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Musical Chapters from The Hobbit after the mythology of J. R. R. Tolkien, Op. 8

2024-04-20T10:23:01Z

SCB74656: Added categories

An operatic cycle by composer [[Paul Corfield Godfrey]], ''Musical Chapters from The Hobbit after the mythology of J. R. R. Tolkien,'' was written between the years 1967-2022. The composer originally planned a massive cycle of eleven evenings of music based in Tolkien's Third Age (the first two of which were to be devoted to ''The Hobbit''). The text was prepared and the entirety of ''The Hobbit'' was composed in short score by the early 1970s and an unsuccessful attempt at gaining the rights from the Tolkien Estate put any further work on hold.

During the autumn of 1974 the composer returned to the scores, and at the recommendation of Alan Bush (his composition tutor at the time) made substantial cuts intended to bring the whole work within the scope of one evening. This cut score was then used as the basis for the full orchestral score, of which only the first two scenes were fully completed (although a number of later passages were also fully scored). The final section of the score, a setting of the poem ''Roads go ever ever on'', was extracted for independent performance as one of the [[Tolkien Songs, Op. 9]].

However, during the period 1982-83 part of the original vocal score was lost, and the only passages preserved were those which had been incorporated into the orchestral suites, those which had already been orchestrated in the complete full score, and one passage which had been photocopied. Some of the thematic material from those sketches inevitably also found their way into the sketches and fragments for what eventually became [[Musical chapters from The Lord of the Rings after the mythology of J. R. R. Tolkien, Op. 73]] and even into [[Epic Scenes from The Silmarillion after the mythology of J. R. R. Tolkien (Complete)]] - as can be seen in the music associated with the enchantments of Sauron in [[Beren and Lúthien, Op. 47 (Opera)]], which originated in the finding of the Ring during ''Over Hill and Under Hill'', or the motif for Smaug, which re-appeared in association with Ancalagon the ancestor of flying dragons at the climax of the battle in [[The War of Wrath, Op. 71 (Opera)]].

During the period 1998-99 the composer returned to the now incomplete score and concluded work on the full orchestration of the first three chapters, restoring the previously cut passages where necessary from the vocal score. He also reproduced the fragments of ''Fire and Water'' which still existed and reconstructed some of the incomplete sections.

Upon completion of the [[Musical chapters from The Lord of the Rings after the mythology of J. R. R. Tolkien, Op. 73]] he then finally revisited the work, reworking parts of it to thematically match both that cycle and [[Epic Scenes from The Silmarillion after the mythology of J. R. R. Tolkien (Complete)]] and recomposing the lost sections in a slightly abridged form.

In 2024 the Tolkien Estate granted the rights to the composer to use the Tolkien texts from [[The Hobbit]].

This cycle is musically connected to the composer's other Tolkien settings, most notably [[Epic Scenes from The Silmarillion after the mythology of J. R. R. Tolkien (Complete)]] and [[Musical chapters from The Lord of the Rings after the mythology of J. R. R. Tolkien, Op. 73]] where characters and themes continue their development.

This part of the cycle contains roughly four hours of music across six chapters.

== Characters ==
'''HOBBITS:'''

Bilbo Baggins (Tenor)

'''WIZARDS AND OTHER ELEMENTALS:'''

Gandalf the Grey, a Wizard (Baritone)

Gwaihir, Lord of the Eagles (Soprano or Tenor)

Landroval, another Eagle (Soprano or Tenor)

Beorn, a shapechanger (Bass)

The Thrush (Soprano)

'''DWARVES:'''

Thorin Oakenshield, King Under the Mountain (Baritone)

Fili, nephew of Thorin (Tenor)

Kili, nephew of Thorin (Tenor)

Dwalin, cousin of Thorin (Baritone)

Balin, cousin of Thorin (Baritone)

Dori, dwarf of Durin's line (Bass)

Nori, dwarf of Durin's line (Baritone)

Ori, dwarf of Durin's line (Baritone)

Oin, distant cousin of Thorin (Tenor)

Gloin, distant cousin of Thorin (Bass)

Bifur, follower of Thorin (Tenor)

Bofur, follower of Thorin (Baritone)

Bombur, follower of Thorin (Bass)

Dain, Lord of the Iron Hills (Baritone)

'''RACE OF MEN:'''

Bard, a bowman of Lake Town (Baritone)

Master of Lake Town (Tenor)

1st Soldier of Lake Town (Tenor)

2nd Soldier of Lake Town (Bass)

'''ELVES:'''

Elrond Halfelven, Lord of Rivendell (Tenor)

Glorfindel, and elf of Rivendell (Tenor)

Thranduil, Elvenking of Mirkwood (Baritone)

Galion, his butler (Bass)

Elven Captain of the Guard (Baritone)

1st Elven Boatman (Tenor)

2nd Elven Boatman (Tenor)

3rd Elven Boatman (Tenor or Baritone)

4th Elven Boatman (Baritone)

5th Elven Boatman (Bass)

6th Elven Boatman (Bass)

'''FORCES OF EVIL:'''

William, a troll (Bass)

Bert, a troll (Bass)

Tom, a troll (Baritone)

The Great Goblin (Tenor)

Goblin Captain (Baritone)

Goblin Slave Driver (Baritone)

Gollum (Tenor)

1st Spider (Soprano)

2nd Spider (Soprano)

3rd Spider (Mezzo)

4th Spider (Mezzo)

Smaug, the dragon (Bass)

'''CHORUS:'''

Elves, men and women of Lake Town, Orcs, Dwarves, Wargs & Spiders

== Synopsis ==
'''PART I - OVER HILL AND UNDER HILL'''

1 AN UNEXPECTED PARTY

Scene One    In the peaceful land of the Shire, the hobbit Bilbo Baggins is sitting outside his front door smoking a morning pipe when the wizard Gandalf arrives, searching for someone to participate in an ‘adventure’ that he is organising. The flustered and panic-stricken hobbit stammers out his refusal, but allows himself to be pressured into issuing an invitation to call for tea the next day.

