Riders of Rohan - Official Video Game Score

Riders of Rohan - Official Video Game Score
Riders of Rohan soundtrack album art
Chance Thomas
Released	October 9, 2012
Length	56:13
Label	Turbine, Inc.
Lotro Soundtrack Chronology
Mines of Moria - Original Video Game Soundtrack (2008) Riders of Rohan - Official Video Game Score (2012) Helm's Deep - Official Soundtrack (2013)

"Promotional Soundtrack Sampler" cover

Riders of Rohan - Official Video Game Score is the official soundtrack for the Riders of Rohan expansion, released on October 9, 2012. It was created by Chance Thomas and, a first for Lotro, released on CD and in digital stores, with a promotional soundtrack sampler available directly from Chance Thomas. On the release of the 10th Anniversary Commemorative Soundtrack the Riders of Rohan soundtrack was removed from digital stores and Amazon.

With the release of Riders of Rohan, the track "Lotro Legacy" became the main theme for Lotro, replacing "Far Ahead the Road Has Gone" from the Shadows of Angmar soundtrack. It could be heard on the character selection screen as well as certain places in Rohan. It was later replaced by the track "Coronation of Aragorn" from the Mordor soundtrack.

Production and Release

Chance Thomas' first challenge in creating this soundtrack was to differentiate it from the famous Rohan theme by Howard Shore appearing in the Lord of the Rings movies.

The only way I could approach such a task was to think about Rohan in broader terms than the movie presented." He looked at the region as a whole, at its history, and where it is now.
A storied nation in decline? A land simmering on the verge of all-out war? Anglo-Saxon reference with Medieval overtones? Hardy people, individual and family tenderness, triumph and tragedy, crops and kinships, determined men and women, though wary and weary? Nobility, hope, sadness and uncertainty? Yes, yes, yes, yes and yes! All of these intangibles somehow had to thread themselves through a new theme for Rohan.
And so it begins. The theme is introduced on classical violin played in a Celtic fiddle style. The initial modality is minor, setting up the somber tone. The melody moves on hooks of appoggiatura, so prevalent in Old English music. This places the theme squarely in the Northwestern European tradition, tying it tightly to Tolkien's Anglo-Saxon source material. Other instruments join the theme, including European Whistle, Bass Recorder and Uillean Pipes.
All of these colors come from Northwestern Europe of centuries past, clueing us again that the theme is contemporary to the rise of Anglo-Saxon culture. The progressing harmonies alternate between minor and major tonalities, suggesting the ongoing struggle of the Rohirrim. Triplet melodies against a 6/4 meter further reinforce the cultural resonance. As the theme approaches its apex, there is a triumphant modulation toward ultimate victory. And yet the resolve, though major, is a weak resolve (adding even a suspension to the chord) leaving a fragile uncertainty hanging in the air.
— Chance Thomas, chancethomas.com

Thomas continued with this level of detail throughout the music for the region, as well as the new main theme for the game. On the release of the Riders of Rohan expansion, "Lotro Legacy" became the new main theme of the game, replacing "Far Ahead the Road Has Gone" and playing on the character selection screen as well as in-game. This new main theme weaved together many prominent themes from the game including Tom Bombadil, the old main theme, and more.

The Utah Film Orchestra was used for recording orchestral tracks. Various other music was recorded with soloists, including some more unusual instruments such as bass recorder, baritone guitar, and hardanger fiddle. The harbinger fiddle was also used for Rohan in Howard Shore's compositions for the Lord of the Rings films.

The Riders of Rohan soundtrack was released on CD on October 9, 2012, available as print-on-demand from Amazon, as well as in various digital music stores. There was also a promotional soundtrack sampler available directly from Chance Thomas with twelve tracks from the full album as well as different artwork. On the release of the 10th Anniversary Commemorative Soundtrack in 2017 the Riders of Rohan soundtrack was made unavailable for purchase.

