The songs of Lord of the Rings and tunes that fit them... - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Knight of Gondor · 07-26-2002, 09:04 PM

Hi ya'll!

I imagine there's hardly a soul here that hasn't read the books. I just love the music and poetry in the books. Tolkien was a master of songs and peotry.

Some of the songs, I've noticed, can fit some tunes, or similar tunes of today. For instance, the song of Nimrodel in Lorien. I can just hear Legolas singing that with his voice (almost sounding like Steve Green...) singing the song of Nimrodel. Go back and read it, you'll find the words fit the tune of <drumroll> It Came Upon A Midnight Clear! Read it! Go ahead! The song Galadriel sings at the farewell banquet fits the tune too.

And then there's the troll song. (Sam sings it right before the Flight to the Ford) It rings in my mind to the tune (which I've only heard advertised on commercials for nostalgic music CDs) could go with that song and beat of "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" but with Johnny Cash singing. :-)

And then there's the song 'ol Frodo sang at The Prancing Pony that sounds extremely like an old nursury rhyme I knew once...:-)

Galorme · 07-27-2002, 03:01 PM

On the theme of music but slightly different I was wondering if there has ever been a record of a composer attempting to compose a piece to the description of the Ainulindalë, The Music of the Ainur. Just image the growing clamor and harmony of the Ainur singing together for the first time, and the slow destruction of this harmony by Melkor. I don’t know if it is possible to create a tune that harmonies with a loud tune as the Second Theme of Eru does, but i would love to know if anyone has tried (or would like to try).

Knight of Gondor · 07-27-2002, 08:16 PM

Yes, I can safely say there has been an attempt, though not deliberatly in reference to Lord of the Rings.

Ever heard the tune for The Prince of Egypt when Moses meets God? I call that Holy Wailing, but others call it sacred sounding choir vocals, or awesome-sounding God song. But it's amazing. It's really a sacred-sounding choir, and if you haven't heard it, try buying the soundtrack (or renting it if you don't own a money tree :-)) and listening to track 8. It'll blow your socks off.

07-27-2002, 10:13 PM

I have a record of original music composed, arranged and performed by Bo Hansson entitled "Music Inspired By Lord of the Rings" - it contains a trach inspired by just about each chapter. I haven't listened to it in a few years (the record player having spun its last a while back), but from what I remember, Hansson did an excellent job captivating the essence of the mood of each chapter. Of course, this is all his original work, not a rendering of Tolkien's songs.

Brionna · 07-28-2002, 12:54 AM

More music inspired by LOTR...

Check out a group called "Nickel Creek." They are a folk/bluegrass/country ensemble- the instruments are violin, mandolin, and acoustic guitar. Really a beautiful sound...

Anyway, on their title debut album they have a song called "In the House of Tom Bombadill." It's an instrumental and it's very pretty. I think their whole sound is very "hobbit-esque." Anyone else listen to NC?

[ July 28, 2002: Message edited by: Brionna ]

Gayalondiel · 07-28-2002, 01:25 AM

If you're after the songs themselves, Donald Swann set some of them to music in collaboration with JRRT. There is an album called... ohh help... if no-one posts with the name then i'll post it when i remember... anyway he set songs of LOTR to piano accompaniment. 'Namarie' is particularly good.
You can also get tapes of JRRT hiself reading some of the poems, and he sings 'Namarie' and Sam's troll song. That tape is also really worth a listen, and again i can't remember what its called. but if you can find it, do get it.

Estelyn Telcontar · 07-28-2002, 06:20 AM

Brionna, I also have that Nickel Creek CD and enjoy the music very much. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] You'll find a bit more information on this thread.

Anna Licumo · 07-28-2002, 09:10 PM

Is it just me, or does Toccata in D Minor seem like perfect "orc hunting" music? [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

Nevfeniel · 07-28-2002, 09:27 PM

Uhhh. . . if you say so. . . [img]smilies/confused.gif[/img]

Eomer of the Rohirrim · 07-29-2002, 05:47 AM

I have a copy of 'Misty Mountain Hop' by Led Zeppelin. It really doesn't remind me of Middle Earth at all but still...

