Tolkien Tunes
 

Has there ever been a time when you played/listened to music, and it reminded you about something from Tolkien's legendarium?

This happens to me frequently. This is a piece I played last year (no, it's not me in the video), and it reminds me a lot of the Lay of Leithian, especially this part:

I'm excited to hear the music you associate with ME!

Apologies if such a thread already exists. I didn't find any such.

http://forum.barrowdowns.com/showthread.php?t=11078

There was this thread way back but it is specifically classical music. I am not suprised you didn't find it - I only retrieved it because I remembered discussing the Pachelbel "Canon" with Encaitare. I don't know if I can improve on my old selections though I am amused to see what then linked to YoYo Ma playing Vivaldi now gets country music!

I do occasionally wonder if I could find a way of slipping Tolkien into "The Warwickshire Lad" as one of the literary greats of that county.

Thanks, Mith! That thread has some great examples (although I couldn't open the majority of the links :(). Pachelbel's Canon reminds me of ME history in general, on a broad scale, as Elves would see it. I guess I can simplify that by associating it with Elrond. Something ancient, wise, sad but calm and hopeful, etc.

Thingol and Melian
 

When I hear this song, I think of Thingol and Melian:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VAtRF4US8k

:D

I heard this on the radio today. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSiTrGCAbt8 Not the best of songs, I know, but hey-ho :D It reminded me of the darkening of Numenor a bit, culminating in the Downfall - especially with the eagle cries at the beginning of the track. I remember it was said of all animals only the Eagles of Manwe approached the Meneltarma.

Also, this for Aragorn and Arwen (at least the first verse): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fnn9JlqqTE4

Faramir Jones, I find that not to be a very Middle Earthy song, but I - I just know what you mean, and now I can't help imagining Thingol with that mic... :D

Thanks!
 

Narnangol, I hear what you mean about the first song. The second one, Adele's cover version of a Bob Dylan composition, was certainly nice. It got me thinking of this song, Freddie Jackson's You Are My Lady, as one with sentiments Aragorn, Faramir and Sam would appreciate: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqDkK1K5k4Q

I'm glad that you found my mention of the Tavares song to be...interesting. It and the Freddie Jackson song I mentioned are probably evidence of what a sad and obsessed Tolkien fan I've become.:rolleyes:

There is, however, a serious question to be asked: Exactly what did attract Melian to that much younger (by her standards) Elf?:confused:

Narnagol, your first song is very "Numenorian", if not with the sound-effects of the Eagles and the rushing wind, then the lyrics themselves. "Children of a lesser God", "between heaven and hell", "The Age of Men is over" - all that makes me think of Numenor. But the last one - a bit of Gothmog in the movie. :p

I must say, Faramir , that your first song is a bit unusual for a First-age ME association. But it is defiitely interesting. I get the Aragorn-Faramir-Sam sentiments for the other song, though.

How about, exactly what did attract Arwen to that much younger (by her standarts) Man? Or Luthien? Or Idril? War heroes and such are of course very romantic, but these three ladies were supposed to obe somewhat wise. :rolleyes:

I don't know, but I always felt that Men were somehow more alive than the Eldar, and often liked them better in that way (except with Noldor, they are fiery.) Perhaps it's that they burn out faster and are brighter for it. That particular intensity could certainly be found attractive. Moth to a flame. Maybe the ladies simply tired of being wise. :p

I think with Luthien and Beren it was a bit of spontaneity, though. I'm not quite sure about those two. The later pairings seem to have been better-matched, the Man having been acclimatised to an Elven society.

There's also Findilas giving up her elven admirer(s) for Turin...

Anyways, for something on-topic, this sounds like Grey Havens...

And this fits Turin's family. And it fits Gwindor even more.

Just to give one quote.

Ha ha, don't worry. I see some Tolkien in nigh every song that I listen to and like, even (especially) in single lines. Or perhaps I just like music in which something to do with Tolkien can be seen.

Galadriel55, I like those two songs, and I agree wholeheartedly on 'Yesterday' for Gwindor. It's one of my favourite songs and suits him very well lyrically.

This Russian song reminds me of the gathering of all the hosts before the Nirnaeth, and the Nirnaeth itself. The music of this version fits particularly well, but the words also kind of fit. The song is about men leaving to join the army, and saying goodbye to the girls. But, contrary to the Nirnaeth, it ends with encouraging words, suggesting that the battle has been won: "Maidens, look! Wipe away your tears! Let the song grow louder, our song"... well, not exactly, but I'm not good at translating.

Also, this song, that I think deserves a full (if poor) translation, sounds like Haudh-en-Ndengin. It goes somewhat like:

Grasses swaying above the earth,
Clouds [those white puffy ones, not rainclouds] floating like graceful birds;
See that one, on the right?
This is me, this is me, this is me.
And I do not need glory/fame.