Roaming Free Lyrics

Sindon we bald, (We are hardy)
Sindon we strang, (We are rugged)
Eorlingas, (We are Rohan)
Fram ond trum, (We are free)
Sindon we bald, (We are hardy)
Sindon we strang, (We are rugged)
Eorlingas, (We are Rohan)
Arë lang! (Standing tall in glory)
— Chance Thomas, HUGESound Records

Track Listing

All tracks composed by Chance Thomas.

1. "Lotro Legacy" - 2:48
2. "Theme for Rohan" - 3:26
3. "Urgent Errands" - 3:06
4. "Horse Lords of Norcrofts" - 2:55
5. "Shadow of the Argonath" - 3:08
6. "Boromir's Last Stand" - 1:05
7. "The Éored" - 1:09
8. "Heart of a Hero" - 2:24
9. "Learning to Ride" - 3:03
10. "Learning to Fight" - 3:02
11. "The Entwash Vale" - 3:18
12. "Orc Encounter" - 1:23
13. "Corruption and High Treason" - 3:23
14. "Horse Und Hererinc" - 1:26
15. "Roaming Free" - 3:05
16. "Calm Before the Storm" - 3:25
17. "The Conflict Comes" - 1:06
18. "Ecgbracu" - 1:07
19. "Fangorn" - 1:34
20. "Boromir Seeks the Ring" - 2:03
21. "Struggle for the Ring" - 1:09
22. "Fog of Wormtongue" - 2:10
23. "Moria Highlight Reel (Bonus Track)" - 5:09

Riders of Rohan - Promotional Soundtrack Sampler

1. "Lotro Legacy" - 2:48
2. "Shadow of the Argonath" - 3:08
3. "Learning to Ride" - 3:03
4. "Horse Lords of Norcrofts" - 2:55
5. "Theme for Rohan" - 3:26
6. "Urgent Errands" - 3:06
7. "Heart of a Hero" - 2:24
8. "Roaming Free" - 3:05
9. "The Entwash Vale" - 3:18
10. "Orc Encounter" - 1:23
11. "Corruption and High Treason" - 3:23
12. "Calm Before the Storm" - 3:25

Personnel

• Chance Thomas
• Utah Film Orchestra
  • Judd Maher - Conductor
  • Monty Belknap - Concert Master
  • Wen Flatt - Principal 2nd Violin
  • Chris McKeller - Principal Viola
  • Nicole Pinnell - Principal Cello
  • Ben Henderson - Principal Bass
  • Larry Lowe - Principal Horn
  • Joe Reardon - Principal Trumpet
  • Bryan Hoffins - Principal Trombone
  • Jeannine Goeckeritz - Principal Flute
  • Daron Bradford - Principal Clarinet
  • Anita Miller - French Horn
  • Sonja Reynolds - French Horn
• Soloists
  • Aaron Ashton - Fiddle and Hardanger
  • Nicole Pinnell - Cello
  • Daron Bradford - Irish Whistle and Bass Recorder
  • Michael Dowdle - Mandolin
  • Ryan Tilby - Baritone Guitar
  • Lou Campbell - Bass Trombone
• HUGEsound Music Team
  • Paul Taylor - Music Preparation
  • Mike Roskelley - Mixing Artist
  • Jenn Sprague - Contractor
  • Judd Meyer - Conductor
  • Glen Niebaur - Chief Engineer
  • Mike Greene - Overdub Engineer
  • Tanner Danielson - Second Engineer
• Turbine Entertainment Team
  • Craig Alexander - VP of Development
  • Kate Paiz - Executive Producer
  • Stephen DiGregorio - Director of Audio
  • Egan Budd - Audio Lead
  • John Gilbert - Audio Team Coordinator
  • Ovi Vitas - Director of Marketing
  • Amber Loomis - Marketing Manager
  • Samantha Mangini - Soundtrack Product Manager
  • Ben Wiley - Marketing Coordinator
  • Rick Heaton - Community Manager

External Links

• Page on Chance Thomas' website
• Mini-Documentary
• Partial YouTube Playlist with production notes
• Full YouTube playlist
• TheOneRing interview
• Engadget interview
• Game Music interview
• Venture Beat interview
• VGM Online Interview
• OSV Review
• Soundtrack Geek review
• Engadget review