Tolkein Songs to current melodies - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

***Gilthalion*** · 07-26-2001, 06:14 AM

"napsteresque" !!! If the Nomad had not already moved on (he stays too briefly in any one place!), I might have congratulated him on a fine new word! (Really, less than a week is far too little time to appreciate the Downs!) I have not lately looked for Tolkien songs on the net. I once downloaded the Professor himself singing an early version of Sam's TROLL SONG! The TOLKIEN ARCHIVES used to have a tremendous amount of material, but alas, it seems to have been cut way back! (POSSIBLE SOLUTION FOR CONTENT PROVIDERS...Bandwidth is the problem. By maintaining a large inventory of big files, a popular website also maintains a high bandwidth cost. Having a ROTATING selection, like a radio station, could ameliorate bandwidth usage...) Earlier, there was a comment to the effect of "I start singing a Tolkien song to a modern tune, but the lyrics don't fit the melody..." Naturally, one must find a suitable melody. For example fitting BOROMIR'S FUNERAL SONG to GREENSLEEVES works, barely, but one must "fit" the lyrics in, by occasionally smooshing multiple syllables to a note or two, or by extending a syllable across multiple notes. One should try to end each phrase with the ending of a stanza or a chorus. One should try to get a feel for matching the melody to the meaning, too. I haven't tried, but I imagine that some melodies from modern musicals or pop ballads would better fit than stuff off the TOP 40. (Do they still call it the TOP 40?) One could go country, I suppose, but all that sounds alike to me now. (The older stuff was better. I imagine Galadriel singing to "Crazy" by Patsy Cline, or Pippin singing "Water Hot" to the tune of "Your Cheatin' Heart" by Hank Williams...) Heh. Of course, one can RAP any poetry that has a beat... Gangsta Elves of Rivendell! <center> <a href="http://www.barrowdowns.com">Barrow-Downs</a>~<a href="http://www.geocities.com/robertwgardner2000">Bare Bones</a>~<a href="http://pub41.ezboard.com/btarostineruhir">Tar Ost-in-Eruhir</a>~<a href="http://www.geocities.com/robertwgardner2000/gilthalion.html">Grand Adventures</a>~<a href="http://www.barrowdowns.com/fanfichobbits.asp">The Hobbits</a>~<a href="http://www.tolkientrail.com">Tolkien Trail</a> </center>

07-26-2001, 06:14 AM	#8
*Gilthalion* Hobbitus Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: South Farthing Posts: 635	<BR><br><br> "napsteresque" !!!<br> <br> If the Nomad had not already moved on (he stays too briefly in any one place!), I might have congratulated him on a fine new word! (Really, less than a week is far too little time to appreciate the Downs!)<br> <br> I have not lately looked for Tolkien songs on the net. I once downloaded the Professor himself singing an early version of Sam's TROLL SONG!<br> <br> The TOLKIEN ARCHIVES used to have a tremendous amount of material, but alas, it seems to have been cut way back!<br> <br> (POSSIBLE SOLUTION FOR CONTENT PROVIDERS...Bandwidth is the problem. By maintaining a large inventory of big files, a popular website also maintains a high bandwidth cost. Having a ROTATING selection, like a radio station, could ameliorate bandwidth usage...)<br> <br> <br> Earlier, there was a comment to the effect of "I start singing a Tolkien song to a modern tune, but the lyrics don't fit the melody..."<br> <br> Naturally, one must find a suitable melody. For example fitting BOROMIR'S FUNERAL SONG to GREENSLEEVES works, barely, but one must "fit" the lyrics in, by occasionally smooshing multiple syllables to a note or two, or by extending a syllable across multiple notes. One should try to end each phrase with the ending of a stanza or a chorus. One should try to get a feel for matching the melody to the meaning, too.<br> <br> I haven't tried, but I imagine that some melodies from modern musicals or pop ballads would better fit than stuff off the TOP 40.<br> <br> (Do they still call it the TOP 40?)<br> <br> One could go country, I suppose, but all that sounds alike to me now. (The older stuff was better. I imagine Galadriel singing to "Crazy" by Patsy Cline, or Pippin singing "Water Hot" to the tune of "Your Cheatin' Heart" by Hank Williams...)<br> <br> Heh.<br> <br> Of course, one can RAP any poetry that has a beat...<br> <br> Gangsta Elves of Rivendell! <p><center> <a href="http://www.barrowdowns.com">Barrow-Downs</a>~<a href="http://www.geocities.com/robertwgardner2000">Bare Bones</a>~<a href="http://pub41.ezboard.com/btarostineruhir">Tar Ost-in-Eruhir</a>~<a href="http://www.geocities.com/robertwgardner2000/gilthalion.html">Grand Adventures</a>~<a href="http://www.barrowdowns.com/fanfichobbits.asp">The Hobbits</a>~<a href="http://www.tolkientrail.com">Tolkien Trail</a> </center></p> __________________ Please read my fan fiction novel THE HOBBITS. Wanna hear me read Tolkien? Gilthalion's Grand Adventures!