Lord of the Rings... in Symphony Form... Again

 

I have long admired Johan de Meij's First Symphony.

I heard an early recording of a Dutch Military Band in 1989, and was transported away.

The work does lie on the cinematic side, where easily identifiable themes return with relish. Each movement is a portrait of a Lord of the Rings character, place, or plot and de Meij successfully exploits the singular sounds of a wind band.

One version I hadn't heard until now is the orchestrated version, here done by Henk de Vlieger, a fellow Dutchman. De Vlieger is well known to me for his arrangements of Wagner's operas without voices.

The reason I waited so long to hear this orchestral version is, in 2001, it seemed like such a money grab with the first Fellowship of the Ring film being released. The cover of this recording even looked remarkably similar to the soundtrack from Howard Shore.

Suffice to say, I do like the orchestration, no surprise, as strings with winds is generally my preference. But, I also think de Vlieger uses strings to good effect. Sometimes he gives the strings a chamber effect, and other times they add to the soaring cinematic fat of the work.

Still, de Vlieger retains many of the wind sounds I associate with certain moments of the work, those closely associated with De Meij's musical characterizations.

Thankfully, the London Symphony Orchestra doesn't underplay this work, here led by David Warble. They play it for all its worth, much in the manner of what I would expect from the Royal Philharmonic, who would seem more likely to record this music. Such as it is, London leaves nothing wanting, even if the recording is dry acoustically.

It is a fine companion to the wind ensemble original. Depending which recording you can find, it comes paired with either The Sorcerer's Apprentice by Paul Dukas or Mahler's Symphony no. 5. Some may have the work by itself, but it runs to a scant 45 minutes on its own.

 

 Listen on YouTube

 

 

Works
Symphony 1 'Lord of the Rings' (42.54)
  I. Gandalf (6.33)
 II. Lothlorien (8.02)
III. Gollum (10.04)
 IV. Journey in the Dark (8.54)
  V. Hobbits (9.22)


Performers
London Symphony Orchestra
David Warble, conductor

Label: Madacy / Disky/ Amstel
Year: 2001
Total Timing: 42.54

 

 

Not the original for concert band, but a convincing orchestration from Henk de Vlieger.

Paired with a hot performance, this one should be of interest for anyone who enjoys this cinematically tinged music.

 

 

 

 

 

Find more Johan de Meij recordings HERE!