Is Lord Of The Rings Composer Howard Shore Returning To Score The Rings Of Power?

The score for Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy is one of the few soundtracks I listen to over and over again. Howard Shore's work is gorgeous and moody, and immediately sends me right back to Middle-earth. When the upcoming Prime Video prequel series "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" was announced, everyone wondered who would be doing the music for it. Would Shore return? We may be journeying to thousands of years before the films, to the Second Age of Middle-earth, but it's still the same world, still based on the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, still shot in New Zealand (at least for now), and some of the characters are the same. (Those elves live a heck of a long time.)

Prime Video has confirmed that we will be getting a main musical theme from Academy Award-winning composer Howard Shore for the new series, according to Deadline. However, there's more information, and I'm happy to report that it is wonderful: In addition to Shore's theme, Emmy-winning composer Bear McCreary will be composing the score for the episodes. 

You probably recognize McCreary's name from the credits of just about every series you love, but even if you don't clock the name, there is no doubt you know the projects he's associated with. Bear McCreary has composed scores for "Godzilla: King of the Monsters," "Battlestar Galactica," "The Walking Dead," "Outlander," "Black Sails," "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.," the video game "God of War," and its upcoming sequel "God of War: Ragnarok." 

McCreary somehow manages to blend music that perfectly captures the mood on screen with themes that stick in your head. As someone who has hummed the music from "Outlander" to my cats enough to think they might be able to join in, I'm very excited by this news. Bob Bowen, Worldwide Head of Music for Amazon Studios, said of the two composers joining the series:

"With their deep understanding of the Tolkien legendarium, coupled with two of the greatest musical talents of our age, we're thrilled that Howard and Bear are joining us on this epic journey to Middle-earth."

And McCreary stated:

"As I set out to compose the score for this series, I strove to honor Howard Shore's musical legacy. When I heard his majestic main title, I was struck by how perfectly his theme and my original score, though crafted separately, fit together so beautifully. I am excited for audiences to join us on this new musical journey to Middle-earth."

If that announcement weren't enough, you can listen to some of the music right now. Two new songs from "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" are now streaming on Amazon Music. Those are "Galadriel" and "Sauron," both composed by Bear McCreary. I don't have a subscription to listen, but as sad as that is, at least I know we're getting closer to the premiere. The story of how the 19 rings of power that caused all that trouble were created will premiere on Prime Video on September 2, 2022. I cannot wait. Here's the official description:

Prime Video's The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power brings to screens for the very first time the heroic legends of the fabled Second Age of Middle-earth's history. This epic drama is set thousands of years before the events of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, and will take viewers back to an era in which great powers were forged, kingdoms rose to glory and fell to ruin, unlikely heroes were tested, hope hung by the finest of threads, and the greatest villain that ever flowed from Tolkien's pen threatened to cover all the world in darkness. Beginning in a time of relative peace, the series follows an ensemble cast of characters, both familiar and new, as they confront the long-feared re-emergence of evil to Middle-earth. From the darkest depths of the Misty Mountains, to the majestic forests of the elf-capital of Lindon, to the breathtaking island kingdom of Númenor, to the furthest reaches of the map, these kingdoms and characters will carve out legacies that live on long after they are gone.