Led Zep have quite a lot of LotR references such as 'Gollum, the evil one' stealing his girl in 'the land of Mordor' [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

None of these really set the mood of Middle Earth but a friend of mine is adamant that 'Stairway to Heaven' was written for LotR.

Anna Licumo · 07-29-2002, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Uhhh.... If you say so...

I also think the Star Wars theme is almost identical to "Mars," and that "Cristofori's Dream" is perfect for the Elves when they must leave ME: Angelic, sweet, and terribly sad, so I may just be clinicly insane. Oh, and "Canon" is really good for Orc music too. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

Edit: I just thought I'd want to add that Canon thing is a joke. Unless Orcs are pretty Baroque-ish.
[img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

[ July 29, 2002: Message edited by: Anna Licumo ]

The Silver-shod Muse · 07-29-2002, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Hi ya'll!

Knight, are you, perchance, from Texas? [img]smilies/eek.gif[/img] If so, I welcome a fellow Texan, if not, I welcome a fellow Christian! [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

I love Nickel Creek's "House of Tom Bombadil", and yes, it does sound like they all just tumbled out of a hoe-down in the Shire. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

Gayalondiel, I've been looking everywhere for that tape/record/CD of Tolkien reading in Elvish! Can you remember the name or where can I find it/download it?

Knight of Gondor · 07-29-2002, 08:12 PM

Well, I'm not exactly what you'd call a genuine Texan. I'm the next best thing (in my mind) But I like Texas (aside from all those tornadoes ya'll get down there) and the people from there (ala George Dubya Bush) and I wear a cowboy hat down to our horse barn. So I'm a westerner at heart!

Glad to see a lot of Christians on here too. That's very nice to see.

mark12_30 · 09-05-2002, 10:38 PM

A long time ago, somebody posted that they were using hymn tunes to sing LOTR songs. I searched for "tunes" and didn't find that post. But I've been trying it with celtic tunes. Has anyone else tried to match Tolkien's poetry with celtic tunes? Here's what I came up with at first shot:

I sit beside the fire and think// Annie Laurie, or, Broom o' the Cowdenknowes

The Road goes ever on and on// Dark Island, or, The Water Is Wide (Waly Waly)

Sing Hey! For the Bath at close of day// Summer Days and Heather Bells, or, Lassie wi' the yellow coatie

Luthien (The leaves were long the grass was green) // The Lea Rig (Really works well!)

Nimrodel (An elven maid there was of old)// Jock o' Hazeldean (works very well [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] can also use "O My Luve is like a red red rose"

Estelyn Telcontar · 09-06-2002, 01:51 AM

Anna, you now have me trying to visualize orcs moving to Pachelbel's Canon - very funny!! But you know, as far as orcs are concerned - if they ain't Baroque, don't fix 'em! [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

Tirned Tinnu · 09-06-2002, 04:52 AM

I too, have heard Bo Hansson's work, and for a long time it was the only Tolkien-related music around, besides Zep.
I liked the tune sung in the BBC LOTR, the one sung by Sam for the Gil-Galad song? That tends to fit almost all of Tolkien's carefully moded poems.
Lays are hard to chant an sing when they are long. I know, I've tried getting thru all of Brigid O'malley in both English and Irish at a campfire. I found that intermixing the original language with the English translation captured the audience's attention despite the need for continual key changes to keep the tone flowing.
I am interested in why some "songs" were called chants, and after being introduced to chant in Buddistic tradition, I see the need for it. Yes, chant can be sung, but when it's learned like a prayer, sometimes chant (like Shakespeare's sonnets) can sound more alive if spoken and not sung.
For the music of The Ainur, I suggest that you try Handel's The Planets.

