Soundtrack A Scene

[Lalwendë]

I was just poking about on YouTube listening to music on there and I saw someone had made a fanvid of the Fall of Gandalf using as a soundtrack Lacrimosa from Mozart's Requiem. It worked very, very well indeed and made me remember just how devastated I was after Gandalf's fall when I first read the books all those years ago.

So, this is simple really, have you an ideal soundtrack for a particular scene in Tolkien's work?

For me, when Bilbo leaves The Shire I always hear Vaughan Williams's Fantasia On A Theme By Thomas Tallis. And I often wish Peter Jackson had used Led Zep's Immigrant Song to soundtrack the Ride of the Rohirrim

[Morthoron]

I know I've said this before, but Ian Anderson should've had a hand in composing the score (and would be even more desirable for The Hobbit). This was quite a fun exercise. Oh, and I didn't use any songs with obvious Middle-earth references (like Led Zep's Battle of Evermore), because, well, it would be cheating. Here's some suggestions:

FIRST SCENE WELCOMING US INTO THE SHIRE:
Jethro Tull -- One Brown Mouse
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcUS4qaXZFU

FRODO AND SAM BEGIN THEIR JOURNEY IN THE SHIRE:
Jethro Tull -- Life is a Long Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8nak...eature=related

IN THE OLD FOREST MEETING BOMBADIL:
Jethro Tull -- The Whistler
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3Q2L1Tt1Hk

ASCENDING TO WEATHERTOP:
Jethro Tull -- Dun Ringill
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuPQ3oHB4e4

A WALK THROUGH LORIEN:
Led Zepellin -- Bron-Yr-Aur
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-WRt...eature=related

SCENE WHERE ARWEN IS A WIDOW AND WALKS ALONE THROUGH LORIEN:
King Crimson -- Moon Child
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iw0eduoVGw4

THE BOAT RIDE DOWN THE ANDUIN:
Mason Williams -- Classical Gas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mguzK...eature=related

SARUMAN'S ARMY MARCHING TO HELM'S DEEP:
Alice Cooper -- Halo of Flies (Prior to the vocals)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_pgClrEs9c

THE MARCH OF THE ENTS
Ian Anderson -- Fly by Night
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8Ubj...eature=related

THE SIGNAL OF MINAS MORGUL AND SAURON'S ARMY MARCHES:
Black Sabbath -- War Pigs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GRR_n_yQGA

SURVEYING THE DEAD AFTER THE BATTLE OF PELENNOR FIELD:
Pink Floyd -- Great Gig Sky in the Sky
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Enwnt7-j90k

IN THE HOUSES OF HEALING:
Genesis -- Entangled
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inblU...eature=related

SHELOB:
Alice Cooper -- The Black Widow (after the priceless Vincent Price intro)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVHUy...eature=related

FRODO AND SAM BEGINNING THEIR ASCENT OF MOUNT DOOM:
Fairport Convention -- Reynardine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3RMu...eature=related

WITHIN MOUNT DOOM:
Genesis -- Dance on a Volcano
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfA0z6eK8uQ

THE BLACK GATES OPEN AND SAURON UNLEASHES HIS LEGIONS:
Peter Gabriel -- Here Comes the Flood
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQYlK...eature=related

ARAGORN AND ARWEN'S MARRIAGE IN MINAS TIRITH:
Yes -- And You and I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpXv-...eature=related

SAM WATCHES ROSIE COTTON AND FALLS IN LOVE:
Fairport Convention -- She Moved Through The Fair
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8SwU...eature=related

FRODO BOARDS THE GRAY SHIP AND SAILS INTO THE WEST
Alan Parson's Project -- Time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvwrSdMY7dQ

Okay, I have to stop myself. I could do this all day (and I'm getting angry looks).

[Lalwendë]

I wouldn't mind a look at your record collection!

Peter Gabriel, Jethro Tull and Fairport Convention have loads of tracks that just seem to fit somehow. I wonder was it a sign of those times?

