Journey Through Middle Earth
So this is my epic Middle Earth fanmix for Waywardmixes' Places challenge.
So, I heard this theme and knew I had to go with Middle Earth. Because when I think of places that I think music can evoke, Middle Earth locations are what I think of. But I couldn’t just pick one. So I ended up creating this epically long mix about all my favorite Middle Earth locations and totally got really carried away. What I tried to go for was to capture the feeling of Middle Earth and all the different types of places there. I stuck specifically to locations we actually see and learn about in either Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit, even though some of the most interesting places I think are more specific to the Sillmarillion (someday I’m going to make Angband and Numenor mixes). I ended up having to cut it in half, so the other half will be in the social post.
So Middle Earth, for those of you who don’t know, is the world created by Tolkien that is seen in his works such as Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit. Its supposed to be our world, but way, way, way in the past before recorded history (the end of the Third Age, which is the age both LOTR and The Hobbit take place in, is about 6000 years before us). More specifically, Middle Earth refers to a single, central continent. Tolkien’s works are basically the classic high fantasy. You have elves and dwarves and orcs and magic and epic events. And you have epically powerful beings doing epically powerful things (although actually a lot of the themes are about small, ordinary people being important and ultimately saving the day).
So the basic plot (in a very, very short version) is that you have this evil guy, Sauron. Sauron made a ring because he likes power, control, and corrupting things. So he puts a lot of his own power into the One Ring. Only an alliance of men and elves manages to defeat him, and Isildur the son of the king cuts it off his finger. So Sauron disappears and everyone thinks he is gone. Isildur should destroy the ring, but he doesn’t. So thousands of years later, Sauron is back. And Gandalf the wizard discovers that the One Ring is in the Shire with a Hobbit named Bilbo. He convinced Bilbo to give the ring to his nephew Frodo and convinces Frodo to get the ring out of the Shire. Eventually a Fellowship is formed to take the ring to Mordor, Sauron’s land, and to destroy it in the volcano where it was forged. Along the way the Fellowship splits and different groups have their own adventures. Eventually Frodo along with Sam get to Mordor. Only he can’t throw the ring into the volcano because no one has the willpower to do so. Except Gollum, who had previously been corrupted by the ring, takes it from him and then falls in. So the One Ring is destroyed. Aragorn is crowned king of Men. The Elves all leave Middle Earth for the Undying Lands, and Frodo and eventually Sam goes with them. Its totally a whole lot more awesome than this nutshell summary makes it sound.
Anyway, I also have a short blurb explaining the location for each section. I tried to capture the feeling of the locations in the songs I chose, so this is all either instrumental music or very atmospheric songs. And I only included one song from the movie scores. So here are 60 tracks that evoked for me the great places of Middle Earth.
I went for 8tracks because its so long, but if anyone wants a download link just let me know and I'll make one.
8tracks: http://8tracks.com/philstar22/beauty-and-shadow
Tracklisting:
- Elegia-Adiemus
- The emigration tales- Loreena McKennitt
- Dawn- Jeremy Soule
- Breathe- Two Steps From Hell
- The Legend Begins- Marc Streitenfeld
- The Sun in the Stream- Enya
- Lelianna’s Song
- Lokasenna- Brian Tyler
- Nightsong- Russell Brower
- Song of Aeolus- Adiemus
- Join the Grey Wardens- Inon Zur
- Black Cauldron- Audiomachine
- Bring The Pain- Brand X Music
- Shadow of Evil- Russell Shaw
- Blood and Glory- Audiomachine
- Aesir- Two Steps From Hell
- Requiem for a Dream- Clint Mansell
- Hell’s Battalion- Audiomachine
- O Fortuna- Carl Orff
- Asimov- Two Steps From Hell
- Journey to Asgard - Brian Tyler
- Strength of A Thousand Men- Two Steps From Hell
- Army of Kings- Audiomachine
- Protectors of the Earth- Two Steps From Hell
- Pompeii- Clinton Shorter
- Mhysa- Ramin Djawadi
- Below My Feet- Mumford and Sons
- Down by the Salley Gardens- J
- Fate and Destiny- Patrick Doyle
- The River Sings- Enya
- My Land- Secret Garden
- The Legend Begins- Audiomachine
- Cymbeline- Loreena McKennitt
- Now We Are Free- Enya
- Heart of Courage- Two Steps From Hell
- The Passing of the Elves- Howard Shore
- How Can I Keep From Singing- Enya
Rivendell:
Rivendell, known as the Last Homily House, is home to elves led by Elrond. It is located at the edge of a gorge of a river. It was founded during the Second Age. It was a place of safety and refuge, protected by the power of Elrond and the ring Vilya. It was not, however, enough to keep the One Ring from Sauron so the Fellowship sent out from Rivendell to destroy the ring. Here I went for feelings of safety and beauty.
