Does anyone know what this is?

[JosephF]

I've had this mp3 for a long time, but I've never known what it was. I think it was called Lord of the Rings on my computer at one time, but I know it's not from any of the new movies, and I listened to the samples of the old animated cartoon, and they didn't sound anything like this. It's a pretty cool piece, and it drives me crazy every time I hear it because I have no clue what it is. If you could help me out, just to satisfy my curiosity, that'd be great.

http://www.postbrickfilms.com/desdichado/music/Unkown.mp3

[flight]

That's really nice. Though I have no idea what it is :cool:

[Counterpoint]

It's the first movement "Gandalf" from the Lord of the Rings symphony by Johan de Meij (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johan_de_Meij).

Havn't heard that one for a while... it's a good one!

Cheers,

- Matt

[nikolas]

How do you know all these things, Matt???

I hate you!

btw, nice avatar ;)

[nickysnd]

What's wrong with the strings in this recording?

[Counterpoint]

How do you know all these things, Matt???

I hate you!

btw, nice avatar ;)

Just lucky, I guess. :D

- Matt

[Counterpoint]

What's wrong with the strings in this recording?

Most likely there aren't any (possibly double bass, but you can't really hear it with all those reeds and brass). This sounds like the concert band arrangement.

Cheers,

- Matt

[tfishbein82]

Most likely there aren't any (possibly double bass, but you can't really hear it with all those reeds and brass). This sounds like the concert band arrangement.

Cheers,

- Matt
I believe it was written for concert band, but there is a double bass part. If you have chance to hear the whole suite, you should. It is really terrific and won several awards. I performed this twice, once on 3rd trumpet and once as principal. It's fun.

[shnurgle]

FYI, it's not uncommon for concert band to include contrabass in the instrumentation. Usually a single player.

[Counterpoint]

I believe it was written for concert band, but there is a double bass part. If you have chance to hear the whole suite, you should. It is really terrific and won several awards. I performed this twice, once on 3rd trumpet and once as principal. It's fun.

Yep, the bass part is fun too... mostly doubles the tuba. My favourite part was the 'chorale' section. Our band director would start screaming at us for more sound, so I really got to dig the bow in for that. :D

We rehearsed a couple of the other movements as well (I have a vague recollection of "Hobbits") but I've never heard the entire work. I should go track it down...!

FYI, it's not uncommon for concert band to include contrabass in the instrumentation. Usually a single player.

Yep, it's a lonely position, and you end up feeling like a bit of a novelty, being the only string instrument in a hall full of winds and percussion. Hehe.

Actually, one year there were three of us. You still couldn't hear us over two tubas, two contrabass clarinets, a bassoon, bari sax, and an army of 'bones (including one or two bass trombones) though... you get used to the idea that you're reenforcing the low end, rather than being heard distinctly.

- Matt

[tfishbein82]

We rehearsed a couple of the other movements as well (I have a vague recollection of "Hobbits") but I've never heard the entire work. I should go track it down...!


Here's an amazon link:
http://www.amazon.com/Lord-Rings-Symphony-No-1/dp/B00005UF21
and here's another (with samples):
http://www.amazon.com/Lord-Rings-Symphonie-No-1/dp/B000009Q5Q

I don't know if it's on iTunes or anywhere else.

[JosephF]

Awesome! Thanks for posting those! Yeah, I was thinking maybe it wasn't from a soundtrack, since it seems like it's just such good composition, but I can't think of a whole lot of ways that it would fit into a movie. Is the rest of the symphony as good? If it is, I want to get it! I've listened to this for a couple of years, having no earthly idea what it was.