Here's a few more I've thought of:

Arwen's farewell to Aragorn and retirement to Cerin Amroth:
Kate Rusby - Underneath The Stars
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=0wajspUPiQ8

Frodo & Bilbo leaving Middle-earth and Sam returning home:
Fairport Convention - Who Knows Where The Time Goes
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=n2xODjbfYw8

The scene where you forst see Mim the Petty-dwarf, running away:
Aphex Twin - Funny Little Man
No link cause I can't find one without the sweary bit at the end

In Tom Bombadil's house:
Vashti Bunyan - Lily Pond
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=uxTUQXk7PLY

[Morthoron]

Excellent choices, Lal. I particularly liked Kate Rusby. Let's add some more just for fun:

BILBO'S BIRTHDAY PARTY -- REFINED DINNER MUSIC
Waterboys -- A Set of Jigs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OUIU...eature=related

BILBO'S BIRTHDAY PARTY -- DRUNKEN DANCE MUSIC
The Pogues -- Waxie's Dargle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAufzEH0ZMY

GOLLUM'S THEME
Waterboys -- Be My Enemy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYbP5cyjDkM

THE HOBBITS ENTER BREE
The Pogues -- Dirty Old Town
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVUZuVZWHkk

[skip spence]

Eowyn going to the wars after getting rejected by Aragorn
"Shake Some Action" - Flamin' Groovies
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2Y5LKZPwV4

The blindfolds are removed in Lorien
"Aquarium" Camille Saint-Saëns
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cUhB...eature=related

Gandalf and the Dwarves escape from the Goblins
"March of the dwarfs" Edward Grieg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXH4T...eature=related

Gandalf and Bilbo sharing a pipe
"Pass it on" Bob Marley & The Wailers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvVKHUCleuk

Btw, Lalwende, I like 'funny little man'-Mim

[skip spence]

Gollum struggles with himself
Personality Crisis - New York Dolls
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ct9aBySJkRQ

Carcharoth goes on a rampage with the Silmaril in his belly
Search & Destroy - Iggy & The Stooges
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKYALsp-sIg

Arwen returns to an abandoned Lorien after the death of Aragorn
You can't put your arms around a memory - Johnny Thunders
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAhIs_DV0KA

The Witch King bails out of yet another fight
Gimme Three Steps - Lynyrd Skynyrd
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SM3jgkChV6M

Frodo sails into the West
I Shall Be Released - The Band
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1yq9HWq9rI (never mind the video w cows etc.)

Edit: Morthoron, your taste in music is quite, how should i say, Irish. :-)

[Morthoron]

Originally Posted by skip spence

Edit: Morthoron, your taste in music is quite, how should i say, Irish. :-)

Hmmm...well, considering the area where I live has a high population of families descended from Irish immigrants, it makes sense. You see, if one were a working musician (as I was for a couple decades), one was either in a rock band, blues band or an Irish band. Seeing as many bars that had rock bands playing have since gotten rid of music altogether, or worse have gone over to country music or karaoke *makes a sign warding off the evil eye*, I tended to play Irish music or blues (considering those markets generally never change formats); therefore, my career (or rather, a hobby that payed for all my musical toys and Guinness) was lengthened proportionately, as rock music is usually a young man's game (unless one has the leathery, almost embalmed, countennace of a Keith Richards).

So the first part of may musical odyssey was playing progressive rock and blues (Floyd, Beatles, Led Zep, Tull, Neil Young, Allman Brothers, Queen, etc.), the last half has been acoustic and folk driven (Waterboys, Pogues, Clancy Brothers, the Young Dubliners, Great Big Sea, and Tull and Neil Young still). Their is a violence inherent in traditional Irish music that lends itself to rock influences (as listening to the Pogues, The Dropkick Murphys or Flogging Molly makes clearly evident), and I gravitate towards that feeling. A friend once said, "I don't know why you bother using an acoustic guitar, you play like you're banging a Fender anyway." Of course this is an exaggeration...sort of.

[skip spence]

True, scrolling up I see there's quite a lot of progressive rock in there as well. I must be a priviledge working as a musician and playing live music even if it's 'only' at a pub rock level. It is indeed sad that so few bars have live bands these days (in Sweden there are none that do really). Even though I was born in the dying years of the 70's most of my favourite music is from that century (and the previous one) and I'm a big fan of many bands from that time from many different genres like rock, soul, reggae, even country. If I had to pick one I'd go for the heavy bluesbased rock a la Stones though.

To stay a little bit on topic I like your selection for Bilbo's birthday party.

[Morthoron]

Originally Posted by skip spence

To stay a little bit on topic I like your selection for Bilbo's birthday party.

