Hi everyone,
My self-imposed exile is up, so I’ll try to add a few tidbits, updates, etc.
The first draft of the Annotated Score is now done (hence the exile). Editing and revisions will be coming soon!
Just to stave off any uncontrolled rumor mongering, there will no box-set of alternates. There a ton of stuff, to be sure, but that’s not how it’ll be presented. (And it will be presented, fear not!) And as for the 4 hours comment re: ROTK’s score, yes, this is taking into account alternates and unused pieces that were written, like the ride to Minas Tirith with alternate percussion or Frodo’s Song, etc., etc., etc. Honestly, 4.5 hours is probably a low figure when you take that ALL into account… but remember many alternates are only slightly different. If triangle plays once in the film and three times in the alternate, is that really an entirely different piece of music? If there’s a piece that sets English horn playing the History of the Ring over aleatoric strings, do we also want to hear the take where the English horn didn’t play? Is it interesting enough to even count? These are, incidentally, the same considerations being taken into account for the final presentation of this unused material. What’s really worth hearing? I know there are those that’ll say, “Everything, gimme it all!” But besides the fact that this isn’t physically feasible, there’s really only so much your ear can take it before it becomes dulled by repetition. I mean, we could fill an entire CD with just unused Prologue material from Fellowship… actually, that’s a bad example—that stuff is amazingly interesting!
Hard numbers are always going to be pretty useless in this arena, so 4 to 4.5 hours is/was a good ballpark figure, nothing more.
I won’t say much more about the presentation of unused material for now, save to say that there is a plan in place… and if you scour other posts, you’ll get some pretty good hints. Heck, I think I even buried the proposed release date in there somewhere. Dig deep!
Contracts are being drawn up now, so once everything is nice and legal, I’ll be happy to spill a few more beans.
Anyway, as you know, the four CDs and 1 DVD of ROTK:CR will solely contain ROTK music. Like the other boxed sets, ROTK will *essentially* present Shore’s final drafts of his compositions, including music that that was replaced in the film with sound effects, silence, etc. There are a few exceptions to that rule, same as there were on FOTR and TTT.
>>>And does this mean we get Sissle's piece as well??>>>
You will get Sissel’s piece, yep! Liv’s too. It will all make sense when you see the track list.
>>>Great news, everyone! Doug, have you heard the final mix for the 'end of all things' piece in CR? I'm afraid to find out the choir mixed not that powerful as in the OST, as it was done in the FOTR CR...>>>
The chorus is loud and proud.
>>>A blood red or a deep burgandy slip case with gold leaf lettering would be quite nice. Of course it would need to be big enough to fit the rarities discs as well. I wonder if the rarities discs will come in their own boxed set and what color that will be?>>>
I will be heavily involved with the Rarities production, but it’s a little ways off. You’ll see, you’ll see. (I know, it seems like each secret revealed simply unearths a dozen more. Sorry! I promise to say more when it’s time.)

MAGPIE INSERTS: THIS FOLLOWING LIST IS NOT DOUG'S LIST AND IS NOT THE OFFICIAL TRACK TITLE LIST. A FORUM MEMBER POSTED A SPECULATIVE TITLE LIST AND DOUG IS QUOTING THAT LIST AND THEN COMMENTING ON HOW ACCURATE IT IS.

*****
1. The Finding Of The One Ring
2. The Days Are Growing Darker
3. Flotsam And Jetsam
4. Return To Edoras
5. Gollum's Villainy
6. The Palantir
7. Hope And Memory (I realise it's unlikely, but it's a beautiful title for this music)
8. The White Tower
9. Denethor
10. The Glory Of Gondor
11. Journey To The Crossroads
12. The Dead City
13. Osgiliath Overrun
14. Amon Din
15. For Lord And Land
16. Denethor And Faramir
17. The Stairs Of Cirith Ungol
18. Gollum's Treachery
19. The Last Son
20. Dunharrow
21. The Flame Of The West
22. The Dawn Of Battle
23. The Dimholt
24. Ride For Gondor!
25. The Paths Of The Dead
26. Denethor's Madness
27. The Siege Of Gondor
28. The Corsairs Of Umbar
29. Shelob's Lair
30. The Choices Of Master Samwise
31. The Second Level Burns
32. The Horns Of Rohan
33. Denethor's Pyre
34. The Pelennor Fields
35. The Nazgul And His Prey
36. Requiem For Theoden
37. The Houses Of Healing
38. The Tower Of Cirith Ungol
39. The Last Debate
40. The Land Of Shadow
41. The Black Gate Opens
42. For Frodo
43. The Destruction Of The Ring
44. The Destruction Of Mordor
45. Many Partings
46. A Far Green Country
47. Epilogue
48. The End Of An Age
*****
I’m happy to tell you, you’ve got seven correct track titles in here!
>>>Can anyone tell me how soon they released the track titles and annotated score for the previous releases? This wait is going to be unbearable!>>>
>>>I think the Annotated Score came out after the release of the CDs? Am I remembering correctly? I thought it was within a week or two, but I remember waiting anxiously and I wouldn't have been 'anxious' before the CDs came out.>>>
The Annotated Score did, indeed, come out along with the CDs… or perhaps a day later. We’re in a better place, schedule-wise, this year, so I’d imaging you’ll see the website updated on the release day.
That’s all for today, folks. Back soon!
-DougPS – Oh hey, I meant to ask… Are you guys interested in another FSM Podcast ROTK preview this year? If so, what format? Are you out of questions by now, or are there enough to fill another podcast? Thoughts?