Scene Two    Bilbo is however horrified when a collection of twelve dwarves arrives before Gandalf even appears, including Thorin Oakenshield the exiled King under the Lonely Mountain. The dwarves sing of their longing for their homeland, and Thorin explains how they were dispossessed by the dragon Smaug who stole their treasure. Bilbo allows himself to be enticed into joining their quest.

Scene Three    Out in the wilds, the company are dismayed when Gandalf seemingly abandons them and they fall victim to three marauding trolls who capture and propose to eat them. They are only saved when Gandalf returns and foments arguments among the trolls until they are caught and petrified by the rising sun. In their cave the dwarves find two Elven swords, and Bilbo took takes a knife from the store.

2 RIDDLES IN THE DARK

Prelude    A chorus of elves in the trees welcomes the company to the valley of Rivendell.

Scene One Here Elrond, the master of the house, determines that the swords are heirlooms from the fall of Gondolin, and predicts that they will be needed as the dwarves cross the mountains.

Scene Two In the mountains, the company take refuge from a storm in a cave; but the wakeful Bilbo dreams that a crack has opened in the rock-wall only to awaken as orcs emerge to capture the company. Gandalf alone escapes by the use of fire, but the dwarves are taken down to goblin-town.

Scene Three    Here the Great Goblin flies into a rage at the sight of Thorin’s sword, but is killed by Gandalf who leads the company away into the tunnels in search of escape. Bilbo alone is abandoned, and searching the ground he finds a ring which he puts in his pocket.

Scene Four    Bilbo comes to the roots of the mountains, and encounters Gollum who challenges him to a game of riddles promising to show him the way out if his loses. But when Bilbo asks what it is he has in his pocket, Gollum is unable to answer; and it is only when he searches for his ring that he realises that it is missing. In his conversation he reveals that the ring confers invisibility on its wearer, and Bilbo is able to follow him unseen as he rushes to intercept the hobbit’s escape.

Scene Five    Bilbo has the opportunity to kill Gollum, but moved by pity he refrains and dodges past, pursued by Gollum’s curses. He also manages to elude the orc guards and escape from the tunnels.

Scene Six    On the mountainside the dwarves and Gandalf are arguing about what they should do to find the missing hobbit, when Bilbo joins them; but he says nothing of the ring. Wolves are heard howling, and the company escape up the trees as orcs join in pursuit singing in derision. It is only when eagles descend from the mountains that the company are able to escape.

Scene Seven The eagles agree to carry the company away from the mountains towards the east and further on their journey.

3 QUEER LODGINGS

Scene One    The eagles deposit the company at the crossing of the Great River, where Gandalf reveals that he will have to leave them on other ‘urgent business’ once they reach the forest of Mirkwood. In the meantime, he will take them to find assistance.

Scene Two Gandalf and Bilbo arrive at the house of Béorn, a skin changer, who gradually accepts the presence of the dwarves as they tell him of their adventures in the mountains and the killing of the Great Goblin. He will lend them horses to take them to Mirkwood, and advises them on the path they should take through the forest.

Interlude The dwarves sing a song regarding the wind blowing around the Lonely Mountain and the lair of Smaug the dragon.

Scene Three    Arriving at the borders of Mirkwood, Gandalf leaves the dwarves and the hobbit to make their own way through the forest.

'''PART II - FIRE AND WATER'''

4 FLIES AND SPIDERS

Scene One In the forest the dwarves see distant lights and are drawn to an Elven feast; but when they attempt to seek help they find themselves in sudden darkness and are lost. Bilbo is left alone once more, but manages to kill as spider that seeks to capture him with his sword which he now calls Sting.

Scene Two    He finds the dwarves tied up in the spiders’ larder, but by mocking the spiders he manages to draw them away after him in pursuit – only for the dwarves then to be captured by the Wood Elves.

Scene Three    The Elvenking interrogates first Thorin and then Balin, but in unable to discover from either what their errand is in the forest. He orders that the dwarves should be imprisoned until they provide information, but Bilbo using his ring of invisibility contrives to slip in unseen.

Scene Four In the dungeons the captain of the guard and the butler are celebrating when Bilbo manages to steal the keys and release the dwarves. He packs them into barrels to be conveyed away down the river, and the Elven porters gaily despatch these into the water.

Scene Five Arriving in Lake Town, the company are greeted by Bard as the leader of the guards are brought to the Master, who offers them assistance despite his scepticism that they will ever contrive to defeat Smaug.

5 THE GATHERING OF THE CLOUDS

Scene One Thorin standing on the slopes of the Lonely Mountains searches for the hidden door into the caverns below, but it is Bilbo who led by the singing of a thrush actually finds the entrance.

Scene Two    Descending into the heart of the Mountain, the invisible Bilbo is able to engage in conversation with Smaug, discover the weakness in his armoured scales, and elude capture, but not before the dragon has realised that the raiders must have received help from the men of Lake Town.

Scene Three       Bilbo escapes back to the dwarves on the mountainside, and tells the dwarves of his discovery of Smaug’s vulnerability overheard by the thrush; but the dragon sets off to Lake Town in search of revenge.

