Review of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey soundtrack
(special edition)
As a huge fan of both Howard
Shore’s scores for The Lord of the Rings film series and of movie soundtracks
in general, the score for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey was easily the most
anticipated soundtrack of 2012 for me. I remember the day they announced that
Howard Shore would be returning to score The Hobbit, and while I didn’t have
much doubt going into it that Shore wouldn’t do it, I was still relieved. His
masterful work for LOTR has my bid for best movie score of all time, and my
expectations for The Hobbit were set extremely high.
The
soundtrack for the Hobbit was released on December 11th, 2012 –one
day before the film was released in theaters – in two different ways: A two-disc
soundtrack and a two-disc special extended edition. The track listing of the
album (I use the Extended version) stands thusly:
1.
My
Dear Frodo (8:03)
2.
Old
Friends (5:00) Extended
3.
An
Unexpected Party (4:08)
4.
Blunt
The Knives (1:01) Exclusive Bonus Track - Based on text by JRR Tolkien
5.
Axe
or Sword? (5:59)
6.
Misty
Mountains (1:42) Based on text by JRR Tolkien
7.
The
Adventure Begins (2:04)
8.
The
World Is Ahead (2:19)
9.
An
Ancient Enemy (4:56)
10. Radagast The Brown (6:37) Extended
11. The Trollshaws (2:03) Exclusive Bonus Track
12. Roast Mutton (4:56) Extended
13. The Hill of Sorcery (3:50)
14. Warg-Scouts (3:02)
Disc 2
1.
The
Hidden Valley (2:49)
2.
Moon
Runes (3:39) Extended
3.
The
Defiler (1:14)
4.
The
White Council (9:40) Extended
5.
Over
Hill (3:42)
6.
A
Thunder Battle (3:54)
7.
Under
Hill (1:54)
8.
Riddles
in the Dark (5:21)
9.
Brass
Buttons (7:37)
10. Out of the Frying Pan (5:55)
11. A Good Omen (5:45)
12. Song of the Lonely Mountain (6:00) Extended
13. Dreaming of Bag End (1:56)
14. A Very Respectable Hobbit (1:20) Exclusive Bonus Track
15. Erebor (1:19) Exclusive Bonus Track
16. The Dwarf Lords (2:01) Exclusive Bonus Track
17. The Edge of the Wild (3:34) Exclusive Bonus Track
The overall scale of the score is
toned down somewhat from the epic sensation that was Lord of the Rings, but
this is fitting for the story of The Hobbit, which was not as large as LOTR. It
captures more of the simple charm of the story, rather than the grandeur of the
world. This is at complete contrast against the aggressive battle themes
brought on by the story’s new lead villain, Azog the Defiler. While not in the
book apart from a mention, Azog’s music is highly different from the rest of
this score, but fits right in when compared to the big LOTR picture. It was
also a nice change when some of the original songs that JRR Tolkien wrote in
his novel were incorporated into the score, including the song “That’s What
Bilbo Baggins Hates” (called “Blunt the Knives” on this soundtrack) and
Thorin’s ballad for The Lonely Mountain (called “Misty Mountains” on this
soundtrack).
Several themes from Lord of the
Rings are brought back for the score, and it feels very natural hearing them
again. The familiar themes for Hobbiton and The Shire are introduced in the
beginning, as well as the themes for Rivendell, Galadriel, Sméagol, Gollum, Mordor,
and (of course) The One Ring. Also present throughout the score are other
familiar melodies from The Fellowship of the Ring, including several passages
from the early Bag End scenes when Gandalf first arrives for Bilbo’s birthday
party, and Dwarven melodies first heard in the Mines of Moria. Missing from The
Hobbit score, however, is the well-known theme for The Fellowship. This makes
sense I guess, because this story obviously happens long before the events in
The Fellowship of the Ring. There were two moments in the film when themes from
LOTR are heard in out-of-context moments, and both of them are near the end of
the film. First, when the Dwarf Company is stuck in the trees by the Wargs and
the Goblins, The theme for the Nazgul is played when Thorin stands up to confront
Azog, and secondly at the very end (spoilers) when Thorin embraces Bilbo,
saying how wrong he has judged his courage. In this instance, the theme for the
race of Men, as heard in Return of the King, is heard. Interestingly enough,
both of these moments are on the soundtrack album, but feature cues other than
those heard in the film.
There are plenty of new themes
established in the new film as well, and they fit right in with the themes from
LOTR. First off is a new theme for the Company of Dwarves, and their mission to
reclaim their homeland from Smaug the Dragon. This theme is the melody for the
songs “Misty Mountains” and “Song of the Lonely Mountain”. “Misty Mountains”
features lyrics straight from the text of Tolkien’s book. There are two other
Dwarven themes added in this movie as well, including a theme for Thorin and a
theme for Erebor. Gandalf is also given a theme for this movie, which can be
heard several times in the soundtrack, as well as Radagast. Smaug the Dragon
and Azog the Pale Orc are also have new evil themes as the film’s two main
antagonists.
But then there is Bilbo. He has
quite a unique musical presence in this score. Several melodies play through
his character, including two returning themes from LOTR (those being the themes
for Hobbiton and the theme for Frodo/The Shire). Bilbo also gets a new melody
that pertains to him alone, and is highly similar to the Shire theme. There is
also a new theme that plays through Bilbo’s struggle to adapt to the Dwarves’
lifestyle way outside of his comfort zone. These Bilbo-centered themes all
compliment each other nicely.
Overall, this soundtrack, while not
quite as sweeping and epic as any of the Lord of the Rings scores, is a very
excellent soundtrack to compliment LOTR. I personally can’t wait for the next
two movies and soundtracks to come out. Until then, the road goes ever on.
