Page 2 of 3 FirstFirst 123 LastLast
Results 26 to 50 of 52

Thread: Concerning Hobbits

  1. #26
    working musician Jim Bevan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Limache, Chile
    Posts
    809

    Default Re: Concerning Hobbits

    Quote Originally Posted by DougC View Post
    I think Jim and his wife are among them.
    Thanks Doug, but no way can I go from 111 bpm to 112 bpm accurately simply because it's written in a score.
    mando scales
    technical exercises for rock blues & fusion mandolinists
    mp4 backing tracks & free downloadable pdfs


    jimbevan.com

  2. #27
    ************** Caleb's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    DFW, Texas
    Posts
    3,676

    Default Re: Concerning Hobbits

    In the box sets I own of all three LOTR films, there is a TON of extra footage I’ve never managed to make it all the way through. I’m pretty sure there is some footage dedicated to Howard Shore and some peeks behind the scenes of how he did the music.
    ...

  3. #28
    Registered User DougC's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Minneapolis, MN
    Posts
    1,875
    Blog Entries
    2

    Default Re: Concerning Hobbits.

    "The Road Goes Ever On" ...indeed. Every year when I consider a return to the movie theater madness, I find something more about the music, or the story. And I think I had seen something on TV about the London Philharmonic filmed in recording the tracks. And let us know about the 'extra footage' Caleb!

    There was hammered dulcimer somewhere in the mix. I wonder who was the player?

    Also Donald Swann of Flanders & Swann worked with Tolkien.

    And another trivia question: how many songs did Led Zeppelin write, based on Lord of the Rings themes?

    Decipit exemplar vitiis imitabile

  4. #29
    Professional Dreamer journeybear's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Northeastern South Carolina, west of North Carolina
    Posts
    15,346
    Blog Entries
    2

    Default Re: Concerning Hobbits.

    Quote Originally Posted by DougC View Post
    And another trivia question: how many songs did Led Zeppelin write, based on Lord of the Rings themes?
    I think just the one, "Ramble On":

    'Twas in the darkest depths of Mordor
    I met a girl so fair
    But Gollum, and the evil one
    Crept up and slipped away with her

    Those are direct references. As to LOTR themes, which are often expressed in general or universal imagery or terms, some may have other examples in mind.
    But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller

    Furthering Mandolin Consciousness

    Finders Keepers, my duo with the astoundingly talented and versatile Patti Rothberg. Our EP is finally done, and available! PM me, while they last!

  5. #30
    ************** Caleb's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    DFW, Texas
    Posts
    3,676

    Default Re: Concerning Hobbits

    Misty Mountain Hop.
    ...

  6. #31
    working musician Jim Bevan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Limache, Chile
    Posts
    809

    Default Re: Concerning Hobbits

    The Battle of Evermore
    mando scales
    technical exercises for rock blues & fusion mandolinists
    mp4 backing tracks & free downloadable pdfs


    jimbevan.com

  7. #32
    Professional Dreamer journeybear's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Northeastern South Carolina, west of North Carolina
    Posts
    15,346
    Blog Entries
    2

    Default Re: Concerning Hobbits

    I wonder, if you wouldn't mind too much, could you please explain the connection(s) to LOTR? Posting just the title may seem to be enough for those who are deeply immersed in the legends and the lore, but for those of us not so, it's a bit mystifying. I did some googling, and I found some people agreeing and other people disputing any connection. I can't speak to to the proponents' points, having not seen the movies since they were first-run. The opponents' main point was the imagery and terms Plant/Page used were mostly from sundry Celtic legends - thus, similar source material but not necessarily directly related. I can't sort this out; perhaps you can. Thanks.

    I'm in the middle of recording a cover, so I'm a bit more interested than usual. Fortunately, I'm just concerned with the mandolinning. The lyrics are my duo partner's lookout, and she's already laid down her tracks.

    "Misty Mountain Hop," on the other hand, needs no analysis. The only question is how much these Misty Mountains resemble or relate to Tolkien's. That's probably impossible to determine, as that phrase is merely the song's title and a short vague line in the body of the song.
    But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller

    Furthering Mandolin Consciousness

    Finders Keepers, my duo with the astoundingly talented and versatile Patti Rothberg. Our EP is finally done, and available! PM me, while they last!

