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Old 03-10-2005, 03:41 AM   #10
Evisse the Blue
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This topic puzzles me much...I like everyone's ideas, but for me the similarity between the Beren/Luthien/Morgoth trio and the Raoul/Christine/Phantom trio is only superficial. The relationship between them is totally different. Christine was somewhat attracted to the Phantom, and the Phantom despite being evil, had some kind of appeal. Morgoth on the other hand didn't, and I think no one will contradict me on that. Their motivations, as had been already suggested, were very different. Also Christine wasn't a great musician from the start, she was mediocre and she became great only under the Phantom's influence. It's a relationship of student/master and the Phantom's primal motivation is not to seduce Christine, but to relive past glory through her singing (that is actually induced by him) - I am the mask you wear, it's me they hear). Luthien on the other hand weaves her own magic on Morgoth and thwarts his will to her purpose. She's the greater musician, and being Morgoth's total opposite, defeats him by a device that he once mastered too - singing - only she does it better. The fact that he lusts after her does not affect Luthien one bit - it is probably part of the 'plan', he is unable to carry out his mischief anyway and he is completely under her spell.

How the music is treated in Middle Earth: like an instrument, I think (pardon the pun). It is a means to an end, be it a weapon or a medicine. It heals and destroys but it never takes 'center stage'. While in 'Phantom of the Opera', the music is the means, the cause and the ultimate purpose.

Note: I didn't see the recent movie PoTO. I base my judgements on the original book my Gaston Leroux. (with so many different sources, we're bound to have different opinions )

My favourite instances of musical power in Lord of the Rings are Fingon battling Sauron (the account of that gives me chills down my spine) and Luthien singing to the Valar for Beren (this one reminds me of the story of Orpheus who sang his way to the the Inferno to save Euridyke).

Quote:
However, the question on Melkor's possible music after his rebellion made me think of one style that would seem appropriate - Death Metal!!
Haha, that's flippant! But true!
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