Customer Reviews

At Dawn in Rivendell: Selected Songs and Poems from The Lord of the Rings

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Christopher Lee can send chills up and down your spine with his reading of the familiar "Verse of the Rings," a much-quoted piece of J.R.R. Tolkien lore lifted from the endlessly popular Lord of the Rings. His involvement with the recording of "At Dawn in Rivendell: Selected Songs & Poems from The Lord of the Rings" is a coup indeed!

The majority of the credit, however, goes to the Tolkien Ensemble, a group of musicians formed in 1995 to create "a faithful musical interpretation" of the poems in Tolkien's hallowed text. With the current Tolkien-mania surrounding the trilogy of "LotR" movies, this is a perfect time for the ensemble to share its music with the world. (There were two earlier recordings, "An Evening in Rivendell" and "A Night in Rivendell," released respectively in 1997 and 2000. A fourth CD is planned.)

The ensemble is made up of Danish musicians, obviously with a classical background rather than folk. That is, perhaps, the only failing here -- the courtly air works on some tunes, particularly the elvish ones, but I would imagine a more relaxed, less operatic feel for songs sung by hobbits and the merry Tom Bombadil. But no one could gainsay the excellent musicianship here; the ensemble clearly knows its music, and the stately arrangements have a distinctly period air.

Caspar Reiff and Peter Hall and their Tolkien Ensemble are back conjuring magick! And this time with a white wizard aiding them. It was a stroke of genius to capitalise on the multi-talents (often ignored) of the wonderful Chris Lee. The attempt to put Tolkien's poetic works to music is an inspired undertaking, but to bring in Lee (the films' Saruman) was brilliant choice all around. He has a a beautiful voice (and if you think he cannot sing, you certainly missed The Wickerman!), that lends itself well to poetry and song. His readings are breathtaking, chilling and work so well with the moody, atmospheric scores. It beautiful, provocative and a must for the lovers of the films, books, the Tolkien Ensemble and a gem for lover of Christopher Lee.

"At Dawn In Rivendell" is the third album for Peter Hall, Caspar Reiff and the Tolkien Ensemble - and behold! They are joined by intelligent, deep-voiced British actor Christopher Lee. Being a collector of Tolkien-related matters, I had already learned that Lee would rather have become a singer than an actor. This album must have been a little like a dear wish come true for him. (He also sings on the soundtrack for The Wicker Man - however, hardly more than three lines.)

The Tolkien Ensemble's first album "An Evening In Rivendell" counts as the pivotal body of music in my - none too exhaustive - Tolkien-music collection. I rank it higher than any Howard Shore film-soundtrack, "which is sayin' a lot." I hold this album in very high regard as well, yet on slightly different grounds.
The first album reached its height by force of composition: the music and songs alone sufficed. By now... they have resorted to trickeries. If this sounds demeaning, it isn't meant as such: the compositions are still top-notch. But bringing in Lee is - besides wonderful and splendid - a miracle of a publicity stunt. Lee sings well, and "Treebeard's Song" is my favourite song of the album. There are also reprises of earlier records, which isn't entirely creative, but presenting "The Old Walking Song" from the first album as a hidden bonus track humours me deeply.

As said, overall, the album simply doesn't jump as high and far as the earlier albums. Perhaps they have already spent their most inspiring poems, or they are running low on them. Look at it from that angle, and Lee serves to mask these shortcomings. "There's an eye-opener and no mistake!" Surely not! Not the Tolkien Ensemble!

Nevertheless, this album gets four stars. Why? Well, despite my somewhat negative tone, these people are still making the absolute essential Tolkien-music in the field. Just make sure you buy the former two albums for comparison. I eagerly await a fourth.

Bram Janssen
The Netherlands

On each of The Tolkien Ensemble's discs, there has been one song that is worth the price of the disk, and this time it's The Lay of Nimrodel--an exquisite lute-song, sounding like an Elizabethan composer wrote it. Aragorn's Song of Gondor would be as good, but for an unfortunate choice by the composer to start the repeat in the middle of a phrase (it doesn't need a repeat at all, and without it would be about as good the Lament of the Rohirrim, the excellent song on the Night in Rivendell disc).
But why have the same singer (baritone Morten Ernst Lassen, who does wonderfully with Aragorn's songs on all 3 discs, just the occasional slip with pronunciation let you know he's not a native speaker of English) sing Eomer's song? This song is the biggest disapointment on the disc-- a slow contemplative dirge in the middle of a battlefield?
The hobbit songs are fun, although the voices chosen just don't sound (to me anyway) as if they were Little Folk, and Pippin should be younger-sounding, too. The Farewell Song of Merry and Pippin is wonderful, however--vigorous and enthusiastic.
Christopher Lee's recitations, when they are portentious, doom-laden exerpts like the Verse of the Rings and Malbeth the Seer's Words are perfect. But Bilbo's warning of winter and Gandalf's Riddle of the Ents need a lighter touch. The Long List of the Ents is a lot of fun.
In short, a lot of variety, some really good tracks and some to just skip over and try to forget. The good ones outnumber the bad by a wide margin, so --4 stars.

The Tolkien Ensemble has been creating the most atmospheric Tolkien settings on disc - and some of the best and most exquisite - using an approach formed from an effective combination of folk and classical music.

At Dawn in Rivendell strikes me as superior to its predecessor, A Night in Rivendell, and in some ways even better than the first album of the three, An Evening in Rivendell. Mostly somber in air, despite some lively hobbit songs, it offers fine music well sung. A few tunes aren't going to evict from one's mind settings of the same poems by the Hobbitons or Broceliande, but they're still fine and keenly done. I liked little touches like the unexpected rhythms in "The Bath Song" and the setting of "Song of Nimrodel" with lute. (The tune is quite unlike genuine Renaissance lute songs, but the lute accompaniment is very much in period.)

Christopher Lee's recitation of several poems not set to music fits in well. Usually accompanied by a choir holding low notes as a somber background, Lee makes a vivid addition. His deep voice is perfectly suited to the Ring-verse and Boromir's riddle, though his acting is perhaps a bit hammy. As a special treat, Lee performs Treebeard's two songs, rhythmically talking his way through most of them, a la Rex Harrison, with the instruments holding the tune. But in parts of "In the willow-meads" he actually sings. Perhaps not too well, but perfectly in character for Treebeard.

Of the half-dozen excellent musical albums of Tolkien settings created to date, the Tolkien Ensemble has made half of them. They have particularly captured the smell of Elves, so absent from a certain series of films.

First - a short complaint. As a very large fan of the Tolkien Ensemble (and owner of both 'Evening' & 'Night' - both highly recommended) I would like to point out that, of 20 songs, Christopher Lee "narrates" 7 1/2! (Meaning, of course, that the only singing involved is a choir humming "Ahh..." in the background- if that) Mind you, this is no complaint *against* Mr. Lee - his voice is perfectly given to the narration, deep, booming, powerful (and you can't help but love those rolled 'r's). My complaint is that he doesn't sing more! What a lovely *deep* bass voice - with such a talented group of composers, they could've come up with more tunes for the 'narrated' songs.
Now, on to business - little matter whose face is plastered over the CD cover or whose name is bigger - this album is pure Tolkien Ensemble. From the urge to dance when the hobbit songs arrive to the swell of your chest during the Elvish numbers, they know their Tolkien and this CD is well worth checking out.
Special kudos to "Song of Gondor", all the hobbit numbers (and there are several here! Hoorah!), "Treebeard's Song" (Bravo to Mr. Lee!), and "A Walking Song [II] / Elven Hymn to Elbereth Gilthoniel [III]" Wow. What a beautiful arrangement - these two songs, combined, beautifully capture the feel and emotion of the last chapter of the book - you honestly feel as though you are riding along with Frodo and Sam journeying with the Elves to Grey Havens - to the Sea and their home in the Undying Lands. Signe Asmussen as Galadriel, as always, turns in a gorgeous performance as a chorus of Elves sing beneath her. (And, I will note, Galadriel's part of the Elven Hymn is reminiscent of "I Sang of Leaves"... how *very* appropriate. Tolkien would approve) What a glorious finale - touching and stirring.
Also, be careful not to turn off the CD early - about 30 seconds after the last track ends and you see the Ringbearers across the waters, Bilbo's voice for the last time sings the familiar (and oh! so wonderful) tune of "The Road Goes Ever On and On". I nearly felt like crying. Such a sweet way to end the trilogy.
The missing star is given for the effusion of 'narrated' songs, "Eomer's Song" (which, as was noted in another review) is not a heroic war cry as it should be, but rather a slow lament (very odd, as this is the first song I've heard them do which I felt was not in character), "Song of Nimrodel" which I felt was slightly too 'rustic', rather than ethreal, "A Drinking Song" (which, granted is no fault of theirs - I just happen to prefer Peter Jackson's version of the song, even if the lyrics aren't *exactly* Tolkien canon), and I still prefer "An Evening in Rivendell" to this one. However, the jury is still out on whether this tops "A Night in Rivendell" for second...