Scene Four       Bard rouses the archers of Lake Town to resist the marauding dragon, but it is not until the thrush tells him of Smaug’s weak point that his arrow is able to find a mark and kill the beast. The folk of Lake Town, led by their Master, lament the destruction of their dwellings, but Bard declares that he will seek to re-establish his ancestral kingdom of Dale in the shadow of the Mountain which he now expects to find deserted.

Scene Five Bilbo persuades the dwarves that they can only escape through the lower caverns of the mountain, despite the peril of the dragon. Reluctantly they agree.

Scene Six Entering the dragon’s den once more, Bilbo finds the Arkenstone, the heart of the Mountain and the most treasured jewel in the hoard, and he is clad by Thorin in dwarvish mail. The thrush re-appears to tell them of the death of the dragon, but warns them that others beside themselves now seek to gain possession of the treasure: not only Bard seeking redress for the damage suffered by the Lake-men, but also the Elves of Mirkwood. Thorin sends the bird to seek aid from his cousin Dáin, and prepares for a siege.

6 THE CLOUDS BURST

Scene One    The dwarves are singing triumphantly of their regained kingdom, when Balin enters to tell them that the armies of both Bard and the Elvenking have now arrived. In parley with them Thorin refuses to negotiate under duress, and Bilbo is left on watch. When Bard approaches surreptitiously, Bilbo gives him the Arkenstone to aid in his bargaining.

Scene Two    The following morning Thorin remains obdurate until Bard offers the Arkenstone in exchange for reparations; and when he discovers that it was Bilbo who has given them the jewel, his fury is only averted by the sudden appearance of Gandalf who intercedes on behalf of the hobbit. Dáin now arrives at the head of an army of dwarves, and suddenly conflict erupts as the assembled forces are attacked by orcs and goblins also in seek of plunder. Pitched battle rages, and Thorin is severely wounded in the struggle. Bilbo, seeing the eagles arrive in the distance, is stunned by a falling stone.

Scene Three Gandalf finds the unconscious hobbit on the battlefield, and takes him to Thorin with whom he is reconciled before the dwarf-king dies. Dáin is now proclaimed as King under the Mountain as the body of Thorin is solemnly interred.

Scene Four Returning to the rejoicing Elves in Rivendell, Gandalf and Bilbo are hailed by Elrond and the latter is designated as an Elf-friend. They listen to the Elves singing as the night falls, and in a visionary final scene Bilbo is seen returning to his home enriched by his experiences.

== Recordings ==
In 2024 Volante Opera Productions announced they are working on a complete demo recording of the work using sampled orchestra and professional opera singers. It will be released by Prima Facie records in 2026.
[[Category:Music]]
[[Category:Classical music]]
[[Category:Stage adaptations]]

Musical chapters from The Lord of the Rings after the mythology of J. R. R. Tolkien, Op. 73

2024-04-20T10:21:55Z

SCB74656: Tagged categories

An operatic cycle by composer [[Paul Corfield Godfrey]], ''Musical Chapters from The Lord of the Rings after the mythology of J. R. R. Tolkien,'' was written between the years 1967-2023. The composer originally planned a massive cycle of eleven evenings of music (two of which were to be devoted to The Hobbit) and the text was prepared but only certain contained sections were composed. It was only when the recordings of [[The Fall of Gondolin, Op.49 (Opera)]], [[Beren and Lúthien, Op. 47 (Opera)]], [[The Children of Húrin, Op. 48 (Opera)]] were released and the recordings of [[Fëanor, Op. 46 (Opera)]] and [[The War of Wrath, Op. 71 (Opera)]] were being worked upon by Volante Opera Productions that Paul was persuaded to go back to his notes and complete the cycle. The original plan was trimmed back to the still epic plan of six evenings of music dedicated to ''The Lord of the Rings'' and two to ''The Hobbit''.

In 2024 the Tolkien Estate granted the rights to the composer to use the Tolkien texts from [[The Lord of the Rings]] and [[The Adventures of Tom Bombadil]] (to set a truncated version of ''The Sea Bell'' as part of the final chapter).

This cycle is musically connected to the composer's other Tolkien settings, most notably [[Epic Scenes from The Silmarillion after the mythology of J. R. R. Tolkien (Complete)]] and [[Musical Chapters from The Hobbit after the mythology of J. R. R. Tolkien, Op. 8]] where characters and themes continue their development from the "earlier" works.

This part of the cycle contains roughly seventeen hours of music across thirty chapters and three appendices.

== Characters ==
'''MUSICAL CHAPTERS FROM THE LORD OF THE RINGS'''

'''HOBBITS:'''

Bilbo Baggins of the Shire (Tenor)

Frodo Baggins, his heir (Tenor)

Samwise Gamgee (Baritone)

Peregrin Took (Tenor)

Meriadoc Brandybuck (Baritone)

Lobelia Sackville-Baggins, Bilbo's cousin (Mezzo)

Otho Sackville-Baggins, her husband (Baritone)

Hamfast Gamgee, Sam's father (Baritone)

Ted Sandyman, the miller (Tenor)

Daddy Twofoot (Bass)

Old Knoakes (Bass)

Rory Brandybuck, Merry's father (Baritone)

Everard Took, Pippin's cousin (Tenor)

Odo Proudfoot, Bilbo's cousin (Bass)

Hob Hayward, a hobbit from Buckland (Baritone)

Farmer Cotton, from Bywater (Bass)

Smeagol/Gollum (Tenor)

Deagol (Bass)

