As we wrap up our “World Hobbit Day” festivities, we at TORn are pleased to bring you one final piece of our celebratory specials via an exclusive interview with Aivale Cole (nee Mabel Faletolu).

For fans of Howard Shore and the music of The Lord of the Rings films, Aivale (credited as Mabel Faletolu on the soundtrack of The Fellowship of the Ring) perhaps needs no introduction. For the rest, you probably recall that most heartrending of voices that engulfs the broken Fellowship as they emerge from the darkness of Moria and grieve over Gandalf’s fall into Khazad-dûm.

That piece was sung by none other than Aivale, a vocalist hailing from Wellington, New Zealand. Back in 2001, she recorded the solo piece with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.

Join us in this exclusive interview as we catch up with Aivale who, after more than a decade, takes us back to that “crazy but exciting” time when she worked with Howard Shore and Peter Jackson, and also shares a rather amusing anecdote involving Ian McKellen.

Continue reading “TORn “World Hobbit Day” Exclusive: Interview With Aivale Cole (nee Mabel Faletolu)”

Doug Adams, author of the book “The Music of the Lord of the Rings Films“, announced early this morning via his blog that today, August 20, 2012, marks the beginning of the recording sessions for The Hobbit in London.

Fans of Howard Shore‘s scores for the Lord of the Rings films and Doug’s monumental companion book to them will also find much excitement in the news that Doug has also signed on to write another companion book titled “The Music of The Hobbit Films”.

Today the musical world of Middle-earth begins expanding once again. Today, you can no longer say that you know every note of Shore’s music for Tolkien’s world. In fact, you only know about half of it. (This is a ballpark figure; I have no idea how long the three Hobbit films will be!) Today the subject of The Music of the Hobbit Films exists not just in concept, but in reality. Today a new journey begins …

Read Doug’s entire story here. And hop in to our boards to speculate about the songs, recurring themes, and new themes that we might expect in the upcoming films.


For those attending viewings of ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ this weekend, you may find yourself listening to the end of Howard Shore’s ‘The Bridge of Khazad Dum’ playing as part of the brand new ‘Man of Steel’ teasers. If you have seen The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, you know (SPOILERS) that when Gandalf falls at the bridge, we have an amazingly emotional and dramatic score to accompany this significant event. I get chills just thinking of the scene. Now, for better or worse, that same theme is used to build emotion for the next attempt to revive the Superman franchise. How do you feel about it? Share your thoughts in the comments, our forum and on Facebook! If you somehow managed to go through the last 10 years without owning Howard Shore’s award-winning score, we highly suggest you pick up today! (There are obviously many versions of the score to own, so browse around a bit) [LOTR:FOTR Score] [Kevin Costner Voiceover Teaser] [Russell Crowe Voiceover Teaser]

Welcome to our collection of TORn’s hottest topics for the past week. If you’ve fallen behind on what’s happening on the Message Boards, here’s a great way to catch the highlights. Or if you’re new to TORn and want to enjoy some great conversations, just follow the links to some of our most popular discussions. Watch this space as every weekend we will spotlight the most popular buzz on TORn’s Message Boards. Everyone is welcome, so come on in and join in the fun!  MINOR SPOILERS FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN’T READ THE HOBBIT

Continue reading “TORn Message Boards Weekly Roundup – January 23, 2012”

Shinan Govani writes: Is there any way Howard Shore is not going to the Oscars? The made-in-Toronto composer, having already score-scored with The Lord of the Rings — three golden statuettes for his work with the trilogy — is once again on the tips of awards-watchers’ tongues. The source of all this sweet clamour? His lift-off for Hugo, a collab with Martin Scorsese — his sixth! — that lushly wish-fulfills “a Paris train station into a 12-year-old’s Neverland of sparkling strings, accordions and the pure bliss of movie creation,” as one observer raved in print.

One might say that the Shore-Scorsese kinship is a simmering bromance! Although — hey! — our own David Cronenberg had him first; Howard’s additional composition this season for A Dangerous Method is the 10th time — 10th! — he’s worked with the Canadian auteur. More..