Today we have another sampling of music from the new Riders of Rohan expansion composed by Chance Thomas entitled “Boromir’s Last Stand”.
From Chance Thomas,
“This track was composed to underscore the Boromir game instance, with players taking on the role of Boromir as he battles hordes of Uruk Hai in a desperate attempt to save Merry and Pippin.Boromir has his fatal flaw, as we all know. But this piece is not about that. This music is about Boromir at his most noble, determined and powerful. Big drums, epic choir, robust cadences and powerful statements in the brass all contribute to the feeling of strength and unwavering.
After the choir sings, the Gondor theme makes its final appearance in this expansion. It is a resigned and somewhat naked version (meaning the arrangement thins out considerably) to underscore the utter aloneness of this great warrior-steward in his final mêlée. It repeats with a bit of forlorn (trumpets and high strings) before giving out to the brutal force of ragged low brass as the battle rages to its infamous conclusion.
You may be interested to know what the choir is singing. The lyrics are in Old English, translated for me by Turbine’s lore master Chris Pierson and his muse for all things Anglo-Saxon, professor Michael Drout of Wheaton College. The choir sings: Arë! Thrymnes! Fréot! Maegen! The translation is: Glory! Honor! Freedom! Power! These are virtues upon which Gondor was built and to which Boromir clings until his last breath.”
July 2, 2012 at 3:13 pm
I am so blown away by the new music for this expansion. And a Boromir session play? That’s practically worth $70 alone!
July 2, 2012 at 5:11 pm
if you guys keep saying this kind of stuff, they will do it someday and buying an expansion would cost 500$… 70 from a session play, 50 from a crafting tier, 100 for all the quests, 50 for the raid…
please control the hype, each year inside lotro the price of all the new stuff is going up, i don’t want it keep going up or most people won’t be able to play.
July 3, 2012 at 1:22 am
It is a fact of life that things keep going up….you dont stop eating because food is too high or not drive because gas is too high or go around naked because clothing is too high if the next expansion is 500 dollars then thats what i will pay. thy need to eat, drive and buy clothes also.
July 3, 2012 at 4:56 pm
I’m pretty sure Turbine is comprised of fellow human begins who can detect a bit of hyperbole in action.
And just because you’re unhappy with things as they are doesn’t mean that those of us who are perfectly content with the game need to adopt your doom and gloom outlook.
July 5, 2012 at 4:39 pm
Not sure I’d fork out $500 but I have to agree. Playing as Boromir to protect Merry and Pip will be epic and well worth a nice chunk of the expansion cost.
July 2, 2012 at 4:29 pm
I’m so glad to have Chance Thomas back for RoR. That piece was wonderful! He puts so much thought into his music. Really excited for the Boromir session play as well.
July 2, 2012 at 4:46 pm
I am loving the music as well, but I still haven’t bought the expansion. I feel I will eventually because I admit I am getting more excited. But saddened at the same time because this is the first time since original launch that I have waited on buying. I had been buying as soon as possible. There is just too much causing disenchantment for me from Turbine in the past two years. And I absolutely hate it. I want to feel like I used to, i.e. that no amount of money was too much to give in support of Lotro.
July 3, 2012 at 1:38 am
^^ Exactly that.
July 3, 2012 at 1:51 pm
Ditto. I preordered SoA, bought Moria when announced, Mirkwood when announced, and Isengard when announced. This time I’m waiting. Not sure exactly when and where they crossed the line, but I’ve been feeling very sad the past few months. And this is from someone who paid that subscription fee every month, even well into F2P. (Not everyone has a spouse who will agree to paying a lifetime fee.)
July 3, 2012 at 11:08 am
I did buy the legendary edition, as I wanted the the goodies associated with it. It is a bit high in price, but with what iv’e seen with from the concept art, flythru, and the music, the new graphics engine for entire world, not just Rohan, i’m beginning to think it is worth it. Plus I got 2000TP thrown in. Love this piece of music. And a Boromir session play! Woot!
July 3, 2012 at 9:00 pm
I wonder when the Boromir session play begins. Before, during, or after the ring makes him to try to take it from Frodo.