A Stranger (Baritone)

'''WIZARDS AND OTHER ELEMENTALS:'''

Gandalf the Grey/White (Baritone)

Saruman the White/Sharkey (Tenor)

Gwaihir, Lord of the Eagles (Soprano or Tenor)

Tom Bombadil (Baritone)

Goldberry, his wife (Soprano)

A Barrow-Wight (Counter Tenor or Mezzo)

The King of the Dead (Counter Tenor or Mezzo)

The Voice of Elbereth, Queen of the Valar in the Blessed Realm (Soprano)

'''RACE OF MEN:'''

Strider/Aragorn, Captain of the Dunedain (Baritone)

Boromir, son of the Steward of Gondor (Bass)

Faramir, son of the Steward of Gondor (Tenor)

Denethor, Steward of Gondor (Bass)

Theoden, King of Rohan (Bass)

Eomer, his nephew (Tenor)

Eowyn, his niece (Mezzo)

Imrahil, Prince of Dol Amroth (Baritone)

Beregond, guard of Minas Tirith (Baritone)

Wormtongue, Counsellor to Theoden (Tenor)

Eothain, Marshal of the Mark (Baritone)

Hama, Captain of the Guard of Edoras (Baritone)

Ceorl, a rider of Rohan (Bass)

Ingold, guard of Minas Tirith (Tenor)

Ioreth, a handmaiden of the Houses of Healing (Mezzo)

Halbarad, a Dunedain (Bass)

Herb Master of the Houses of Healing (Bass)

Mablung, one of the men of Ithilien (Baritone)

Damrod, one of the men of Ithilien (Bass)

Anborn, one of the men of Ithilien (Bass)

Barliman Butterbur, Landlord of The Prancing Pony (Bass)

Bill Ferny, a man of Bree (Bass)

A Minstrel (Tenor)

'''ELVES:'''

Legolas, son of Thranduil Elvenking of Mirkwood (Tenor)

Galadriel, Queen of Lothlorien (Soprano)

Elrond Halfelven, Lord of Rivendell (Tenor)

Arwen, his daughter (Soprano)

Celeborn, husband of Galadriel (Bass)

Glorfindel, elf of Rivendell (Tenor)

Haldir, Captain of Lothlorien (Baritone)

Lindir, elf of Rivendell (Counter Tenor or Mezzo)

Galdor, elf of the Grey Havens (Baritone)

Gildor Inglorion, of the House of Finrod (Tenor)

Elladan, twin son of Elrond (Baritone)

Elrohir, twin son of Elrond (Baritone)

Cirdan, Lord of the Grey Havens (Bass)

'''DWARVES:'''

Gimli son of Gloin (Bass)

Gloin, of the Lonely Mountain (Bass)

Dain, King Under the Lonely Mountain (Bass)

'''ENTS:'''

Treebeard (Bass)

Quickbeam (Baritone)

'''FORCES OF EVIL:'''

The Voice of Sauron (Bass)

Khamul, a Ringwraith (Bass)

The Witch-King, Lord of the Ringwraiths (Baritone)

The Mouth of Sauron (Bass)

Ugluk, Orc of Isengard (Baritone)

Grishnahk, Orc of Mordor (Tenor)

Gorbag, Orc Captain of Minas Morgul (Baritone)

Shagrat, Orc Captain of Cirith Ungol (Tenor)

Tracker, Orc of Mordor (Tenor)

Soldier, Orc of Mordor (Bass)

Snaga, Orc of Cirith Ungol (Tenor)

'''CHORUS:'''

Hobbits, Elves, Customers at The Green Dragon, Black Riders, Wargs, Men of Rohan, Ents, Men of Harad,

Men of Gondor, Orcs, Creatures of Minas Morgul, Guards of Minas Tirith, Heralds, Host of the Dead,

Creatures of Mordor, Distant Voices over the Water.

'''APPENDIX I - THE LAY OF BEREN AND LUTHIEN'''

Aragorn/Strider, Captain of the Dunedain (Baritone)

'''APPENDIX II - THE LAY OF EARENDIL'''

Bilbo Baggins of the Shire (Tenor)

'''APPENDIX III - EPILOGUE: ARAGORN AND ARWEN'''

Arwen, Queen of Gondor and Arnor (Soprano)

Aragorn, King Elessar of Gondor and Arnor (Baritone)

'''CHORUS:'''

Unseen Voices

== Synopsis ==
'''THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING'''

1 A LONG-EXPECTED PARTY

Scene One    In the Ivy Bush tavern a group of hobbits are discussing the forthcoming arrangements for the eleventy-first birthday of Bilbo Baggins. Ham Gamgee (known as “the Gaffer”) explains how Bilbo has come to adopt his young relative Frodo following the death of the latter’s parents, and the two of them are throwing a party to which all the local residents are being invited.

Scene Two In his garden at Bag End, Bilbo is accompanied by the wizard Gandalf as they discuss some mysterious surprise which the former is intending for the celebrations.

Scene Three    At the boisterous party, when Bilbo finally manages to make himself heard over the dancing and rejoicing, he announces to his stunned guests that he is leaving the Shire immediately and vanishes before their eyes.

Scene Four Back in Bag End, he is packing for his journey when Gandalf appears and is perturbed when Bilbo refuses to leave his magic ring of invisibility for Frodo along with the remainder of his possessions. He has indeed to threaten Bilbo before the latter finally agrees to leave it behind. When, after his departure, Frodo finally enters, Gandalf warns him that he is going away at once on urgent business, and that in the meantime Frodo is to be careful of the ring.