Elegia- Adiemus
The Emigration Tales- Loreena McKennitt
Dawn- Jeremy Soule
Breathe- Two Steps From Hell
The Legend Begins- Marc Streitenfeld
Lothlorien:
Lothlorien is the home to Galadrial end Celeborn. It is considered the fairest forest realm in Middle Earth. It is the center of Elven resistance against Sauron. It is located in a forest area between two rivers to the east of Moria. The city of Caras Galadhon is located in the middle of it, close to the eastern border. The city is built into, on, and on top of the trees.Here I kept the feeling of beauty but went for a more mystical tone.
The Sun in the Stream- Enya
Lelianna’s Song
Lokasenna- Brian Tyler
Nightsong- Russell Brower
Song of Aeolus- Adiemus
Mordor
Mordor is the home of Sauron, dark lord and villain of the Lord of the Rings. Mordor is surrounded on three sides by mountains, making it difficult for attackers. The Black Gate was built across the the pass into Mordor. Oroduin, or Mount Doom is the volcano where Sauron created the One Ring. Barad-Dur, the tower that Sauron built as his fortress is the other distinct feature. The southern part of Mordor is more pleasant and fertile on account of the volcano. Here I went for much darker darker, more menacing tones. There is a bit more percussion to some of the songs.
Join the Grey Wardens- Inon Zur
Black Cauldron- Audiomachine
Bring The Pain- Brand X Music
Shadow of Evil- Russell Shaw
Blood and Glory- Audiomachine
Isengard:
Isendard was the fortress of Saruman. It was originally built during the Second Age by exiled Numenoreans. It is located in the north-west corner of Rohan. Isengard was originally a green and pleasant place until Saruman decided to tear it all down to build an army and "improve" things. One of Tolkien's biggest themes is that you can't improve on nature. He witnessed firsthand the bad parts of industry and believed its destruction of the land was never a good thing. Here I tried to evoke a bit of a steampunk feel because Isengard is all about industry. Its dark, but not quite as dark as the Mordor section.
Aesir- Two Steps From Hell
Requiem for a Dream- Clint Mansell
Hell’s Battalion- Audiomachine
O Fortuna- Carl Orff
Asimov- Two Steps From Hell
Gondor:
Gondor is one of the kingdoms of Men in Middle Earth. Gondor was founded by Isildur and his brother. It is located in the western part of Middle Earth. Gondor was originally a great kingdom but declined during the Third Age. Its capital is Minas Tirith, the White City. Gondor was the closest land to Mordor and as such served a protector role. It was all that stood between Mordor and the other lands of Middle Earth. Much of Return of the King deals with Gondor and its restoration to some of its former glory. Here I went for two feelings. I focused on the majesty of Minas Tirith and the feeling of royalty as well as Gondor's role as protector.
Journey to Asgard- Brian Tyler
Strength of A Thousand Men- Two Steps From Hell
Army of Kings- Audiomachine
Protectors of the Earth- Two Steps From Hell
Pompeii- Clinton Shorter
Mhysa- Ramin Djawadi
The Shire:
The Shire is the home of the Hobbits. It is fairly isolated and removed from the rest of Middle Earth. It is located in the northwest. It is a beautiful place with fruitful land and small forests. The Hobbits created a vast agricultural system without any industrialization whatsoever. Here I went for a homey, restful feel.
Below My Feet- Mumford and Sons
Down by the Salley Gardens- J
Fate and Destiny- Patrick Doyle
The River Sings- Enya
My Land- Secret Garden
The Legend Begins- Audiomachine
The Undying Lands:
The Undying Lands are the ultimate home of the immortal elves. It was originally part of Middle Earth, but during the second age it was removed so it would be beyond the reach of Mortal Men. Mortals could only go there with special permission. Elves could still sail there if the choose, and in the end most of them chose to. It is also where Frodo and ultimately Sam ended up because of the harm the suffered from the One Ring. I tried to evoke feelings of endings, healing, and joy.