  8. #33
    working musician Jim Bevan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Limache, Chile
    Posts
    809

    Default Re: Concerning Hobbits

    "The ringwraiths ride in black"
    mando scales
    technical exercises for rock blues & fusion mandolinists
    mp4 backing tracks & free downloadable pdfs


    jimbevan.com

  9. #34
    Professional Dreamer journeybear's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Northeastern South Carolina, west of North Carolina
    Posts
    15,346
    Blog Entries
    2

    Default Re: Concerning Hobbits

    Aha. Thanks. I'd seen that in references elsewhere:

    "The Battle of Evermore" is an acoustic guitar and mandolin track from Led Zeppelin's fourth album.

    It is commonly believed to be based on events in J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings' final volume, The Return of the King.

    In the most common interpretation, the Prince of Peace, who "embraced the gloom" and "walked the night alone", refers to Frodo, who left the Fellowship of the Ring and left for Mordor with only his servant and friend Samwise Gamgee for company. "The Queen of Light" who "took her bow" is taken to refer to Galadriel, a queen of the Elves, signifying that the Third Age is ending and that the Age of Men will begin soon.

    Other interpretations of how the lyrics relate to Tolkien exist: one example has the "Prince of Peace" referring to Aragorn. Probably the song's most compelling link to Tolkien is the lyric: "The Ringwraiths ride in black", a Tolkien invention.

    However, not everyone agrees that the lyrics of The Battle of Evermore refer to Tolkien's book. An extended commentary in favour of the Tolkien interpretation can be read here: "The Battle of Evermore" and Tolkien
    But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller

    Furthering Mandolin Consciousness

    Finders Keepers, my duo with the astoundingly talented and versatile Patti Rothberg. Our EP is finally done, and available! PM me, while they last!

  10. #35
    working musician Jim Bevan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Limache, Chile
    Posts
    809

    Default Re: Concerning Hobbits

    Since you're doing a cover...

    Have you heard the Wilson sisters (of Heart)'s cover?
    mando scales
    technical exercises for rock blues & fusion mandolinists
    mp4 backing tracks & free downloadable pdfs


    jimbevan.com

  11. #36
    Professional Dreamer journeybear's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Northeastern South Carolina, west of North Carolina
    Posts
    15,346
    Blog Entries
    2

    Default Re: Concerning Hobbits

    Yes, but it's been a while. We followed the original. I'd never even tried to play it before, all these years. It's in the mixing stage now, anyway.
    But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller

    Furthering Mandolin Consciousness

    Finders Keepers, my duo with the astoundingly talented and versatile Patti Rothberg. Our EP is finally done, and available! PM me, while they last!

  12. #37
    Registered User DougC's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Minneapolis, MN
    Posts
    1,875
    Blog Entries
    2

    Default Re: Concerning Hobbits

    Like epic movies, conversation travels far and wide and we've gone from a simple tune on mandolin to the London Philharmonic and now to Led Zeppelin.

    I was just 'blown away' by Rick Beato's ability to explain how famous rock songs are 'put together'. This guy is truly a wizard of Rock n' Roll. (Just found this one. Maybe he's done Battle of Evermore.)

    Last edited by DougC; Feb-13-2021 at 6:46pm.
    Decipit exemplar vitiis imitabile

  13. The following members say thank you to DougC for this post:


  14. #38

    Default Re: Concerning Hobbits

    No Mandolin but the Hobbits are charming and play magically.
    Last edited by MrMoe; Feb-13-2021 at 8:24pm. Reason: add an l

  15. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to MrMoe For This Useful Post:


  16. #39
    Professional Dreamer journeybear's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Northeastern South Carolina, west of North Carolina
    Posts
    15,346
    Blog Entries
    2

    Default Re: Concerning Hobbits

    It does seem a bit odd how a macho band like Led Zeppelin could also have this side of its persona that was so devoted to fairy tales and flights of fancy. (Simmer down, all you Tolkienists!) Not that there's anything wrong with it ... I remember listening to this back in the day, buying into the romanticized mach themes of loving and leaving and heading down the road to more adventures, and getting my head snappedback by the foray into hobbitry and Middle Earth lore. "Huh? Where did that come from?" Still don't entirely know ...
    But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller

    Furthering Mandolin Consciousness

    Finders Keepers, my duo with the astoundingly talented and versatile Patti Rothberg. Our EP is finally done, and available! PM me, while they last!

