DESCRIPTION:
GONDOR IN DECLINE - as heard in the FOTR when Boromir speaks of his father during the Council of Elrond

GONDOR IN ASCENSION - DA says this about Gondor in Ascension: "though the Ascension theme is not fully heard until the third film, the Heroics of Aragorn theme...hints at the second half of the Ascension melody." (Doug Adams, CR-FOTR liner notes, page 20)

The iterations of the Gondor Theme, as heard in the first two movies, all use the 'Decline' setting. It isn't until ROTK that the 'Ascension' setting appears. I think the difference between the two settings can be seen in this way:

Decline Setting: The Gondor Theme, as heard in the Council of Elrond, repeats a similar phrase twice. Each time, although it ascends in places, it ends with a descension... a down note. All of the FOTR and TTT instances use the Gondor in Decline setting.

Ascension Setting: The Gondor Theme, heard as Gandalf and Pippin gallop towards Minas Tirith, begins in a similar manner as in the Decline setting, but instead of descending, it ascends in a phrase quite like the Heroics of Aragorn. This ascension phrase also forms Faramir and Denethor's theme.


Gondor/Minas Tirith Theme

Places this is heard:

Prologue: One Ring To Rule Them All (Alternate) (Heard on the Rarities Archival CD)
The Great Eye
The Argonath (Heard on the Rarities Archival CD)
The Sons of the Steward
The Return Of The King Trailer
The Road To Isengard
The Foot Of Orthanc
The Grace Of Undomiel
The Eyes Of The White Tower
The Lighting Of The Beacons
Osgiliath Invaded
The Gondor Theme (Heard on the Rarities CD)
The Sacrifice of Faramir
The Siege Of Gondor
Grond - The Hammer Of The Underworld (Mordor/Gondor hybrid)
Sheildmaiden Of Rohan
The Last Debate
The Fellowship Reunited
The Days Of the Ring (same as Fellowship Reunited)