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(10:11) The Fellowship is reunited one
last time. Arwen comes to Aragorn who is crowned King. Tribute is
paid to four Hobbits. The Hobbits return to the Shire. Rosie and Sam
are wed.
These music covers the scenes where we
see our last of Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Éowyn, Éomer, Faramir, and
Arwen. It also covers the last occasions (barring the credit music)
of the
Fellowship Theme and the
Gondor Theme. See my
comments below for more thoughts on
'endings'.
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0:00 |
– |
Quiet strings play as Frodo awakes in Ithilien and sits up to see... |
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0:15 |
– |
Gandalf. |
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0:23 |
– |
A sweet and only slightly melancholy
melody (the Fragrance of Ithilien) plays.
The CR-ROTK liner notes state the melodies and instrumentation of
the Shire are mixed here
with hints of the
Fellowship Theme. The
Fellowship references are too subtle for me to pick out. Gandalf chuckles at
Frodo's amazement to see him. Frodo joins him and soon they are
both laughing out loud. A tin whistle creeps into the strings. |
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0:38 |
– |
Merry and Pippin open the door and run to join Frodo on the bed. All
four are laughing hard. |
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0:58 |
– |
Gimli appears from around
the corner and Frodo calls out his name. The music swells then
quiets for a moment as... |
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1:11 |
– |
...Legolas appears in
the doorway dressed in princely Elven garb. Frodo seems a little
awed. |
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1:19 |
– |
As a solemn but noble
Fellowship phrase plays, Aragorn steps into
the doorway. |
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1:27 |
– |
The
Fellowship Theme
continues as Merry and Pippin continue to cavort on the bed as
Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli stand near smiling. |
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1:35 |
– |
As the final notes of the
Fellowship Theme play, Sam steps into the
doorway. Frodo looks up at him. |
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1:46 |
– |
As Frodo and Sam knowingly look at each
other, the Shire A melody begins
(not sure if it's a Pensive
setting). They smile, but perhaps a little more
soberly than the
rest. |
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2:04 |
– |
As the
Shire A melody finishes up with repeats of its opening notes (DA
identifies this as The
Journey Back theme. I disagree), the screen fades to black for a
moment ~and 12 more people walk out of the theater~... |
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2:10 |
– |
...then cuts to a long shot of Minas Tirith. The music is moving
from melancholy to... |
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2:15 |
– |
...the majestic
Gondor Reborn Theme as the camera pans up to show
throngs on the top level of Minas Tirith, then to... |
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2:25 |
– |
the steps of the Citadel. As the music swells, Gandalf holds a crown
over the head of Aragorn. Gimli looks at it in awe. (Our last close
up shot of Gimli.) |
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2:39 |
– |
The
Gondor Reborn Theme
ends quiets dramatically as the crown is brought down and |
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2:44 |
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..the horns play a noble
Realm of Gondor Theme as Aragorn is crowned. Gandalf declares,
"Now come the
days of the King." |
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2:51 |
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The camera cuts to Aragorn's face as we hear the
Realm of Gondor in Ascension
(similar to Aragorn's Theme).
Gandalf adds quietly, "May they be blessed." |
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2:58 |
– |
The main
Realm of Gondor Theme returns as Gandalf steps back and Aragorn
stands up. Aragorn takes a big sigh... |
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3:05 |
– |
and the
Realm of Gondor in Ascension plays again as he turns to face the crowd who
cheer and clap. |
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3:12 |
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A triumphant
phrase is heard as the camera moves from a close up of crowd back to
Aragorn... |
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3:19 |
– |
then
quiets as Aragorn
address the crowd. (This music really echoes the call
and response nature of the
Realm of Gondor Theme
and the Realm of Gondor in
Ascension from 2:44 - 3:12) |
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3:34 |
– |
Cymbals shing as the crowd cheers and petals
fall from the sky. Then, all quiets as the newly crowned King... |
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3:46 |
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...Aragorn sings the oath Elendil made upon leaving Númenor. |
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3:46 |
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Et Eärello Endorenna utúlien.
Sinome maruvan ar Hildinyar
tenn’ Ambar-metta! |
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We see our last glimpse of Faramir, Éowyn,
Éomer and then.... |
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4:19 |
– |
...the
Fellowship Theme plays quietly as we see Legolas, wearing the crown of
princedom and leading a contingent of Elves. |
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4:24 |
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As the
Fellowship Theme continues, they place a hand on each other's
shoulder and Aragorn says, "Hannon le." The last time Aragorn
thanked Legolas, it was for returning the Evenstar jewel to him at
Helm's Deep. This time, Legolas gestures for Aragorn to look beyond
him. (Our last shot of Legolas.) |
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4:34 |
– |
Our last full statement of the
Fellowship Theme gives way to... |
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4:41 |
– |
... the
Arwen Revealed Theme as Arwen looks out from behind a white banner of
Gondor. Elrond, at her side whispers, "Go to him." then steps back
with the anguished look of a father letting go of his daughter.
(This is one of the moments that always makes me
clench with tears.) Aragorn steps toward her and takes the banner from her hand. She
bows to him. He looks at her a bit quizzically and lifts her head up
gently. (HS
COMMENT) As Arwen's Theme winds down, she smiles at him and... |
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4:41 |
– |
Tinúviel elvannui
Elleth alfirin |
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5:25 |
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...he kisses her hard.
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|
5:32 |
– |
A quick phrase, evocative of
Aragorn's Theme and the
Realm of Gondor in Ascension
(which are related) plays. The camera cuts to Elrond who still has
tears in his eyes but is smiling at their joy. |
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5:36 |
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Arwen kisses Aragorn, gently. They cuddle a bit. (Five minutes into the track and it just keeps going.
Ah, I love this track.) |
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5:52 |
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A flute creeps in as
Aragorn walks forth with Arwen at his side. He finds himself
standing in front of the Hobbits. |
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6:03 |
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They bow before him which distresses Aragorn.
"My friends." They
look up at him. (The music in the movie is a little longer than on
the CD, although it feels foolish to even note that at this
moment.) "You bow to no one." and he, along with every other person
in the city,... |
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6:14 |
– |
...bow down to Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin as a glorious rendition of
the Hymn Setting of the Shire A melody.
(Our last shot of Aragorn and Arwen) A
choir hums quietly in the background. |
|
6:28 |
– |
The camera first zooms into Frodo's face, which seems conflicted,
then cuts to a wide shot of the city. |
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6:42 |
– |
The
Shire A melody gives way to the humming choir, then quiet horns as
the camera pans out. The music swells up into the
The Journey Back
theme as the shot of Minas Tirith
morphs into the indication of the city on a map. "And thus it
was.... that the Fellowship of the Ring.. was ended." The
camera moves through the map: along the mountains, past Rohan, Isengard,
Lórien, Moria, Rivendell and Bree. |
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7:20 |
– |
As the flute begins playing the
Pensive Setting of the
Shire A melody over slow,
sedate versions of the
Hobbit Outline Figure,
we see the Shire on the map and then the four Hobbits, in princely garb,
riding ponies into Hobbiton. Frodo narrates, "We were home."
They
ride by the same disapproving Hobbit from the beginning of the
story, sweeping his sidewalk. They all nod pleasantly at him but he
just shakes his head as the
Shire A melody ends. |
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7:48 |
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(The
Shire A melody plays longer on the CD than
in the movie. 7:48-8:22 not in movie.) |
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8:11 |
– |
The sober
Shire A melody drops out and
we hear a Hobbit Accompaniment. |
|
8:22 |
– |
The first four
bars of the
Fragrance of Ithilien,
the blend of Shire and
Fellowship music heard
earlier in the track, is reprised on violin (HS
COMMENT) as we cut to the Green Dragon. After those first bars,
the fiddle finds a new but related melody to explore. Frodo
has fetched a round for the four Hobbits. Around them all is merry
but they are solemn. They look at each other quietly then take hold
of their mugs and... |
|
9:02 |
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...raise them together then drink. The music
becomes more resolute. |
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9:15 |
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A harp creeps into the music as Sam looks up at... |
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9:18 |
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...Rosie. The violins begin the
Hobbit Outline Figure and a solo violin follows with a return of the
Rural Setting of the Shire
music. Sam takes a deep draught of his beer and goes toward the bar.
The others are a bit surprised but delighted. |
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9:39 |
– |
The
Rural Setting moves into a
Pensive Setting of the
Shire B melody as we cut to Sam and
Rosie's wedding. The
bodhrán taps out the
Heartbeat of the Shire. As
Sam and Rosie turn toward their guests, clapping and cheering break
out. She throws the bouquet and... |
|
9:57 |
– |
Pippin catches it. The
Shire B ends, leaving
a slowly fading Outline Figure, as we take a last look
at the newlyweds and Frodo, who seems happy.
HS COMMENT |
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Lyrics
3:46 - 4:19 from “Elessar's
Oath”
Lyrics
4:41 - 5:25 from “Song
of Lúthien”
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[04:41]
Ti
[04:46]
nu
[04:51]
vi
(el)
[04:55]
elva
[05:01]
nnu
[05:05]
i
[05:06]
El
[05:10]
leth
[05:11]
al
[05:15]
firin
to get a sense of how the choir's
singing corresponds with the soloist's, go
HERE.
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Sept. 10, 2005
a completely personal note upon completing the cue by cue for
this track.
I've never been good with endings. As a child, I
couldn't bear goodbyes of people I'd only known a few days. As an
adult, I began to realize that endings are just one component of
change with the twin component being beginnings. I grew to recognize
and acknowledge the beginnings, to value the beginnings, and
finally... to not mind the endings so much because I understood they were needed
for the beginnings to occur. But I say, 'so much' because, really...
they're still very hard for me.
In the summer of 2002 I found myself at a milestone in my life.
Actually, many milestones. Although I had anticipated the release of
Fellowship of the Rings and had seen it twice over the winter, it
wasn't until a third viewing in May of 2002 that something clicked.
I went back to the books, something I hadn't done in 30 years and I
found myself caught up in something so personally enormous, I was
almost overwhelmed. That's a long story... too long for here, even
with my tendency towards long-windedness. But in August, I found
myself sitting in the backyard starting Return of the King. A quick
flip through the book shocked me. I didn't have a whole book to
go... I only had half a book. I was going to have to say goodbye to
this story way sooner than I was prepared to. The Elves were already
leaving. Soon I was going to have to leave as well. As I read on, I
endured the ending of the Fellowship and then, horrifyingly realized
that there would be no happy ending for Frodo. He was leaving too. I
read the timeline in the appendix and watched each of the remaining
Fellowship die or pass over the sea.
In this year on March 1st came at last the Passing of King
Elessar. It is said that the beds of Meriadoc and Peregrin were
set beside the bed of the great king. Then Legolas built a grey
ship in Ithilien, and sailed down Anduin and so over Sea; and
with him, it is said, went Gimli the Dwarf. And when that ship
passed an end was come in the Middle-earth of the Fellowship of
the Ring.
And it was over. Honestly?... I cried not only during the last
chapters of the book but for days after finishing. I think
there were lots of reasons I was so completely caught up in this
story, but a significant contributing factor toward my sorrow was this prolonged but
definite ending. I've revisited the story many times, and it
does get easier. But... endings are still very hard for me.
When "Into the West" was released in anticipation of the movie, I
downloaded it and listened to it a number of times. Then I bought
the ROTK soundtrack CD prior to the movie as well. "Into the
West" would play,. the singing would finish and, after a few bars of
quiet music, it all just faded away. FOTR and TTT had ended with
triumphant, expectant music. This one just faded away and I knew
that ROTK would come out and I would watch it and it would end. And
I would be faced with a whole new set of endings: the ending of the
movies and the ending of the Fellowship of Tolkien fans that had
bonded over the internet. I couldn't listen to those last few notes
because they were so symbolic of what was to come and I would
quickly hit the button to just start the soundtrack over again. At
some point, I would see the movie for the last time. I would have my
last contact with an online Tolkien friend.
Here's what I wrote at a forum 11/25/03 -
regarding my first listen to the newly (pre movie) released
soundtrack:
I listened to the last moments
of the CD in the car as I drove up to home. I sat there in tears
and realized that at some point, I will hear those notes and it
will all be over. Over! No more theatrical showings. No more
news on filming. No more speculations or spoilers. No more new
scenes of my long-haired Elves.
PJ, I take back every criticism I ever voiced. I don't care that
Imrahil wasn't in there. I don't care that Faramir has flaws. I
don't care that you killed Haldir. Keep Middle-earth coming. I
love the books and I always will. But those images are so dear
to me and for me, the two... your images and Tolkien's words...
are tied together inextricably.
Excuse me I need a tissue....
:-)
I've been listening to ROTK a lot at bedtime. It swirls in my
ears as I fall asleep. Often, I wake up at the beginning of "The End
of All Things", perhaps because it has such bombastic opening music.
But I think I know it's coming... the end, and my mind needs
to take it in. When I list my 'favorite' music from the
soundtrack, I rarely list the battle music, or the 'contentious'
music. It just doesn't drift up the list. But "The End of All
Things" really fits the emotions of the activity on screen so well.
My brain sits up and takes notice. Then... it comes. "The
Return of the King". It's a long track and it holds, for me, the
essence of the goodbyes. It's during this track that we see the last
of Gimli, then Éowyn and Faramir, and Éomer... Legolas...
and finally, Aragorn and Arwen. It's during this track that we hear
the last (bar a few echoed notes) of the Fellowship Theme.
The rest of the soundtrack is sweet. But I've already endured the
hardest, the breaking of the Fellowship. I'm resigned now. It will
end and I will go on.
For such is the way of it: to find and lose, as it seems to
those whose boat is on the running stream.
As I write the cue by cue for this track, I face yet another
ending. The ending of the work I've done on this website. I have a
tremendous amount to do before I could call it finished, but that
doesn't mean the work won't end -whether it's finished or not. So, I
have ending piled on ending all represented by this track. With
years and experience, I realize the risks we take result in both
pain and delight. And I've gotten a lot from Tolkien. I've gotten a
lot from my online circle of Tolkien fans. And I've gotten a lot
from my having done this website. I've met and worked with people
from all over the world. I've gotten positive feedback from people
of all ages and professions. I've bonded with the movie in ways I
wouldn't have without listening to the music over and over again.
Before the end of these things, I want to say thank you to all
the people who have helped - to all the people who have written me -
to all the friends who have supported me and encouraged me - to
Peter Jackson, Philippa Boyens and Fran Walsh - to Howard Shore -
and finally, to John Ronald Reuel Tolkien.
And all the host laughed and wept, and in the midst of their
merriment and tears the clear voice of the minstrel rose like
silver and gold, and all men were hushed. And he sang to them,
now in the Elven-tongue, now in the speech of the West, until
their hearts, wounded with sweet words, overflowed, and their
joy was like swords, and they passed in thought out to regions
where pain and delight flow together and tears are the very wine
of blessedness.
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