Move Records Australian classical & art music, est. 1968
Front cover art for The Lord of the Rings, Vol. 2

The Lord of the Rings, Vol. 2

The second volume of John Sangster's classic jazz epic on The Lord of the Rings. First issued by EMI as a double LP more than twenty-five years earlier, this music reaches CD for the first time in this Move reissue.

John Sangsterkeyboards, percussion
  • CatalogueMD 3252
  • Released2004
  • Playing time104 minutes 52 seconds

Listen & tracks

16 works · 104:52

  1. 1 The O'Goblin Tattoo John Sangster 4:48
  2. 2 The Misty Mountains John Sangster 6:12
  3. 3 Beware the Barrow-Wight John Sangster 6:12
  4. 4 Goldberry John Sangster 8:50
  5. 5 Tom Bombadil John Sangster 5:13
  6. 6 The Mirror of Galadriel John Sangster 9:58
  7. 7 Blues for Denethor John Sangster 5:34
  8. 8 Encore Gandalf! John Sangster 4:44
  9. 9 Phantasmagoria for Moria John Sangster 4:30
  10. 10 Longbottom Leaf John Sangster 7:16
  11. 11 Farewell Lothlorien John Sangster 9:13
  12. 201 The Glittering Caves John Sangster 5:38
  13. 202 Fair Éowyn John Sangster 4:34
  14. 203 Shelob's Lair John Sangster 6:36
  15. 204 Thank you Perfessor … John Sangster 7:13
  16. 205 … Goodnight! John Sangster 8:21

Musical styles range from Sangster's distinctive jazz to film-like portraits of characters and events from Tolkien's trilogy. This two-CD set, priced as one, includes fifty-five minutes of bonus interviews with John Sangster, Tony Gould, Graeme Lyall and Len Barnard.

Not to be confused with Howard Shore's scores for the films, the trilogy is wholly Australian. EMI released it on three double-LP sets more than twenty-five years earlier; the sets were later deleted and long unavailable.

Written by the noted Australian jazz and film composer John Sangster, the series remains an ambitious and epic production. From trad jazz to cinematic colour, the double CD has something for a wide audience, with extras for collectors: original LP artwork as PDF files, and rare video of Sangster at work.

So … having read the book, visited the Ring website, and seen the film trilogy, you can now hear the jazz: essential listening for Australian jazz and Tolkien fans alike.

In the artist’s words

Being some further sixteen sound-pictures of some of the characters, places and events in Professor J. R. R. Tolkien's trilogy and, as in the previous and companion double album The Lord of the Rings, Volume One, bearing only the most impressionistic relationship to the books. A similar orchestra, except that there are here many more percussions; again a variety of styles and idioms.

An essay of thanks to the musicians who worked so hard through thirty-four and twelve more long, often difficult pieces, each time having to draw from a large variety of styles, idioms and experiences. And who, when the photographer said “hold up your instruments like you were playing” and I said “No! … play!” all at once began to wrestle mightily again with things they'd already recorded … here was another chance to get them “right”. (And the relief that comes after all the “serious” music is done, when you know you don't have to play “proper” any more, and can relax and muck-up a bit.) True expression.

And the tapes were going, and we made this epilogue-piece out of these pure joys, and some further joyful improvisations that weren't otherwise needed; and we hope that you enjoy these sixteen further excursions as much as we all did.

— John Sangster

Reviews

considered milestones of Australian jazz, these award-winning, long out-of-print recordings are at last being re-issued.

— Gerry Kosta, Music Australia Guide

[This volume has] a more percussive element to it, which renders the magic of the fantasy even more palpable. The music encompasses many jazz styles, with swing and blues very much to the fore, but some of the more esoteric or experimental moments contain harmonies not entirely dissimilar from the classical music utterances of Debussy, Ives or Antheil. Move's remastering ... is superb, replete with vivid and beautifully-balanced sound.

— John Barnes, Libretto

Artists

Photograph of John Sangster

John Sangster

keyboards, percussion

John Sangster (1928–1995) was an Australian jazz composer, arranger and multi-instrumentalist whose work stretched from traditional jazz and film scores to large-scale suites of uncommon range, humour and colour.

Digital booklet

Digital booklet Notes, texts and credits — read online or download the PDF Download the PDF

Buy now

$25.00 AUD

Compact disc

Buywell Music Australian Music Centre

Stream now

Apple Music Spotify

Also available to download from the iTunes Store.

Performers

Technical credits

  • Producer John Sangster
  • Recording Engineer Martin Benge
  • Mastering Engineer Martin Wright
    Vaughan McAlley

Details

List price
$25.00 AUD
Total playing time
104 minutes 52 seconds
Release date
Categories
Australian, Jazz
Genre
Jazz & Improvised
Musical work copyright
© 1976 John Sangster
Sound recording copyright
℗ 2004 Move Records
Catalogue
MD 3252
EAN
9314574325225

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