2 THE SHADOW OF THE PAST

Scene One    Eighteen years later, the Gaffer’s son Sam is drinking with the local blacksmith Ted Sandyman in the Green Dragon inn. They discuss troubling rumours about the manner in which the borders of the Shire are threatened, and that the Elves are leaving Middle-earth.

Scene Two Gandalf unexpectedly returns to warn Frodo that he has discovered that his ring is deadly perilous: that it is in fact the One Ring, lost by the Dark Lord Sauron at the end of the Second Age and which he is now seeking in order to re-establish his rule over Middle-earth. He explains how the Ring was discovered by the creature Gollum (from whom Bilbo had won it in a game of riddles) and that Sauron had now ascertained where it was to be found. Frodo will have to leave the Shire at once lest he bring ruin and destruction on the land. Gandalf catches Sam eavesdropping on the conversation, and decides that he will have to accompany Frodo on his journey.

Scene Three    Frodo has sold Bag End and his friend Merry is taking his goods off by cart to Buckland where it is given out that he intends to settle. But while he is waiting for Sam and his other friend Pippin, he overhears a stranger questioning the Gaffer about his movements and intentions.

Scene Four    Frodo, Sam and Pippin are going along the road when they are overtaken by a mysterious horseman clad in black, who seems to be searching for them. After he fails to discover their hiding place, Sam and Pippin sing a drinking song, but the horseman is returning when Elves are heard singing in the trees and he retreats. Gildor, leader of the wandering Elves, warns Frodo that his pursuers are sent by the Enemy.

Scene Five Arriving at Buckland, Frodo is forced to confess to Merry and Pippin that he does not after all intend to remain there but to leave immediately. They astonish him by revealing that Sam has already told them about the Ring, and Merry suggests that the only way of avoiding pursuit is to go through the Old Forest despite its fearsome reputation.

3 TOM BOMBADIL

Scene One    Entering the Old Forest, the hobbits soon become lost and are entrapped by the roots of a willow tree. Calling for help, Frodo is assisted by the mysterious Tom Bombadil who releases his friends and invites them to follow him for food and rest.

Scene Two At the house of Tom Bombadil the hobbits are welcomed by his wife Goldberry, but during the night Frodo sees a vision of Gandalf imprisoned on top of a tower. In the morning Goldberry bids them farewell.

Scene Three       In a mist on the Barrow-downs the hobbits are captured and entombed by a Barrow-wight which haunts the tombs of ancient kings.

Scene Four       It is only when Frodo calls on the name of Tom Bombadil that the latter appears and once again releases the hobbits from their imprisonment. But he will not pass the borders of his own lands, and he advises them to make for the village of Bree and the inn The Prancing Pony where they can find shelter for the following night.

4 THE PRANCING PONY

Scene One    At the inn the landlord Barliman Butterbur gives them a warm welcome, but Frodo is intrigued by a mysterious stranger Strider who appears in the bar and seems to know more about his business that he should. He tries to distract attention by singing a rousing drinking song, but at the climax the Ring slips on to his finger and he vanishes. Although he tries to pass off the incident as a joke, Strider insists that he must have an urgent and private conversation with him; and one of the other customers, Bill Ferny, slips discreetly away.

Scene Two Strider warns the hobbits that they are still being pursued by the Black Riders from whom they are in deadly peril, and offers his services as a guide. But it is only when Butterbur delivers a delayed letter from Gandalf to Frodo that the latter decides that he can trust him. Merry warns them that Black Riders have already entered Bree, and Strider says they will have to escape into the wilderness the following morning and make for Weathertop where he hopes Gandalf will meet them.

5 FLIGHT TO THE FORD

Scene One Reaching Weathertop, Strider and the hobbits find that Gandalf has already been and gone. Strider sings a song to rouse their spirits, but in the dark their camp is attacked by the Black Riders and under their compulsion Frodo places the Ring on his finger. Immediately he can see their spectral forms beneath their robes, but they pierce his shoulder with a knife before they retreat.

Scene Two    When Frodo recovers, Strider explains that the wound will progressively bring him under the control of the Riders and that they must now depart for Rivendell with all speed.

Scene Three       On the road, the hobbits come across the three stone trolls encountered by Bilbo and the dwarves on their eastward journey over seventy years before. Sam sings a comic song to rouse Frodo’s spirits, but the latter is sinking increasingly into lassitude and despair.

Scene Four They are overtaken by Glorfindel, an elf from Rivendell sent to search for them; he persuades Frodo to mount his horse in the very nick of time, as the black horsemen are already in pursuit.

Scene Five    Fleeing to the Ford of Bruinen, Frodo turns in defiance against the Black Riders, but they call to him to follow them to Mordor with the Ring and he is barely able to fend them off. Suddenly the waters of the Ford rise and sweep the horsemen away, just as Frodo finally collapses fainting to the ground.

6 THE COUNCIL OF ELROND

Scene One Frodo, having been healed by Elrond, is roused by Gandalf, who explains to him how the waters of the Ford rose in obedience to the command of Elrond as the Master of Rivendell. Sam and the other hobbits are delighted to find their companion recovered just in time for a celebratory feast.

Scene Two At the feast, Frodo is surprised to see Strider in close conversation with Arwen the daughter of Elrond. He is even more surprised to find himself seated next to the dwarf Glóin, one of Bilbo’s companions on his quest, and then to discover Bilbo himself seated in a quiet corner. But when Bilbo asks to see the Ring, Frodo suddenly finds himself uneasy and only a song in praise of Elbereth from one of the Elven minstrels restores calm.

