairs, with each pair being bowed together. The result is hauntingly, uniquely beautiful.

* The track [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jJnyyta07k "Return of the King"]] is a long yet heartwarming song that plays when Frodo is reunited with the Fellowship, Aragorn is crowned King, and the Hobbits return to the shire. During Aragorn's AwesomeMomentOfCrowning we hear a lovely elvish song sung by Aragorn followed by a powerful rendition of the Hobbit's theme when everyone bows down to Frodo and company.
* The music which plays after the army of the West is surrounded in ''The Return of the King'': The Black Gate has opened. Aragorn, the fellowship (minus Sam and Frodo, of course), and the entire military might of men are surrounded. Everyone's looking freaked out. Then, Aragorn simply says, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Jc2j2cjoz4 "For Frodo,"]] and ''the'' most epic choral rendition of the Fellowship theme kicks in as our heroes charge into battle.
* Five words: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGDXZR5SjK8 "The End of All Things"]]. Brilliantly repurposed in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sz4jhvhq8M0 this]] Japanese news report about an unfortunate kiwi bird. In the extended soundtrack, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NETAza-epHk The Crack Of Doom]]. It is basically glory incarnate played during the destruction of [[ArtifactOfDoom The One Ring]]. Although the finale of the song is more quiet and heartbreaking, as everyone begins to suspect Frodo and Sam did not survive.
* The CutSong "Arwen's Song", by... Creator/LivTyler(!), repurposed as [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6UhO9K7F3I "Houses of Healing"]], a song about Éowyn, and she definitely has [[Music/{{Aerosmith}} her father's]] chops... It was replaced by the song "Twilight and Shadow" by Renee Flemming during Arwen's vision in the forest of her future son, which [[Music/FlightOfTheConchords Figwit]] so rudely interrupts.

** In addition to the TearJerker feeling of "Into the West", it's been cited that Fran Walsh, one of the writers for the song, was inspired to write it by Cameron Duncan, a teenaged amateur filmmaker who was dying of osteosarcoma (bone cancer) at the time of filming. The song went on to win an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2004.
** Shore managed to put one of his most tear-inducing, spine-tinglingly beautiful moments ''about 23 minutes'' into the ''Fellowship of the Ring'' end credits.

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Io_SPuOVPTc "Misty Mountains Cold"]]. An orchestral version serves as the Dwarves' '[[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome Do Something Awesome]]' musical cue, and it does not fail to live up to this role.

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0j_IfjXEjrE Radagast the Brown's theme,]] it starts with a lovely choir and transitions into an energetic and chaotic tune.

* The catchy theme of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dL6gpYI-ZYI Laketown.]]

* In ''The Desolation of Smaug'', witness the [[https://youtu.be/kI0RrL7muz8?t=1m6s awesomeness]] of Tauriel's exhilarating new theme dueling with Legolas' theme (a reworking of the classic elven themes heard in ''LOTR'') as they race to the rescue of the dwarves during the barrel-riding scene. The love theme between Tauriel and Kili titled: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gbWL7MJ_kI "Feast of Starlight"]] is a heavenly piece that carries a lovely choir.

* Billy Boyd (Pippin) getting the credits song, "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8ir8rVl2Z4 The Last Goodbye]]" from ''Film/TheHobbitTheBattleOfTheFiveArmies''. It plays over a similar credit sequence that ended the ''LOTR'' trilogy with each character getting a sketch. Listen closely and you hear that it clearly samples "Into the West" from the end of ''Film/ReturnOfTheKing.'' But whereas "Into the West" had a definite feeling of "This is the end" about it, "The Last Goodbye" somehow conveys the notion of "This was just the beginning" and just makes you want to pull down ''Film/TheFellowshipOfTheRing'' and start watching even if you've just gone through nine hours of ''Film/TheHobbit.''

* The brief but [[https://youtu.be/jddt0RZGXc8?t=4m22s glorious reprise]] of the "Last March of the Ents" that is used when the eagles arrive in the final battle.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3PApqzWHm0 "Guardians of the Three"]] is an excellent track that weaves together the themes of Mordor and the Elves, the best part of the track is the heroic portrayal of the Rivendell theme that plays when Elrond joins the fight.

%%* The Extended Edition has the Goblin King sing a remix of the Rankin/Bass song, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3W0iA_1RB9Y Down Down Down in Goblin Town.]]

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zi8CUdK3HY0 "Foundations of Stone"]], this song plays at the very beginning of ''The Two Towers''. It starts out with a regal tone with a hint of "Gollum's Song" added in. It then transitions into an epic variant to the Khazad Dum theme during Gandalf the Grey's last stand with the Balrog.

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zi8CUdK3HY0 "Foundations of Stone"]],this song plays at the very beginning of ''The Two Towers''. It starts out with a regal tone with a hint of "Gollum's Song" added in. It then transitions into an epic variant to the Khazad Dum theme during Gandalf the Grey's last stand with the Balrog.

* The lovely motif of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7shjBelSJ9g Rohan]], the violins used within are amazing. Some of its best uses would be when Theoden is free from Saruman's hold and when the people arrive at Helm's Deep.