Concerning Hobbits
"Concerning Hobbits" is an acclaimed piece by composer Howard Shore for The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring soundtrack. It is a concert suite of the music of the Hobbits, arranged from the music heard in the film during the early Shire scenes, and features the various themes and leitmotifs composed for the Shire and Hobbits and is intended to evoke feelings of peace.[1] It is also the title of one of the sections of the prologue to The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien. Excerpts of the piece can be heard during an extended scene in the 2012 film The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. The piece has become synonymous with the Shire theme.
Although the tin whistle and violin both have solos and have the main melodies throughout the piece, it is also noted for Shore's distinctive use of the bodhrán to create a heartbeat-like sound.[1] Other accompaniment instruments include a celtic harp, hammered dulcimer, musette-type accordion, drones, classical guitars, mandolin, low whistle and recorders.[2]
One of the chief tracks of the entire trilogy, it is also one of the happiest tracks, with others invoking feelings of heroism or foreboding. It show-cases the Shire theme or Hobbits' theme, in its main, "pensive" orchestral setting: A stepwise melody played by strings, a solo fiddle or a tin whistle.[1] The B-section of the theme is often played by strings tutti to a very expansive effect, arguably forming a separate theme altogether.[3]
Also in the piece is a "rural" or "folk" setting or variation, labeled by musicologist Doug Adams as a separate theme for Hobbiton, played by solo fiddle and various celtic instruments in accompaniment. The chords of the third main shire theme, the "hymn" variant (which later serves mostly as Frodo's theme), also play briefly under the melody.[1][3]
The melody is accompanied by several motifs:[1]
- Hobbit Outline Figure: This simple figure, often heard in the cellos and double basses, is used as an expectation of things to come. It is heard quite a bit in the early Shire scenes, portraying the hobbits' playful sides.
- Hobbit Two Step Figure: This short figure appears frequently during the introduction of the Shire, and it often concludes with the End Cap figure.
- Hobbit Skip Beat: This ostinato figure is heard throughout the Shire material, usually as an accompaniment, but sometimes more prominently.
- Hobbit End Cap: A graceful rim-shot that plays to the good-humored hobbit lifestyle.
- The Heartbeat of the Shire: played on Bodhran.
Also in the piece (about a minute into the track) is a cadence that closes a statement of the Hobbiton theme, which coincides with Bilbo's "Happy Birthday" sign being erected.[1] This motif was also used in "Old Friends" in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, turning it after-the-fact into a theme for Bilbo's birthday party Preparations.[4]
The piece has alternates in the Complete Recording tracks "The Shire" and "Bag End" (which are the Extended Edition recording), in the Fan-Credits of the Fellowship of the Ring (where the fiddler is allowed to improvise more around the Hobbiton theme) and in the Lord of the Rings Symphony, which features the whole suite.
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Marillyn Miller, A Magpie's Nest, Concerning Hobbits.
- ↑ Marilyn Miller, A Magpie's Nest, Instruments.
- 1 2 Eric Rawlins, Musical themes in the Lord of the Rings.
- ↑ Mikko Ojala, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. An Analysis of the Special Edition of the Soundtrack Album