[ September 06, 2002: Message edited by: Tirned Tinnu ]

Liriodendron · 09-20-2002, 06:59 AM

Hmmmm, I read some of the song lyrics in the books, and then spend serious time coming up with simple, yet melodic tunes that fit the meter of the words. I find it to be great fun, but I better start recording then as the perfect tunes so carefully worked out are easily forgotten! (Thanks for the link Mark.) I would like to hear JRR Tolkien actually reading and singing, if you can remember the name, Gayalondiel!

Selmo · 09-20-2002, 09:05 AM

Tirned Tinnu,
I, too, liked some of the songs from the BBC radio version, especialy Sam's "Gilgalad". I also like the tune for "The Road goes ever on" used in the film, sung by Gandalf.

In one of his letters, Tolkien said that the Troll song was written to fit the music of an american folk song, "The Fox" (The fox whent out on a winter's night/Prayed for the moon to give him light..). I think that's the only one for which he mentions a particular tune.

[ September 20, 2002: Message edited by: Selmo ]

Neferchoirwen · 09-20-2002, 09:16 AM

There are two cds I listen to when I read LotR aside from the movie soundtrack (In fact, it seems that almost each book I own has its own listening cd). One of them, is Celtic Graces, and the other one is a Yanni cd (too lazy to go to my own room and look for the title).

I haven't been thinking about putting old tunes to the poems, but I'll try them with the tunes in Celtic Graces.

Thanks to Knight for starting this thread. I am goinig to go on a cd shopping spree and try to look for every artist in this thread.

So to Knight of Gondor, I welcome thee, another music enthusiast as well as another fellow Christian! Mae Govannen!

Knight of Gondor · 09-27-2002, 08:32 PM

You welcome! And I still think the song of Nimrodel would sound better to the tune of It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, as would the song Galadriel sang as the Fellowship departed...go back and read it to yourself as you sing!

Alatariel · 09-28-2002, 02:38 AM

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear?! That's exactly the tune I thought would fit to Bilbo's song, "I sit beside the fire and think," if you group the verses in twos!
Odd...

mark12_30 · 09-28-2002, 03:28 AM

Yeah, but "It came upn a midnight clear" is just so... Christmassy. I totally love it, don't get me wrong; it's one of my favorites, and I collect Christmas Carols. But I can't bring myself to put Tolkien's poems to Christmas carol tunes. Maybe because I like the carols for themselves, so much.

Knight of Gondor · 09-28-2002, 07:10 PM

If duh tune doth fit, you must use it! [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

Taure Leafsilver · 09-28-2002, 08:39 PM

Quote:

"the Fox....

OMG!!! I remember singing that song in kindergartin!!!

Beren87 · 11-23-2002, 10:27 PM

Someone brought up the matter of Led Zeppelin, and Stairway to heaven was written with LotR referance, several of them. Along with Occult referances and others. There is a stanza in that song that goes:

There's a feeling I get
When I look to the west
And my spirit is crying for leaving
In my thoughts I have seen
Rings of smoke through the trees
And the voices of those who stand looking

I've never seen this one pointed out exactly. Does anyone else see that?

elfling · 11-24-2002, 09:29 PM

I have thought that maybe stairway to Heaven is somehow inspired by LoTR but I'm not sure it has that quaility, though. Have any of you gotten or heard the Tolkien Ensemble's Night nad Eening in Rivendale it has alot of great poems and songs from the book put to music. Some of it is rally good. I've also heard The Starlit jewel is good but I'm having trouble finding a copy.

Birdland · 11-25-2002, 01:00 AM

There's an old French Christmas carol that fits nicely to "The Road Goes Ever On and On". I never can remember the words, I can only whistle it. But here's the MIDI and the English translation: Il est né le divin Enfant

It's also good for "I Sit Beside the Fire and Think".

Oh, and "The Fox" does fit "Old Troll" well! Especially since they're both very blood-thirsty lyrics:

"...and the little ones chewed on the bones-O!" [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

P.S. - Here's the lyrics and MIDI for The Fox. (The MIDI link is at the bottom of the page, below the lyrics.)

[ November 25, 2002: Message edited by: Birdland ]

The Silver-shod Muse · 11-25-2002, 12:15 PM

Greensleeves works nicely for the shorter songs as long as you don't think of it as a Christmas tune.

LePetitChoux · 11-25-2002, 02:44 PM

I was just going to say greensleeves! But it works for most songs in LotR, not just short ones (believe me, I've tried [img]smilies/rolleyes.gif[/img] )

Knight of Gondor · 11-25-2002, 10:09 PM

I love it when old posts get ressurected!

07-26-2002, 09:04 PM	#1
Knight of Gondor Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Kentucky Posts: 744	The songs of Lord of the Rings and tunes that fit them... Hi ya'll! I imagine there's hardly a soul here that hasn't read the books. I just love the music and poetry in the books. Tolkien was a master of songs and peotry. Some of the songs, I've noticed, can fit some tunes, or similar tunes of today. For instance, the song of Nimrodel in Lorien. I can just hear Legolas singing that with his voice (almost sounding like Steve Green...) singing the song of Nimrodel. Go back and read it, you'll find the words fit the tune of <drumroll> It Came Upon A Midnight Clear! Read it! Go ahead! The song Galadriel sings at the farewell banquet fits the tune too. And then there's the troll song. (Sam sings it right before the Flight to the Ford) It rings in my mind to the tune (which I've only heard advertised on commercials for nostalgic music CDs) could go with that song and beat of "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" but with Johnny Cash singing. :-) And then there's the song 'ol Frodo sang at The Prancing Pony that sounds extremely like an old nursury rhyme I knew once...:-) __________________ Eagerly awaiting the REAL Return of the King - Jesus Christ! Revelation 19:11-16

07-27-2002, 03:01 PM	#2
Galorme Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: London Posts: 337	On the theme of music but slightly different I was wondering if there has ever been a record of a composer attempting to compose a piece to the description of the Ainulindalë, The Music of the Ainur. Just image the growing clamor and harmony of the Ainur singing together for the first time, and the slow destruction of this harmony by Melkor. I don’t know if it is possible to create a tune that harmonies with a loud tune as the Second Theme of Eru does, but i would love to know if anyone has tried (or would like to try). __________________ Utúlie'n aurë! Aiya Eldalië ar Atanatári, utúlie'n aurë! The day has come! Behold people of the Eldar and Fathers of Men, the day has come!

07-27-2002, 08:16 PM	#3
Knight of Gondor Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Kentucky Posts: 744	Yes, I can safely say there has been an attempt, though not deliberatly in reference to Lord of the Rings. Ever heard the tune for The Prince of Egypt when Moses meets God? I call that Holy Wailing, but others call it sacred sounding choir vocals, or awesome-sounding God song. But it's amazing. It's really a sacred-sounding choir, and if you haven't heard it, try buying the soundtrack (or renting it if you don't own a money tree :-)) and listening to track 8. It'll blow your socks off. __________________ Eagerly awaiting the REAL Return of the King - Jesus Christ! Revelation 19:11-16

07-28-2002, 01:25 AM	#6
Gayalondiel Wight Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: My own little wierd, wierd world Posts: 133	If you're after the songs themselves, Donald Swann set some of them to music in collaboration with JRRT. There is an album called... ohh help... if no-one posts with the name then i'll post it when i remember... anyway he set songs of LOTR to piano accompaniment. 'Namarie' is particularly good. You can also get tapes of JRRT hiself reading some of the poems, and he sings 'Namarie' and Sam's troll song. That tape is also really worth a listen, and again i can't remember what its called. but if you can find it, do get it. __________________ Not another ****ing Elf! ~C.S.Lewis

07-28-2002, 06:20 AM	#7
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,499	Brionna, I also have that Nickel Creek CD and enjoy the music very much. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] You'll find a bit more information on this thread. __________________ 'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'

07-27-2002, 10:13 PM	#4
janekeeler Guest Posts: n/a	I have a record of original music composed, arranged and performed by Bo Hansson entitled "Music Inspired By Lord of the Rings" - it contains a trach inspired by just about each chapter. I haven't listened to it in a few years (the record player having spun its last a while back), but from what I remember, Hansson did an excellent job captivating the essence of the mood of each chapter. Of course, this is all his original work, not a rendering of Tolkien's songs.