Cymbeline- Loreena McKennitt
Now We Are Free- Enya
Heart of Courage- Two Steps From Hell
The Passing of the Elves- Howard Shore
How Can I Keep From Singing- Enya
So, I heard this theme and knew I had to go with Middle Earth. Because when I think of places that I think music can evoke, Middle Earth locations are what I think of. But I couldn’t just pick one. So I ended up creating this epically long mix about all my favorite Middle Earth locations and totally got really carried away. What I tried to go for was to capture the feeling of Middle Earth and all the different types of places there. I stuck specifically to locations we actually see and learn about in either Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit, even though some of the most interesting places I think are more specific to the Sillmarillion (someday I’m going to make Angband and Numenor mixes). I ended up having to cut it in half, so the other half will be in the social post.
So Middle Earth, for those of you who don’t know, is the world created by Tolkien that is seen in his works such as Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit. Its supposed to be our world, but way, way, way in the past before recorded history (the end of the Third Age, which is the age both LOTR and The Hobbit take place in, is about 6000 years before us). More specifically, Middle Earth refers to a single, central continent. Tolkien’s works are basically the classic high fantasy. You have elves and dwarves and orcs and magic and epic events. And you have epically powerful beings doing epically powerful things (although actually a lot of the themes are about small, ordinary people being important and ultimately saving the day).
So the basic plot (in a very, very short version) is that you have this evil guy, Sauron. Sauron made a ring because he likes power, control, and corrupting things. So he puts a lot of his own power into the One Ring. Only an alliance of men and elves manages to defeat him, and Isildur the son of the king cuts it off his finger. So Sauron disappears and everyone thinks he is gone. Isildur should destroy the ring, but he doesn’t. So thousands of years later, Sauron is back. And Gandalf the wizard discovers that the One Ring is in the Shire with a Hobbit named Bilbo. He convinced Bilbo to give the ring to his nephew Frodo and convinces Frodo to get the ring out of the Shire. Eventually a Fellowship is formed to take the ring to Mordor, Sauron’s land, and to destroy it in the volcano where it was forged. Along the way the Fellowship splits and different groups have their own adventures. Eventually Frodo along with Sam get to Mordor. Only he can’t throw the ring into the volcano because no one has the willpower to do so. Except Gollum, who had previously been corrupted by the ring, takes it from him and then falls in. So the One Ring is destroyed. Aragorn is crowned king of Men. The Elves all leave Middle Earth for the Undying Lands, and Frodo and eventually Sam goes with them. Its totally a whole lot more awesome than this nutshell summary makes it sound.
Anyway, I also have a short blurb explaining the location for each section. I tried to capture the feeling of the locations in the songs I chose, so this is all either instrumental music or very atmospheric songs. And I only included one song from the movie scores. So here are 60 tracks that evoked for me the great places of Middle Earth.
I went for 8tracks because its so long, but if anyone wants a download link just let me know and I'll make one.
8tracks: http://8tracks.com/philstar22/beauty-and-shadow
Tracklisting:
- Elegia-Adiemus
- The emigration tales- Loreena McKennitt
- Dawn- Jeremy Soule
- Breathe- Two Steps From Hell
- The Legend Begins- Marc Streitenfeld
- The Sun in the Stream- Enya
- Lelianna’s Song
- Lokasenna- Brian Tyler
- Nightsong- Russell Brower
- Song of Aeolus- Adiemus
- Join the Grey Wardens- Inon Zur
- Black Cauldron- Audiomachine
- Bring The Pain- Brand X Music
- Shadow of Evil- Russell Shaw
- Blood and Glory- Audiomachine
- Aesir- Two Steps From Hell
- Requiem for a Dream- Clint Mansell
- Hell’s Battalion- Audiomachine
- O Fortuna- Carl Orff
- Asimov- Two Steps From Hell
- Journey to Asgard - Brian Tyler
- Strength of A Thousand Men- Two Steps From Hell
- Army of Kings- Audiomachine
- Protectors of the Earth- Two Steps From Hell
- Pompeii- Clinton Shorter
- Mhysa- Ramin Djawadi
- Below My Feet- Mumford and Sons
- Down by the Salley Gardens- J
- Fate and Destiny- Patrick Doyle
- The River Sings- Enya
- My Land- Secret Garden
- The Legend Begins- Audiomachine
- Cymbeline- Loreena McKennitt
- Now We Are Free- Enya
- Heart of Courage- Two Steps From Hell
- The Passing of the Elves- Howard Shore
- How Can I Keep From Singing- Enya
Rivendell:
Rivendell, known as the Last Homily House, is home to elves led by Elrond. It is located at the edge of a gorge of a river. It was founded during the Second Age. It was a place of safety and refuge, protected by the power of Elrond and the ring Vilya. It was not, however, enough to keep the One Ring from Sauron so the Fellowship sent out from Rivendell to destroy the ring. Here I went for feelings of safety and beauty.