Yes, although I enjoyed Howard Shore's score (and appreciate the immense amount of work he put into it), I think I would have preferred a minimalist approach to the music, with less reliance on orchestra and more on the instrumentation present in the story. But that's just me and my personal interpretation.***

***Disclaimer: Neither Howard Shore nor his orchestra were harmed in the making of this post.

P.S. How about Floyd's Wish You Were Here for the scene where Frodo orders Sam to leave, or maybe at the point where they are about to die in the lava ouside Mount Doom:

So, so you think you can tell Heaven from Hell,
blue skies from pain.
Can you tell a green field from a cold steel rail?
A smile from a veil?
Do you think you can tell?
And did they get you to trade your heroes for ghosts?
Hot ashes for trees?
Hot air for a cool breeze?
Cold comfort for change?
And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage?

[Gwathagor]

Originally Posted by Morthoron

Excellent choices, Lal. I particularly liked Kate Rusby. Let's add some more just for fun:


BILBO'S BIRTHDAY PARTY -- DRUNKEN DANCE MUSIC
The Pogues -- Waxie's Dargle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAufzEH0ZMY

THE HOBBITS ENTER BREE
The Pogues -- Dirty Old Town
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVUZuVZWHkk

I heartily, heartily approve, Morthoron.

EDIT: Wait...AND the Clancy Brothers? AND Great Big Sea? AND Young Dubliners? AND Flogging Molly? AND Dropkick Murphys? Don't tell me you also listen to Tempest, Oysterband, The Tossers, and Black 47...that would just be uncanny.

[Lalwendë]

When I read about this fabulously Gothic scene:

Now the lightnings increased and slew men upon the hills, and in the fields, and in the streets of the city; and a fiery bolt smote the dome of the Temple and shore it asunder, and it was wreathed in flame. But the Temple itself was unshaken, and Sauron stood there upon the pinnacle and defied the lightning and was unharmed; and in that hour men called him a god and did all that he would.

I hear this fabulously Gothic tune:
Sisters Of Mercy - Temple Of Love
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ROnXv7...eature=related

[Groin Redbeard]

Frodo Journey Across The Sea
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yPo1Z-HUKc

Aragorn & Arwen's Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3mptQi9k-A

[Bêthberry]

Just popping in to say that I'm really enjoying the suggestions here, especially Morth's and Lal's (haven't listned to Groin's yet). I just might get around to some of my own one of these days. Last night I watched an old DVD of the Who live and got all nostalgic for the good ole days and all my old vinyl.

[skip spence]

Originally Posted by Morthoron

Yes, although I enjoyed Howard Shore's score (and appreciate the immense amount of work he put into it), I think I would have preferred a minimalist approach to the music, with less reliance on orchestra and more on the instrumentation present in the story. But that's just me and my personal interpretation.

I enjoyed the score as well but I wouldn't say it was great. No, it was good, not great. Many Hollywood blockbusters have featured some unforgettable classical music (the Star Wars-series for example, with the Imperial March as the stand-out piece) but the LotR's OST will not be remembered for very long I'm afraid. And I'm sorry all you Enya-fans out there but to me she is the epitome of all that music should not be: ingratiating, bland and over-produced. Not that I'm seriously suggesting that Johnny Thunders should have been chosen instead, although that would have been fun.

Originally Posted by Morthoron

P.S. How about Floyd's Wish You Were Here for the scene where Frodo orders Sam to leave, or maybe at the point where they are about to die in the lava ouside Mount Doom:

Not a bad choice that although I think that undoubtedly great song suffers somewhat from over-exposure.

[skip spence]

Originally Posted by Lalwendë

I hear this fabulously Gothic tune:
Sisters Of Mercy - Temple Of Love
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ROnXv7...eature=related

Great song to dance to that. Actually, now I picture Sauron disco-dancing on top of his temple in the lightning-storm while down below his devoted black Numenorians are also shaking their booty in a well choreographed number.

[Eönwë]

Originally Posted by skip spence

The blindfolds are removed in Lorien
"Aquarium" Camille Saint-Saëns
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cUhB...eature=related

That immediately reminded me of an obvious one:

Danse Macabre- Camille Saint-Saëns

That can go for lots of things

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by Eönwë

That immediately reminded me of an obvious one:

Danse Macabre- Camille Saint-Saëns

That can go for lots of things

Maybe Gollum getting the Ring?

"Aquarium" makes me think of the Window on the West.

How about a bit of Holst's Uranus from The Planets to soundtrack scenes of Saruman doing his diabolical experiments in Orthanc, creating Rings of Power, Breaking the Light, weaving cloaks of many colours, dabbling with the palantir, corrupting the mind of Grima and telling tales to Radagast and so on.....