07-28-2002, 12:54 AM	#5
Brionna Pile O'Bones Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Chico, CA Posts: 13	More music inspired by LOTR... Check out a group called "Nickel Creek." They are a folk/bluegrass/country ensemble- the instruments are violin, mandolin, and acoustic guitar. Really a beautiful sound... Anyway, on their title debut album they have a song called "In the House of Tom Bombadill." It's an instrumental and it's very pretty. I think their whole sound is very "hobbit-esque." Anyone else listen to NC? [ July 28, 2002: Message edited by: Brionna ]

07-28-2002, 09:10 PM	#8
Anna Licumo Haunting Spirit Join Date: May 2002 Location: Eryn Lasgalen... okay, KS actually. ::sigh:: Posts: 78	Is it just me, or does Toccata in D Minor seem like perfect "orc hunting" music? [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] __________________ Rock-a-bye Nazgul, on Weathertop, when the Ring calls, the horses will run. And when Sauron calls, the Nazgul will go, and down will come evil, Ringwraiths and all!

07-28-2002, 09:27 PM	#9
Nevfeniel Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mithlond Posts: 783	Uhhh. . . if you say so. . . [img]smilies/confused.gif[/img] __________________ Consider the purr a variety of audible tranquilizer. [. . .] For a few of us, there is one more purr, a secret purr. When we combine our secret purrs, we produce the Purr of Power. And that is simply the amplified amity we feel as furred and purred beings.

07-29-2002, 05:47 AM	#10
Eomer of the Rohirrim Auspicious Wraith Join Date: May 2002 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 4,859	I have a copy of 'Misty Mountain Hop' by Led Zeppelin. It really doesn't remind me of Middle Earth at all but still... Led Zep have quite a lot of LotR references such as 'Gollum, the evil one' stealing his girl in 'the land of Mordor' [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] None of these really set the mood of Middle Earth but a friend of mine is adamant that 'Stairway to Heaven' was written for LotR. __________________ Los Ingobernables de Harlond

07-29-2002, 08:12 PM	#13
Knight of Gondor Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Kentucky Posts: 744	Well, I'm not exactly what you'd call a genuine Texan. I'm the next best thing (in my mind) But I like Texas (aside from all those tornadoes ya'll get down there) and the people from there (ala George Dubya Bush) and I wear a cowboy hat down to our horse barn. So I'm a westerner at heart! Glad to see a lot of Christians on here too. That's very nice to see. __________________ Eagerly awaiting the REAL Return of the King - Jesus Christ! Revelation 19:11-16

09-05-2002, 10:38 PM	#14
mark12_30 Stormdancer of Doom Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Elvish singing is not a thing to miss, in June under the stars Posts: 4,349	A long time ago, somebody posted that they were using hymn tunes to sing LOTR songs. I searched for "tunes" and didn't find that post. But I've been trying it with celtic tunes. Has anyone else tried to match Tolkien's poetry with celtic tunes? Here's what I came up with at first shot: I sit beside the fire and think// Annie Laurie, or, Broom o' the Cowdenknowes The Road goes ever on and on// Dark Island, or, The Water Is Wide (Waly Waly) Sing Hey! For the Bath at close of day// Summer Days and Heather Bells, or, Lassie wi' the yellow coatie Luthien (The leaves were long the grass was green) // The Lea Rig (Really works well!) Nimrodel (An elven maid there was of old)// Jock o' Hazeldean (works very well [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] can also use "O My Luve is like a red red rose" __________________ ...down to the water to see the elves dance and sing upon the midsummer's eve.

