The Pyre of Denethor by Howard Shore Song Info
Denethor douses himself with thick oil. Percussion continues a steady pulse, indicative of the raging war outside as well as the raging madness inside the steward’s mind. Gandalf bursts through the door with the bright burst of an open fifth. But Denethor already holds a torch. The orchestra shivers with an operatic series of inverting A-minor chords. With a scrape of the tam-tam he drops the torch next to Faramir’s head, the neighboring area conflagrating. Swiftly, Gandalf approaches, Pippin close behind. The wizard knocks Denethor to his back while Pippin climbs atop the pyre, dislodging Faramir with a splashing C-major triad. But Denethor is still conscious. He grabs the hobbit, attempting to allow Faramir to burn. But Shadowfax rears back, his hoof knocking Denethor back to the pyre. Just before the fire envelops him, Denethor sees Faramir’s eyes flutter, and knows his son is still alive. Denethor runs to the outmost wall of the top tier of Minas Tirith and throws himself off. His fiery form can be seen from the field below, where the war still rages. There, despite their lesser numbers, the Rohirrim seem to be turning the Orcs back. The London Voices again sing “On the Fields of Pelennor,” but now in a more triumphant setting. Théoden prepares to move into Minas Tirith and secure the city from within, but a terrible sight takes hold of him. TEXTS ON THE FIELDS OF PELENNOR Text by J.R.R. Tolkien Adapted by Philippa Boyens Sindarin Translation by David Salo FIRST HEARD: DISC THREE | TRACK THREE Edrochant e | Forth he rode na nagor, | In to battle. Ed nan gurth. | Forth in to death. A e gladhant | And he laughed. An e naun ad neth | For he was young again. A naun aran | And he was King. Hir gwaith beleg. | The Lord of a great people. Elo! | And lo! Sui orthant vegil ín | Even as raised his sword Vi ‘las beleg | In great joy, Ortholl gurth. | Death came on. Anann si lostar | Long now they sleep Nu lae vi Ngondor | Under grass in Gondor. Sí lostar na hír veleg | Sleep now by the great river, Mithren sui nîr, thiliol celebren | Grey as tears, gleaming silver, Ta geliant caran, | Red then it rolled, Púrinnen na hereg | Dyed with their blood. Lachant ned annûn | Flamed at sunset; Úrianner i eryd | The mountains burned; Sui ros garan dannant | As red dew fell Or pheli Pelennor | On the fields of Pelennor. (c) The Annotated Score (The Music of The Lord of the Rings Films)/b]
