10 Greatest Lord Of The Rings Trilogy Soundtrack Moments, Ranked

Summary

• The Lord of the Rings soundtracks define the trilogy, reflecting the emotion and triumph of the story through music.
• Howard Shore’s scoring creates individual themes for characters and moments, enhancing the narrative experience.
• The music in The Lord of the Rings trilogy matches onscreen events perfectly, evoking both beauty and sorrow in the audience.

The Lord of the Rings soundtracks have come to define the fantasy movie trilogy as much as the story and characters of the narrative. Based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s seminal and influential book series of the same name, The Lord of the Rings movies are some of the most popular cinematic works of speculative fiction. The soundtrack, composed by Howard Shore, sets the tone and atmosphere for every moment of the series, and the audience has no trouble feeling the triumphs and devastation that accompany the ups and downs of the story thanks to the music.

As the tracks ebb and flow and intertwine, the audience remembers each part of the story and how the narrative builds upon itself to create a satisfying conclusion.

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The scoring in all three movies in The Lord of the Rings is arguably the best soundtrack in any fantasy movie or TV show. On its own, the music is beautiful and moving, but what sets Shore’s work apart is how perfectly it matches what’s happening onscreen. Each setting and group has an individual theme that indicates its characterization, and Shore plays with these themes to great effect throughout the trilogy. As the tracks ebb and flow and intertwine, the audience remembers each part of the story and how the narrative builds upon itself to create a satisfying conclusion.

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10 Ents Marching On Isengard

The Ents lend their power and might to the Hobbits after Saurman destroys the trees.

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The Ents are some of the most tragic creatures in The Lord of the Rings series, as they’re forgotten and exploited more than many of the other beings in Middle Earth. Saruman the White cuts down many trees and forests during The Two Towers, and this angers Treebeard and the other Ents that Merry and Pippin encounter. In his grief, Treebeard calls the other Ents and has them march on Saruman and Isengard together to avenge his fallen friends.

The vocalization that accompanies the orchestration in the score is beautiful and ethereal, as the Ents themselves are.

Magic plays a large role in The Lord of the Rings, and the abilities of the Elves are extremely impressive, but the appearance of the army of Ents from the trees is an astounding moment of filmmaking. There is magic in the music that plays as the Ents make their slow trek to Isengard, but there’s also melancholy, as these are some of the last of the Ents, and they know that their fight will end in many more deaths. The vocalization that accompanies the orchestration in the score is beautiful and ethereal, as the Ents themselves are.

9 “Fly You Fools”

Gandalf’s iconic line

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Gandalf’s fight with the Balrog in The Fellowship of the Ring is an incredible climax for the movie, and his final words to the Fellowship are especially impactful because they believe he’s dead. The scoring throughout the scene with the Balrog in the Mines of Moria is terrifying and slowly builds tension as the horrifying beast draws closer. Gandalf performs some of his most impressive magic during this scene, but even that isn’t enough to stop the Balrog.

Gandalf is pulled to the edge of the abyss and then falls off the edge, and the frightening aspect of the music shifts to one of grief and devastation. Gandalf’s supposed death is the first true loss that Frodo experiences on his quest to Mount Doom, and without Gandalf, the Fellowship soon splits and turns on each other. The reason Gandalf says, “Fly you fools,” in The Lord of the Rings is because he’s spurring the remaining Fellowship members to run from the Balrog. However, it takes all of Aragorn’s strength to keep Frodo from going after Gandalf.

8 Lighting Of The Beacons

Through music and cinematography, this vital moment is made thrilling.

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Pippin is the hero of the moment when the beacons are lit, as he’s the one to climb the peak in Minas Tirith without getting spotted, and he sets fire to the first torch.

At face value, the act of lighting a beacon and seeing other torches being lit is not the most compelling action of the movie. However, thanks to the music and beautiful visuals that accompany it, it’s one of the most majestic parts of the trilogy and spurs the characters to action in The Return of the King. Attempting to get Rohan to ride to Gondor’s aid proves difficult without the beacons being lit, and so the Fellowship must think on their feet to ensure that the armies join forces against Mordor.

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Pippin is the hero of the moment when the beacons are lit, as he’s the one to climb the peak in Minas Tirith without getting spotted, and he sets fire to the first torch. Denethor, the Steward of Gondor, does not believe that lighting the beacons will convince Théoden to ride to Gondors aid, but it does, and this success can be heard in the scoring as each beacon is ignited. There is also a sense of foreboding and coming conflict in the music, as the beacons are only the first step in the fight.

