The Hobbit - The Desolation of Smaug

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Original Motion Picture Soundtrack features the music of Howard Shore, one of film music's most respected, honoured, and active composers and conductors who previously worked with director Peter Jackson on The Lord of the Rings Trilogy and on The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

Jackson says "Howard Shore's music soars and enriches way beyond its connection to our images, a unique sound like no other. He truly has created an epic musical world of his own."

Also included on the soundtrack is 'I See Fire', a new song created for the film by Ed Sheeran, the 22-year old British singer/songwriter and multi-platinum global phenomenon who was nominated in the prestigious "Song of the Year" category at this year's 55th Annual Grammy Awards. "It was such an honour working with Peter Jackson on this song," Sheeran says. "Not only is he one of my favourite directors of my favourite films, The Hobbit was the first book I ever read as a child, so it means a lot that I get to produce music for the motion picture."

Elaborating on the collaboration with Jackson, as well as filmmakers Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, Sheeran stated, "I was allowed complete freedom to create what I thought was fitting for the film, which is very rare, and Peter, Fran and Philippa were always on hand to give notes and pointers. The entire team down in New Zealand was out of this world. The film is amazing, I'm still geeking out that I've done a song for a Peter Jackson film set in Middle-earth!"