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‘The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King’

Howard Shore

All this year’s contenders had either won or been nominated previously. Howard Shore, the winner for his work on “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King,” composed, orchestrated and conducted every note in the three “Lord of the Rings” pictures, writing about 10 hours of music for the project.

Sustaining themes and motifs from film to film, Shore mobilized hundreds of musicians and singers and included choral passages in the elvish languages created by author J.R.R. Tolkien.

Shore had previously won for his work on “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.”

His fellow nominees included two-time winner James Horner, for his work on “House of Sand and Fog”; five-time nominee Thomas Newman for his score to “Finding Nemo”; three-time nominee Danny Elfman; and “Cold Mountain” composer Gabriel Yared who had previously won for “The English Patient.”