7 The Shire Theme In TFOTR

The first time the Shire theme is introduced sets the tone for the entire trilogy.

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At the beginning of The Fellowship of the Ring, the audience meets Frodo and the residents of the Shire in complete peace and happiness. This is a vital juxtaposition and baseline for the remaining films because the audience must understand what is special and important about the Shire to relate and empathize with Frodo, Gandalf, and the other Hobbits. Whenever the Shire theme appears throughout the movies, it’s reminiscent of better times and happiness, and nothing shows this better than the first time it’s heard.

As Gandalf, Ian McKellen sings a song in the Shire in The Lord of the Rings, and this lighthearted, diegetic sound contributes to the safety and warmth that the Shire exudes. Without the promise of the Shire and home throughout their journey, there would be many times that Frodo and Sam would turn back. After leaving the Shire and later Rivendell, Frodo, and Sam have few, if any, moments of respite. Who Frodo is when the Shire theme plays at the story’s start is vastly different from the Hobbit who returns.

6 Theodred’s Funeral

Much more of Gondor and Théoden, the king of Rohan appear in The Two Towers.

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Théoden and his family play a large part in the final two movies even though they’re missing from The Fellowship of the Ring. When the Fellowship comes to Rohan for his help, they find that Théoden has been under the spell of Wormtonuge, who was poisoning him on behalf of Saruman the White. This led to the death of Théoden’s only son, Theodred, who the audience only meets in death. When Gandalf frees Théoden from his curse, the king can finally put his son to rest.

Though the music is somber, there is also a slight call to action within its refrain.

Although the viewer has only just met Théoden, Éowyn, and their family, it’s extremely affecting when the movie takes its time to highlight Theodred’s funeral procession. It’s a reminder that people all over Middle Earth are being impacted by the terror of Saruman and the forces of Mordor. Though the music is somber, there is also a slight call to action within its refrain. This shows that for Théoden and Éowyn, it will be impossible to sit by and do nothing now that Theodred has been taken.

5 Fellowship Theme Over The Mountains

After the Fellowship is formed, they make their way out of Rivendell and to the mountains.

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The version of the Fellowship theme that plays as the full company of the Fellowship leaves Rivendell and begins their journey is just the beginning. Since the Fellowship theme appears so many times throughout the three movies, it’s difficult to decide which version is the best or the most impactful. However, each serves a different purpose and draws the audience’s attention to a different part of the Fellowship’s journey, so every piece of the scoring does its part well.

In “The Ring Goes South,” the music begins with horns and an ominous undertone, as it needs to be communicated that this fantastical adventure is defined by its danger. However, as each member of the Fellowship crests the mountain, the camera pulls back to show the majesty of the rugged landscape, and the triumph of the Fellowship theme rings clearly. It’s a fully orchestrated theme that almost only appears when the entire Fellowship is together.

4 Ride Of The Rohirrim

In The Return of The King, the forces of Gondor finally face the Orcs and Sauron’s army.

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It’s in this scene that Éowyn fulfills her destiny and slays the Witch-King during the brutal assault of the men against the Orcs.

As Sam and Frodo are scaling Mount Doom, a battle rages below them between Aragorn’s army and the forces of Mordor. However, just before this Théoden, Éowyn, and the soldiers of Gondor face off against the Orcs as well as the Witch King. It’s in this scene that Éowyn fulfills her destiny and slays the Witch-King during the brutal assault of the men against the Orcs. A grim and determined march plays under the clash of the two armies, indicating that this battle will see many more sacrifices before the day is won.

Théoden gives a rousing speech to his army before they plunge into mayhem, and this is one of his final acts before he loses his life in the battle. Even as Éowyn contemplates the reality of war, it’s incredibly inspiring and makes the audience want to lift a sword to fight alongside Théoden. The horns playing in the music and the fierce screams of the soldiers make the viewer almost believe they can face the terrible threat before them, and this is thanks to the successful scoring.

3 Carrying Frodo Up Mount Doom

Though Frodo carries the burden of the Ring, it’s Sam who makes it possible.