  17. #40

    Default Re: Concerning Hobbits


  18. #41
    Innocent Bystander JeffD's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Upstate New York
    Posts
    24,807
    Blog Entries
    56

    Default Re: Concerning Hobbits

    Quote Originally Posted by Caleb View Post
    But I’d bet money that most mandolins are owned by now-and-then pickers who mostly play guitar, and who probably picked it up as a novelty but went back to mostly guitar. Actual mandolin players (vs mandolin owners) are a serious minority.
    I absolutely agree. (And I do not believe most mandolin owners, players or not, have tuned into the cafe.)

    I was looking at having a luthier make me a double necked mandolin/guitar. I think it would be really cool. But it would be one of the very few where the mandolin neck would get much more wear.
    A talent for trivializin' the momentous and complicatin' the obvious.

    The entire staff
    funny....

  19. #42
    Registered User Paul Cowham's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    manchester uk
    Posts
    495

    Default Re: Concerning Hobbits

    Quote Originally Posted by journeybear View Post
    It does seem a bit odd how a macho band like Led Zeppelin could also have this side of its persona that was so devoted to fairy tales and flights of fancy. (Simmer down, all you Tolkienists!) Not that there's anything wrong with it ... I remember listening to this back in the day, buying into the romanticized mach themes of loving and leaving and heading down the road to more adventures, and getting my head snappedback by the foray into hobbitry and Middle Earth lore. "Huh? Where did that come from?" Still don't entirely know ...
    Hi Journeybear,
    I hear what you say, but perhaps it isn't that surprising, and they weren't that "macho". Jimmy Page was really into acoustic guitar and idolised Bert Jansch, Plant was a hippie and into the "fairy tales and flights of fancy" vibe, John Paul Jones was also a formal musician who was rumoured to have considered quitting the band in 1973 to become choirmaster of Winchester Cathedral, and Bonham seemed like a sensitive kind of guy. Whilst Zep inspired loads of heavy bands, they weren't just a "macho" hard rock band. Maybe their sense of machismo came from Peter Grant.

  20. The following members say thank you to Paul Cowham for this post:


  21. #43

    Default Re: Concerning Hobbits

    Quote Originally Posted by Paul Cowham View Post
    Hi Journeybear,
    I hear what you say, but perhaps it isn't that surprising, and they weren't that "macho". Jimmy Page was really into acoustic guitar and idolised Bert Jansch, Plant was a hippie and into the "fairy tales and flights of fancy" vibe, John Paul Jones was also a formal musician who was rumoured to have considered quitting the band in 1973 to become choirmaster of Winchester Cathedral, and Bonham seemed like a sensitive kind of guy. Whilst Zep inspired loads of heavy bands, they weren't just a "macho" hard rock band. Maybe their sense of machismo came from Peter Grant.
    Well, Bonzo had a bit of a heavy foot

    I was influenced by Page more than anyone I suppose - certainly in my developmental years: Performed their tunes in my middle school band; got into dadgad gtr after LZ1; started on pedal steel, banjo and mndln after LZ3; became infatuated with Jansch; and ultimately got heavily into gaelic music as result of it all.

    Yes I rocked out with a Les Paul all through my teenage years, but when zep split, I did too (from rock music) and got into acoustic music (a la Page acoustic ballads, Jansch, et al). So as an acoustic player, Page's softer side was preeminent for me.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

Name:	tumblr_n21law9kJB1s9dapxo1_500.jpg 
Views:	75 
Size:	30.0 KB 
ID:	192057  

  22. The following members say thank you to catmandu2 for this post:


  23. #44
    Professional Dreamer journeybear's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Northeastern South Carolina, west of North Carolina
    Posts
    15,346
    Blog Entries
    2

    Default Re: Concerning Hobbits

    Quote Originally Posted by Paul Cowham View Post
    Hi Journeybear,
    I hear what you say, but perhaps it isn't that surprising, and they weren't that "macho".
    Oh, I know. There are more sides to everyone and every band - well, maybe not everyone and every band - so pigeonholing them isn't fair or accurate. They did have their macho side - I mean, "Whole Lotta Love" isn't exactly sensitive singer-songwriter stuff. And their acoustic side was always with them, from the first album all the way through. The point I was making was that this particular song, "Ramble On," starts with macho themes, then goes on a bit of a journey into more airy areas. I give them credit for bringing more to the table than most. And DougC's tip on Rick Beato's videos about analyzing songs was spot-on. His exploration of "Ramble On" was phenomenal.
    But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller

    Furthering Mandolin Consciousness

    Finders Keepers, my duo with the astoundingly talented and versatile Patti Rothberg. Our EP is finally done, and available! PM me, while they last!