09-06-2002, 01:51 AM	#15
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,499	Anna, you now have me trying to visualize orcs moving to Pachelbel's Canon - very funny!! But you know, as far as orcs are concerned - if they ain't Baroque, don't fix 'em! [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] __________________ 'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'

09-06-2002, 04:52 AM	#16
Tirned Tinnu Wight Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Patchogue NY Posts: 158	I too, have heard Bo Hansson's work, and for a long time it was the only Tolkien-related music around, besides Zep. I liked the tune sung in the BBC LOTR, the one sung by Sam for the Gil-Galad song? That tends to fit almost all of Tolkien's carefully moded poems. Lays are hard to chant an sing when they are long. I know, I've tried getting thru all of Brigid O'malley in both English and Irish at a campfire. I found that intermixing the original language with the English translation captured the audience's attention despite the need for continual key changes to keep the tone flowing. I am interested in why some "songs" were called chants, and after being introduced to chant in Buddistic tradition, I see the need for it. Yes, chant can be sung, but when it's learned like a prayer, sometimes chant (like Shakespeare's sonnets) can sound more alive if spoken and not sung. For the music of The Ainur, I suggest that you try Handel's The Planets. [ September 06, 2002: Message edited by: Tirned Tinnu ] __________________ 'Perilous indeed,' said Aragorn, 'fair and perilous; but only evil need fear it, or those who bring some evil with them. Follow me!'

09-20-2002, 06:59 AM	#17
Liriodendron Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Indiana Posts: 527	Hmmmm, I read some of the song lyrics in the books, and then spend serious time coming up with simple, yet melodic tunes that fit the meter of the words. I find it to be great fun, but I better start recording then as the perfect tunes so carefully worked out are easily forgotten! (Thanks for the link Mark.) I would like to hear JRR Tolkien actually reading and singing, if you can remember the name, Gayalondiel! __________________ http://www.lizmargason.com

09-20-2002, 09:05 AM	#18
Selmo Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: The Shire (Staffordshire), United Kingdom Posts: 273	Tirned Tinnu, I, too, liked some of the songs from the BBC radio version, especialy Sam's "Gilgalad". I also like the tune for "The Road goes ever on" used in the film, sung by Gandalf. In one of his letters, Tolkien said that the Troll song was written to fit the music of an american folk song, "The Fox" (The fox whent out on a winter's night/Prayed for the moon to give him light..). I think that's the only one for which he mentions a particular tune. [ September 20, 2002: Message edited by: Selmo ]

09-20-2002, 09:16 AM	#19
Neferchoirwen Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: RtR: 483.3 miles, Fords of Bruinen Posts: 512	There are two cds I listen to when I read LotR aside from the movie soundtrack (In fact, it seems that almost each book I own has its own listening cd). One of them, is Celtic Graces, and the other one is a Yanni cd (too lazy to go to my own room and look for the title). I haven't been thinking about putting old tunes to the poems, but I'll try them with the tunes in Celtic Graces. Thanks to Knight for starting this thread. I am goinig to go on a cd shopping spree and try to look for every artist in this thread. So to Knight of Gondor, I welcome thee, another music enthusiast as well as another fellow Christian! Mae Govannen! __________________ On really romantic nights of self, I go salsa dancing with my confusion. ~Speed Levitch http://crevicesofsilence.blogspot.com/

09-27-2002, 08:32 PM	#20
Knight of Gondor Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Kentucky Posts: 744	You welcome! And I still think the song of Nimrodel would sound better to the tune of It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, as would the song Galadriel sang as the Fellowship departed...go back and read it to yourself as you sing! __________________ Eagerly awaiting the REAL Return of the King - Jesus Christ! Revelation 19:11-16

09-28-2002, 02:38 AM	#21
Alatariel Wight Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: The Cliffs of Insanity Posts: 178	It Came Upon a Midnight Clear?! That's exactly the tune I thought would fit to Bilbo's song, "I sit beside the fire and think," if you group the verses in twos! Odd... __________________ You mean you'll put down your rock and I'll put down my sword and we'll try to kill each other like civilized people?