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=51oHwM...eature=related

[Groin Redbeard]

Dain II Ironfoot's death
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xq3a_7242Lc

I was trying to find a scene which this music could relate too but I could never get the picture of Dain II Ironfoot being killed while defending the body of his friend, King Brand before the gates of Erebor. I think the music fits his heroic death and would fitting for the death of such a dwarf.

Incase you couldn't decipher the words from the song, whether scottish or english, here they are:

Lay me down in the cold cold ground
Where before many more have gone
Lay me down in the cold cold ground
Where before many more have gone

When they come I will stand my ground
Stand my ground I'll not be afraid

Thoughts of home take away my fear
Sweat and blood hide my veil of tears

Once a year say a prayer for me
Close your eyes and remember me

Never more shall I see the sun
For I fell to a German's gun

Lay me down in the cold cold ground
Where before many more have gone
Lay me down in the cold cold ground
Where before many more have gone
Where before many more have gone

[skip spence]

Another song you might consider for Dain's last stand Groin (why do you call yourself that btw?).

Tom Petty's "I won't back down" (The cover by Johnny Cash might be even better for the occasion)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUvEouWA29o

Well I wont back down, no I wont back down
You can stand me up at the gates of hell
But I wont back down

Gonna stand my ground, wont be turned around
And Ill keep this world from draggin me down
Gonna stand my ground and I wont back down

Hey baby, there aint no easy way out
Hey I will stand my ground
And I wont back down.

Well I know whats right, I got just one life
In a world that keeps on pushin me around
But Ill stand my ground and I wont back down

[Aiwendil]

The "Ainulindale" has always reminded me of Beethoven's 9th symphony for some reason.

[Nogrod]

A Finnish composer Eino Juhani Rautavaara has composed four poems by Federico Garcia Lorca from his Andalucian series into a choir-piece "Suite de Lorca". (Our choir performed it in Cuba last November...)

I think they could make a nice sequence in to the LotR, RotK. Sadly I couldn't find any English translations from the net except the first one so I have just "rough translated" the rest myself (terrible but quick).

Every piece is like one minute long.

Just listen to them here for the feel of it or -as I suggest - read first the ideas & poems one by one before listening as they are in Spanish...

First there is Canción de jinete (The Horseman's Song) clearly depicting Boromir riding to Osgiliath with his company just to die after Denethor's "request".
(this translation is from the net)

Cordoba.
So distant and lonely.
Black little horse, and big moon,
and in my saddlebag olives.
Though the ways are familiar,
at Cordoba I will never arrive.
Across the plain, through the wind,
black little horse, and red moon.
Death keeps staring at me,
down from Cordoba's towers.
Oh, how the way's dragging on!
Oh, so patient my brave little horse!
Oh, that death waits for me,
before Cordoba will ever be reached!
Cordoba.
So distant and lonely.

Then there is El Grito (The Scream) which might both describe the coming back to Minas Tirith of the half-dead Faramir as the lightening of the beacons and the way the fires travel through the land like a cry.

The elliptical scream
passes from a mountain to a mountain.
From these olive-trees a black rainbow will rise
above the blue night.
Ayy!
Like a bow of a violin
the scream gets the long strings
of the wind to shiver
Ayy!
And the people living in caves
come forwards with their lights
Ayy!


The third one is La luna asoma (The Rising Moon) that could be seen as describing both the paths of the dead and the silent moment in the fight in the Pelennor fields when all hope was lost and the dark sails were seen coming in...

When the moon comes fore
the sounds of the bells fade
and the paths,
impenetrable, appear.
When the moon comes fore
the sea floods over the land
and a heart is like an island
in the middle of infinity.
The moon
(under a full moon no one can eat orange things)
The moon
green and icy
The moon comes fore
Hundreds of similar faces
A silver coin weeps in it's hide-out in the purse.

The fourth one is Malaguêna where the battle of the Pelennor fields are in their highest and the end finally comes.

The Death
enters
in and out
of the the taverna.
Through the deep ways of the guitar
the black horses
and the dark folks roam.
And the scent of salt
and female blood
comes from the feverish nardus
of the sea-shore.
The Death
enters
in and out
and out and in.
The death.
Through the deep ways of the guitar
the black horses
and the dark folks roam.
And the scent of salt
and female blood
comes from the feverish nardus
of the sea-shore.
The Death
enters
in and out
and out and in.
Death in the taverna.

