Visit The *EVEN NEWER* Barrow-Downs Photo Page |
07-12-2007, 02:58 PM | #1 |
Curmudgeonly Wordwraith
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Ensconced in curmudgeonly pursuits
Posts: 2,509
|
If Middle-earth had a soundtrack album...
Yes, yes, I am aware Howard Shore already did the soundtrack for the movie, and it is quite good (I won a 3 CD compilation of the FotR soundtrack from a LotR poetry contest, and enjoy it immensely); however, if there were a pre-existing album from a band/singer that best exemplifies the feeling or mood of Middle-earth, which album would it be? I am sure tucked away somewhere in the BD vaults there is a duplicate thread already discussing this topic, so please forgive my indolence in advance. Besides, I always enjoy a thread discussing music.
Certainly there are specific songs ('Battle of Evermore' and 'Ramble On' by Led Zep have Tolkienesque allusions), and even entire albums devoted to Middle-earth (Enya and Yngwie Malmsteen come to mind), but are there other albums you feel are evocative of Tolkien? I have a few suggestions and would like to hear yours... Songs from the Wood by Jethro Tull: I always felt that Ian Anderson could have composed a marvelous soundtrack for a LotR movie. Perhaps because much of his music is so fundamentally grounded in English folk, yet classically inclined, that I considered him a natural for the assignment ('A Classic Case' an orchestral rendition of Tull songs that feature the band and ex-Tull mate David Palmer as conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra ranks with The Moody Blues 'Days of Future Passed' as my favorites for use of orchestra within a rock context). In regards to 'Songs from the Wood', that feeling of English minstrelsy is displayed with such virtuousity that one can nearly smell the scots pine and the scent of wild roses that waft in the summer evening breeze of the song 'Velvet Green'. In the song 'Jack-in-the-Green' (an ode in honor of the woodland spirit exemplified in English May Day celebrations) one can almost sense a hint of Tom Bombadil (or more correctly, the 'Green Man' of English legend): "The rowan, the oak and the holly tree are the charges left for you to groom. Each blade of grass whispers Jack-In-The-Green. Oh Jack, please help me through my winter's night. And we are the berries on the holly tree. Oh, the mistlethrush is coming. Jack, put out the light." Likewise, lines evocative of Middle-earth, but plainly descriptive of the land Ian Anderson (and Tolkien) love so well in the song 'The Whistler': "Deep red are the sun-sets in mystical places. Black are the nights on summer-day sands. We'll find the speck of truth in each riddle. Hold the first grain of love in our hands." And again in 'Fires at Midnight' (which has a Shire-like quality): "I believe in fires at midnight --- when the dogs have all been fed. A golden toddy on the mantle --- a broken gun beneath the bed. Silken mist outside the window. Frogs and newts slip in the dark --- too much hurry ruins the body I'll sit easy ... fan the spark." Liege and Lief by Fairport Convention: This phenomenal album presents traditional English folk music in a rock context, and it is not so much the song's lyrics that are to me represenative of Middle-earth, it is rather the somber and sad tone of the album that harkens to the first time I read The Silmarillion. At times plaintive and at others powerful, the lead singer Sandy Denny (who, by the way, shared vocals with Robert Plant on the Tolkien-inspired Led Zep song 'Battle of Evermore') conjures an enchanting glimpse of the Elder Days, and the album itself is timeless, straddling the ancient and the modern without dwelling in the past or present. The eerie 'Reynardine' -- rendered with the ominous yet restrained vocals of Denny -- could well be an accompanying piece to Eöl's seduction of Aredhel: 'Sun and dark, she followed him his teeth did brightly shine and he led her up the mountains Did that sly old Reynardine.' and the song 'Farewell, Farewell' is evocative of Frodo's feeling of loss and disjointedness: 'Farewell, farewell to you who would hear You lonely travellers all the cold north wind will blow again the winding road does call. And will you never return to see Your bruised and beaten sons ? "Oh, I would, I would, if welcome I were for they love me, every one".' But anyway, it seems I ramble on. Please, add your albums for consideration.
