Just finished reading your article The Swords of the Kings of Rohan: what a great read, and amazing research! Now that you mention it, I clearly remember Bernard Hill mentionning his idea for that moment just before the Ride of the Rohirrim on the DVDs (now, was it in the audio commentaries or the documentaries, or both?). They were so right doing this: I think it's one of those small touches that increase our emotional involvement in the story at hand