Thanks for starting the thread ttbk.
Many Meetings:
I really like this track. The arpeggios are quite neat and the Shire theme music used is nice and relaxing. Another plus is that this is one of the few pieces in my FotR piano book that's totally complete.
I can play it on piano and have it match perfectly. That's pretty fun.
This was the first time I really thought about what the arpeggios were or what type of chord they were. It's interesting as they can't be pigeonholed into a specific type of chord. The first chord is A-C#-E-F. Without the F it would be a simple major chord, but the F messes it up. F isn't a part of the A Major scale. F# is. So the F could be either a diminished 6th or an augmented 5th. To me it makes most sense to look at it as an augmented 5th because A-C#-F would be an augmented chord. In a way, this arpeggio is two chords combined into one.
Whenever I play all four of the notes on the keyboard, my ear desperately wants that F to resolve down into the E. The arpeggio builds itself up to that F, but then the F forces it back down again. At least, that's how it feels to me.
This arpeggio has somewhat of a dreamy or otherworldly sound to me which is brought out even more by the harp glissandos in the background. I can't tell what chord or scale (if any) they are based on. A lot of time composers will use whole tone scales for harp glissandos when they want to convey a dreamy feel. Anyway, that dreamy or otherworldly sound is quite appropriate for Rivendell of course.
The cellos were an excellent instrument to use for the arpeggios as well. They are great for conveying a warm yet somber tone. Perfect for Rivendell in fall.
Well done to Magpie for figuring which words of
A Elbereth Gilthoniel go with which notes on what beat. I couldn't do it. I couldn't hear it clearly enough, but when I followed along with what she wrote out, it seems to match up.
A bit more on the arpeggios: In the
Rivendell Theme section at the bottom, Magpie goes into this long idea about the arpeggios representing the line of men of Elros. I don't know about that. It's a neat idea, but honestly I think she's going a bit far. I hardly doubt this ever crossed Shore's mind. Arpeggios are a widely used musical device because they sound nice. I listened to the snippet of the arpeggio that she talks about in the prologue and yes technically it sounds very much like the Rivendell arpeggio. Of course it would. An arpeggio is the 1st, 3rd, and 5th of a scale. The arpeggio used in the prologue is an a flat minor chord (Ab-Cb-Eb) with a normal 6th(E) added on top which without the 3rd(Cb) would make it an E Major 6/4(2nd inversion) chord. Anyway, my point is yes they are similar because it's the same musical device, but that does not mean anything more than that, in my humble opinion. To me what's she's doing is akin to someone overanalyzing a book. Sometimes there isn't a reason for something being used. It's just put there because it sounds/looks good and there isn't any ulterior motive.
On to the Shire music. This is probably my most favorite of the Shire music. The stuff in
Concerning Hobbits is nice, but I tend to like melancholy music a bit more. Here Shore has taken the Shire Themes, slowed them down, taken the embellishments out of the melody and reduced notes played by the accompaniment. The accompaniment is still reminiscent of the lively
Concerning Hobbits track, but it's much more subdued...it's like an echo of the past. Even the instruments used are more subdued. In
Concerning Hobbits a type of wooden flute and fiddle are used. Here, we get strings and clarinet. It sounds like to me that the strings are keeping on their G and D strings instead of also utilizing their A and E strings. The A and E strings are a bit brighter. By keeping to the G and D strings to play all the notes, this causes the notes to sound much warmer. Also, the violas and cellos (and basses sometimes) are much more prominent which adds weight to the music. To me, the Shire stuff here sounds much heavier and that it represents all that weight on Frodo. Sure he's talking about the Shire and feeling better, but still all that has happened is still weighing on him, not to mention he misses the Shire so there's sadness there. Though the lower strings can also add a warmness which goes well with fondly remembering the Shire.
A very nice track altogether.
) are going over part of FOTR again; don't worry, we'll return to TTT in due time.
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long posts. So let loose as much as you like.