Scene Three    The following morning Frodo and Gandalf are summoned to attend a council held by Elrond. Glóin reports on the visit of a Black Rider to the dwarf kingdom in Erebor. Boromir, the son of the Ruling Steward of Gondor, tells of a prophetic dream regarding the Sword that was Broken; and during the course of the subsequent discussion it is revealed that Strider is none other than Aragorn, the heir of Isildur and rightful King of Gondor. It is he who has helped Gandalf to locate Gollum, and confirm that Frodo’s treasure is indeed the One Ring. Legolas, the son of Thranduil the Elvenking of Mirkwood, reports that Gollum has again escaped; and Gandalf in his turn explains how he was betrayed and imprisoned by Saruman the White, who wishes to seize the Ring for himself. He has only escaped from Isengard as the result of rescue by Gwaihir, the Lord of the Eagles. The council concludes that the Ring cannot be kept hidden from Sauron and his forces, but that it is too dangerous a temptation to be used lest it corrupt the wearer. But only in Mount Doom, in the heart of the Enemy’s realm of Mordor, can the Ring be unmade; and Frodo volunteers to undertake this task.

7 FAREWELL TO RIVENDELL

Scene One    Elrond appoints companions to the Fellowship of the Ring, to assist Frodo on his quest: Gandalf, Aragorn, Boromir, Legolas and Gimli son of Glóin in addition to the four hobbits. Bilbo gives to Frodo his sword Sting and his coat of mail, and settles down by the fireside in peace.

Interlude The Sword that was Broken, that cut the Ring from Sauron’s hand, is reforged for Aragorn and named by him Andúril.

Scene Two    The Fellowship of the Ring sets out on their journey.

Scene Three    Some weeks later, encamped in the land of Eregion, they feel a shadow pass over the moon and are attacked by wolves. Their only recourse is to take refuge in the Mines of Moria, although Aragorn forewarns Gandalf of danger.

8 A JOURNEY IN THE DARK

Scene One    Arriving at the Gates of Moria, they are at first unable to open the doors, and only make their way inside after an attack by the mysterious Watcher in the Water.

Scene Two    They come to a guard chamber where they rest for the night, although Pippin dislodges a stone into the water and signals are heard from the deep. Frodo on watch sees eyes coming stealthily in pursuit.

Scene Three They find the tomb of Balin, the last Lord of Moria, and learn of the destruction of the dwarves at the hands of orcs. They are in their turn attacked, leaving Gandalf to defend their retreat.

Scene Four Coming to the perilous Bridge of Khazad-dûm, the Fellowship are attacked by a Balrog of Morgoth, a survivor from the First Age, with whom Gandalf falls in battle.

9 THE MIRROR OF GALADRIEL

Scene One    Led by Aragorn, the Fellowship escape from Moria and enter the realm of Lothlórien where they are intercepted by Haldir and escorted by him to the city of their rulers in Caras Galadhon. Aragorn upon the hill of Cerin Amroth has a vision of his beloved Arwen and bids her farewell.

Scene Two    Reaching Caras Galathon, they tell Celeborn and Galadriel of the fall of Gandalf, and are offered aid and assistance.

Scene Three       Galadriel leads Frodo to view her Mirror, in which he sees images of ships in the past fleeing from Númenor, in the present coming to the assault on Gondor, and in the future passing into the West; but all of these are overshadowed and menaced by the Eye of Sauron searching for the Ring. He offers the Ring to Galadriel, since it will enable her to preserve her realm against the Enemy; but after an ecstatic vision of temptation, she realises that she must remain true to herself and refuse the power.

Scene Four Celeborn presents the Fellowship with boats in which they may travel down the river Anduin, together with provisions for their voyage.

Scene Five    Galadriel, bidding the Fellowship farewell, gives each of them gifts including for Frodo a star-glass containing the light of the star of Eärendil.

10 THE BREAKING OF THE FELLOWSHIP

Scene One    Sam tells Frodo that he has seen Gollum following the Fellowship in their boats down the River, and Aragorn decides that they must try and avoid his pursuit.

Interlude       They pass through the Argonath, the Pillars of the Kings, and enter the realm of Gondor.

Scene Two    At the lawn of Parth Galen they debate what course they should now take. Frodo asks for some time to be allowed to make up his mind alone.

Scene Three Boromir tries to persuade Frodo to come to Minas Tirith, the capital of Gondor, and allow him to make use of the Ring to defeat the Enemy. Frodo refuses to yield up such a weapon of such dangerous potential, and Boromir tries to steal it from him by force. Frodo puts on the Ring and vanishes.

Scene Four    Boromir returns to the Fellowship and reports that Frodo has disappeared. The others scatter in pursuit of him, and only Sam realises that Frodo is trying to escape unseen by boat and intercepts him. Together they cross the river, while the horn of Boromir in distress is heard sounding behind them.

'''THE TWO TOWERS'''

''The chapters are numbered in the score in the order for live performance to reduce the number of performers required in an evening. For the purposes of this synopsis the chapters are in story order of 11, 12, 16, 13, 17, 14, 15 and then 18.''

11 THE PLAINS AND THE FOREST

Scene One    Merry and Pippin, still searching for Frodo, are attacked by orcs and Boromir is killed while trying to rescue them. Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli sing a lament for their fallen comrade and set out in pursuit of the captives.

Scene Two    The orcs led by Ugluk and Grishnakh are in their turn attacked by riders from the kingdom of Rohan, and Grishnakh – who is led to believe that Pippin has the Ring – tries to carry them out of the battle; but he is killed, and the hobbits escape into the forest of Fangorn.

