Vocal · 2003
The Return of the King
Howard Shore
A concert selection of music from Howard Shore's score for the 2003 film The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, for orchestra and voices.
What to listen for
A suite from a film score has no movements of its own, so it follows the story's big moments. Expect the gentle, folk-like tunes tied to the hobbits' home, often carried by flute or small solo instruments, set against grander, more serious music for the human kingdoms, where brass takes the lead.
The score is built on short themes that return in new colors as the story darkens and then lifts. When a tune you heard earlier comes back played louder or by a bigger group of instruments, that is the composer telling you something has changed. Chorus and a solo voice often join near the climactic and closing passages.
Which passages this arrangement keeps is the arranger's choice, so the order may differ from the film.
The story
Howard Shore, a Canadian composer, scored all three Lord of the Rings films, directed by Peter Jackson. The Return of the King came out in 2003 and its music won an Academy Award. The film's closing song, Into the West, also won an Academy Award for best original song. Shore's score was recorded with a large orchestra and choruses, and he later shaped concert versions of the music for live performance. The version on this concert is credited to an arranger, so it is a concert selection rather than the full film score.
First time hearing it?
- Expect a suite of highlights, not the whole score; the length depends on the arrangement.
- Even if you have not seen the film, the music tells a story with recurring themes.
- Chorus or voices may appear in some passages.
- Film music concerts often happen with no pauses between sections, so applause usually comes at the end.
Written by OrchestraFinder with AI help, updated October 2026. How we write · Spot an error?