Elves and Music

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

But is there any basis to this in Tolkien's writing?

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Eomer of the Rohirrim

But is there any basis to this in Tolkien's writing?

Highly unlikely. Enya wasn't born until 1961, and would have been only 12 or so when the Professor passed on.
At any rate, it's all opinion as to what sounds 'Elvish' to an individual listener. For me, Enya probably is the nearest to it.

[Bêthberry]

One of the finest discussions I've ever seen of music and Middle-earth is by our own Aiwendil. A revised version of this paper will, I believe, be in Estelyn's forthcoming book on Music in Middle-earth, but for now here's the early version: A Speculative History of Music of Arda.

A really superb analysis! It taught me much about music in general as well as about Middle-earth. I can't speak highly enough of Aiwendil's thought.

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

Originally Posted by Inziladun

Highly unlikely. Enya wasn't born until 1961, and would have been only 12 or so when the Professor passed on.
At any rate, it's all opinion as to what sounds 'Elvish' to an individual listener. For me, Enya probably is the nearest to it.

Is there a basis to the ubiquitous association with that 'ethereal' kind of music, not Enya in particular.

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Eomer of the Rohirrim

Is there a basis to the ubiquitous association with that 'ethereal' kind of music, not Enya in particular.

Not to my knowledge.

[Thinlómien]

I don't really see what's so Elvish about Irish Music and Enya. Or maybe, yes, I see why it's associated with the Elves, but to me it's sounds too "clichéish" or "ordinary" or "soapy" to be truly Elvish. (But I actually liked the Enya bit Guinevere linked. ) Elvish music should be something less familiar to my (western) ear, in a way something not stained by the clichéishness that now stains this Enya-style music, something that sounds more "original"...

I can't really explain, but maybe you can listen to this. It's something I have found and associate with Elves thanks to my father, but I find it incredibly beautiful and definitely somehow Elvish (maybe more Wood Elvish than High Elvish, though.) I'm well aware that the song lasts around ten minutes, but it is really worth it to listen all of it, you can do something meanwhile and have it as background music or something, but listen to it!

[mark12_30]

Frodo began to listen.

At first the beauty of the melodies and of the interwoven words in elven-tongues, even though he understood them little‘ held him in a spell, as soon as he began to attend to them. Almost it seemed that the words took shape, and visions of far lands and bright things that he had never yet imagined opened out before him; and the firelit hall became like a golden mist above seas of foam that sighed upon the margins of the world. Then the enchantment became more and more dreamlike, until he felt that an endless river of swelling gold and silver was flowing over him, too multitudinous for its pattern to be comprehended; it became part of the throbbing air about him, and it drenched and drowned him. Swiftly he sank under its shining weight into a deep realm of sleep.

There he wandered long in a dream of music that turned into running water
...

I think that would be hard to find no matter how hard we looked.

However... I think there are other musical connections in Middle-Earth; the long, hard, sad journey tugs hard at us, and it is that, I think, that connects with Enya's "Exile". In that sense, and also in the sense that "Exile" is low on synth and high on celtic melody-- and I don't think in this case that the echo hurts either.
Enya has a few things I enjoy trmendously, and some other things that I enjoy much less. Most of the ones I really enjoy are not dissimilar to "Exile".

For me, it is not just any celtic music., but the haunting echo coming from across the hills, that tugs at Middle-Earth for me. And the tug is less from the artist than from the echo, and from the longing. Even Tchaikovsky has occasionally brought me to Middle-Earth... Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, and Nutcracker all have elvish moments in them. It's the longing.

[Andsigil]

Originally Posted by Thinlómien

I can't really explain, but maybe you can listen to this. It's something I have found and associate with Elves thanks to my father, but I find it incredibly beautiful and definitely somehow Elvish (maybe more Wood Elvish than High Elvish, though.) I'm well aware that the song lasts around ten minutes, but it is really worth it to listen all of it, you can do something meanwhile and have it as background music or something, but listen to it!

That's a nice piece of music.

I've listened to quite a bit of Jewish Baroque music (how's that for obscure?). A piece by the French-Jewish composer, Louis Saladin, contains a very nice melody and chorus, beginning in this video at about 03:05.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFkJu9bBiAs

[Pitchwife]

Sticking with the Celtic connection, many of Robin Williamson's songs, with the Incredible String Band and solo, have an elvish (or maybe rather 'faerish') feel for me, both the music and the lyrics - e.g. The Dancing of the Lord of Weir on his solo album Myrrh, a story of (quite un-Tolkienesque) elves in medieval Britain taking revenge on a (presumably Norman) knight or baron for kidnapping an elvish maiden.

[mark12_30]

Originally Posted by Eomer of the Rohirrim

Is there a basis to the ubiquitous association with that 'ethereal' kind of music, not Enya in particular.

It might not say "ethereal music", but I can't ignore the feeling from the rest of the text that the ethereal-ness of the elves would also be in their music.

Gildor:

‘Listen! They are coming this way,’ said Frodo. ‘We have only to wait.’ The singing drew nearer. One clear voice rose now above the others. It was singing in the fair elven-tongue, of which Frodo knew only a little, and the others knew nothing. Yet the sound blending with the melody seemed to shape itself in their thought into words which they only partly understood.

Before long the Elves came down the lane towards the valley. They passed slowly, and the hobbits could see the starlight glimmering on their hair and in their eyes. They bore no lights, yet as they walked a shimmer, like the light of the moon above the rim of the hills before it rises, seemed to fall about their feet. They were now silent, and as the last Elf passed he turned and looked towards the hobbits and laughed.

Hall of Fire, Rivendell:

Frodo began to listen.

At first the beauty of the melodies and of the interwoven words in elven-tongues, even though he understood them little‘ held him in a spell, as soon as he began to attend to them. Almost it seemed that the words took shape, and visions of far lands and bright things that he had never yet imagined opened out before him; and the firelit hall became like a golden mist above seas of foam that sighed upon the margins of the world. Then the enchantment became more and more dreamlike, until he felt that an endless river of swelling gold and silver was flowing over him, too multitudinous for its pattern to be comprehended; it became part of the throbbing air about him, and it drenched and drowned him. Swiftly he sank under its shining weight into a deep realm of sleep.

There he wandered long in a dream of music that turned into running water, and then suddenly into a voice.

Lothlorien, Caras Galathon:

Haldir knocked and spoke, and the gates opened soundlessly; but of guards Frodo could see no sign. The travellers passed within, and the gates shut behind them. They were in a deep lane between the ends of the wall, and passing quickly through it they entered the City of the Trees. No folk could they see, nor hear any feet upon the paths; but there were many voices, about them, and in the air above. Far away up on the hill they could hear the sound of singing falling from on high like soft rain upon leaves.

EDIT: Huh, I already had posted one of these quotes above.

Well, at least I'm consistent...