Elven Music
 

When you read the parts in the book that describes the music of the Elves, What comes to you mind?

The singing of the Maori women always inserts itself in my mind because it is so haunting and high-pitched and feels like it comes from the land itself, while at the same time absorbing you in its intensity and richness, pulling you into the melody and abruptly bringing you back into your body witha sudden burst of strenght from the men in the back springing forth with a Haka that loses you in its layered hohonutanga.
(and there we go with the patriotism again)
Anyone who has seen a truly amazing Performance knows exactly what I mean.

Kupe te Tangata...
he whanau ki te hi ika...
E kaore nei e mau,
e kaore nei...e mau...
Te whakaro me huri ki te Tohunga...
(nga muturangi te hoariri,
nga muturangi te hoa riri)
*Chant*
Whaia te waka nei matawha-o-rua a tawirirangi, Aue...Aue...
Whakawhiti atu raukoa moana...
i reira kia tanu mea...
Ko Hine-aparangi tonu hoa,
na nga nei e tapa Aotearoa!

Good day Morgul Queen!
What you said was interesting - what comes into my mind when the books describe Elven music is soft, melodious tunes, with lyres, harps, flutes, bells...that sort of thing! [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

Well, before Howard Shore's beautiful music influenced I imagined it basically very melodius and celtic like. I do not know exactly how to explain it but, I imagined it as beuticul flowing voices in which I could not understand what was being said, yet I knew somehow...It also depened whether or not the song was supposed to be sad or happy.

Strange...

When I read the books and elven music is mentioned, I also get a sense of some sort of Celtic-type music. Perhaps it's because I am an avid fan of the genre...but the choral group Anúna basically embodies what I imagine elven singing to be like, very other-wordly, with complex harmony and pure tones. I suppose that since the Celts were a people with an almost mythical connatation, that's why I associate their music with the elves, so vibrant and full of life, but with an underlying sorrow and yearning that can bring a tear to your eye and a longing to your heart. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]
Peace

Howard Shore came pretty close to what i thought Elvish singing would be like. Not exactly cause that would just be freaky.
Its very haunting and could actually (dare i say it) mkae me feel emotional

pictured it a lot like Aniron (The theme for Arwen and Argorn) and The Lament For Gandalf. As well as the Lorien Theme.

I love Howard Shore's interpretation of elves singing, he got it just right. My favourite tracks on the TTT soundtrack are "The Leave Taking" and "Lament for Haldir".
The singing on it (and pardon the confusing descriptions) makes me feel sort of shivery and gives me a tingly feeling in my heart. The voices sound silvery and you can just imagine the singer dancing in the moonlight. *Sigh*...

I think Howard Shore did a great job with the music for LotR. I'm currently in the middle of reading TTT again, and I can really hear the music, through the book almost. Does anyone else find this? [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

Yep, every time I read it, each time the music just gets stronger.

I agree SHore's elven music is beautiful and rather haunting almost.
I would do think some elven songs are more what in the music world we say "allegro"
A bit more positive, I just think this becuase of the way elves sing at the begining in the Hobbit.

Does that make sense to anyone??

Enya. Definately Enya.

I would recommend, to anyone who wants to get into a Middle Earth mood, Vaughn Williams' Lark Ascending.

The folk duo Brobdingnagian Bards have some tributes to Tolkien and interpretations of elven music on their site at mp3.com.
Peace

Yea, Enya's beautful but Howard Shore's 'Rohan' piece was quite celtic, with all the violins. Probably he had that idea too! [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] [img]smilies/tongue.gif[/img]

I always get the impression that elven music would be Celtic like. It seems like it has a soft, melodious sound, sorta like pure silver, and a touch of saddness. It would also have quiet a bit of harp music with some flute, strings, and soft drums.

I definately agree with the whole Celtic thing and Enya also. Her voice is the kind of voice that just blends with everything...getting shivers just thinking about it. I always pictures Elvish music with lots of singing...almost ethereal, y'know? Howard shore definately did a good job. Especially with Aniron. Gonna go listen to it right now!

I think that Howard Shore and Enya read my mind when it came to what Elvish music sounded like. Enya's voice is so inherently Celtic and Elvish, that it sooths me just to listen to her "May It Be." Howard Shore's music is exactly what I thought Elvish music was like, especially in the scene from the FotR Extended DVD where the Elves are traveling to the Grey Havens. They are singing the Sindarin translation of "Snow-white, Snow-white, O Lady Clear!" Their voices are so enchanting that I become lost just listening to them.

Yes, Howard Shore and Enya worked very well. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

In May It Be, I thought Enya was singing Gaelic but then I later found that she was speaking Elvish! [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] It does sound rather like Gaelic. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

Did you know that Tolkien based Elvish on a certain form of Finnish? Just a trivial factoid...... [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]