__________________
And your little sister's immaculate virginity wings away on the bony shoulders of a young horse named George who stole surreptitiously into her geography revision. Last edited by Morthoron; 06-01-2008 at 09:43 PM. |
07-12-2007, 07:48 PM | #2 | |
Ghost Prince of Cardolan
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: midway upon... in a forest dark
Posts: 975
|
A rather obvous choice, Elvenpath by Nightwish. Oh well. I heard it after the movies, though I'm sure it was released first. The song has a good deal of Finnish stuff and Beauty and the Beast mythos and other "fantasy" stuff, but there are real Tolkien-y parts. And Bilbo gets mentioned.
I'm not a real metal fan, but I like the song anyway. And I think NW has done a good deal of Tolkien-y songs. Quote:
__________________
|
|
07-14-2007, 11:11 PM | #3 | |
Curmudgeonly Wordwraith
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Ensconced in curmudgeonly pursuits
Posts: 2,509
|
Quote:
But though they write about aspects of Middle-earth, do you think they actually invoke a feel of Tolkien's world? I mentioned Led Zeppelin and their allusions to Tolkien, and I do feel that The Battle of Evermore certainly has a 'Tolkien-y' effect, but a song like Ramble On (that invokes the names of Gollum and Mordor) does not have that same feel. In fact, the specific stanza... "Mine's a tale that can't be told, my freedom I hold dear. How years ago in days of old, when magic filled the air. T'was in the darkest depths of Mordor, I met a girl so fair. But Gollum, and the evil one crept up and slipped away with her, her, her....yeah." makes little sense from a Middle-earth standpoint; although Robert Plant was never one for depth of lyrics (as a reading of Stairway to Heaven makes abundantly clear). Perhaps rather than pointing out entire albums that have such flair, maybe a Middle-earth soundtrack would have songs from different bands that best exemplify specific events in Middle-earth history.
__________________
And your little sister's immaculate virginity wings away on the bony shoulders of a young horse named George who stole surreptitiously into her geography revision. |
|
07-15-2007, 09:04 AM | #4 |
Cryptic Aura
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 5,996
|
Great reviews of Jethro Tull and Fairport Convention, Morthoron. Both very fitting, I'd say.
Nightwish covered a song by Gary Moore that is steeped in British military tradition, with versions going back over several centuries. Moore's and Nightwish's lyrics aren't exactly Tolkienish, based as they are on adultery and deceit (a sort of British 'Long Black Veil', without the capital punishment), but the haunting melody and drums evoke for me a sense of Middle-earth. Nightwish brings in Viking elements while Moore brings in Celtic. Here's some YouTube versions and then a link to the traditional versions of the song. Gary Moore's Over the hills and far away Nightwish's Over the hills and far away Over the hills and far away--traditional versions
__________________
I’ll sing his roots off. I’ll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away. Last edited by Bêthberry; 07-17-2007 at 08:00 AM. Reason: sp |
07-15-2007, 07:05 PM | #5 | |
Shade of Carn Dûm
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Chozo Ruins.
Posts: 421
|
The Robin Hood themesong gets my fantasy fires burning. Its very adventurous, especially the version played by the Warner/Tamerlane version. It makes me think of the adventure and thrills that is present in The Lord of the Rings and so many other fantasy stories.
__________________
Quote:
|
|
07-16-2007, 11:01 PM | #6 | ||
Curmudgeonly Wordwraith
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Ensconced in curmudgeonly pursuits
Posts: 2,509
|
Quote:
Quote:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6PMJ...elated&search= Here is a Sandy Denny/Fairport version of Tam Lin, a 16th century tale of Faery abduction and enchantment which definitely captures the more fey aspects of Middle-earth... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJrLg...elated&search= As far as Tull, here's something a Hobbit might be singing on a long journey... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rioYOoFqyAo And a lusty air from 'Songs from the Woods' (Velvet Green) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NyvT...elated&search=
__________________
And your little sister's immaculate virginity wings away on the bony shoulders of a young horse named George who stole surreptitiously into her geography revision. Last edited by Morthoron; 07-16-2007 at 11:12 PM. |
||
07-16-2007, 11:37 PM | #7 |
Ghost Prince of Cardolan
|
Mostly Autumn, a British band that captures a great Middle-earth spirit. They have a female singer and a ripping lead guitarist. They actually did an album dedicated to The Lord of the Rings. GREAT stuff.