The songs in this collection carry a deep appropriateness to the mood and intention of the great story revealed by Tolkien. They were produced independantly of the movies, but do not clash with the fine music found in the movies. Rather, they are rich with an effect of songs retained from a lost age. I especially like the way that the Elven Hymn to Elbereth Gilthoniel (distinct from other versions produced by the Ensemble) begins within the preceding song - the Walking Song of the Baggins clan. This is just as it occurs in the book, when Frodo and Sam are walking in the woods (towards the Grey Havens). And the elven music is almost as lovely as it must have been, in person at the beginning of the Fourth Age!

This CD was purchased just for the fun of it. I had no idea it would become one of my favorite records to play. The Drinking Song and Bath song are so folk-like and "Hobbit-y". I sing them all around the house. My favorite is Treebeard's song. The way it was written really brought Fangorn to life and sounded as if I too could here the sighing of leaves in the autumn. This disc is finished by A Elbereth Gilthoniel, a gorgeous, very elven interpretation of the poem in the books. And if you keep listening after the final strains of 'the starlight on the western sea' you will here Bilbo sing the road goes ever on (a good song, though I like the one in the film better.
GOOD CD!

Christopher Lee's poetry readings are marvelous, dark and foreboding, and full of import. He lives up to his reputation here; enough said...

The music: I have heard it called operatic. Not quite. This is folk music. But it is Danish folk music, and for the hobbit sections at least, I find that strange. It is a Danish interpretation of a culture that Tolkien clearly stated was English. I would have preferred a more English style; barring that, something from the British Isles would have made more sense. Shetland music shows this Danish influence, but the Shire is not patterned after the Shetlands.

I will group the songs by character.

Treebeard's songs are pleasant enough. Since I never had any urge to sing them myself, I have little comment.

Galadriel's A Elbereth Gilthoniel is exquisite.

The presentation of Frodo's songs disappointed me. There is a "technique" sometimes referred to as Scooping, Sliding, or Cheating: basically, too many slurred grace notes. That technique is used on this album by the singer performing Frodo's songs. I find it annoying and unpleasant. It makes the tune terribly difficult to follow; nor do I think Frodo would have had that style. One reviewer called it "bumptious". I will fight through the songs to try and learn the tunes, but I don't enjoy hearing them. I think the simplified, basic tunes will be good once the slidy, slippery grace notes are gotten rid of.

Pippin's songs are fine! Enjoyable, pleasant, easy to follow, no nasty slidy grace notes... The Bath Song is good; the Farewell Song is good. Well done.

Eomer's song, in my opinion, is a travesty. Instead of a fiery-dark Nordic battle-cry, it has been turned into a keening lament more suited to a destitute Irish widow than a fiery Nordic war-general. From The Battle of the Pelennor Fields: "These staves he spoke, yet he laughed as he said them. For once more lust of battle was on him; and he was still unscathed, and he was young, and he was king: the lord of a fell people. And Lo! even as he laughed at despair he looked out at the black ships, and he lifted up his sword to defy them." The presentation of Eomer's song does not capture the defiance of that moment at all. I always skip this song.

The Song of Gondor took some getting used to; haunting, but with a challenging tune. However, by the third time hearing it, I was humming it afterwards. Well done.

Song of Lebennin: again, takes a little getting used to, but it soon becomes addictive. Now, I love it; haunting and meditative.

I saved the best for last: Song of Nimrodel is wonderful! Gently sung in a velvety smooth tenor voice, tastefully accompanied on guitar. It is marvellous. It makes me imagine that I am in Lorien, and one of the hobbits has said, "Legolas-- that song about the singing stream, let's hear it again." It was worth the price of the album.

The Tolkien Ensemble knows what they're doing. How ingenius of them to add the legendary Christopher Lee to the mix of folk-Celtic ditties about our beloved Middle Earth. Even though Mr. Lee has a tough time of singing in parts (that's a given...he's in his early 80s for crying out loud!), his voice is so majestic and graceful on the spoken parts...wow....wow....WOW! :) The music is great too.....it's like Enya without the etheralness. This is a really great CD that deserves its place beside Howard Shore's LOTR soundtracks. I highly recommend the Tolkien Ensemble...you won't be disappointed! And one thing I do want to know: When's Christopher Lee's solo album coming out??!??? I'd be the first in line for that one! He'd beat the pants off of Pink any day! You go Chris!! *g*