Aragorn informs Théoden that the Uruk-hai army will be upon them before nightfall. The King puts on a strong face, praising the impregnable defenses of Helm’s Deep, but Aragorn and Gimli follow him, insisting that he should consider this matter more seriously. Over a slow-building bolero-like rhythm in low strings, Shore proceeds with a staid examination of the second half of the Fellowship theme. Inserted into this somber mélange are three trumpet calls. The first and third present the same rising perfect fourth interval that has tied Aragorn to his reluctance since Bree. The second call presents a rising minor third, the first two pitches of the Rohan Fanfare. Musically, the Rohirrim’s predicament is portrayed as the Fellowship’s responsibility.

The Ents, too, realize that Sauron is a force to be reckoned with. The impassive Ent theme returns, infused, this time, with a dramatic choral line (see Entmoot text). An Entmoot has been called. The Shepherds of the Trees may be slow to move, but they have at least now decided to consider the situation. With a great swell of Shore’s orchestral forest, a grove of Ents converges

IN THE MAKING:
Due to some trimming in the first minute of this composition, the first of the three trumpet calls does not appear in the film.

TEXTS
ENTMOOT
Text by Philippa Boyens
Sindarin Translation by David Salo
First Heard: Disc Three | Track Two
Naur vi eryn, lanc i dalaf | The woods are burning, the ground lies bare
Mathach vi geven? | Do you feel it in the earth?
Nostach vi wilith? | Can you smell it in the air?
Mâb le i nagor, | The war is upon you,
Bâd gurth vi ngalad firiel. | Death moves in the fading light.
Dorthach vi mar han? | Are you part of this world?
Dagrathach go hain? | Will you join their fight?

© The Annotated Score (The Music of The Lord of the Rings Films)