"A Speculative History of the Music of Arda", Steven Linden

[Morthoron]

Originally Posted by Estelyn Telcontar

The one piece of music we have that came directly from Tolkien is his melody for Galadriel's "Namarië", which is in the western tradition, but certainly not "classical" - it is Gregorian chant. However, like language, this is our "translation", and the original could have been considerably more exotic. Perhaps some Asian influence could be imagined for Elven music.

I suppose it depends on your take of Tolkien's intentions. Certainly, one may take the artificial view that the lyrics and musical intention of Tolkien's songs were 'translations' of older, more exotic and arcane musical forms. However, I take Tolkien's poetry as I find it -- and I see his songs, particularly that of the Hobbits, as chanteys, ballroom ballads and English doggerel verse with which he would be most acquainted with throughout his life in and about the U.K. In addition, it is no coincidence that 'Namarië' is in the form of a Gregorian Chant, immersed as Tolkien was in the pre-Vatican II Roman Catholic Church. The plainsong chants' Latinate form and soaring monophony would certainly have inspired Tolkien in his youth and stuck with him as the vernacular musical form of Elves.