When appreciating Tolkien’s most powerful of inspirations, it’s practically impossible to not hum the chill-inducing cords of Howard Shore’s epic scores when dwelling on Lord of the Rings. His notes have become synonymous with the fantasy literature. From the folk-like pseudo-Celtic flutes of “Concerning Hobbits” to the adrenaline-stoked renderings of the Fellowship theme, the musical ensemble became chief among the attributes of the revolutionary trilogy. Echoed by Return of the King’s winning of Best Original Score at the Academy Awards, needless to say, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’s soundtrack has been an eager anticipation for the ears. Now you can hear the Howard Shore returned orchestral score for the prologue adventure all in one free-to-relish in sitting (HERE) on Empire. Welcome back to Middle-Earth.