Accompaniments

To Music for the Shire and the Hobbits

 

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Hobbit Outline

Hobbit Two Step

Hobbit Skip Beat

Hobbit End Cap

Hobbits' Antics

Shire/Hobbit Overview Page

 

HOBBIT OUTLINE - This 4 note motif represents "the hobbits' playful side. It's used as "an expectation of the next thing coming.""  (Doug Adams, CR-FOTR liner notes, page 13)
 

 

Places this accompaniment is heard in FOTR:

  • The Shire Pensive Setting plays over the Outline Figure in the EE, as we hear Bilbo's voiceover give the date and the camera panning over a map focuses on Hobbiton then pulls out to show the Shire. Bilbo then identifies his location: Bag End, Bagshot Row, Hobbiton, West Farthing, The Shire, Middle-earth. The camera moves up to show Bag End.   (EE scene)

  • As Frodo hugs Gandalf after jumping into the wagon. First alone, then under a Pensive Setting of the Shire Theme. There are a number of places the Outline Figure can be heard, either alone or under other music, throughout the wagon ride scene. For more information, go HERE.

  • As Bilbo welcomes Gandalf into Bag End and bustles around trying to make him feel comfortable.

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One place this accompaniment is heard in TTT:

  • Under the Pensive Setting as Sam wonders if people will ever tell tales about Frodo and the Ring as the two walk in Ithilien after leaving Osgiliath.

Places this setting is used in ROTK:

  • Flute plays a somber, sweet version of the Pensive Setting of the Shire Theme over the Outline Figure as the Hobbits ride back to the Shire.

  • As the four Hobbits sit silently together in the Green Dragon, a Shire inspired melody is played on the fiddle. Under this is a slow Outline Figure that seems to come and go ... or just vary in volume so that it is sometimes too soft to hear. Sam's focus moves from his companions on the table to the woman at the bar and, like the beat of his heart (we can imagine), the music gives a quick run on the harp of the Outline Figure. As Rosie calls out to departing Hobbits, "Good night, lads" she looks up at Sam. Sam sits thinking at the Outline Figure, now more steady, beats and then he decides.

  • The Outline Figure returns one last time as Pippin catches the bouquet and exchanges a look with a Hobbit lass.

  • The four notes of the Outline Figure play with soft finality after Frodo kisses Sam's head at the Grey Havens and Sam takes a breath.

  • The Outline Figure, now matured from staccato and sprightly to deliberate and sober, ends the movie under the Shire Reborn setting.

HOBBIT TWO STEP - Even thought this is a 'two note' figure, it often has an 'om pa pa' feel to it. An initial, first beat anchors the measure. Then the two notes of the Two Step play on beats 2 and 3 and there's a pause on beat 4. When played alone, it is usually be repeated three times and then the Hobbit Skip Beat is heard. But it's also heard under other music, most notably, the Rural Setting of the Shire Theme.

 

Places this accompaniment is heard in FOTR:

  • The Two Step figure plays alone and in alternation with the Skip Beat Figure at the beginning of  Bilbo's narration, "Concerning Hobbits".  (EE scene) It also plays underneath the Shire Rural Setting in a number of places in this extended scene. For more information, go HERE.

  • The Two Step figure plays alone and in alternation with the Skip Beat Figure when Frodo tells Gandalf, "We Bagginses were very well thought of. We never had any adventures or did anything unexpected. It also plays underneath the Shire Rural Setting in a number of places as Frodo rides in the wagon with Gandalf. For more information, go HERE.

HOBBIT SKIP BEAT - This little phrase is often heard mixed in with the Hobbit Two Step Figure. The notes are derived from the outline with the first note dropped. Then it's played at double speed on the upbeat. It can be heard as a prominent figure, or as a quiet ostinato underneath other music, most notably, the Rural Setting of the Shire Theme.

 

Places this accompaniment is heard in FOTR:

  • The Skip Beat Figure plays alone and in alternation with the Two Step figure at the beginning of Bilbo's narration, "Concerning Hobbits".  (EE scene)

  • The Skip Beat over Shire Hymn Chords is heard as Bilbo relates how much Hobbits love gardening and we see Sam with a plant.  (EE scene)

  • The Skip Beat also plays underneath the Shire Rural Setting in a number of places in this extended scene. For more information, go HERE.

  • The Outline Figure plays alone and in alternation with the Two Step figure when Frodo tells Gandalf, "We Bagginses were very well thought of. We never had any adventures or did anything unexpected. It also plays underneath the Shire Rural Setting in a number of places as Frodo rides in the wagon with Gandalf. For more information, go HERE.

  • A version of the Skip Beat is heard as Bilbo momentarily loses track of the Ring and he gets increasingly more frantic. (EE scene)

  • Variants of the Skip Beat are heard as Merry and Pippin wrestle with Boromir.

  • A purposeful, determined version is variant is heard as Boromir tries to take the Ring from Frodo on Amon Hen.

HOBBIT END CAP - this is a two beat finale (with grace notes) to the Hobbit Two Step Figure (although I can hear something very similar to the notes DA referenced in the CR-FOTR liner notes at times not connected with the Hobbit Two-Step Figure.)

 

Places this accompaniment is heard in FOTR:

One place this accompaniment is heard in TTT:

  • As Pippin relates his dream of the Shire after awakening in Fangorn Forest, one hears an End Cap. This End Cap evolves into the Hobbit's Antics. (EE Scene)

HOBBITS' ANTICS - this is really just an expansion of the Hobbit End Cap and is only heard in one extended scene in TTT: Ent Draught.
 

 

One place this accompaniment is heard in TTT:

  • As Pippin relates his dream of the Shire after awakening in Fangorn Forest, one hears an End Cap. This End Cap evolves into the Hobbit's Antics. (EE Scene). For more info, visit Shire Playful Setting.

Places this setting is heard in ROTK: