A new video featuring a track from the upcoming Riders of Rohan expansion has been released by Turbine. This one is titled “Horse Lords of Norcrofts” and is of course by the ever-talented Chance Thomas.
From Chance Thomas,
“This is one of the music tracks which underscores mounted game play in the Norcrofts.
The Norcrofts is a complex part of the Eorlingas’ world. Here dwell some of the most powerful and loyal of the king’s men. Yet in dark contrast, players will find that intrigue and subterfuge are also afoot in this part of the horse realm. The music needs to reflect this dichotomy.
We begin this song with an unfettered exposition of the Norcofts loyal theme in the horns and trombones, joined later by the fiddle. In the Old English tongue, the choir sings heartily of loyal warriors, spears, shields, swords, etc.
But then comes a counter theme. Expounded boldly by a large horn section, it seems to announce its warning with gallant melancholy. When continued in the high strings and Bass Recorder it takes on an air of uneasiness and corruption, erasing loyalty from the senses. All the while the incessant tumbling of the riding rhythmic figure keeps things trotting (or galloping) along for the player.
Such is our dichotomy! And so while the stout and hearty Norcroft theme has a prominent place in the track, there is plenty of uncertainty interwoven through counter melodies and dissonant harmonies. Even at the end, there is no clear resolution as we drone to an inconclusive conclusion with only percussion and double basses trembling on the tonic.
As a side note, this track contains one of my favorite verses from Two Towers: “Where now are the horse and the rider? Where is the horn that was blowing?”
The Old English translation is: “Hwaer nú cwom hors ond hererinc? Hwaer cwom herehorn blawende?”"
July 10, 2012 at 3:40 pm
Nice music but the music for this expansion seems to be very heavy handed with the testosterone… Guy music.
July 10, 2012 at 10:41 pm
Isn’t Eowyn suppose to be an NPC in the expansion? I wonder if there is a theme for her in the game.
July 11, 2012 at 12:03 pm
That’s because it is about war. We don’t want to hear flutes and harps as we ride down Orcs! We want drums, horns, and awesome choirs singing death to our foes. Just set a milestone in Lorien for when you want a girly break. :p
July 10, 2012 at 3:51 pm
I LOVE the use of the fiddle in this track. Don’t know why, I just do.
Already looking forward to the next track, they’re amazing stuff.
July 10, 2012 at 4:02 pm
Im sure they’ll be a fair few quieter mood pieces.
Sounds like this track will be spearheading a fair bit of the expansions more important moments.
July 10, 2012 at 4:11 pm
I like it, and it’s the home of the horselords, it should be “guy” music!
July 10, 2012 at 4:16 pm
Ah! I just love the music in this game!
Again this is annother fantastic track from chance Thomas!
Also, does anyone know what the Gondor theme is that Chance talks about on ‘Boromir’s Last Stand’? Some bits of that track do sound like the last thirty seconds of ‘Pelenor’ from the shadows of Angmar OST, do it could be that. And also the name fits as the Pelenor is the large feild infront of Minas Turith. Does anyone know if it is the Gondor theme or if not what e Gondor Theme is?
July 10, 2012 at 4:23 pm
Oh and yeah, ‘The Pelenor’ is also the track the CSTM uses for their intro music, so everyone will probably recognize the start.
July 10, 2012 at 4:31 pm
Glad to hear the fiddle theme, reminds me of the theme from the movies, which I love.
If Turbine gets back to putting themes where they belong, then on farms and residential areas of towns, perhaps they might put the softer themes?
July 10, 2012 at 4:51 pm
I see a cough cough sick day coming for 9/5 when it releases!
July 11, 2012 at 8:11 am
There’s a theme about half way through this track (1:30) that I recognise from somewhere else that I can’t quite put my finger on.
Going to have to adjust my subwoofer for mounted combat otherwise I’ll be missing things like the recorder coming through.
July 11, 2012 at 9:16 am
Context driven and emotional, this is a superb piece of music, worthy of the title Epic. I look forward to hearing this in the world that it belongs. Chance Thomas is a musician’s musician for sure! I love the use of Saxon English, Rohan’s cultural ties with its history make this expansion very special to me as I envision Rohan as Saxon England itself.