In 2001, Doug Adams was invited by Howard Shore to observe and document his writing of the soundtrack for Peter Jackson’s motion picture trilogy of The Lord of the Rings. Doug Adams is a Chicago-based author and musicologist. Adams attended recording sessions, examined the original scores, and was given total access to the composer’s archives. This book, a culmination of a decade of writing and research, illuminates some of the greatest film music ever written. The Music of the Lord of the Rings Films is an interpretation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth as a musical quest. Adams’ book includes plenty of music examples, original manuscript scores, and an exploration of the process of writing film music with insights from the composer himself. Also included are a foreword by Howard Shore and a rarities CD. If you love The Lord of the Rings as much as I do, you’ll want this wonderful book! GRADE: A
Wow! This fits right in with the DVD I just got of the creation of the LOTR symphony. A must!
You will really enjoy this book, Rick. I’ve can’t remember reading a more detailed analysis of a soundtrack. Full of insights! I listen to the LORD OF THE RINGS music with new ears!
I am so sad that I have such a bad ear for movie music. It does right over my head. I think my ears only hear dialog.
As the years pass, I notice I’m missing parts of both dialogue and music, Patti. Oh, the fun of growing older…
Patti, that is the great advantage of having the Complete Recordings of the LotR Score… no distractions (like visuals or dialogues), you will hear things you never realized were there. And Doug’s book is based on the CRs in its details rather than the actual sound track of even the Extended Editions. The whole point of a good sound track is not hit you consciously, but to act on you subliminally… and Shore is a master of that (not to mention that whole stretches are lowered way down in volume in the films and so go by amost unnoticed until you stop and say “Wait, what was that I just missed!”)
I noted before you two did that you and Rick had hit on different approaches to the same matter…and even “cleverly” cited you in Tuesday’s Overlooked Films (and/or Other A/V) accordingly (see my blog for the links to others’ fine citations)…
…and I’m looking forward to the “legit” entries from both of you in that roundelay…
I plan to contribute to FORGOTTEN FILMS on the last Tuesday of every month, Todd. Thanks for linking my blog!
Todd, I saw that, and got a grin from it. Clever indeed. My FFB will be another LOTR item, this time some artworks.
I do so desperately want this book. It is a bit pricey, but I suspect that I’ll be adding it to my collection this spring when my desire to revel in all things Lord of the Rings will flair up again as it does every year. Glad to hear it will be worth getting.
Carl, if you care about the music of the LORD OF THE RINGS, Doug Adams’ book is worth every cent. You’ll love the CD of rarities!