The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Soundtrack - 12. Ash and Smoke

This song shows the defeat of the White City. Enemies are pouring into the city, completely ravaging it, and none can stand before them. The walls are being knocked down and Denethor's reign has failed. Faramir is about to die by his father's hand. All in all, things are not going well.

With a graceful beginning, Ash and Smoke is a unique song. It makes strong use of a wide range of instruments to create a fascinating atmosphere. It also creates an element of dread and pursuit. There is also a choir in the background for some of the song which adds a nice background tune to it.

Ash And Smoke refers to the scene in the novel in the chapter "The Pyre Of Denethor" Denthor says "He lies within, burning, already burning. They have set a fire in his flesh. It shall all go up in a great fire, and all shall be ended. Ash! Ash and smoke blown away on the wind!"

00:00 - 01:09 - is When Faramir is brought back to Minas Tirith knocked out and Denthor thinks he's dead

01:10 - 01:54 - Is when the Orcs siege the white city, it is night and buildings are burning and on fire ASH AND SMOKE is in the air

1:55 - End - is continues from 01:09 (in the movie) where Denethor tells everyone to Flee before your lives and he thinks Rohan has deserted Gondor and Gandalf knocks Denethor out and tells everyone to prepare for battle

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Lord of the Rings Music
• Howard Shore

[jediking12]

"He lies within, burning, already burning. They have set a fire in his flesh. It shall all go up in a great fire, and all shall be ended. Ash! Ash and smoke blown away on the wind!" - Denethor before his death (Return of the King, Chapter VII, The Pyre of Denethor)

[jediking12]

1:10 they should of used this during the Battle of Hogwarts in the new Harry Potter movie

[thijs674]

SEND THESE FOUL CREATURES BACK IN TO THE ABYSS!

[EdikShepherd]

Release the prisoners...

*grins evilly*

CATAPULTS!

[capnhawkins]

@TheMrwouldyourather That piece is sad and beautiful, but not really depressing. Ash and Smoke however, makes you feel despair.

[TheMrwouldyourather]

@capnhawkins "the most depressing bit of music I've ever heard"? What about this: /watch?v=M3aKFrsapjc

[TheDiloshka]

Denethor... The worst father EVER!

[DalkrisAKP]

i always felt bad for the gondorians, its a miracle they held off mordor as long as they did. it was cool seeing the siege towers get smashed by the trebuchets though

[caterpillar9342]

FEAR, the city is rank with it, he he, let us ease their pain RELEASE THE PRISONERS

[iamSnip3rOne]

@Game1ngAssass1n Its an INCREDIBLE movei! ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I love LoTR, and this 3rd movie is better than Hp but still both finale's are awesome to behold.

[Game1ngAssass1n]

@seraduha1 I agree with you. Which is exactly why I thought DH Part 2 was a tremendous disappointment. It needs a extended cut badly.

[SingDing10]

So much knocking out

[SilkyJohnson2002]

ABANDON YOUR POSTS! FLEE, FLEE FOR YOUR LIVES! - Denethor....somehow everyone in Gondor hears him haha