Frodo slips on the One Ring, revealing his whereabouts to the Ringwraiths. Seeing what’s just occurred, Strider pulls the hobbit aside to await the Wraiths’ arrival. Shore counts this building sequence, which presents a particularly forceful rendition of the Wraith’s music (including the text, “The Revelation of the Ringwraiths”), among the film’s most operatic. “I love that, when the music is all under the dialogue and it keeps dramatically moving the scene, it’s so much like opera.” A musical aftershock follows the Wraiths’ futile attack as Shore drops their signature line into the lowest rumbling tones of the orchestra.
After the riders depart, Strider and the hobbits leave Bree, setting out towards Rivendell. The Fellowship now numbers five members, so again the theme rings out in an inchoate setting. “The Fellowship theme is a little fuller now,” Shore notes. “It’s the first time you’ve heard it filled out, but it’s still pretty slow. It’s not completely assembled, but it’s getting closer because now Strider has joined them. The orchestration is fuller—you hear a little more of the brass. In earlier sections with Frodo and Sam you heard one French horn playing. Now there are three.”
The journey is arduous, and while the hobbits’ innately chipper natures buoy their spirits, Strider remains distracted, almost haunted by his thoughts. As he and the hobbits make camp at night, the Ranger sings “The Song of Lúthien” into the night. Here the a cappella melody was composed and performed by Viggo Mortensen.
Elsewhere weary Gandalf is trapped atop Orthanc, peering down at the destruction that surrounds him while Shore introduces the Evil Times motive from his collection of Ring Quest Themes.
UNUSED CONCEPT:
On the original soundtrack CD an earlier version of the music for this scene introduced Isengard’s propulsive Five Beat Pattern, but ultimately it was decided to save the pounding figure until later in the film when Isengard’s industrialization has become more pronounced. In this final version of Track 14, Evil Times was used to lend this scene a mournful air, more appropriate to Gandalf’s reaction.
TEXTS
THE REVELATION OF THE RINGWRAITHS
Text by Philippa Boyens
Adûnaic Translation by David Salo
FIRST HEARD: DISC ONE | TRACK ONE
Nêbâbîtham Magânanê | We renounce our Maker.
Nêtabdam dâur-ad | We cleave to the darkness.
Nêpâm nêd abârat-aglar | We take unto ourselves the power and glory.
îdô Nidir nênâkham | Behold! We are the Nine,
Bârî’n Katharâd | The Lords of Unending Life.
THE SONG OF LÚTHIEN [EXCERPT]
Text by J. R. R. Tolkien
Sindarin Translation by David Salo
FIRST HEARD: DISC ONE |TRACK FOURTEEN
Tinúviel elvanui | Tinúviel the elven fair,
Elleth alfirin edhelhael | Immortal maiden elven-wise,
hon ring finnil fuinui | About him cast her shadowy hair
A renc gelebrin thiliol. | And arms like silver glimmering.
(c) The Annotated Score (The Music of The Lord of the Rings Films)
The Nazgûl
Howard Shore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Elleth alfirin edhelhael
Hon ring finnil fuinui
A renc gelebrin thiliol
Tinúviel the elven fair
Immortal maiden elven-wise
About him cast her shadowy hair
The lyrics of Howard Shore's song, The Nazgûl, evoke a sense of otherworldliness and magic. The first stanza names the mythical character, Tinúviel, as an elven fair. Her grace is highlighted as she's described as an immortal maiden, elven-wise. The second line is a repetitive motif in his orchestral work throughout the Lord of The Rings trilogy. The description of Tinúviel casting a shadow with her hair and glimmering arms is a vivid, evocative depiction of the character's attributes.
In the last line, another otherworldly figure is mentioned, the Nazgûl. This once ally of Tinúviel has fallen from grace and now chases her. Their chase is described as renc gelebrin thiliol, which can be interpreted to mean a persistent pursuit, continuing over a long time. The contrast between the two characters' descriptions shows the grimmer, malevolent qualities of the Nazgûl in contrast to the grace and charm of Tinúviel. It's an appropriate metaphor for the struggle between good and evil in the world of the Lord of The Rings.
Line by Line Meaning
Tinúviel elvanui
Tinúviel, the elven enchantress
Elleth alfirin edhelhael
A lady of noble birth, fair and wise
Hon ring finnil fuinui
She wrapped him with her dark hair
A renc gelebrin thiliol
Her arms shone like silver
Contributed by Sadie K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.