We need nothing,
Me and those floating beside.
We would that we lived - that is all the reward,
We would live, we would live, we would live...
But we are floating on the skies...

The [chimeny] smoke above my home's roof
Is getting yet whiter and higher.
"Mother! Mother!" And you will hear
My voice, my voice, my voice;
It is still farther and fainter...

Away from tears, and away from smiles,
The clouds are floating above the world,
Their host is not diminished!
Clouds, clouds, clouds,
And there is no end to them.

This pain does not quiet down,
Where are you, life-water?
O why does war happen?
O why, o why, o why,
O why are we dying?

I'm sorry for taking up so much space and time, and for posting non-English songs in the first place, but these two were nagging at me for a while now.

There's another Beatles song I think is perfect for Aldarion. I can picture him on the prow of his ship singing to Erendis. ;)

The anthem of the Númenóreans.

Maybe I just wanna fly / Wanna live, don't wanna die
Maybe I just wanna breathe / Maybe I just don't believe
I think you're the same as me / We see things they'll never see
You and I are gonna live forever.

These are great, Inzil! I'm sure Pharazon would have approved. :p

And I can totally see Aldarion thinking along the lines of those lyrics... It's funny how much I learned here on the Downs: I haven't read UT yet, but I already know half the stories.... :D

I've always considered Ian Anderson and Jethro Tull prime candidates for scoring a Tolkien film project. "Dun Ringill", a very eerie and netherworldy tune, would be appropriate for a Numenorean or Elven mariner's theme, as a storm tossed ship traverses the troubled Belegaer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqVl_ZLbL5I

The weather's on the change...
Lines join in faint discord
And the stormwatch brews
A concert of kings as the white sea snaps
At the heels of a soft prayer, whispered

Clear light on a slick palm
As I misdeal the day
Slip the night from a shaved pack
Make a marked card play
Call twilight hours down
From a heaven home
High above the highest bidder
For the good Lord's throne

In the wee hours I'll meet you
Down by Dun Ringill ---
Oh, and we'll watch the old gods play
By Dun Ringill

We'll wait in stone circles
`Til the force comes through ---
Lines joint in faint discord
And the stormwatch brews
A concert of kings
As the white sea snaps
At the heels of a soft prayer, whispered

In the wee hours I'll meet you
Down by Dun Ringill ---
Oh, and I'll take you quickly
By Dun Ringill

Finally! I can't understand why I did not look at this thread earlier.

Howard Shore's compositions have always, in my opinion, been perfect for ME. I am sure Tolkien would have been proud of the music that came along with the movies, if not of the movies themselves.

But outside of PJ's movies, I would say that the song 'Sleeping Sun' by Nightwish always makes me think of a) the kinslaying at Alqualondë, b) the burning of the ships at Losgar and c) Doriath.

The song 'Mononoke Hime', sung by Yoshikazu Mera, has always made me think of the times of peace in Aman, when Fëanor was not outright insane and only had four sons. This is probably because I only heard about Mera while reading 'The Follower' by Ivanneth, but still, it gives me a nice tingly feeling.

And I know this sounds very, very silly, but I've always imagined Beethoven's fifth symphony as something that could have been written by Maglor :p God, here comes the crowd with axes and machine-guns...

Edit: Sorry, I should have posted some links:

Mononoke Hime : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XAyN...6&feature=plpp

Sleeping Sun: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoDzlUPjhdI

Shame on you if you haven't heard Beethoven :D

Oh, and one last song (which happens to be my favourite of all time): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnkVCwePDhg Ignore the video. Here's another one with lyrics (I like the first one's music better): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpjHd1R5JXo

It ALWAYS reminds me of the splendour of Númenor :) Makes me cry.

These are great! Thanks Galadriel! (I don't know either why you took so long to look at this thread. >.< :p ;))

I like the first one - Sleeping Sun - best. They were all great, but this one is just so... right on.

Thanks! And you're welcome ;) Actually, I thought you might have been asking about the Tolkien Ensemble or some other group/community I know little about. Have you heard the operatic version of Ai Laurie Lantar by the Ensemble, though? I think it's great :) And yes, Sleeping Sun is very poignant.

Just found it on Youtube. Like you said, it's great. I like it much better than the songs in the movies. The music there is amazing, but the songs... neh.

I particularly disliked the way they jumbled up all the words in the poems >.< Honestly, would it have been so hard to stick to the original lyrics?

Yet another Beatles' song Hello Goodbye for Tilion and Arien. Makes me think of how Tilion always chases after Arien, and how they are opposites but really do the same task...