[Groin Redbeard]

Originally Posted by skip spence

Another song you might consider for Dain's last stand Groin (why do you call yourself that btw?).

Tom Petty's "I won't back down" (The cover by Johnny Cash might be even better for the occasion)

I'm amazed that someone would even remember that song, I love it! Thanks for brining that up skip, Johnny Cash does an awesome job with the song, but it doesn't seem to fit for the tragic ending that Dain succumbed to. But it would really fit Dain's slaying of the great goblin Azog! Dain he was a very young Dwarf at the time (only 32, while Dwarves reach maturity, or "battle-readiness" at the age of 30), and it was heralded as a magnificent feat.

I call myself Groin because I typed it wrong on the keyboard. It was suppose to be Gróin Redbeard, but I messed up and I don't know how to change it. Incidentally, Gróin was Gimli's grandfather.

[Morthoron]

Hmmm...perhaps Randy Newman's "Short People" would be better for Dain's demise.

[skip spence]

Originally Posted by Groin Redbeard

I'm amazed that someone would even remember that song, I love it! Thanks for brining that up skip, Johnny Cash does an awesome job with the song, but it doesn't seem to fit for the tragic ending that Dain succumbed to. But it would really fit Dain's slaying of the great goblin Azog! Dain he was a very young Dwarf at the time (only 32, while Dwarves reach maturity, or "battle-readiness" at the age of 30), and it was heralded as a magnificent feat.

I call myself Groin because I typed it wrong on the keyboard. It was suppose to be Gróin Redbeard, but I messed up and I don't know how to change it. Incidentally, Gróin was Gimli's grandfather.

That's funny, Mr. Groin. Can't you PM an administrator and ask to have it changed though?

And yeah, I suppose that song is more fitting for Dain's life, not his ending. Then again, his ending wasn't described as tragic, rather triumphant. To paraphrase Gandalf: it was amazing he could still swing his axe with such vigour at his old age (or something like that)...

[Morthoron]

Bêthberry had suggested to me that the band Traffic would be an excellent band to add to our Middle-earth sojourn. Here are some song ideas from the gentle and extraordinarily evocative Steve Windwood (with some added help from Jim Capaldi or Eric Clapton, where applicable).

Frodo falls ill and realizes he can never truly go home:
Blind Faith -- Can't Find My Way Home
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IN1J5...eature=related

The lyrics are amazingly consistent with LotR:

Come down off your throne and leave your body alone.
Somebody must change.
You are the reason Ive been waiting so long.
Somebody holds the key.

But Im near the end and I just aint got the time
And Im wasted and I cant find my way home.

Sam pines for the barmaid Rosie
Traffic -- John Barleycorn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-q4Lv...eature=related

Sam and Frodo travel across the wasteland of Mordor
Traffic -- Forty Thousand Headmen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v12fq...eature=related

Mood piece for a rainy scene
Traffic -- Rainmaker
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lx6S6...eature=related

Bilbo and Gandalf blow smoke rings
Traffic -- Light Up or Leave Me Alone
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tZtJ...eature=related

I've been on a Robin Trower kick recently -- both before and after leaving Procol Harum (god, I love the distortion).

In Minas Morgul
Robin Trower -- Bridge of Sighs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtr9Q...eature=related

The Eagles fight the Nazgul
Robin Trower -- Day of the Eagle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRz1N...eature=related

The Battle Before Minas Tirith
Procol Harum -- Repent Walpurgis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQC7K...eature=related

[Lalwendë]

Talking of smoke rings, how about Ian Broudie's song Smoke Rings?
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=G4Q9OSG_LjA

I'm not usually that fussed on Ian Broudie, but this song would be nice and chilled out for Bilbo and Gandalf to sit and have a smook to. Incidentally, I have no idea about that video, it's the only link I could find to the song!