Elegia- Adiemus
The Emigration Tales- Loreena McKennitt
Dawn- Jeremy Soule
Breathe- Two Steps From Hell
The Legend Begins- Marc Streitenfeld
Lothlorien:
Lothlorien is the home to Galadrial end Celeborn. It is considered the fairest forest realm in Middle Earth. It is the center of Elven resistance against Sauron. It is located in a forest area between two rivers to the east of Moria. The city of Caras Galadhon is located in the middle of it, close to the eastern border. The city is built into, on, and on top of the trees.Here I kept the feeling of beauty but went for a more mystical tone.
The Sun in the Stream- Enya
Lelianna’s Song
Lokasenna- Brian Tyler
Nightsong- Russell Brower
Song of Aeolus- Adiemus
Mordor
Mordor is the home of Sauron, dark lord and villain of the Lord of the Rings. Mordor is surrounded on three sides by mountains, making it difficult for attackers. The Black Gate was built across the the pass into Mordor. Oroduin, or Mount Doom is the volcano where Sauron created the One Ring. Barad-Dur, the tower that Sauron built as his fortress is the other distinct feature. The southern part of Mordor is more pleasant and fertile on account of the volcano. Here I went for much darker darker, more menacing tones. There is a bit more percussion to some of the songs.
Join the Grey Wardens- Inon Zur
Black Cauldron- Audiomachine
Bring The Pain- Brand X Music
Shadow of Evil- Russell Shaw
Blood and Glory- Audiomachine
Isengard:
Isendard was the fortress of Saruman. It was originally built during the Second Age by exiled Numenoreans. It is located in the north-west corner of Rohan. Isengard was originally a green and pleasant place until Saruman decided to tear it all down to build an army and "improve" things. One of Tolkien's biggest themes is that you can't improve on nature. He witnessed firsthand the bad parts of industry and believed its destruction of the land was never a good thing. Here I tried to evoke a bit of a steampunk feel because Isengard is all about industry. Its dark, but not quite as dark as the Mordor section.
Aesir- Two Steps From Hell
Requiem for a Dream- Clint Mansell
Hell’s Battalion- Audiomachine
O Fortuna- Carl Orff
Asimov- Two Steps From Hell
Gondor:
Gondor is one of the kingdoms of Men in Middle Earth. Gondor was founded by Isildur and his brother. It is located in the western part of Middle Earth. Gondor was originally a great kingdom but declined during the Third Age. Its capital is Minas Tirith, the White City. Gondor was the closest land to Mordor and as such served a protector role. It was all that stood between Mordor and the other lands of Middle Earth. Much of Return of the King deals with Gondor and its restoration to some of its former glory. Here I went for two feelings. I focused on the majesty of Minas Tirith and the feeling of royalty as well as Gondor's role as protector.
Journey to Asgard- Brian Tyler
Strength of A Thousand Men- Two Steps From Hell
Army of Kings- Audiomachine
Protectors of the Earth- Two Steps From Hell
Pompeii- Clinton Shorter
Mhysa- Ramin Djawadi
The Shire:
The Shire is the home of the Hobbits. It is fairly isolated and removed from the rest of Middle Earth. It is located in the northwest. It is a beautiful place with fruitful land and small forests. The Hobbits created a vast agricultural system without any industrialization whatsoever. Here I went for a homey, restful feel.
Below My Feet- Mumford and Sons
Down by the Salley Gardens- J
Fate and Destiny- Patrick Doyle
The River Sings- Enya
My Land- Secret Garden
The Legend Begins- Audiomachine
The Undying Lands:
The Undying Lands are the ultimate home of the immortal elves. It was originally part of Middle Earth, but during the second age it was removed so it would be beyond the reach of Mortal Men. Mortals could only go there with special permission. Elves could still sail there if the choose, and in the end most of them chose to. It is also where Frodo and ultimately Sam ended up because of the harm the suffered from the One Ring. I tried to evoke feelings of endings, healing, and joy.
Cymbeline- Loreena McKennitt
Now We Are Free- Enya
Heart of Courage- Two Steps From Hell
The Passing of the Elves- Howard Shore
How Can I Keep From Singing- Enya