__________________
"Loud and clear it sounds in the valleys of the hills...and then let all the foes of Gondor flee!" -Boromir, The Fellowship of the Ring |
07-17-2007, 04:05 AM | #8 | |
A Mere Boggart
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: under the bed
Posts: 4,737
|
Quote:
On the subject of Led Zep, Plant asserts that he did not base any of his songs on Tolkien, that this was just one of many influences floating in the highly charged ether at the time, and I can believe that, what with the mercurial and enigmatic Jimmy Page and his interest in Aleister Crowley etc. Hammer Of The Gods is required reading for any Zep fan who wants to know more. The other day davem shouted me to 'come and look at this video!' - he'd found a video (Nedgang) by Finntroll on YouTube. This is well worth looking up, as this Scandinavian metal is thoroughly Northern and Middle-earth appropriate to my mind. Also have a look for Tyr, a Faroese metal band who sing about Viking lore and life in English or their native language - I am rather fond of Hail To The Hammer...can imagine Rohirric warriors singing stuff like this. Love it! And many thanks are in order to Mr Eomer himself for recommending these bands! On the opposite note - try some Vashti Bunyan for the most whimsical yet not at all sickly Hobbitish music around, songs about frogs and dragonflies and living in a gypsy caravan...and you might try Martin Carthy's Rackabello - a rather ace jaunty song about a man killing a Giant's little pig...and I've got but have yet to rip a new CD of ancient Yule songs/carols/wassails/hails to the Green Man by the Watersons & Martin & Eliza Carthy, as performed in Whitby last Christmas...but don't get me started on the area of folk music because I'll rattle on for hours and I shall have Mithalwen accusing me of being a beardy weirdy.
__________________
Gordon's alive!
|
|
07-17-2007, 08:36 AM | #9 | |
Curmudgeonly Wordwraith
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Ensconced in curmudgeonly pursuits
Posts: 2,509
|
Quote:
The aformentioned Steeleye Span is another band who could add to the Middle-earth soundtrack. There are a few songs from The Waterboys you could throw in there as well, particularly on the 'Room to Roam' album (which has one of the best renditions of 'Raggle Taggle Gypsy'), like 'Song From The End Of The World'.... Here is the smell of seafood pie a broken tower on the open sky a chain of islands rolling West in sight of the house where we are guests A rambling old river twist through the fields ancient names imprinted on shields gifts arrive for a baby girl born a queen at the end of the world Furious music from an open door the sound of feet beating on a stone floor always the wind always the form of an elder God hooved and horned The head of the mountain lost in a cloud a country woman soft and proud into the bay the horses swirl for we come to the sea at the end of the world
__________________
And your little sister's immaculate virginity wings away on the bony shoulders of a young horse named George who stole surreptitiously into her geography revision. |
|
07-19-2007, 03:26 AM | #10 |
A Mere Boggart
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: under the bed
Posts: 4,737
|
Interestingly, The Waterboys' most famous and enigmatic song - The Whole Of The Moon is in part influenced by CS Lewis according to Mike Scott (singer & songwriter - main man in the band...). The lyrics on this are fascinating - the singer tells of things he has done and then counters each with things the subject has done - the latter seems to have lived a cloistered, quiet life but even so, has seen wondrous things and had amazing revelations - there's the line in the chorus: "I wandered out in the world for years while you just stayed in your room. I saw the crescent, you saw the whole of the moon". The song has always fascinated me...
They have used a fair few other literary influences too including Joyce, George MacDonald, Robbie Burns and WB Yeats. Well worth investigating Fisherman's Blues and This Is The Sea.
__________________
Gordon's alive!
|
07-19-2007, 06:42 AM | #11 |
Curmudgeonly Wordwraith
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Ensconced in curmudgeonly pursuits
Posts: 2,509
|
The rendition of Yeat's 'The Stolen Child' on Fisherman's Blues is particularly good. One of my favorite poems from one of my favorite poets. Also, the title 'Room to Roam' is taken from MacDonald's Phantastes, as is most of the lyrics from that song.