Scene Three       There they meet the Ent, Treebeard, who rules the forest, but has taken no part in the struggles between the forces of Middle-earth. He takes them to his far distant dwelling under the mountains.

12 THE RIDERS OF ROHAN

Scene One    The pursuers Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli come across some slain orcs, and realise that the intention of the orcs is to take the hobbits to the traitor Saruman in Isengard and not to Mordor. They see the mountains of Gondor in the distance.

Scene Two    They now encounter the riders of Rohan led by Eómer the king’s nephew, who tells them that he has destroyed the band of orcs but found no trace of the hobbits they seek. He lends them horses to continue their search.

Scene Three       Pippin and Merry talk to Treebeard of the ambitions of Saruman, and the Ent realises that he needs to intervene to protect his forest; he summons an Entmoot to consider what action needs to be taken.

Scene Four    Coming in their turn to Fangorn, the three pursuers are accosted by a figure in white who they initially take to be Saruman, but who transpires to be Gandalf mysteriously returned from death and now rehoused in a new reincarnation. He now summons his own horse Shadowfax and together they ride towards Edoras, the capital of Rohan.

16 THE BLACK GATE IS CLOSED

Scene One    Frodo and Sam attempt to climb down the cliffs from the Emyn Muil, but are caught in a thunderstorm and only succeed after Sam remembers the rope he obtained from Lórien.

Scene Two    But they are now pursued in their own turn by Gollum, whom they ambush and persuade to lead them towards Mordor. He promises to serve the “Master of the Precious” and takes them by secret paths through the marshes.

Scene Three In the marshes the hobbits see dead faces in the water, those who died in earlier battles with Sauron before the Gates of Mordor.

Scene Four       Gollum in the meantime is caught in an internal debate between himself governed by the desire for the Ring and his earlier life as the hobbit Sméagol. The appearance of a Ringwraith – a Black Rider on wings – terrifies him.

Scene Five    The three come to the Black Gate leading into Mordor; but the way is barred. Frodo and Sam agree to follow Gollum to another secret way known only to him, through the high pass of Cirith Ungol to the south. As they turn away, an army of Southrons summoned by Sauron enter the Gate.

13 THE KING OF THE GOLDEN HALL

Scene One Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli arrive at the gates of Edoras, the seat of the kings of Rohan.

Scene Two Here their way is barred by Hama, who refuses to admit them until they lay aside their arms. He does however permit Gandalf to keep his staff.

Scene Three    At first King Théoden and his adviser Wormtongue scorn Gandalf’s advice and warnings, but when he strikes down Wormtongue with a blast of lightning from his staff, the king recovers his own courage and recognises the worth of the advice he receives. Gandalf realises that Wormtongue has been acting on the orders of Saruman, and he is banished; Théoden himself determines to set forth to war, and on the advice of Hama he leaves his niece Eowyn to lead the remnant of his people.

Scene Four    As the Entmoot proceeds in Fangorn, the Ent Quickbeam sings to Merry and Pippin of the destruction by Saruman’s orcs of the trees that he loves. The Entmoot explodes in a violent outburst of anger, and march towards Isengard to seek revenge.

17 THE WINDOW ON THE WEST

Scene One    Meanwhile, Frodo and Sam have followed Gollum to Ithilien within the borders of Gondor, where they are captured by Gondorian scouts led by Faramir who is organising an ambush of Sauron’s Southron recruits. Faramir reveals that he is the brother of Boromir, whom he knows is dead; and he takes Frodo and Sam with him to a place of safety.

Scene Two    On the journey Faramir tells Frodo that he knows of Boromir’s ambitions and his mission, but that he would not make use of the weapons of the Enemy. Sam realises that Gollum is still following them.

Scene Three    They come to the refuge of Henneth Annun, concealed behind a waterfall, and in the course of their continuing conversations Faramir realises that his brother had tried to steal the Ring from Frodo. But he maintains his principles, and tells them that he will help them to destroy it.

Scene Four    The sentries have tracked Gollum to the waterfall where he is in search of fish to eat. Frodo helps them to capture him.

Scene Five    Faramir demands to know from Gollum where he leading the hobbits. When he discovers their intended destination he warns Frodo that Cirith Ungol is a place of peril, and that he should also beware of the intentions of his guide; but he bids him go with goodwill.

14 THE JOURNEY TO ISENGARD

Scene One    In a series of brief scenes, we see and hear reports of the movements of the riders of Rohan as well as Gandalf and Wormtongue, both of whom have left the army.

Scene Two    Théoden comes to the fortress of the Hornburg in Helm’s Deep where he intends to make a stand against the invading forces of Saruman. Aragorn and Eomer protect the gates, while Legolas and Gimli man the wall; but Saruman has invented a blasting fire that can demolish the stone.

Scene Three    Inside the fortress, Théoden is reduced to near despair; but Aragorn promises to lead forth his forces.

Scene Four    He bids defiance to the orcs, and as he leads a charge out from the gates of the Hornburg, Gandalf also appears with an army of Ents which overpower the orcs. The wizard bids Théoden to follow him to Isengard to confront Saruman.

Scene Five    Arriving at Isengard, the king and his army find the stronghold overthrown and Merry and Pippin feasting in the ruins. The latter tell how the Ents destroyed the fortifications after Saruman’s army left and then flooded the remains. But Aragorn remains puzzled by the fact that Saruman has apparently been undertaking trade with the Shire. Gandalf asks them to come with him to talk to the traitor, but to beware of his voice.

