A Elbereth Gilthoniel
A Elbereth Gilthoniel is an
The poem, written in iambic tetrameters, has been likened to a Roman Catholic Marian hymn. Among the musical renderings of the poem, the earliest is Donald Swann's, published in his song cycle The Road Goes Ever On, while The Tolkien Ensemble recorded four different renditions.
Text
There are three versions of this iambic tetrameter hymn, the first of which is the largest portion of Sindarin in The Lord of the Rings:[T 2][T 3][T 4][T 1]
A Elbereth Gilthoniel | O Elbereth Starkindler, |
silivren penna míriel | white-glittering, slanting falls, sparkling like jewels, |
o menel aglar elenath! | from the firmament the glory of the starry host! |
Na-chaered palan-díriel | Having gazed afar into remote distance |
o galadhremmin ennorath, | from the tree-tangled Middle-lands, |
Fanuilos, le linnathon | Everwhite, to thee I will chant |
nef aear, sí nef aearon! | on this side of the ocean, here on this side of the Great Ocean! |
A Elbereth Gilthoniel | O Elbereth Starkindler, |
o menel palan-díriel, | from heaven gazing afar, |
le nallon sí di'nguruthos! | to thee I cry here beneath the shadow of death! |
A tiro nin, Fanuilos! | O look towards me, Everwhite! |
Analysis
In
In A Elbereth Gilthoniel, scholars such as
The hymn is not translated in The Lord of the Rings, though it is described: "the sweet syllables of the elvish song fell like clear jewels of blended word and melody. 'It is a song to
The philologist
Musical settings
In 1967, Donald Swann published a musical rendition in the score of his song cycle The Road Goes Ever On, where it forms the second part of the setting of "I Sit beside the Fire". He and William Elvin recorded it on an LP record, which included a recording of Tolkien reading the prayer. The Road Goes Ever On was republished in 1978, 1993, and 2002,[T 1] and the recording was released as a CD in 1993, but it omitted Tolkien's reading.[6]
The BBC's 1981 radio dramatisation of the Lord of the Rings included a version composed by Stephen Oliver which was released as the second track of soundtrack album, which itself is included in some commercial versions of the BBC's production.[7]
In 2006,
A rendition composed by David Long with Plan 9 (David Donaldson, Steve Roche, and Janet Roddick)[9][10] is briefly heard in the Extended Edition of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, where Sam and Frodo encounter "wood elves" who are singing the hymn while leaving Middle-earth. The complete song ("Passing of the Elves" / "Elvish Lament") is included in The Complete Recordings edition of the soundtrack for the film.
The Australian composer
References
Primary
- ^ a b c d Tolkien & Swann 2002, pp. 29–31 (Swann's sheet music), 72–75 (Tolkien's guide to pronunciation and meaning), CD inside rear cover (recording, sung by William Elvin). The Tengwar is illustrated on the dust jacket.
- ^ Tolkien 1954a, book 1, ch. 3 "Three is Company"
- ^ a b Tolkien 1954a, book 2, ch. 1 "Many Meetings"
- ^ Tolkien 1954, book 4, ch. 10 "The Choices of Master Samwise"
- ^ Carpenter 2023, letter 278 to C. Kilby, October 1965
Secondary
- ISBN 9781586170257
- ISBN 978-1-61147-064-2.
- .
- ^ ISBN 978-0261104013.
- ^ Fauskanger, Helge. "A Elbereth Gilthoniel". Retrieved 23 November 2022.
- ISBN 978-0-618-39113-4.
- ^ "Music from the BBC radio dramatisation of J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the rings" [sound recording] / [composed and conducted by] Stephen Oliver". National Library of Australia and partner organisations. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
Published London : BBC Records, 1981.
- ^ "The Tolkien Ensemble". The Tolkien Ensemble. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
- ^ "A Magpie's Nest - Passing of the Elves". Amagpiesnest.com. Archived from the original on 9 October 2009. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
- ^ Donaldson, David; Roche, Stephen; Roddick, Janet (2011). "Concerning Plan 9". The Plan 9 Interview. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
- ^ "Composing: A Elbereth Gilthoniel: performed by the Sydney Conservatorium Chamber Choir". Laura Bishop. 23 December 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
- ^ "Announcement of the Vestfold International Program 2010". Sandefjords Blad. 4 June 2010.
Sources
- ISBN 978-0-35-865298-4.
- OCLC 9552942.
- OCLC 1042159111.
- ISBN 978-0-00-713655-1.