I found a thread with the same idea... If the mods feel like merging them, so be it.

But it has some interesting stuff in it, in any case.

I just found this song today: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62KtVqvso4M

Totally reminded me of the Silmarillion :) It's called 'The Escapist' by Nightwish.

Indeed The Sil! Nightwish seems quite a Tolkien group. ;)

Them, and Enya. Some of their lyrics really fit - not to mention the atmosphere they create :) Do you know of any other bands/singers who have a Tolkien-ish strain to them?

Hmm, no, not really. Only specific songs stand out.

I have a long list of Russian songs to add, but I doubt that many people would be interested, so I'll limit myself to just this one, from a movie:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jNViGbNI14

It has repeating lines: I will never forget you, I will never see you again. Reminds me of many partings in the legendarium, but mostly Frodo departing ME forever...

The famous hebrew song Jerusalem of Gold reminds me of the Dwarves of Moria, after they left it. See here for the translation (though the song that I linked is a slightly different version...)

This one is so obvious I'm surprised I haven't thought of this before. Even the name of the piece fits!

"In the Hall of the Mountain King" by Grieg, aka Bilbo inside Erebor. Can you hear his careful footsteps, his heart racing, and in the end his flight back to the Dwarves?

I know that both Tolkien and Grieg were inspired by Scandinavic mythologies, but that's as far as my knowledge goes. I've never studied those mythologies. Maybe someone more learned than myself can make some connection that would link Grieg's and Tolkien's "halls of the mountain king"?

Late to the game on this, but in line with that...

Tom Bombadil's ode to all those trying to classify him, with his typical bit of rhymey nonsense.

And yet more from one of the greatest bands of all time. This one's for Aragorn.

Underneath a sky of red, there's a storyteller sleeping alone.
He has no face and he has no name and his whereabouts are sort of unknown.

Not necessarily tunes that I might find "Tolkienesque", but (and I feel a roight gormless berk in saying this) I've only just heard about The Tolkien Ensemble.
Why was I never informed about this group? Did I miss a memo, perhaps?

I only found it through Youtube :D

Which is how I found them. I was looking for the Donald Swan recording and they popped up and I was quite surprised.
And they've been around awhile, too.

We've discussed the Tolkien Ensemble's music in the past, though perhaps not so recently that you'd have noticed. A search should bring up the pertinent threads.

I suppose the chance of hearing (about) them depends on your location - in Europe, especially here in Germany, they are well known through their popular concert tours. They've played together with orchestras which perform the movie sound track live, at times also with Sir Christopher Lee as narrator. I was privileged to hear their concert in Copenhagen a couple of years ago, and it was wonderful! Christopher Lee's voice is marvelous.

The German Tolkien Society (of which I'm an active member) has close connections to the Ensemble - the founding members, Peter Hall and Caspar Reiff, were our guests of honour and played and sang for us at the annual weekend get-together in 2010. And one of our members who specializes in costuming sewed Hobbit and Elvish dresses for the ladies.

One more bit of interesting information - the Ensemble has good connections to the Danish royal family. Queen Margrethe permitted the use of her well-known LotR illustrations on the cover of the 4-album box which has all of the songs and poems in the book.
/end excursion to Denmark

Somehow I feel that Aldarion, if he was honest, would rather hum along to this tune from the same album.

if I needed someone to love
you're the one that I'd be thinking of
if I needed someone

if I had some more time to spend
then I guess I'd be with you my friend
if I needed someone

Estelyn, we're a wee bit backwards here, in this part of the midwest. ;)

I've finally got round to listening to the Tolkien Ensemble, and I have to see that they're really good.

Of course, since I saw the films first, I can't shake that music off (but since it's as good as it is, that's not really a bad thing), but I still really like it. I also find the diference in their treatment of "Upon the hearth" quite interesting...

The first music I heard that was related to LOTR was the Donald Swann compositions, back in the 70's. So I had a tough time wrapping my head around the music in the films.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBdxQVDlcro

The theme song from a movie. Reminds me of Earendil. Don's ask why; it's just the kind of "feel" it has - soaring, heroic, all that. And if not Earendil, I still think it is Tolkienesque sounding music that's worthy of mention.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVUADDz3JLU

This lovely piece (Fantasia on Dargason by Gustav Holst) also deserves mention here in my eyes. From a purely technical perspective I find it awesome that it overlaps the 3/4 time Greensleeves melody with the main 4/4 (2/2? 2/4? not sure) theme. From a more general view, it sounds nice. From a Tolkien perspective, it reminds me of Rosie Cotton.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sryOCnuj7c

The Winner Takes It All, ABBA. Fits well with Erendis, don't you think? She could be addressing Aldarion, or Uinen. Or both.