  24. The following members say thank you to journeybear for this post:

    DougC 

  25. #45
    Registered User DougC's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Minneapolis, MN
    Posts
    1,875
    Blog Entries
    2

    Default Re: Concerning Hobbits

    Like many others, I suppose, the acoustic side was my favorite aspect of Zeppelin.

    Rick Beato has shown that the arrangement is what makes a tune succeed. A team effort usually makes a simple, or even dumb tune, succeed. Often one or two musicians compose all of the parts and delegate the jobs to the others and if they make a good team then 'look out' it's gonna Rock!

    Zeppelin never had good lyrics in my humble opinion. (Often it did not matter, ha, ha.) But great lyrics, good poetry, does make a difference. And Beato is not shy when he says that Joni Mitchell brought him to tears. See 15:08 in the video.

    Decipit exemplar vitiis imitabile

  26. #46

    Default Re: Concerning Hobbits

    Not bad for someone who considers themself a painter first.

    Hejira - and Joni - one of my all time favorites. I heard it somewhere that she was more or less Plant's "girl out there...who plays guitar and cries and sings"? And I think Michael Hedges said that she was a prime inspiration for his guitar explorations. (I could be wrong - it's been a long time)

  27. #47

    Default Re: Concerning Hobbits

    Well I wish I could have given a more informed response to the OP here. I'm not at all hobbit-literate, nor do I watch movies anymore...(however I believe I've caught maybe a glimpse or two of LOTR as my kids have seen it all).

    I'm a student of trad Norwegian/hardanger fiddle, and up popped something in my research, so I searched and found:

    The Hardanger fiddle was used in the soundtracks of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King composed by Howard Shore, to provide the main voice for the Rohan theme. The use of the Hardanger fiddle in this movie, however, is far from traditional since the theme does not make noticeable use of the usual practice of bowing on two strings at a time for harmony as well as the fact that the violinist used vibrato, which is not traditionally used
    ...

    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-05-...akers/11100928

    I suppose it's too bad that there weren't examples of trad form, but I guess that's how it goes..

  28. #48
    ************** Caleb's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    DFW, Texas
    Posts
    3,676

    Default Re: Concerning Hobbits

    Quote Originally Posted by catmandu2 View Post
    Well I wish I could have given a more informed response to the OP here. I'm not at all hobbit-literate, nor do I watch movies anymore...(however I believe I've caught maybe a glimpse or two of LOTR as my kids have seen it all).

    I'm a student of trad Norwegian/hardanger fiddle, and up popped something in my research, so I searched and found:

    The Hardanger fiddle was used in the soundtracks of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King composed by Howard Shore, to provide the main voice for the Rohan theme. The use of the Hardanger fiddle in this movie, however, is far from traditional since the theme does not make noticeable use of the usual practice of bowing on two strings at a time for harmony as well as the fact that the violinist used vibrato, which is not traditionally used
    ...

    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-05-...akers/11100928

    I suppose it's too bad that there weren't examples of trad form, but I guess that's how it goes..
    I think the main effect that particular style of fiddle has on the Rohan pieces, is making something that's supposed to sound old to begin with sound even older. I think it works very well. There are a lot of folks on YT playing it on a regular fiddle and it does sound less ancient that way.
    ...

  29. #49
    ************** Caleb's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    DFW, Texas
    Posts
    3,676

    Default Re: Concerning Hobbits.

    Quote Originally Posted by DougC View Post
    And let us know about the 'extra footage' Caleb!
    It's definitely a "one of those days" kind of things that I intend to get to. But at this point, when my family sees me getting too close to the DVD boxset of these films, I start seeing nervous looks from people thinking that I'm yet again going to watch the films. I'm not sure what 20+ hours of extended footage would do to my standing at home. I might never recover.
    ...

  30. The following members say thank you to Caleb for this post:

    DougC 

  31. #50
    Professional Dreamer journeybear's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Northeastern South Carolina, west of North Carolina
    Posts
    15,346
    Blog Entries
    2

    Default Re: Concerning Hobbits.

    All this talk about LOTR has got me thinking it's about time for a voyage to Middle Earth. I haven't ventured there since the movies were in first release, so it's been a while. And like you, I have the box set - all the extras - which I picked up at a yard sale for the mere price of ___[deleted]___. I find the time commitment daunting. Perhaps if I were to limit myself to manageable portions over a few weeks ...
    But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller

    Furthering Mandolin Consciousness

    Finders Keepers, my duo with the astoundingly talented and versatile Patti Rothberg. Our EP is finally done, and available! PM me, while they last!

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •