music for LotR songs in the books - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Arwen Evenstar · 07-11-2004, 06:08 PM

I have tried composing music for the songs in the books on my piano and clarinet, but they were never very good. My brother found this midi site that has music that someone came up with for some of the songs in the books. May It Be is also there. I thought they were quite interesting. The site is www.midisite.co.uk

mark12_30 · 07-11-2004, 07:59 PM

Hi Arwen Evenstar,

You seem to share my passion for finding tunes for the songs out of the LotR books. There have been numerous approaches to this. The midi files are one approach.

How familiar are you with celtic music? There are some tunes that go with certain songs quite well. Some need a little adjusting, or only work for half the verse (Upon The Hearth is a bit tricky to adapt for.)

p. 271
I sit beside the fire and think
Annie Laurie: Maxwelton's braes are bonnie...
or: Broom o the cowdenknowes: Blythe was I ilk morn...

p. 35
The Road goes ever ever on
THe Water Is Wide
p. 76
Upon the Hearth the fire is red
Peat Fire Flame : Far away and o'er the moor
Band o shearers: Summer days and heather bells
p. 99
Sing Hey! for the bath
Lassie wi the yellow coatie
Band o shearers: Summer days and heather bells
p. 187
The leaves were long, the grass was green (Luthien)
The Lea Rig: When O'er the hills the eastern star
p. 330:
An Elven Maid there was of old (Nimrodel)
Jock o' Hazeldean: Why weep ye by the tide, lady
(Or, O my love is like a Red Red Rose)

Here are a couple of other threads you might be interested in.

[http://forum.barrowdowns.com/showthr...ge=1&pp=40]The most tolkien-oriented music you make[/URL]

Middle-Earth Music Reviews In this thread there are numerous CDs discussed that have tunes for the poems in the book. I have slowly built a selection of (almost!) all the songs in the book that I wanted to learn. THe one that I'm still struggling with is Legolas' song of the sea...

"Grey ship, grey ship, do you hear them calling?"

Nurumaiel · 07-11-2004, 09:32 PM

Helen and Arwen....

Bilbo's Song (I sit beside the fire and think...) slips beautifully into the tune of Castle of Dromore.

And the Lay of Luthien can also be sung to the tune of The Foggy Dew. It isn't a perfect fit, but it works all right.

I actually had a list of LotR poems/songs that I had put to Celtic tunes, but it's on a computer I don't have network access to... Thanks for those suggestions, Helen; I'll add them to the list... and get a guitar and tin whistle and sing and make a CD.

Maybe someday.

Arwen Evenstar · 08-02-2004, 12:05 AM

Thanks Mark12_30! I`ll have to look into those midi files.

Isowen · 08-02-2004, 04:21 AM

Thanks for letting me know about the midi site I'll have to go on it because I too play the piano! I can't seem to find Bilbo's song at the end of the hobbit (chapter 19, the last stage, pg 361) Roads go ever on! It would be great if I could find it in there. Some of the elven songs would be good to find too.

07-11-2004, 06:08 PM	#1
Arwen Evenstar Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 131	music for LotR songs in the books I have tried composing music for the songs in the books on my piano and clarinet, but they were never very good. My brother found this midi site that has music that someone came up with for some of the songs in the books. May It Be is also there. I thought they were quite interesting. The site is www.midisite.co.uk

07-11-2004, 07:59 PM	#2
mark12_30 Stormdancer of Doom Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Elvish singing is not a thing to miss, in June under the stars Posts: 4,407	Hi Arwen Evenstar, You seem to share my passion for finding tunes for the songs out of the LotR books. There have been numerous approaches to this. The midi files are one approach. How familiar are you with celtic music? There are some tunes that go with certain songs quite well. Some need a little adjusting, or only work for half the verse (Upon The Hearth is a bit tricky to adapt for.) p. 271 I sit beside the fire and think Annie Laurie: Maxwelton's braes are bonnie... or: Broom o the cowdenknowes: Blythe was I ilk morn... p. 35 The Road goes ever ever on THe Water Is Wide p. 76 Upon the Hearth the fire is red Peat Fire Flame : Far away and o'er the moor Band o shearers: Summer days and heather bells p. 99 Sing Hey! for the bath Lassie wi the yellow coatie Band o shearers: Summer days and heather bells p. 187 The leaves were long, the grass was green (Luthien) The Lea Rig: When O'er the hills the eastern star p. 330: An Elven Maid there was of old (Nimrodel) Jock o' Hazeldean: Why weep ye by the tide, lady (Or, O my love is like a Red Red Rose) Here are a couple of other threads you might be interested in. [http://forum.barrowdowns.com/showthr...ge=1&pp=40]The most tolkien-oriented music you make[/URL] Middle-Earth Music Reviews In this thread there are numerous CDs discussed that have tunes for the poems in the book. I have slowly built a selection of (almost!) all the songs in the book that I wanted to learn. THe one that I'm still struggling with is Legolas' song of the sea... "Grey ship, grey ship, do you hear them calling?" __________________ ...down to the water to see the elves dance and sing upon the midsummer's eve.

08-02-2004, 04:21 AM	#5
Isowen Haunting Spirit Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: The blackened depths Posts: 86	Thanks for letting me know about the midi site I'll have to go on it because I too play the piano! I can't seem to find Bilbo's song at the end of the hobbit (chapter 19, the last stage, pg 361) Roads go ever on! It would be great if I could find it in there. Some of the elven songs would be good to find too. __________________ I hope Butterbur sends this promptly. A worthy man, but his memory is like a lumber -room: Thing wanted always burried, If he forgets, I shall roast him.

07-11-2004, 09:32 PM	#3
Nurumaiel Vice of Twilight Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: on a mountain Posts: 1,139	Helen and Arwen.... Bilbo's Song (I sit beside the fire and think...) slips beautifully into the tune of Castle of Dromore. And the Lay of Luthien can also be sung to the tune of The Foggy Dew. It isn't a perfect fit, but it works all right. I actually had a list of LotR poems/songs that I had put to Celtic tunes, but it's on a computer I don't have network access to... Thanks for those suggestions, Helen; I'll add them to the list... and get a guitar and tin whistle and sing and make a CD. Maybe someday.

08-02-2004, 12:05 AM	#4
Arwen Evenstar Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 131	Thanks Mark12_30! I`ll have to look into those midi files.