The Heart of the Matter

 

 

Performed with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.

 

I didn't really appreciate what I had when I first won this on eBay last year, but once I received it things changed very quickly indeed.  I'll tell you right up front that this exquisite recording belongs in every Tolkien fan's collection, but unfortunately it is exceedingly rare.  Good luck finding a copy-- though as a rare book collector I feel that a determined search through the New Zealand secondhand stores would probably turn it up, as it went gold there.  Still, I certainly can't locate it on Amazon, and a quick Google search did not turn up any copies for sale.  The only article of substance I've found on it is this one:  
 

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=228888
 

With the dozens of Howard Shore covers adding to my confusion, this outstanding and completely original orchestral work from New Zealand had passed completely under my radar.  
 

The CD consists of twelve tracks:  Royal Fanfare, Battle of the Pelennor Fields, Dance of the Elves, Attack on Helm's Deep, The Quest, The Dark Lord, Flight, A Journey in the Dark, Suspense, Sorrow, The Shadow of the Past, and Farewell.
 

"Royal Fanfare" is what it says, the majestic, heraldic, fully orchestral beginning of the greatest Quest of them all.  
 

"Battle of the Pelennor Fields" sounds more like its aftermath, with a foreboding beginning, a stately, heart-rending theme and lovely touches of tragic dialogue between the instruments.  I can easily hear the final parting of Eowyn and Theoden in this monumental piece.  
 

"Dance of the Elves" is unusual, in a good way.  Most music inspired by the Professor's elves tends to be stately and ethereal.  This short piece, however, is robust, using percussion and kettle drums, and it's full of energy and laughter, showing Tolkien's elves at play.  
 

"Attack on Helm's Deep" is dark and distinctly Celtic, with percussion that reminded me of Saruman's forges under Isengard.  Plaintive violins, harps and pennywhistles add a very human touch as the defenders stand watch upon the battlements.  
 

"The Quest" is a marvelous composition, with a lovely and touching melody played on violins, horns and a lovely clear flute and oboe, which evokes a feeling of adventure, vast sweeping landscapes, and the open road.  Yet it is also kind and intimate, as though we are experiencing the emotions deep in Frodo's heart as he sets forth once again upon his timeless journey.  
 

"The Dark Lord" is dark indeed, and uses a full orchestra with an electric guitar on an FX pedal to evoke the harsh beauties of evil.  Even this portrayal has great majesty.  
 

"Flight" connects quite directly with "The Quest" and covers some of the most perilous moments of the story.  
 

"A Journey in the Dark" is the perfect score and soundtrack to a scene which is strangely neglected in most Tolkien-inspired music:  Frodo and Sam's first encounter with Shelob!  The first time I listened to this I was on the edge of my seat, as the music is vivid and provides a crystal clear illustration of the scene just as it is written in the book.  From their first fearful steps into the dark, to Shelob's chilling and venomous hiss, to Frodo wielding the Star-Glass-- it's all chronicled here in bright stereo detail.  Beautiful, clear, and perfect! 
 

"Suspense" begins with Sam's plaintive pennywhistle, crying Frodo's name over and over.  Then come the orcs with their harrying horns and drums, and as they disappear again we are left with only poor Sam's heartbeat.  
 

"Sorrow"  is brief and not so clear, but following the Cirith Ungol action as it does, (and with its accompanying description-- "reflection over the loss of a friend") it feels to me that this is Sam in his worst despair.  This work is too short, not really coming into its own, and therefore it is the weakest composition on the disc, but it's still of fine soundtrack quality.   
 

"The Shadow of the Past" is a reprise of the beautiful melody of "The Quest."  The feeling is that all is over now, but we are remembering some of the most marvelous moments of the adventure.  
 

"Farewell" is, of course, the farewell at the end of the book, beginning tenderly with harps and wind instruments and proceeding onward to a majestic full-orchestral score which heralds the beginning of another journey, before finally ending peacefully with harp and violins as the sun sets in the west.
 

I wish you all luck finding this disc.  As I previously indicated, a thorough search of New Zealand secondhand music dealers might turn one up.  An eBay search might do the same thing-- it's how I found mine.  If you do locate one, don't hesitate!  This is a first-rate classical composition from beginning to end, by turns moving, exciting, vivid and deep, and its performance is flawless.