09-28-2002, 03:28 AM	#22
mark12_30 Stormdancer of Doom Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Elvish singing is not a thing to miss, in June under the stars Posts: 4,349	Yeah, but "It came upn a midnight clear" is just so... Christmassy. I totally love it, don't get me wrong; it's one of my favorites, and I collect Christmas Carols. But I can't bring myself to put Tolkien's poems to Christmas carol tunes. Maybe because I like the carols for themselves, so much. __________________ ...down to the water to see the elves dance and sing upon the midsummer's eve.

09-28-2002, 07:10 PM	#23
Knight of Gondor Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Kentucky Posts: 744	If duh tune doth fit, you must use it! [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] __________________ Eagerly awaiting the REAL Return of the King - Jesus Christ! Revelation 19:11-16

11-23-2002, 10:27 PM	#25
Beren87 Master of the Secret Fire Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Between fire and ice, death and life Posts: 2,241	Someone brought up the matter of Led Zeppelin, and Stairway to heaven was written with LotR referance, several of them. Along with Occult referances and others. There is a stanza in that song that goes: There's a feeling I get When I look to the west And my spirit is crying for leaving In my thoughts I have seen Rings of smoke through the trees And the voices of those who stand looking I've never seen this one pointed out exactly. Does anyone else see that?

11-24-2002, 09:29 PM	#26
elfling Haunting Spirit Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: asheville,nc Posts: 86	I have thought that maybe stairway to Heaven is somehow inspired by LoTR but I'm not sure it has that quaility, though. Have any of you gotten or heard the Tolkien Ensemble's Night nad Eening in Rivendale it has alot of great poems and songs from the book put to music. Some of it is rally good. I've also heard The Starlit jewel is good but I'm having trouble finding a copy. __________________ And I shall not be dark, but beautiful and terrible as the morning and the night...All shall love me and despair!

11-25-2002, 01:00 AM	#27
Birdland Ghastly Neekerbreeker Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: the banks of the mighty Scioto Posts: 1,751	There's an old French Christmas carol that fits nicely to "The Road Goes Ever On and On". I never can remember the words, I can only whistle it. But here's the MIDI and the English translation: Il est né le divin Enfant It's also good for "I Sit Beside the Fire and Think". Oh, and "The Fox" does fit "Old Troll" well! Especially since they're both very blood-thirsty lyrics: "...and the little ones chewed on the bones-O!" [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] P.S. - Here's the lyrics and MIDI for The Fox. (The MIDI link is at the bottom of the page, below the lyrics.) [ November 25, 2002: Message edited by: Birdland ]

11-25-2002, 12:15 PM	#28
The Silver-shod Muse Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: The shoulder of a poet, TX Posts: 388	Greensleeves works nicely for the shorter songs as long as you don't think of it as a Christmas tune. __________________ "'You," he said, "tell her all. What good came to you? Do you rejoice that Maleldil became a man? Tell her of your joys, and of what profit you had when you made Maleldil and death acquainted.'" -Perelandra, by C.S. Lewis

11-25-2002, 02:44 PM	#29
LePetitChoux Vegetable of Doom Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: London Posts: 720	I was just going to say greensleeves! But it works for most songs in LotR, not just short ones (believe me, I've tried [img]smilies/rolleyes.gif[/img] ) __________________ je suis une bonne odeur

11-25-2002, 10:09 PM	#30
Knight of Gondor Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Kentucky Posts: 744	I love it when old posts get ressurected! __________________ Eagerly awaiting the REAL Return of the King - Jesus Christ! Revelation 19:11-16