'The Return Of The King' Soundtrack Rings Up Double Grammys

BURBANK, CA. (Reprise/ Warner Bros.) - The epochal soundtrack to one of the most acclaimed films of our time garnered trophies in two key categories during the 2005 Grammy Awards.

"The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King" was named Best Score Soundtrack Album, while "Into The West" was singled out as Best Song Written For a Motion Picture. The awards recognized the distinctive creative contribution of Howard Shore to the worldwide success of "The Lord Of The Rings" trilogy. Shore both composed the score to "The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King" and co-wrote "Into The West" with Fran Walsh and Annie Lennox, who sang the track.

Making this accomplishment all the more remarkable, Shore also won Grammy Awards for his score for the first two installments of "The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy: The Fellowship Of The Ring" and "The Two Towers." Significantly, "The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King" and "Into The West" also won Academy Awards for both Best Original Score and Best Original Song.

"The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King" includes such Howard Shore originals as "Minas Tirith," "Twilight And Shadow;" "A Storm Is Coming" and "The End Of All Things." The film's title track features renowned flautist Sir James Galway, diva Renee Fleming and "Lord Of The Rings" star Viggo Mortensen.

"Howard has always understood the emotional truth that lies at the center of this story," remarks "The Return Of The King's" Academy Award-winning director Peter Jackson. "He has succeeded in drawing the audience into the very heart of its beauty, heroism and sadness. Howard's music weaves seamlessly from image to image, scene to scene, film to film, binding score, characters and story into the rich tapestry of a far bigger and more complex picture. This has been his great strength as a composer, for Howard has shaped the score for 'The Lord Of The Rings' not over one, but three films, establishing and developing powerful themes, that much like Tolkien's work itself, 'grew in the telling.'"

Music for "The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King" was produced by Howard Shore. Executive Album Producers are Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Paul Broucek. Executive Producer for WMG Soundtracks is Danny Bramson.