For Tolkien fans who have eagerly awaited the second in the trilogy of Middle Earth stories, it's finally here. Not only the monumental film centering on the Helm's Deep battle, but the soundtrack with favorite themes from the first film, Fellowship of the Ring. This reviewer predicted Howard Shore would win an academy award for the first Ring soundtrack and to no one's surprise, he did win for 2001. This year, Shore, also, has a memorable soundtrack for The Two Towers, plus Gangs of New York, a film which will debut a week after The Two Towers. It will be interesting to see what Oscar nominations will come Shore's way for 2002.
The music, harkening back to the epic film era, still follows a decidedly Celtic flavor. "Fellowship of the Ring" introduced the Hobbit theme, which identified the diminutive men with a sprightliness that combined friendship with courage. That same theme is present in track two's "Taming of Smeagol" and track eighteen's "Samwise." It is a pleasant contrast to the warrior quality of "The Black Gate" or the treachery of "The King of Golden Hall."
Shore introduces a bold new theme with the emergence of the Riders of Rohan (track three). This recurring melody with undercurrent of brass riding on percussion reminds one of hoof beats and that these men value their animals. Shore uses a Norwegian fiddle called a hardanger in a melancholy solo. The "Rohan" theme is also heard in track twelve's "Helm's Deep" introduction of the old stone fortress and faintly in track twenty, "Farewell to Lorien." Track fifteen is the longest for "The Hornburg," the big battle between men and Orc-like creatures.
Another new theme is for the Ents, who are really a traveling forest (you read that right.) These trees walk and talk. Track ten's "Treebeard," begins darkly as Merry and Pippin enter the forest, but then lightens as the characters realize trees are alive and friendly. Shore uses African instruments here, such as wood xylophones and wood drums. Wood plays for wood. The movement of the music is plodding as befits a giant walking oak.
Vocalist Enya was the highlight singer of the Fellowship of the Ring soundtrack, and here two singers have individual songs. Isabel Bayrakdarian on "Evenstar" with a voice darker in tone than Enya. Emiliana Torrini sings "Gollum's Song," which is a difficult task, as Gollum is a rather unlikable character and the song tries to state redeeming qualities about the creature. Much like saying a vampire really isn't a bad sort after all, only misunderstood. "...where once was light now darkness falls, where once was love, love is no more..."
Howard Shore uses everything musical at his disposal--The London Philharmonic, The Voices of London, and the Oratory School Schola Boy's Choir--to create Middle Earth and he does succeed. This film prepares the audience for the decisive battle at Helm's Deep. The last film in the trilogy, "The Return of the King," will wind everything up, but you have to wait another year for that one. As director Peter Jackson filmed three stories, one after another, so Howard Shore did soundtracks one after another. At the end of 2003, you can have a marathon Lord of the Rings sound-blast at your place of abode for way over four hours. Better start putting up more soundproof tiles now. In the meantime, Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers will have to do.
3.5 tocks
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