Hobbit songs

[Peggy Tatyana]

I want to learn to play hobbit music. (Elvish music is probably too subtle
and complex for me.) I'm willing to begin with the music from the FotR
movie, and branch out from there, but unfortnately the things I'm most
interested in at this point aren't on the soundtrack CD or the sheet note
book (http://tinyurl.com/ok3p). Listening to the DVD, I can't catch much
more than the first line of "Roads Go Ever Ever On." I realize that I may
have to break down and resort to composition, so if anyone has ideas about
the characteristics of hobbit (or dwarvish or elvish or human Middle Earth)
music I'd love to hear about them. The main instruments I'll be using are
harp and recorder.

I know a lot of people have done interesting stuff with Middle Earth music,
and I've found a number of websites devoted to that, but what I really want
is sheet music where I can actually look at the notes and play them. I know
that musical notation is one of the things that remains pretty hard to
publish on the web, so I'll be glad to be advised of other sources. Any
hints?

Peggy

[Paul Ciszek]

Post by Peggy Tatyana
I want to learn to play hobbit music. (Elvish music is probably too subtle
and complex for me.) I'm willing to begin with the music from the FotR
movie, and branch out from there, but unfortnately the things I'm most
interested in at this point aren't on the soundtrack CD or the sheet note
book (http://tinyurl.com/ok3p). Listening to the DVD, I can't catch much
more than the first line of "Roads Go Ever Ever On." I realize that I may
have to break down and resort to composition, so if anyone has ideas about
the characteristics of hobbit (or dwarvish or elvish or human Middle Earth)
music I'd love to hear about them. The main instruments I'll be using are
harp and recorder.
I know a lot of people have done interesting stuff with Middle Earth music,
and I've found a number of websites devoted to that, but what I really want
is sheet music where I can actually look at the notes and play them. I know
that musical notation is one of the things that remains pretty hard to
publish on the web, so I'll be glad to be advised of other sources. Any
hints?

You can buy a songbook with sheet music!
http://www.flowinglass.com/sjbk.html

--
Please reply to: | "So, what are you gonna do with
pciszek at panix dot com | that Ring, Brain?"

[Paul Ciszek]

Post by Paul Ciszek

Post by Peggy Tatyana
I know a lot of people have done interesting stuff with Middle Earth music,
and I've found a number of websites devoted to that, but what I really want
is sheet music where I can actually look at the notes and play them. I know
that musical notation is one of the things that remains pretty hard to
publish on the web, so I'll be glad to be advised of other sources. Any
hints?

You can buy a songbook with sheet music!
http://www.flowinglass.com/sjbk.html

Oh, at least one of the hobbit songs (as well as two of the elf songs)
are available online: http://www.flowinglass.com/merry.mp3

The CD itself may or may not still be available through Amazon; I found
their page a little confusing. The people who produced the CD say it is
sold out, but Amazon may have its own stock or be hawking used copies,
or both.

At least one Hobbit song ("Troll sat alone a seat of stone...") was
deliberately written to a folk tune. It will work with the American
version of "Fox is on the town", but if you can learn the English
version that would be even better.

Tolkien himself and Donald Swan collaborated on producing a songbook
called "The Road Goes Ever On" that may be back in print for all I know.

Finally, Bilbo's poem about Aragorn ("All that is Gold does not Glitter...")
scans beautifully to "Rosin the Bow" aka "Acres of Clams".

--
Please reply to: | "So, what are you gonna do with
pciszek at panix dot com | that Ring, Brain?"

[Peggy Tatyana]

Post by Paul Ciszek
At least one Hobbit song ("Troll sat alone a seat of stone...") was
deliberately written to a folk tune. It will work with the American
version of "Fox is on the town", but if you can learn the English
version that would be even better.
Tolkien himself and Donald Swan collaborated on producing a songbook
called "The Road Goes Ever On" that may be back in print for all I know.
Finally, Bilbo's poem about Aragorn ("All that is Gold does not Glitter...")
scans beautifully to "Rosin the Bow" aka "Acres of Clams".

Thanks for the suggestions, Paul! "Rosin the Bow" is wonderful. I've also
found that "The king beneath the mountains" goes beautifully with "Star of
the County Down," and "Far over the misty mountains cold" with"The Minstrel
Boy." {"Greensleeves" also works, but not as well, and it seems better to
me to use melodies that not _everyone_ will recognize right off.) I've also
found a song called "Winder Wie Est" in a collection of medieval songs that
works quiet well with "Chip the glasses and crack the plates."

Looks as if I have my work cut out for me!

Peggy

[Lindatirion]

Post by Peggy Tatyana
I want to learn to play hobbit music. (Elvish music is probably too subtle
and complex for me.) I'm willing to begin with the music from the FotR
movie, and branch out from there, but unfortnately the things I'm most
interested in at this point aren't on the soundtrack CD or the sheet note
book (http://tinyurl.com/ok3p). Listening to the DVD, I can't catch much
more than the first line of "Roads Go Ever Ever On." I realize that I may
have to break down and resort to composition, so if anyone has ideas about
the characteristics of hobbit (or dwarvish or elvish or human Middle Earth)
music I'd love to hear about them. The main instruments I'll be using are
harp and recorder.
I know a lot of people have done interesting stuff with Middle Earth music,
and I've found a number of websites devoted to that, but what I really want
is sheet music where I can actually look at the notes and play them. I know
that musical notation is one of the things that remains pretty hard to
publish on the web, so I'll be glad to be advised of other sources. Any
hints?
Peggy

Well Peggy,
based on my experiences, you can start with any kind of non-electronic
music excluding symphonic orchestra. Let's imagine you visited Michel
Delving - what kind of music you expect? In pub some loud 'easy to
sing, easy to play' songs, in old hole when adult hobbits meets again
kind of simple, not loud music, on mariage something faster and
louder... I'm just bit skeptic about harp - sound for me like elven
instrument :))
I know that some people started with 'folk', bretagne/irish kind music
- with sheets from some well known songs, but own words. Let's try!

Lindatirion
http://poetspol.web.cz

[Peggy Tatyana]

Post by Lindatirion
Well Peggy,
based on my experiences, you can start with any kind of non-electronic
music excluding symphonic orchestra. Let's imagine you visited Michel
Delving - what kind of music you expect? In pub some loud 'easy to
sing, easy to play' songs, in old hole when adult hobbits meets again
kind of simple, not loud music, on mariage something faster and
louder... I'm just bit skeptic about harp - sound for me like elven
instrument :))
I know that some people started with 'folk', bretagne/irish kind music
- with sheets from some well known songs, but own words. Let's try!
Lindatirion
http://poetspol.web.cz

Thanks for the thoughts. It's true that harps might be less hobbitish than
elven or dwarven but Hey! that's what I play. I note in my other reply to
Paul that I've found some folk tunes that I think go nicely with a few of
the poems. Maybe I'll post others as I run across them.

Peggy

[Jim Deutch]

On Wed, 24 Sep 2003 15:59:45 -0600, "Peggy Tatyana"

Post by Peggy Tatyana
I want to learn to play hobbit music. (Elvish music is probably too subtle

[snip]

Post by Peggy Tatyana
I know a lot of people have done interesting stuff with Middle Earth music,
and I've found a number of websites devoted to that, but what I really want
is sheet music where I can actually look at the notes and play them. I know
that musical notation is one of the things that remains pretty hard to
publish on the web, so I'll be glad to be advised of other sources. Any
hints?

Software is readily available to translate back-and-forth between MIDI
files and sheet music. I use NoteWorthy Composer
www.noteworthysoftware.com

I haven't googled for LotR *.mid files, though...

Jim Deutch