Lord of the Rings: The Animated Musical | Music: Frodo Decides; Sam Is Caught

This is the final essay for “Chapter 2: The Shadow of the Past”. Next week, October 11, I will take the week off as I finish animating the chapter. The week after, October 18, I will release all videos for Chapter 2. Today’s instrumental covers the final moments from Chapter 2 as Frodo accept his destiny as the one to bear the Ring, taking from the Shire as part of a dangerous journal to have it destroyed. While originally saddened by the thought of leaving his home and traveling alone, his day is brightened when Sam is caught eavesdropping, and Gandalf orders the gardener to go on the journey as his “punishment”.

The instrumental begins in C major at 120 bpm with the “Drums of Doom” for eight measures before launching into the “Decision Theme”, complete with the countermelody in trumpet and flute along with the descant in the harp. This is the same complex variation heard in Scene 16, “To Destroy the Ring” with the addition of the trumpet and the timpani continuing the “Drums of Doom”. During the first repeat of the theme, the treble part of the harp raises an octave. The final measure tags six times to end the theme.

In measure 46, “The Shire Theme” originally appearing in its major form during “The Introduction Song” now plays in A minor, the relative minor to C major. The “Drums of Doom” continue, as do the bass drum and snare drum typically used in the “Decision Theme”. On the first repeat, the trumpet part playing the melody raises an octave. On the second repeat, the piccolo and flute parts playing the melody raise an octave.

In measure 70, the tempo drops in half to 60 bpm as “The Road Theme” plays. The melody remains in the trumpet and the “Drums of Doom” remain in the timpani while strings and woodwinds play a C major chord. The harp plays steady quarter notes in the same chords. This version of the theme sounds resolute as Frodo has finally decided to go on his quest. During the repeat in measure 78, the woodwinds lower an octave.

By measure 87, “The Road Theme” is joined by “The Shire Theme” as Frodo continues to struggle between his conflicting desires to see the world while aiding in the destruction of the Ring and to remain safe at his beloved home in Bag End. The percussion and trumpet melody align to “The Road Theme” while the melody and harmony in the woodwinds, strings, and harp align to “The Shire Theme” with some dissonant chords supporting the notes of “The Road Theme”. When the second half of “The Road Theme” repeats, which is a full repeat of “The Shire Theme”, the timpani crescendos until measure 99 when the drums of doom sound along.

The dark motif last only two measures, as the tempo increases back to 120 bpm and “Frodo & Sam Theme” plays when Sam is caught eavesdropping. The melody plays in the viola, representing Sam. The harp, representing Frodo, plays half note chords supporting the melody. The contrabassoon, representing Gandalf, plays the base note of the chords. The bass drum plays a “Heartbeat motif” first heard in “Gandalf Warns about the Ring” but more notably the last time this melody appeared in Scene 5 “The Sun Is Up”. When the theme repeats, the strings join to play the same chords as the harp. During the second repeat, the woodwinds join to play the same chords. During the third repeat, the chords in the harp change to quarter notes. The final four measures of the melody tags to end the theme.

“The Road Theme” returns, this time at 120 bpm. Instead of a staid melody, the theme sounds cheerful and bright. The notes in the woodwinds, strings, and harp are similar to the 60 bpm variation, except the melody is carried in the viola. Additionally, the heartbeat motif remains in the bass drum. During the first repeat in measure 145, the chords in the woodwinds raise up an octave. During the second repeat in measure 153, the melody in the viola raises up an octave. The ending tags in measure 165, and the melody is done.

But the piece is still not done! The “Decision Theme” returns in 166 with the same variation as the last version. During the repeat in measure 182, the strings playing the melody and harmony raise up an octave. The theme cuts off after two measures into the third stanza. In measure 192, “Frodo & Sam Theme” returns. The viola plays the melody while the harp plays an eighth note descant. Strings play the harmony as half note chord, while woodwinds play the harmony as whole note chords for the first stanza and half note chords for the second stanza. The “Drums of Doom” remain in the timpani, the “Decision Theme” rhythm remains in the snare drum, and the “Heartbeat Motif” returns in the bass drum. At the end of the melody, all woodwinds and strings hold their notes for two measures. The harp plays another measure of the descant before striking a final chord in measure 201, while the percussion plays its rhythms before a final strike in the same measure. With those optimistic notes, the chapter is finished.

Watch the music video here: