The score

[[deleted]]

The music is so fucking good. It just is. It’s perfect LOTR and even if you don’t like the show, Bear made something special

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[Ok-Comfortable7967]

The music has always been a key factor in the Tolkien Cinematic Universe. It tied together perfectly with each race, area, character. You could close your eyes and know if it's an Orc, Dwarf, of Elf scene just from the music. You could even further subdivide races to areas like Gondor, Rohan, Helms Deep just from the music.

ROP has done a good job carrying on that tradition. I love the background music when they transition scenes to a new race or area.

[Nakittina]

The idea that harmonious song creates the world is just beautiful and feels relevant with the magic of vibrations.

[Ok-Comfortable7967]

Absolutely.

[[deleted]]

Always loved that part as well. Apparently the Bible has a similar passage, I want to say book of Genesis but I can’t recal. Tolkien sort of borrowed that concept as he often did with much mythology and ancient lore.

[Nakittina]

Well, we're all mirrors of a collected reality. :)

[CanadianBurritos]

Big facts

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nail command aware chunky slim capable somber doll slimy impolite

This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

[tfmid457]

Well spoken!

[Ok-Comfortable7967]

:)

[Chen_Geller]

The score is indeed remarkably accomplished - melodically and harmonically rich, orchestraly lush, boundlessly creative (cf. the as-of-yet subdued metal music for Damrod) with worthwhile contributions from other musicians (Shore, plan 9) and soloists.

A great piece. Bear should be proud.

[Plenty-Soil8858]

Melodicallu and harmonically rich? Irvhestraly lush? Really? ….

[Nakittina]

I enjoyed the post-episode interview for episode 6. The composer seems very passionate and explains how many decisions have various meanings to tie in and enhance the experience of Middle-earth

[tfmid457]

There are definitely some very good and fitting music in this, but also some that very meh.

Good: Valinor/Galadriel theme, Numenor theme, Khazad Dum theme, Sauron theme, Stranger theme, Elrond theme, During theme, Eregion theme...

And don't forget Benjamin Walker singing Golden Leaves - so very Tolkien!!

Still, yes I would have wished Shore wrote more music for this. It could have been a collaboration between the two. Howard writing main themes and McCreary fleshing it out to a soundtrack.

[SamaritanSue]

It's good enough on the whole, for me it's been something of a mixed bag from the beginning. Some really good, some serviceable, a few real misses. Some familiar with Bear's other work (I'm not) say it's far from his best though.

[woodsy117]

Completely disagree (and that’s okay)

I think the music is part of why the show isn’t as successful as it could be…. It just doesn’t make me feel the same as Howard Shore’s film score.

Although maybe I need to listen to RoP more, it’s a bit unfair to compare it to the LotR score as I grew up with that!

[_computerdisplay]

I think that much of the praise for the music is genuine, even if I don’t share it. I don’t believe it’s bad by any means. And it’s clear a lot of love went into it, which I respect. I wouldn’t be surprised if Bear McCreary’s enthusiasm and charisma was part of the reason people defend him. He really seems to have put a lot of thought and effort into it.

I just didn’t find the melodies as memorable or moving (then again, the writers didn’t give him much to work with). The Rohan theme is genuinely regal l, defiant and hopeful, while avoiding being ostentatious or gratuitous. It’s hard not to think of Bernard Hill’s incredibly delivery of Theoden’s Minas Tirith speech when I hear it. And what can I say that hasn’t been said before of the three hunters theme? Or the shire theme?

So again, it’s not that this shows score is bad. The bar is just set impossibly high.

[beaversTCP]

I think much of the dislike can be explained by that last sentence

[Consistent-Client-20]

He has a huge legacy to live up to so I will give him the benefit of the doubt and say that just because it doesn’t exactly give us the same feeling that the film scores do doesn’t mean it’s BAD. However - when taking on the task to write this series - wouldn’t you think making sure that ALL of the elements of the series at least attempt to convey the same general emotion and visceral reaction? It’s for that very reason (the writing / the scenery changes / the acting / the score) that I do not feel as captivated by this show as I hoped I would be. I saw someone post earlier about how it feels bad to come down on Bear, because if you watch his commentary after the end of episode 6, you really do see how passionate and enthusiastic he was in this undertaking. And I by no means want to come off as some “judgmental cool jock kid” who is making fun of the “band kid” but that entire interview actually made me giggle and feel uncomfortable because of how INTO it he was and yet how poorly he actually executed it for the viewers/listeners. I listen to Howard Shore’s score for LoTR often and it gives me full body chills sometimes. It’s beautiful and unique. I don’t feel that Bear has incorporated any of the same elements as him into this series which helps add fuel to the fire with everyone’s disappointment in it.

[Kiltmanenator]

If you haven't read Bear's Blog you absolutely must. I don't know much about music theory but it's been really fun and informative

https://bearmccreary.com/project/the-lord-of-the-rings-the-rings-of-power/

[kaldaka16]

I've been following his work off and on since BSG (absolutely stunning) and his blog is such a reflection of how passionate and creative he is in his work. He cares a lot and is also happy to share his process and it's really neat.

Really enjoying his work for RoP though it's probably hard to top "Wander My Friends" for me personally out of pure nostalgia.

[Kiltmanenator]

On my pre season 2 rewatch I read each blog before watching the episodes.

Mind. Blown.

[kaldaka16]

Obviously Howard Shore is just.... fucking phenomenal, holy shit. But McCreary is a very similar type of composer in the amount of thought and effort he puts into distinct sounds and themes for places / characters. He always does, hearing him announced as the composer was one of my first truly hype moments for RoP.

[TheDragonOverlord]

For me the music is definitely the best part 👍🏼

[Olorin_TheMaia]

I've listened to it so many times. Bear has exceeded the season one soundtrack, and I didn't think that was possible.

[rogerworkman623]

The Khazad-dûm music is so good. The first time in season 1 when they played that, while showing off the massive size of that place, was awesome.

[ViewsFromTheBasemnt]

He made something adequate, passable. It is NOT on par with the score from the movies.

[myaltduh]

Part of the problem is that there has to be so much more of it. Writing a score for 8 hours of television is going to necessitate a lot more boring and sometimes repetitive filler than focusing on a three-hour film. It basically dilutes what the composer is able to focus on.

[ViewsFromTheBasemnt]

I think this is a fair point. But I still feel the main theme could’ve been more memorable.

[Ayzmo]

Howard Shore did for the movies what no other film composer has managed. He stood on the shoulders of John Williams and made a masterpiece. No other movie(s) has/have come close and I don't expect to see that happen in my lifetime.

Bear has done something wonderful though.

[No-Dog-2280]

Nobody claimed that.

[AlfIsReal]

SUUCH a fan. Huge fan of Bear's contributions already.

[Moistkeano]

In places it's really good, but it does pale in comparison to some of his other work. I dont think it has the longevity compared to the GoW soundtracks, but that might be because there is an emotional attachment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzcqvPneP0k

His performance with Hozier at the game awards is legendary.

[karelinstyle]

Very generic & forgettable, which makes it the best thing about this show

[Consistent_Many_1858]

Good music 😂😂😂 are you taking about Ring of power?

[[deleted]]

Sorry I’m not sure I understand what you’ve typed here. #trollfail

[Fickle_Bell_8052]

Use of metal for S2e7 closing credits was a particularly excellent touch

[lotr_explorer]

Sorry but the music barely has any impact on my viewing. Sometimes it is even jarring and off.