The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - Middle-Earth Music Reviews

Hilde Bracegirdle · 02-27-2004, 11:49 AM

· TITLE: Music Inspired By Middle Earth

· MUSICIANS: David & Diane Arkenstone

· GENRE: Classical, New Age, Renaissance, (instrumental)

· INSTRUMENTS: Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass, French Horn, Trumpet, Oboe/English Horn, Harp, Keyboards, Guitar, Whistle, Flute, Melodica,
Mandolin, Bouzouki, Percussion, Dulcimer, Bells, Bawu, Duduk, bansuri, ocarina

· CANONICAL TOLKIEN or ORIGINAL? Original Tolkien inspired, though one does not need to be familiar with Tolkien to appreciate it.

· REVIEW: This album is very much like the score of an unmade movie, so at first listen it sounds high-flown but it grows on you as you listen more, and has a high goose bump factor. There are some passages that sound like Aaron Copland ala Witness, and some that remind you of Tubular Bells or the colder scenes in Titanic. So if you like that sort of music, chances are you would enjoy this CD.

1. Prelude: Hobbits From the Shire
2. The Road to Rivendell
3. The Quest (very good)
4. Moria
5. Lothlorien
6. Galadriel Mirror
7. The Riders of Rohan (Really hits the Mark! Best track on the album)
8. The Palantir (Chilling, captures the despair)
9. Arwen and Aragon
10. To Isengard
11. In the land of Shadow (Portrays the bleak and ominous mood of Mordor)
12. The Fields of Cormallen (To my mind the worst track, sounds like the credits should be rolling)
13. The Grey Havens (The end of this one almost brings tears to my eyes – even at work!)

· DO YOU RECOMMEND IT? Yes. All 5 of my 5 test subjects liked it.

· PRICE YOU PAID: $13.99 USD

· WHERE YOU BOUGHT IT: Amazon (Sorry, to those who think Amazon is the death of merchants, but it is invaluable to us rural folk.)

· Do you know of any online samples? Yes, Track 1 – "Prelude: Hobbits From the Shire" is available as a download from Amazon and several snippets of the others are there to listen to.

02-27-2004, 11:49 AM	#17
Hilde Bracegirdle Relic of Wandering Days Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: You'll See Perpetual Change. Posts: 1,480	Music Inspired By Middle Earth · TITLE: Music Inspired By Middle Earth · MUSICIANS: David & Diane Arkenstone · GENRE: Classical, New Age, Renaissance, (instrumental) · INSTRUMENTS: Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass, French Horn, Trumpet, Oboe/English Horn, Harp, Keyboards, Guitar, Whistle, Flute, Melodica, Mandolin, Bouzouki, Percussion, Dulcimer, Bells, Bawu, Duduk, bansuri, ocarina · CANONICAL TOLKIEN or ORIGINAL? Original Tolkien inspired, though one does not need to be familiar with Tolkien to appreciate it. · REVIEW: This album is very much like the score of an unmade movie, so at first listen it sounds high-flown but it grows on you as you listen more, and has a high goose bump factor. There are some passages that sound like Aaron Copland ala Witness, and some that remind you of Tubular Bells or the colder scenes in Titanic. So if you like that sort of music, chances are you would enjoy this CD. 1. Prelude: Hobbits From the Shire 2. The Road to Rivendell 3. The Quest (very good) 4. Moria 5. Lothlorien 6. Galadriel Mirror 7. The Riders of Rohan (Really hits the Mark! Best track on the album) 8. The Palantir (Chilling, captures the despair) 9. Arwen and Aragon 10. To Isengard 11. In the land of Shadow (Portrays the bleak and ominous mood of Mordor) 12. The Fields of Cormallen (To my mind the worst track, sounds like the credits should be rolling) 13. The Grey Havens (The end of this one almost brings tears to my eyes – even at work!) · DO YOU RECOMMEND IT? Yes. All 5 of my 5 test subjects liked it. · PRICE YOU PAID: $13.99 USD · WHERE YOU BOUGHT IT: Amazon (Sorry, to those who think Amazon is the death of merchants, but it is invaluable to us rural folk.) · Do you know of any online samples? Yes, Track 1 – "Prelude: Hobbits From the Shire" is available as a download from Amazon and several snippets of the others are there to listen to.