__________________
And your little sister's immaculate virginity wings away on the bony shoulders of a young horse named George who stole surreptitiously into her geography revision. Last edited by Morthoron; 07-19-2007 at 09:42 PM. |
07-19-2007, 09:57 AM | #12 | |
Spectre of Capitalism
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Battling evil bureaucrats at Zeta Aquilae
Posts: 987
|
In the ill-spent days of my high-schooling, circa 1980, there was a group I'm sure no one here has ever heard of (Arkangel, and yes, that's the correct spelling) that made an single album (to this day one of my favorites) named Warrior. The title cut from that album contained a long roll-out at the end -- so long, in fact, that that section of the tune merited its own separate title - "The March of the Ents".
It was a slow marching cadence, with a single rolling snare drum marking the time, punctuated on the downbeats with a bass drum that sounded as if it were 9 feet in diameter being struck by a cave troll on steroids. A thrumming single note bass line accompanies a stirring bagpipe lead (an electric guitar lead is added later to counterpoint the bagpipe), while a quartet of basso profundo voices chants Ta-run-da! Ta runda-runda-runda rom!This song became part of what transpired in my brain whenever I read The Two Towers forever after. As I reflect on the Two Towers movie, I remember thinking that is was practically a crime to omit the marching song of the Ents as it appeared in the book. But of course, that whole affair with the Ents in the movie was a sad travesty of the scenes as written by JRRT, Quote:
__________________
The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane. ~~ Marcus Aurelius |
|
07-19-2007, 10:52 AM | #13 |
Spectre of Capitalism
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Battling evil bureaucrats at Zeta Aquilae
Posts: 987
|
I forgot to mention the group Glass Hammer, whose albums are available online at www.glasshammer.com. Two albums of especial note: Journey of the Dunadan, and The Middle Earth Album. The latter I especially like. as it is portrayed as if Glass Hammer was booked for a night's entertainment at The Prancing Pony, complete with an appreciative (and occasionally heckling) audience. After one particular song you can hear a couple of men in the background arguing over a plate of taters...
__________________
The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane. ~~ Marcus Aurelius |
07-19-2007, 07:41 PM | #14 |
Curmudgeonly Wordwraith
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Ensconced in curmudgeonly pursuits
Posts: 2,509
|
I do remember Arkangel, Thenamir. Boy, that blast from the past dredged up some rather licentious memories of that era! Let the Bacchanalia begin!
Ummm...anyway, I was listening to Genesis' Trick of the Tail (The album directly after Peter Gabriel left the band, and my personal favorite alongside Selling England by the Pound), and I got to thinking about the song 'Dance on a Volcano'. As well as being superb musically, it could perhaps be perfect accompaniment for the long climb up Orodruin and the dreadful dance Frodo and Gollum perform on the very edge of the Sammath Naur: Holy mother of god Youve got to go faster than that to get to the top. Dirty old mountain All covered in smoke, she can turn you to stone So you better start doing it right Better start doing it right. Youre halfway up and youre halfway down And the pack on your back is turning you around. Throw it away, you wont need it up there, and remember You dont look back whatever you do. Better start doing it right. On your left and on your right Crosses are green and crosses are blue Your friends didnt make it through. Out of the night and out of the dark Into the fire and into the fight Well thats the way the heroes go, ho! ho! ho! Through a crack in mother earth, Blazing hot, the molten rock Spills out over the land. And the lavas the lover who licks your boots away. hey! hey! hey! If you dont want to boil as well. B-b-better start the dance D-d-do you want to dance with me. You better start doing it right. The musics playing, the notes are right Put your left foot first and move into the light. The edge of this hill is the edge of the world And if youre going to cross you better start doing it right Better start doing it right. You better start doing it right. Let the dance begin.... http://youtube.com/watch?v=FraoJitaP7I
__________________
And your little sister's immaculate virginity wings away on the bony shoulders of a young horse named George who stole surreptitiously into her geography revision. |
|
|