The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring [ENHANCED] [LIMITED EDITION] [SOUNDTRACK]

Enya, Various Artists - Soundtracks - Film Scores, Howard Shore

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 20, 2001)
• Original Release Date: November 20, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced, Limited Edition, Soundtrack
• Label: Reprise / Wea
• ASIN: B00005QZWJ
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (112 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #163,843 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Score composer Howard Shore has informed this first installment of the Lord of the Rings trilogy with his distinctly modern sensibilities. Revolving loosely around a brief, heroic brass theme, this epic is infused with a powerful rhythmic thrust and a musical range that encompasses centuries (from the Renaissance pastoralism of "Concerning Hobbits" to the fiery, Prokofiev-influenced drama of "A Knife in the Dark"). Key to the score's sense of mystery and magical place are the rich choral passages that are interspersed throughout, some so ominously gothic they make The Phantom Menace's "Duel of the Fates" sound almost sunny by comparison. Enya's contributions ("The Council of Elrond" and the song "May It Be") add a sense of organic tranquility, but it's Shore's Wagnerian-scaled orchestral score that should long be cherished by admirers of film music and hobbits alike. --Jerry McCulley

Product Description
Containing the same tracklisting as the standard edition, this deluxe digipack features four fold-out panels and is wrapped in red leatherette with the title stamped in foil on the front and the spine. It also contains a special 24-page booklet.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

282 of 285 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What you get with the LTD edition., December 2, 2001

By	Robert (Memphis, TN United States) - See all my reviews

I really liked this CD. The music is reviewed elsewhere, so I won't be redundant. I first got the Limited version, and I describe it here: It is in a red leatherette folder which reminds me of the red slipcase edition of LOTR. Open it, and there are two pockets. One holds the CD, and the other holds a small booklet with Elvish/English lyrics from the soundtrack as well as pictures from the movie. This booklet and case are exclusive to the Limited Edition.
The CD itself can be played on computer to go to a special website where you can view trailers, interviews, etc... This is VERY nice, but be warned--the regular priced CD also has this feature.
As to the regular priced CD, the first run of these are packaged with a card depicting one of 6 characters: Frodo, Bilbo, Strider, Arwen, Gandalf, and Saruman. The card is on the cover of the CD, so you know which one you get. Completist geeks will want all 6 versions, as these are very nice cards. The folder in this version is not quite as nice as the limited edition's booklet, but you get the essential information. And, yes, the CD is enhanced for use on the computer in this version.
It is not clear if future pressings of the CD will be enhanced, and I don't expect the cards to be in subsequent runs.
So now you know it all! Which one or ones are you gonna buy!

123 of 127 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Beware the Limited Edition!, March 24, 2002

By A Customer

While the musical score of Fellowship of the Ring is quite beautiful, the "Limited Edition" packaging is a shining example of how genre films brutally exploit their fans.

The music on the Limited Edition CD is identical to the less expensive version of the disk, and all the buyer gets for nearly twice the price is a [faux]-leather slipcase and picture booklet with lyrics to the vocals on the CD. There is nothing substantial in the Limited Edition packaging to warrant the greater expense. Nothing. For it's price and fancy packaging, it looks as though it should contain a second disk, but in doesn't. Don't be fooled.

To justify buying this edition, you have to consider a red leatherette package and lyric book worth an additional 10+ dollars. If you love the music (which is outstanding, and worthwhile), buy the less expensive version and have money left over for another CD.

51 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Good music, poor packaging., December 10, 2001

By A Customer

While the music of this CD is exquisite fantasy fare, the "Limited Edition" packaging is far from magical. For almost twice the price of the regular version, you receive almost nothing in the way of extras and exactly the same music as on the regular edition disk. The additional cost is apparently accounted for in the "leather-like" slipcase and the "art book" that are small recompense for the additional cost. It's no wonder the sheet on the back of the package says nothing with regard to the "limited edition" contents, since there is almost nothing extra offered.

This product is clearly just a stab at the "fan" market with the hope that by adding the "limited edition" stamp to the title it will fool more buyers into spending nearly twice the price. If you are simply interested in the excellent soundtrack, buy the regular version. I wish I had. I could have used the difference in cost to buy another CD.

Five stars for the music, one big star, for the disappointing exploitation of fans.