1. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Composed by Howard Shore
Howard Shore’s classic work on The Lord of the Rings is widely regarded as one of the greatest film scores of all time, and there is not an ounce of quality lost between the music of Rings and that of The Hobbit. Shore is in top form here, once again crafting a sweeping and complex symphony that perfectly captures the emotions of the film’s story, characters, and visuals.
Like The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit score is built around a vast series of themes and leitmotifs. Some, like the Shire, Rivendell, Lothlorien, and One Ring themes, return from the original trilogy, often reworked or refashioned to reflect new or broader contexts. For instance: One of the score’s most invigorating moments comes when Bilbo rushes out of his home in Bag End to join the dwarves, and the peaceful, laid-back Shire theme is rearranged as a lively ode to adventure, reflecting the start of Bilbo’s transformation from a peace-loving Hobbit to a brave, venturesome hero.
But the real attraction here is the vast amount of new material Shore has composed, the dozens of fresh leitmotifs and bold sonic concepts that extend the aural boundaries of Middle Earth by many glorious miles. Shore’s evocation of Dwarf culture, represented by an individual theme for Thorin and many other motifs and sonic identities for Oakenshield’s company and the lost kingdom of Erebor, is a particular highlight.
In parts, the score’s style shifts closer to the storybook aesthetic of J.R.R. Tolkien’s original Hobbit novel – there is an unrestrained glee to the Shire sections I find absolutely infections – but there are other portions that forebode an oncoming darkness, especially when characters discuss the growing threat of the Necromancer. Shore’s music presents a Middle Earth in flux, at once celebrating a golden age of adventure and prosperity while mysterious forces coalesce beneath the surface.
Even when An Unexpected Journey does not live up to its full potential as a film, the music is positively awe-inspiring, as good as fans of Shore’s work could possibly have hoped for. Unlike The Lord of the Rings scores – which were not released in full form until years after their release – listeners can purchase the near-complete score for An Unexpected Journey right off the bat with a very nice Special Edition release, and whether or not one is a fan of the film itself, I highly recommend one does so. This is film composition at its stirring, inspiring best, a wondrous and masterful symphony that stands tall as the best score of the year.
What did you think of these scores? Which movies featured your favorite compositions in 2012? Sound off in the comments and let us know what you think!
Published: Dec 19, 2012 07:32 pm