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July 2011 (updated
December 2012)
WHAT'S BEEN DONE
My last State of the Site
Address was in June 2009. In that I wrote:
What's next? First let me say what I
am not going to do:
I will not be adding
any more thematic information to the site using
Doug's upcoming book as a resource. In the event his
book reveals incorrect information on my site, I
will correct it in some fashion. But I will not be
expanding the theme section of this site. It's done.
It's in place. And what resource it offers the
soundtrack fan will remain static. The goal (for
theme work) I set for myself back in the summer of
2003 has been met. What comes ahead will be forged
by other soundtrack fans.
That book,
The Music
of the LOTR Films, has since been published and,
for the most part, I have remained true to that
statement. I strive for a balance of
presenting information built off my own work that is
accurate in terms of official information and honoring
copyright and intellectual property. I think I've done
pretty well. I have it on good authority that neither
Doug Adams or Howard Shore thinks poorly of what I've
done. Hearing that was one of highlights of my life.
WHAT WON'T GET DONE
I also wrote, back in
June 2009:
I will not be adding
to this site, or creating a new one, to cover the
music heard in the two upcoming films: The Hobbit
and whatever that second proves to be.
I believe some are
holding out hope that I will change my mind. I can
sense when I might be tempted on things like this. I
can assure you that I sense no temptation at all to
change my mind. I can give you three good reasons.
I'm older now. I am
not so driven by my passions as I once was. This
site is the result of complete and utter mad
obsession. It is hard to healthily sustain that sort
of obsession. And, as much as I have loved my work
on the LOTR soundtrack, it has also kept my
left brain more active in regards to the music
than my
right brain. I think I want to just enjoy - not
analyze for the next round.
It's hard for others
to step up when someone 'established' is in place. I
think it would be refreshing to see others step into
whatever role they see me fulfilling. Let someone
else have a turn.
Lastly, and I almost
hesitate to point this out since I fear it will
inhibit others from trying to do something similar
for The Hobbit that I did for LOTR --- I think
official score information is going to come out in a
more timely and accessible manner for The Hobbit
than it did for LOTR. I did what I did because I
sensed a bit of a void. I'm not sure that void will
be as palpable for The Hobbit. I'm not sure if the
work I've done for LOTR will be needed for The
Hobbit. But that is not to
discourage any fan who would like to take it up.
WHAT HOPEFULLY WILL BE
DONE
I have embarrassingly not written a review of the
The Music
of the LOTR Films yet. That will come soon, I
hope.
I like the
ODDS & ENDS concept and might add more tidbits to
that section.
I've kept a lot of the site focused on 'facts'. I'd like
to pull in some of the really interesting and insightful
things said about the soundtrack by different people in
different forums. Perhaps create some print friendly material of some
of this information. printable pdfs of the
FOTR Master Song List
--
TTT Master
Song List --
are completed - I need to do ROTK
I'm working on a series of pdf indexes for
The Music
of the LOTR Films Those will become available
over time both here and at
Doug's blog
We'll see what else I get motivated to do. My first love
is print - not web - and I much prefer working in
InDesign than my web software
Some days I think I want a master list of all of
the song material that uses Tolkien's own words.
Why, I'm not sure.
And if I can really dream, I'd like to find a way to
facilitate people looking at and talking about the
soundtrack (in low-key, non theoretical ways). Wouldn't
it be great to get a 'book group' to read Doug's book.
We'd take it slow and keep the language geared for the
casual music fan. We'd let the conversation roam from
music to movie scene to book and wander between
left brain and right brain as it pleased us. I've
tried this in a variety of ways at TheOneRing.net's
forums and, although the attempts haven't been failures,
they haven't been roaring successes, either. But, a girl
can dream.
PENDING ENDINGS
When I wrote about endings after finishing the cue by
cues for the final ROTK OST tracks (here
and here)
back in 2005, the end felt like it was right around the
corner. It's been seven years since I wrote that and I think,
for the first time, I can imagine THE END. It seems
fitting. I already feel a bit of an anachronism in other
areas and, at some point, the music for The Hobbit is
going to capture everyone's attention. They'll still
listen to the LOTR score, I have no doubt. But will they
want to read about it and talk about it or will they
either be all talked out or just have shiny new things
to talk about?
The site is not
'done'. Not yet. I even wonder if I will ever reach 'done'.
There are no publishers or distribution people waiting
to 'take it away'. I suppose the site's fate will be
that of the Elves.. to fade away when it's time here is
done... when the enthusiasm and interest in the
soundtrack fades away. Until then, my journey continues.
I am Magpie
... and I approve this message.
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