'Microphones in Middle-earth: Music in the BBC Radio Play', Paul Smith

[Guinevere]

Last week I discovered, quite by accident, in a branch of my library in Zürich, the LotR BBC radio play.(14 CDs) I have wanted to listen to this much praised adaption for some time, so I was happy to be able to take it home and listen to it for the first time! I enjoyed it very much and agree that it is indeed very well done.

Right afterwards I read the essay on the music, while listening to the respective music on the 14th CD (only the music). Thus I could really appreciate it!

I liked most of the music, my favourite being "Gil-Galad was an Elven King" (which I already had heard previously) The Rohan themed music is also great! As for the Elvish music: for me the film music sounds more "right".
The countertenor as the eagle's voice is intriguing - when reading the "song", I never imagined it as a melody and voice, and I suppose that any talking/singing voice would seem a bit strange, but since an actual eagle's scream is highpitched, the countertenor is quite apt!
What I found downright ugly was the "Shadowfax" theme. (Too modern for my oldfashioned taste, I guess)

But

Oliver commented that he found Tolkien's lyrics 'poor' -

[Lainadann]

Oh I forgot all about that BBC one... must track it down.