‘For those who only know Tolkien via the recent blood-and-thunder films, this song-cycle by Charles McCreery will give a very different angle on the classic saga. Here we find a gentle and ethereal world, where rhythms lilt and words echo. The twelve songs, suitable for choir, evoke a dreamy, water-colour landscape with no harsh sounds, the tunes are singable and in a traditional style that Tolkien would surely have approved. The opening song, The Fall of Gil-Galad, is calm, unruffled and dreamy; the Riddle Song has an Elizabethan lilt to it, while the following Bilbo’s Song has bold modulations and is just right for the words. Elven Hymn has a solid, rich quality - it is perhaps the best in the cycle. Number Ten, Ent’s Marching Song, is written in 6/8. This would have pleased Schumann who once wrote a march in 3/4! It is a catchy and enjoyable tune. Galadriel’s Song of Eldamar brings back some of the motifs from earlier songs and rounds off the cycle.’ Dr Julia Gasper, LGSM

This piece is an arrangement for voices and orchestra of one of the songs in the set ’Fourteen Tolkien Songs for Children’s Voices’. The words are from pp. 388-9 of The Fellowship of the Ring, Vol. 1 of The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien.

Music: Copyright © Charles McCreery 2010. Words: Copyright © George Allen and Unwin Ltd. 1954, 1966. From The Fellowship of the Ring, Vol.1 of The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. Reproduced by permission. Application for permission to record this work or perform it in public should be made to Harper Collins, 77-85 Fulham Palace Road, London W6 8JB, and to St. Maur Music at stmaurmusic@yahoo.co.uk

The complete, illustrated set of ’Fourteen Tolkien Songs’ in vocal score (voice parts with piano accompaniment) is available on Amazon, and includes a version of Galadriel’s Song for voice and piano: http://www.amazon.com/Fourteen-Tolkien-Songs-Childrens-Voices/dp/1492187534