Heartbeat for the Shire

The Heartbeat of the Shire

From: Odds & Ends - Not quite themes but interesting, nonetheless.

This is a distinctive, quick little beat played on the bodhrán under various Shire/Hobbit music. Those first few months I was listening to FOTR, this quiet little patter really stood out to me. It struck me immediately as the steady, reliable and comforting sound of a heartbeat. I like how the movie kind of starts with it (after the prologue) and ends with it. Below, I list not only a few places you can hear it, but give specific times stamps. I believe this is a element that can drop out with poor sound systems so some may need to listen carefully.

Places this theme is heard in FOTR:

"Concerning Hobbits" (FOTR Track 2 esp. at 1:18 & 2:08)

"The Breaking of the Fellowship" (FOTR Track 17 starting at 5:00)

Places this theme is heard in ROTK:

"The Return of the King" (ROTK Track 17 - at 8:22 & 9:30)

On Annie Lennox's song, "Into the West" (ROTK Track 19 - listen especially in the choruses)