I have reposted this video with a small change to the artwork.
This music tells a story. If you want to get the whole story, please watch to the end. This is one of the most well known scenes in Tolkien’s legendarium, Luthien dancing in the Forest of Neldoreth and Beren watching her dancing while hidden, immortalised by the poem that Strider tells to the hobbits at Weathertop to buoy their spirits. This takes place in SilmFilm S6 E4 across a number of scenes and this piece acts as the soundtrack for these scenes. As there is no script for this episode, I have based it entirely on the text from nearly every source that we have for the story, and deviates from the SilmFilm script outline, but I have tried to keep its broad form. It begins at the beginning of the episode when Beren wakes after his dash to escape Nan Dungortheb and to cross the confusion of the Girdle and ends when Beren and Luthien have bound themselves to each other.
It starts with a human lost in Faery. Musically, it has the same pattern for elves that I established in The Light in the West and Athrabeth Finrod Ah Andreth by using lots of notes by different instruments with no set patterns, in Lydian mode which is a major chord followed by the next highest major chord. This pattern repeats lending the music a dream like quality with high woodwind and instruments such as glockenspiel, celeste, and high strings. As Beren explores the forest we hear fragments of the Teleri theme who have become the Sindar. The dreamlike quality continues as a piccolo comes to the fore, playing a jaunty tune, which is a major version of the Words of Mockery song from Season 3. When Luthien and Beren’s eyes meet, the music fades and we hear the Athrabeth theme, the combination of latter parts of the Human and Elf themes meshing in harmony as their doom is set, sung by female voices for the Elf part and male voices for the Human part, imitating Luthien and Beren’s own voices.
The music shifts suddenly to a lively and playful piece which is a variation of Evanescent Lightsomeness. This is the first time we have heard this theme which symbolises the concept of “laughter and joy which fades all too soon.” This section is introduced by the french horns and plucked strings with the melody carried by flute and celeste, as we are still in Faery. Second time through the melody shifts to the French horns with supporting trumpets.
Following this is a piece signifying doubtfulness. The text illustrates Beren’s internal struggle, while in the SilmFilm Episode Outline, the doubt is from Luthien and Daeron as Beren is in the process of healing from his wounds. The strings carry this in the high registers with lots of second and fourth sustained chords. Flute and oboe join on the repeat symbolising Luthien’s voice as she joins in Beren’s doom.
We return at the end to the Athrabeth theme, this time following through to its ending with voices taking on Beren and Luthien’s Human and Elvish roles. Timpani is introduced with light rolls giving this repetition more gravity. The two fall in love and commit to each other and accept the doom of their two kindreds joining and the challenges this will bring. The final chord is unresolved, staying on the fourth chord, denying the resolution of the tonic until much later in the story (in another video yet to come).
As always, I need to acknowledge the artwork that I have used to back the piece. Permission has been sought for all images. They are:
Flow of Energy by John Peter at www.deviantart...
Enchanted by John Peter at www.deviantart...
AI generated image “a man lies on his back in an enchanted forest” by זיוז-י-ו at www.prompthunt... זיוז-י-ו
Elven Forest 3 by JK Roots at www.deviantart...
The Woods by Ninerio at www.deviantart...
Ghost Lights by Scenes By Colleen at www.deviantart... or
www.scenesbycolleen.com
Enchanted Forest by Adam Varga at www.deviantart...
Feet as Light as Linden Leaves by Victoria Clare at www.deviantart...
Luthien and Daeron by Anke Eissmann at anke.edoras-art...
Beren a Luthien by Sarka Skorpicova at www.deviantart...
Encounter of Beren and Luthien by Elena Kukanova at www.deviantart...
Tinuviel Tinuviel by Helen Kei at ht tps://www.deviantart.com/helenkei
Luthien by Ted Nasmith at www.tednasmith...
Beren and Luthien by Ralph Damiani at www.deviantart...
Luthien Tinuviel by Sarka Skorpicova at www.deviantart...
Luthien and Beren by Nienor at www.etsy.com/shop/EsotericBunnies
Beren and Luthien by Peet at www.deviantart...
Beren and Luthien by Heylenne at www.deviantart...
24 сен 2024
