Howard Shore: The Hobbit soundtrack - an album guide
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey has to be one of the most anticipated movie releases of the year - and Howard Shore has composed the soundtrack to match! Get the low-down with our fantastic track-by-track guide, full of great pictures and handy info.
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1. My Dear Frodo
Howard Shore's epic soundtrack kicks off with a reflective piece that harks back to the original Lord Of The Rings movies where Frodo is played by Elijah Wood, who makes a return appearance in The Hobbit, too.
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2. Old Friends
Sir Ian McKellen also reprises his role from the original Lord of the Rings trilogy, as Gandalf the Grey. Here, he and his old friend Bilbo Baggins are honoured in this theme.
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3. An Unexpected Party
The Unexpected Party in question are this merry band of dwarves, whose journey forms the main thrust of The Hobbit.
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4. Axe Or Sword
Decisions, decisions... Dwarf Dori, played by Mark Hadlow (pictured) will no doubt be going for an axe in The Hobbit.
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5. Misty Mountains
Richard Armitage makes a vocal contribution to this song from Howard Shore's soundtrack to The Hobbit, alongside a chorus of dwarves. "Far over the misty mountains, go to dungeons deep and caverns low..."
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6. The Adventure Begins
Not only is it the beginning of an adventure for the characters in The Hobbit, it's the beginning of a journey for lead actor Martin Freeman, who plays Bilbo Baggins.
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7. The World Is Ahead
Howard Shore's score takes an epic turn, in keeping with the huge challenges ahead of Bilbo Baggins.
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8. An Ancient Enemy
Multi-award-winner Howard Shore's score is typically triumphant-sounding, but there are moments of menace and contemplation, too.
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9. Radagast the Brown
One of Tolkien's minor characters in the book of The Hobbit, Radagast the Brown's role is expanded for the movie and brought to life by former Dr. Who actor Sylvester McCoy.
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10. Roast Mutton
With a name like 'Roast Mutton', we're not quite sure what to expect from this snippet from The Hobbit soundtrack... It sounds cheeky, tense and a little bit mischievous, so we'll have to wait and see the movie exactly what's going on.
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11. A Troll-Hoard
The stunning scenery of New Zealand again takes centre stage in Peter Jackson's vision of Tolkien's Middle Earth, no doubt setting the scene for Shore's Troll-Hoard.
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12. The Hill Of Sorcery
Details about the exact goings-on and plot points of the film remain shrouded in secrecy before its December release, but we reckon this one must be something to do with Ian McKellen, AKA Gandalf the Grey. Shuffling percussion and tense strings form the backbone here.
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13. Warg-Scouts
Another cryptic title from Howard Shore's score... Given a Warg is a kind of wolf, it's unlikely to be something to do with Smaug the dragon, voiced by Sherlock actor Benedict Cumberbatch. The galloping, descending brass seem to suggest it might not be a friendly encounter, whatever happens...
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14. The Hidden Valley
The incredible landscape of New Zealand will play its part in The Hobbit as it did in the original Lord Of The Rings movies, and what better sound to accompany it than Howard Shore?
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15. Moon Runes
The score of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey has a completely expected magnificent score by Howard Shore, who was responsible for the soundtracks to the original Lord Of The Rings films.
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16. The Defiler
A snippet of darkness, with a huge and heavy brass presence at the beginning, this has to be one of the more violent excerpts from Shore's new soundtrack.
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17. The White Council
Ian McKellen reprises his role as the wizard Gandalf, and Shore marks the occasion with this dark, quiet theme that accompanies Gandalf consulting with The White Council.
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18. Over Hill
It seems that director Peter Jackson (pictured) is far from over the hill, much like Howard Shore's score. Here, another mysterious and atmospheric piece is brought to life by Shore's love of a good melody - we even get a little clarinet version of the Shire theme.
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19. A Thunder Battle
With a title like that you know what to expect - crashing intensity from Shore yet again. This has to be one of his best scores to date...
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20. Under Hill
The Hobbit production was visited by some very important guests while they were filming - it's only Charles and Camilla! Captions for this photo are warmly received, by the way... Under Hill is another stormy little number, with trilling and flaring trumpets aplenty.
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21. Riddles in the Dark
Andy Serkis reprises his role as Gollum in The Hobbit, again in a fully digital incarnation (so not like this photo of him). If any characters are going to be involved in Riddles in the Dark, we reckon it's Gollum...
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22. Brass Buttons
Pulsating vocals skulk in the background for this atmospheric piece, with Howard Shore's typically dynamic orchestral work doing the rest. Brutal stuff.
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23. Out Of The Frying Pan
Cate Blanchett makes her return to Peter Jackson's movies, reprising her role as Galadriel.
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24. A Good Omen
Also among the returning cast members from the original Lord Of The Rings movies is horror veteran Christopher Lee, who was so effective as Saruman.
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25. Song Of The Lonely Mountain
In one of the more surprising elements of the soundtrack, former Crowded House frontman Neil Finn makes a contribution to Song Of The Lonely Mountain, one of the cornerstones of the movie's music. Howard Shore is on hand to steer things, but this is definitely Finn's show.
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26. Dreaming Of Bag End
When it comes down to it, The Hobbit is a story about being away from home. So what better way to finish the first instalment off than with a dream of Bilbo Baggins' home, Bag End? On the strength of this first Hobbit soundtrack, we can't wait for the next!
