The One Ring Forums: Tolkien Topics: The Arena:
John Williams vs. Howard Shore

thorinoakenshield Rivendell Nov 10 2012, 2:54am Views: 2712 John Williams vs. Howard Shore Whose music is better?

iandea14 Rivendell Nov 10 2012, 6:54am Views: 1718 Howard Shore! Howard Shore any day! For example Concerning Hobbits, no one can beat that!!

DanielLB Immortal Nov 10 2012, 8:05am Views: 1748 Howard Shore! /   Want Hobbit Movie News? Hobbit Headlines of the Week!

Radagast-Aiwendil Gondor Nov 10 2012, 9:00am Views: 2057 Well, Shore did LOTR, Williams did Star Wars...that says everything Williams is a great, great composer, but he couldn't have brought justice to the superior LOTR trilogy in the way that Shore did. Every soundtrack in LOTR heightens the emotions to just the right level, in my opinion. "Radagast is, of course, a worthy wizard, a master of shapes and changes of hue, and he has much lore of herbs and beasts, and birds are especially his friends."-Gandalf, The Lord of the Rings.

Bombadil Half-elven Nov 11 2012, 1:33pm Views: 1739 Well when you grow up listening to John.. Yes but we Know Howard is still at his Peak & John is in November of his career. My internet Radio station plays mostly Movie Soundtracks and Ambient New Age. So I often tear up hearing various Peices of Howard's Score.

Eredhion The Shire Nov 11 2012, 5:22pm Views: 1753 Howard Shore   “Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky”

Ring-Bearer Rivendell Nov 12 2012, 12:48am Views: 1672 Howard Shore Seeing as he is a great inspiration to myself and other composers. I listen to his music every day! 'What are we holding on to, Sam?' 'There's good in this world, Mr. Frodo, and it's worth fighting for!' 'I can't carry it for you, but I can carry you!'

starlesswinter Lorien Nov 12 2012, 3:38am Views: 1812 Williams overall, but Shore's LOTR is my all-time favorite Shore is an excellent composer, but only his LOTR scores have a special place in my heart, whereas I generally like John Williams' output more consistently. Nothing he has written matches what Shore accomplished with LOTR (in my opinion), though Star Wars comes closest.

Flame of Udun Rivendell Nov 12 2012, 2:47pm Views: 1760 I have to agree with you John Williams is a fantastic all-around composer, but if were to go head-to-head with each composer's best masterpiece (star wars vs LOTR) then Shore blows Williams out of the water. Sure Star Wars has some of the most iconic songs to come out of a movie, but almost none of the songs have the depth of emotion that Shore conveys in the LOTR soundtrack. "'Ai! ai!' wailed Legolas. 'A Balrog! A Balrog is come!' Gimli stared with wide eyes. 'Durin's Bane!' he cried, and letting his axe fall he covered his face. 'A Balrog,' muttered Gandalf. 'Now I understand. What an evil fortune! And I am already weary.''

GothmogTheBalrog Rivendell Nov 13 2012, 12:22am Views: 1694 I have to say that they both work for the genre they're most famous for. Williams worked very well for SW and Shore was brilliant for LotR. "It was like a great shadow, in the middle of which was a dark form, of man shape maybe, yet greater; and a power and terror seemed to be in it and go before it." ~FotR

Ruxendil_Thoorg Tol Eressea Nov 13 2012, 4:35am Views: 1840 Something to bear in mind   In fairness, John Williams is more than about Star Wars. He has done themes for quite a few other big movies that are very iconic and recognizable by many. Indiana Jones and the Tower of Sorcery, Close Encounters of the 3rd Age, Jaws (Just a Watcher, Swimming), Hairy Plodder series, E.T. the Elvish Terrestrial, Back to the Fourth Age, etc. Or as the comedic acapella quartet Moosebutter puts it, John Williams is the Man . I tend to agree. Similarly, Howard Shore is more than about LOTR and the Hobbit. In my case, though, those are the only movies for which theme music of Shore's I have paid attention. But as great as John Williams' body of work may be, IMO, it fails to surpass what Shore has done for Middle Earth. As others have mentioned, Williams' style would not have done it justice. They are both equally The Man. A bag is like a hole that you can carry with you. http://newboards.theonering.net/...forum_view_expanded;

Ring-Bearer Rivendell Nov 15 2012, 11:01pm Views: 1793 Seeing how they are both excellent composers... It is a difficult decision. Williams seems to be adept in composing for films that fit in the genre of action, such as Indiana Jones, Star Wars, etc., while Shore can really capture the feel of traditional fantasy. 'What are we holding on to, Sam?' 'There's good in this world, Mr. Frodo, and it's worth fighting for!' 'I can't carry it for you, but I can carry you!'

BeornBerserker Lorien Nov 16 2012, 1:41am Views: 2161 Depends On the genre of movie but no doubt when it comes to Middle Earth. Howard Shore!

Noel Q. von Schneiffel Rivendell Nov 18 2012, 6:58pm Views: 1597 I didn't think about it in terms of "whose music is better"... ...I was thinking "battle". You know, both of them in a room, armed only with saxophones, trying to trumpet each other's drumheads to pieces. Who would win? And would the winner be able to hear the victory announcement? Why are you looking at me that way? The Glorious Truth of J.R.R. Tolkien Radiates from his Holy Writings http://www.tolkientruth.info/

BeornBerserker Lorien Nov 18 2012, 7:02pm Views: 1905 In that case Williams

Silverlode Forum Admin / Moderator Nov 19 2012, 5:30am Views: 1670 So in other words... it's a Battle of Bombast? Yeah, I'd probably go with Williams too; he's more famous for the big horn fanfares. Silverlode

Elenorflower Gondor Nov 21 2012, 12:53am Views: 1814 They are both wonderful I loved Williams music for Harry Potter, it conjures the magical world perfectly. and Shore conjures LOTR perfectly. Its a win win.

Loresilme Valinor Jan 8 2013, 7:28pm Views: 1981 Howard Shore No other modern composer's music affects me the way his has. Other composers' music is just music. Wonderful to listen to yes, but just accompaniment. Shore's music has meaning, a language of its own.