In
Music in Middle-earth, Paul Smith (himself a counter-tenor) writes of Galadriel's song:
Quote:
...it is interesting that this solo is assigned to a counter-tenor rather than a contralto; perhaps, since the music plays in the background of the narration, an evocation of other-worldliness associated with the male alto voice was considered to be more important.
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Smith also assumes that the counter-tenor voice is used for Gwaihir
Quote:
...to evoke the otherness of the Eagle.
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and goes on to say:
Quote:
Dramaturgically, the short episodes of the aria move the action forward by framing the discovery of the sapling on Mindolluin and the acclamation of Aragorn as Elessar.
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That is interesting - normally, it is the recitative in an opera, not the aria, which moves the story forward!
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'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth..
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