Ever since the 1960s the composer has been working on sketches, fragments and episodes for what was envisaged as a cycle of musical works based upon The Lord of the Rings. Following on from the success of the recordings of The Silmarillion Paul was persuaded to go back to these beginnings and fully explore, expand and complete the work which has now evolved as “musical chapters from The Lord of the Rings”. This fully operatic setting has now become a companion work on the same scale as The Silmarillion. This adaptation takes place over thirty “chapters” designed to be performed over six evenings – over fifteen hours of music.
This work is currently in the process of recording by Volante Opera and it is anticipated that Prima Facie will release a demo recording of the complete cycle, in the same manner as their Silmarillion recordings, in 2025.
The professional singers, some thirty in number, come mainly from Welsh National Opera. Returning artists from The Silmarillion include: Simon Crosby Buttle as Frodo, Julian Boyce as Sam, Philip Lloyd-Evans as Gandalf, Stephen Wells as Aragorn, Michael Clifton-Thompson as Gollum, Helen Jarmany as Éowyn, Huw Llywelyn as Bilbo, Emma Mary Llewellyn as Arwen, Laurence Cole as Boromir/Denethor, Martin Lloyd as Treebeard/Herb Master, Helen Greenaway as Lobelia/Ioreth, Rosie Hay as Gwaihir, Sophie Yelland as the Barrow-Wight, Louise Ratcliffe as Lindir with George Newton-Fitzgerald and Jasey Hall taking on a plethora of roles. Angharad Morgan will also be reprising her role as Galadriel from The Silmarillion.
In this session, following on from the excerpts from The Silmarillion yesterday, the composer will play some preliminary tracks from the forthcoming recording - including some sections such as the settings of The Field of Cormallen, the opening of The Houses of Healing and the encounter between Éowyn and the Witch-king, all which will be heard for the first time in public. We hope that some of the singers involved will be able to attend the recital.
Since the earliest days of Oxonmoot, members have provided entertainment for each other in the form of Songs, Dances and Sketches.
Once again in 2023, we will combine physical performances in Oxford with online presentations from performers across the globe, all of them waiting to share their talents with you all!
At some point during the evening we will run our Costume Masquerade, providing an opportunity for the costumers amongst us to showcase their talents.
And the evening will conclude with our traditional "filking", led by Pete Clark - when everyone is encouraged to join in with singing of filk (parody) songs new and old. Words will be provided, just bring your voice!
Sit back and enjoy (unless, of course, you are performing)!
Helen Armstrong joined the Tolkien Society around 1974 from UCL London Hobbit Soc and gradually got involved with things like being Secretary, contributing occasionally to Amon Hen and Mallorn (editing one edition in 2014), and, chiefly, Oxonmoot.In the early 1980s at Oxford Town... Read More →
Pete has been involved in filking (parody singing) for three decades and was a founder member of the Oxford Tolkien Society filk band, the Taruithorn Singers. He does occasionally write and sing non parody songs!
