Sometimes, I learn about a book that’s being written that sounds very interesting to me. Most of the time, it is a book I’m anxiously waiting for because its part of a series. The best example of that this fall is Colonel Roosevelt by Edmund Morris. Its the final volume in the three volume biography of Theodore Roosevelt Morris has been working on for the last three decades. Another is the final volume in the Winston Churchill biography Last Lion by the late William Manchester. Another guy is finishing it and it is supposed to come out next year. Sometimes though, its just a book that I’ve seen and heard bits and pieces of and I’m anxious for it when it comes out. The Joseph Smith biography, Rough Stone Rolling by Richard Bushman was a book like that.

Long time listeners to my radio program know that J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings is one of my favorite books. I really enjoyed the movies as well, particularly their visual portrayals of the world I had enjoyed so much. A huge factor in the movies that is often overlooked is the terrific music composed for the movies by Howard Shore. In its full form, the Lord of the Rings films were over 11 and a half hours long. Nearly 80 percent of the movie was scored, which means Howard Shore composed nearly nine hours of music. Shore won two Oscars in three years for his efforts and the awards were well-deserved.

In 2001, musicologist Doug Adams was invited by Howard Shore to observe and document his work on the movie. I think everyone, including Adams assumed that he would be able to complete something fairly soon after the movies finished, but Adams has been working on the project for almost a decade. I’ve been curious about this book and the parts I’ve seen in various places have only increased my interest.

Just in time for Christmas Adams has finally released The Music Of the Lord of the Rings Films. [READ MORE HERE]