Experience 'Lord Of The Rings' Like Never Before

By Michael Cerio

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- On Thursday July 23rd, The Mann Center presents "The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring" in the most epic of ways.

Along with a giant screen, the Philadelphia Orchestra will be there, with the help of the Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Boys Choir, to perform a live rendition of the Academy Award winning score.

It will make your home theater system look silly.

That score was composed by the legendary Howard Shore, and accounts for just one of his three Oscars. He's
experienced this before, and the result is nothing short of amazing.

"The film came alive in a way that I hadn't really experienced before, and it was wonderful to hear the music. There is over 200 musicians on stage" says Shore. "You have the storytelling of the film, and the symphonic concert with adult choir, and children's choir, and soloist."

The Canadian composer is a giant in the world of film. He is responsible for the entire 'Lord Of The Rings' trilogy, as well as 'The Hobbit' films. Shore is also a favorite of directors like David Cronenberg and Martin Scorsese.

His inspiration for 'The Lord Of The Rings' score came straight from the source.

"I generally like to do a lot of research before I start on a film. I like to go back to the original source material, and in the case of 'Lord Of The Rings' I had this fantastic Tolkien novel to work with."

It's this process that has garnered Shore much success.

"I get a lot of information from reading, and then I go into the script, and then into the film imagery. So, it's kind of linear progression, and I write as I go along. Developing themes and motifs. I develop a body of work before I go into the film."

It's really amazing if you pause to think about it. The creative cogs it takes to churn emotion musically, all starts before seeing a single frame.

"I tend to internalize the film, and I kind of dream about the imagery, I dream about the themes, and then write pieces almost based on my recollection of them. And then I work that physically into the film" Shore explains. "The reason I like to do that is because it's part of the dream nature, the subtext of the subject. It's a way for me as the composer, to express ideas truthfully and from my heart."

For Thursday's live performance you're sure to hear that heart, as Shore's score shines though in ways you've never imagined. As he puts it, "It's going to be a very exciting night".

Experience it for yourself this Thursday at The Mann Center. Tickets are still available at manncenter.org.

Listen above to hear more from film composer Howard Shore.