J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit contain some of the most beautifully written prose in the English language. Tolkien’s deftness with words and phrases is undeniable, and his works have been translated into more than 30 languages. But translating Tolkien’s poetry into music as grand as the words seemed impossible. That is until I discover the Tolkien Ensemble: a group of Danish musicians who have managed the impossible – creating music as heartbreakingly beautiful as the lyrics they enfold.
Imagine Elven songs sung to their long-lost heroes with depth and breadth. Halfling drinking songs with notes created by artists and musicians of the first order. If you can imagine such things then you can imagine The Tolkien ensemble. Over the course of several releases they have managed to bring incredible musicianship to the world of Tolkien.
The problem with discussing this music is the same problem I would have when discussing any music: describing it does not do it justice. Using a variety of old world instruments, and the various and sometimes changing members of the ensemble put forth a bittersweet mix of happy and sad that is a perfect fit with Tolkien’s bittersweet tales. A an added bonus actor Christopher Lee lends his voice to a recitation of the poem of the ring. In concert Lee has made it clear that he considers himself a member of the ensemble, and that he considers their work together quite extraordinary. And I would agree.
I was lucky enough to get my hands on the complete works in one boxed set. And I plan on getting another as a Christmas gift for one very special Tolkien fan in my family. My family’s love of music and a Tolkien dovetail nicely in this particular gift, and I have to say that I am very excited at the prospect of seeing the recipients face when they hear the first strains of some of the most beautiful music ever created. With some of the most beautiful words ever created.
I can only tell you that my first time hearing it myself I was quite stunned and was certain that the rest of the work could not live up to the one song that I heard, but each of the works with their silly or serious manage to capture the spirit of the original work while displaying great originality at the same time. Either one of these feats take alone can be tremendously difficult. When taken together the two tasks can seem… here comes that word again impossible. Perhaps the best way to describe the album is that it makes the impossible possible. And in the world of music where great melodies can move our hearts like little else, The Tolkien Ensemble has created an incredible new connection to Tolkien’s work that did not exist fully before. At last it is as though we are finally hearing the music of middle earth brought to our earth.
The complete Works manage to encompass all of the poems and songs that I know of from Tolkien novels. The only other work of its kind that I know of is the music that was written for the animated version of The Hobbit that was shown on American television many, many years ago. Those wonderful melodies are still very much in my mind, but this new work (at least new to me) seems to supplant it in many ways.
Creating new connections with old works is an important way for us to continue legacies. The legacy of Tolkien’s work is a terrific one, and sometimes terrifically difficult to live up to. By creating something new that is still very much in the spirit of the original, we give new life to old ideas. We remind people of the power of those original ideas. We show that these original ideas still have the ability to inspire and enrapture. The old and the new come . In this world and in these new times there is always a need for novelty and the new. But in seeking novelty only and forgetting the great art of the past we risk leaving behind ideas and works that make us richer in spirit. Music has great power of the human spirit, as do tales of heroism. The bringing together of this wonderful mythology and this inspired musical creativity is a term in this endeavor that should not be missed by fantasy fans, Tolkien fans, and music fans. It is a new way to look at an old work. To see new depths added an old depths plumbed. And I believe those are the kind of connections we need to be making alongside of the wholly original works of the 21st century.
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nicely done
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