Here's another good smoking song. John Martyn's Solid Air:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Kg_Utj4Aljc

And while I'm at it...
Frodo saying goodbye to Sam as he leaves Middle-earth:
John Martyn - May You Never
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=LOi_wx...eature=related


I forgot....a while back I was wondering "What did The Music sound like?" and thought about Ligeti. How about this?
The Music
Ligeti - Lux Aeterna
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=NgsqLI...eature=related

[Morthoron]

I know it's off-topic, but I note with sadness that Richard Wright, keyboardist of Pink Floyd, died last month at the age of 65. In keeping with his rather reticent, introverted nature, he kept his cancer a secret (and the lack of news regarding his death seems to bear this out). In any case, I discovered an excellent double CD documenting his final concert, playing alongside his Pink Floyd comrade David Gilmour, on Gilmour's 'Live in Gdansk': http://www.davidgilmour.com/gdansk.htm

The first CD mostly covers Gilmour's 2006 solo album 'On an Island'; however, it is on the second CD that both Gilmour and Wright truly shine, and show what a wonderful legacy both men have left for rock music. The song selection is surprising (in a delightful way) and covers tunes that one usually didn't hear in a Floyd concert, particularly Astronomy Domine (from Floyd's 1st album, Pipers at the Gates of Dawn), Fat Old Sun (from Atom Heart Mother) and Echoes (from Meddle). There are also remarkable renditions of Shine on You Crazy Diamond, High Hopes, Wish You Were Here and Comfortably Numb. It is definitely a 'Headphones Only' compilation that will leave any Floyd fan completely satisfied (and the addition of the Baltic Symphony Orchestra adds an excellent extra aural presence).

Sad to say we shall not be seeing any further Pink Floyd reunions as the circle is irrevocably broken. Unheralded and hidden at the heart of Pink Floyd's dense but flowing compositions, Richard Wright was a true innovator, quiet and unassuming, but deserving of accolades. Pink Floyd, like Tolkien, was one of the pillars of my formative years, and in a very different manner than the Professor they influenced my personal journey through life (primarily in a musical sense).

So goodbye, Mr. Wright, wish you were here.

[MatthewM]

Everyone, as big of a rock n' roller as I am, loving most of those bands you listed, Middle-earth just doesn't fit in my opinion with that music. Maybe a couple of chords strung together with a serene feel, but none of those full out songs (although I love a ton of them). It just doesn't work for me. In my opinion, the only way to go with Middle-earth music is classical music. Howard Shore's score was brilliant - and I'm baffled that anybody would think otherwise --- it was perfect for Middle-earth. It's not just because I love the films and are used to them - heavy rock n' roll would have totally ruined the music of LotR.

So, with that, although it's fun to think about, I'm sticking with the classical approach - no other type of music can ever come as close as it does to the heart of Middle-earth.

[skip spence]

A few weeks ago I picked up an old Kinks vinyl, "The Kinks are the Village Green Preservation Society" and I think it has distinct Shire flavour with its unabashed nostalgia for old England. It's truly wonderful.

We are the Office Block Persecution Affinity
God save little shops, china cups and virginity
We are the Skyscraper Condemnation Affiliate
God save tudor houses, antique tables and billiards

"The Village Green Preservation Society" - The Kinks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zL9tyzE83nc


This is song from the same album called "Big Sky" I think it is a very fitting Eru Illuvatar anthem, lyrically that is. Well, actually the music is pretty divine as well.

"Big Sky" - The Kinks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiyrFSSG5_g

[Eönwë]

Originally Posted by Lalwendë

I often wish Peter Jackson had used Led Zep's Immigrant Song to soundtrack the Ride of the Rohirrim

I always thought it would work well showing the Elves' escape from Valinor (e.g. Kinslaying, crossing of Helcaraxe, burning of the boats, etc). BUt this would only work if that scene would be cut down to 2:27 (I think it is) which is far too short. So maybe not then.

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by Eönwë

I always thought it would work well showing the Elves' escape from Valinor (e.g. Kinslaying, crossing of Helcaraxe, burning of the boats, etc). BUt this would only work if that scene would be cut down to 2:27 (I think it is) which is far too short. So maybe not then.

That would be ruddy well brilliant actually

Both the story and the song stir up my latent Viking blood so if I saw that combo of scene/music on film I'd probably burn out the DVD player re-watching it over and over

[Folwren]

Oh, my, Lal! Yes, I have several songs which illustrate different scenes for me!

Michael and Jeff Dana's song The Drowning Plains is a bagpipe piece which never ceases to remind me of the Grey Havens.

And then a classical guitar piece by Rodrigo (I don't know the name) makes me think of when Frodo was poisoned by Shelob and of Sam's struggle there in the pass.

This song reminds me of the Grey Havens, too.

And many, many others. I once created an entire collection of songs depicting all the different scenes from the last chapter of the book. There were ten or so songs in all.

[Eönwë]

Another possible one could be Jethro Tull's We Used To Know for the Fellowship after the ring is destroyed.