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The relationship between Sam and Frodo is one of the most important in the entire book series and movie trilogy. Without Sam, there’s no way that Frodo would make it to Mount Doom or that the Ring would ultimately be destroyed. In an all-hope-is-lost moment as Frodo and Sam make the trek to the summit of Mount Doom, Frodo falters, physically and emotionally exhausted. As Sam holds Frodo in his arms, he reminds him of the Shire and their life before, allowing the Shire theme to cut through the music that accompanies the Hobbits up Mount Doom.

Even as Frodo fears for his life, Sam lifts him onto his back and carries him up the rest of the way up the mountain, and even the scoring is in awe of him. This is Sam’s best moment in the series, and the soundtrack pays tribute to this with an inspiring and almost god-like sound that shows just how much Sam has given to Frodo and their journey. The Lord of the Rings movies cut the class dynamic between Sam and Frodo, and this ultimately made for a stronger friendship, which makes Sam’s actions all the more emotionally resonant.

2 When The Fellowship Theme Returns At The End

One of the most important musical motifs of the three movies makes its return for Frodo’s triumph.

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The Fellowship theme recurs in different ways throughout the trilogy, adding and removing different instruments and elements to indicate where the characters are in their journey. When the track “The Fellowship Reunited” plays at the end of The Return of the King, it’s confirmation that Frodo has completed his journey and that the threat of the One Ring is over. Each member of the Fellowship slowly enters Frodo’s room, and they are reunited for the first time since their separation in The Fellowship of the Ring. ​​​​​​

The theme slowly builds until Sam enters, and the flute motif of the Shire theme cuts in to remind the audience of how much has been lost throughout the story.

The theme slowly builds until Sam enters, and the flute motif of the Shire theme cuts in to remind the audience of how much has been lost throughout the story. It’s a well-earned moment of joy after the terrible violence and trauma that the characters, especially Frodo, have undergone. This iteration of the Fellowship theme is quieter and less triumphant than the other versions, but it suits the joyful yet melancholic moment perfectly. Too much has happened for there not to be a tinge of sadness in the music.

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1 You Bow To No One

Frodo and the Hobbits get the recognition they deserve for their sacrifices.

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While the ending of The Lord of the Rings is happy, the trilogy concludes on a bittersweet note, as Frodo decides to leave the Shire and move on to the Undying Lands with the Elves. He chooses to do this because the toll it took on his body and mind to carry the ring to Mount Doom almost destroyed him, and he’s a different person from the young man who began the journey. However, before this, Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin are all bowed to be the entirety of Gondor after Aragorn tells them, “You bow to no one.”

Even though Aragorn has finally taken his place as the rightful king of Gondor, he refuses to allow the Hobbits to bend their knees after the sacrifices they have made for Middle Earth. This is a huge shift from the beginning of the story when many felt it was out of the question that a Hobbit could bear the burden of the One Ring. The music reflects this thematic juxtaposition perfectly with a grand and sweeping reprise of the Shire theme that shows the respect the Hobbits have earned for their people.

The Lord of the Rings

The Lord of the Rings is a multimedia franchise consisting of several movies and a TV show released by Amazon titled The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. The franchise is based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s book series that began in 1954 with The Fellowship of the Ring. The Lord of the Rings saw mainstream popularity with Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies.

Movie(s) The Lord of the Rings (1978) , The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring , The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers , The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King , The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey , The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug , The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies , The Lord of The Rings: The War of The Rohirrim Created by J.R.R. Tolkien First Film The Lord of the Rings (1978) Cast Norman Bird , Anthony Daniels , Elijah Wood , Ian McKellen , Liv Tyler , Viggo Mortensen , Sean Astin , Cate Blanchett , John Rhys-Davies , Billy Boyd , Dominic Monaghan , Orlando Bloom , Christopher Lee , Hugo Weaving , Sean Bean , Ian Holm , Andy Serkis , Brad Dourif , Karl Urban , Martin Freeman , Richard Armitage , James Nesbitt , Ken Stott , Benedict Cumberbatch , Evangeline Lilly , Lee Pace , Luke Evans , Morfydd Clark , Mike Wood , Ismael Cruz Cordova , Charlie Vickers , Markella Kavenagh , Megan Richards , Sara Zwangobani , Daniel Weyman , Cynthia Addai-Robinson , Lenny Henry , Brian Cox , Shaun Dooley , Miranda Otto , Bilal Hasna , Benjamin Wainwright , Luke Pasqualino , Christopher Guard , William Squire , Michael Scholes , John Hurt TV Show(s) The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Expand

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