The Magic of Singing - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

littlemanpoet · 09-29-2002, 07:01 AM

The power of choral singing is well known in western music. Think of Handel's Messiah.

Taking Tolkien's cue and thinking of the bible as true myth, think of all the singing the Hebrews did in their psalms and in many of their stories. Singing is rite. Ritual looses mythic (psychic/spiritual) power. Done chorally increases its power.

Gregorian chant has ritual power to it, too. I've felt it when chanted live.

I wish Peter what's-his-name (Jackson?) could have incorporated that in the movie. The two Enya songs are pretty good, but I could imagine a suite of choruses of the Elves. Someone needs to compose that.

09-29-2002, 07:01 AM	#1
littlemanpoet Itinerant Songster Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Edge of Faerie Posts: 7,066	The power of choral singing is well known in western music. Think of Handel's Messiah. Taking Tolkien's cue and thinking of the bible as true myth, think of all the singing the Hebrews did in their psalms and in many of their stories. Singing is rite. Ritual looses mythic (psychic/spiritual) power. Done chorally increases its power. Gregorian chant has ritual power to it, too. I've felt it when chanted live. I wish Peter what's-his-name (Jackson?) could have incorporated that in the movie. The two Enya songs are pretty good, but I could imagine a suite of choruses of the Elves. Someone needs to compose that.