15 THE VOICE OF SARUMAN

Scene One    The reason for Gandalf’s warnings become evident when Saruman in turn tries to seduce Théoden, and the Gandalf himself, with flattery and sophistries masquerading as appeals to self-interest and reason. But Gandalf now reveals himself in his new reincarnation as Gandalf the White, who has been sent to supersede Saruman as the leader of the White Council. He shatters Saruman’s staff, and deputes the Ents to watch Isengard to ensure that he remains imprisoned there. Wormtongue attempts to kill him by hurling a stone from a window above, but Pippin rescues the crystal object and Gandalf takes it in charge.

Scene Two    Pippin is now fascinated by the crystal, and despite the warnings of Merry he goes and steals it from the sleeping Gandalf. Once he looks into it, he is transfixed by the Eye of Sauron, who delivers to him a message for Saruman before he awakens with a shriek. Gandalf realises the dangers of the Palantir in the wrong hands, and delivers it into the safe keeping of Aragorn before riding in haste to Minas Tirith with Pippin. As he leaves a Nazgûl, a Ringwraith, flies over the camp, as Sauron sends his messenger to Saruman seeking for news of the Ring.

18 CIRITH UNGOL

Scene One    Far south in Ithilien a thunderstorm is brewing as Gollum leads Frodo and Sam to the borders of Mordor. In the lightning Frodo sees that an old statue of the king, overgrown with vegetation and flowers, has now been given a crown again.

Scene Two    They pass by the fortress of Minas Morgul, and see the Lord of the Nazgûl leading out an army to storm Minas Tirith on the opposite bank of the river.

Scene Three Higher up in the mountains Frodo and Sam see a fortress above and find themselves left alone as Gollum suddenly disappears without explanation. But they still manage to take some sleep, and when Gollum returns he seems to repent of whatever actions he had planned. He is surprises when Sam awakens and accuses him of sneaking off, refusing to say where he has been. Nevertheless he insists that they must make haste.

Scene Four       Having led them into a dark tunnel, Gollum again vanishes and leaves the hobbits alone. Now they suddenly hear the bubbling noise of a giant spider, and the monstrous Shelob only falls back when Frodo produces the star-glass of Eärendil. Using the sword Sting, the hobbits are able to cut themselves loose from Shelob’s cobwebs.

Scene Five But Gollum falls on Sam as soon as he emerges from the tunnel, leaving Frodo to be felled by Shelob. By the time Sam has reached him, Frodo has been stung and apparently killed. Sam drives Shelob off, but is unable to rouse his master and eventually in desperation he takes the Ring in order that the quest may continue. At that moment bands of orcs both from Minas Morgul and the fortress of Cirith Ungol come and seize Frodo’s body; Sam rushes in pursuit of them.

Scene Six       In a tunnel beneath the fortress Sam learns that Frodo is not dead but paralysed; Shelob does not eat cold meat. Gorbag, one of the captains, looks forward eagerly to a bout of interrogation; but Shagrat, the other captain, says that all captives are wanted intact by Sauron and he will be kept securely in the uppermost part of the tower. Sam is unable to get in through the gates, and falls senseless before the closed doors.

'''THE RETURN OF THE KING'''

19 MINAS TIRITH

Scene One    Gandalf brings Pippin to Minas Tirith and is hailed by the guards.

Scene Two    He escorts Pippin before the seat of Denethor, the Ruling Steward, who interrogates the hobbit as to the manner of death of his son Boromir. Pippin swears fealty to Denethor in acknowledgement of his debt.

Scene Three Beregond, one of the guards, shows Pippin the field of Pelennor before the gates as they feel the shadow of a Nazgûl passing over. Later when Gandalf returns he warns Pippin that since darkness is spreading out of Mordor there will be no dawn.

20 THE PASSING OF THE GREY COMPANY

Scene One    The action returns to the end of The Voice of Saruman. Aragorn is joined by some of his kindred from the North, who warn him that he may have to essay the Paths of the Dead.

Scene Two    The following morning Merry swears loyalty to Théoden, but Aragorn informs his companions that since he has looked into the palantir he has seen a new danger to Gondor which means that he will indeed have to take the perilous journey of the Paths of the Dead. Eowyn is aghast at his proposal, and when he refuses to take her with him as part of her company reveals that she is now in love with him.

Scene Three       Aragorn leads his company, together with Legolas and Gimli, through the paths of the Dead. The spectral king of the Dead agrees that his followers will fulfil their old oath to Gondor, and Aragorn unveils the banners which declare his title as king.

21 THE SIEGE OF GONDOR

Prelude    The chorus describe the ride of the Rohirrim under Théoden, coming to the aid of Gondor.

Scene One    Looking out across the fields of Pelennor, the guards discover that the forces of Sauron are being led by the Witch-King, the Lord of the Nazgûl. The retreating Faramir leads his men back to the city.

Scene Two    Denethor is dismayed to learn that Faramir has allowed the Ring to escape his grasp, and insists that he should make amends by leading the resistance to the force of Sauron.

Scene Three       Denethor laments the downfall of his house and his Stewardship, and his despair is confirmed when Faramir is brought back wounded.

Scene Four While Gandalf takes command of the defence, Denethor instructs his men to bring fire to the tomb where he proposes that he and Faramir will be consumed. Pippin begs Beregond to protect Faramir, and runs to summon Gandalf.

Scene Five    But Gandalf is confronted by the Witch-King, who has broken the gates of the City. At that moment the distant horns of the Rohirrim are heard as they enter the field of battle.

22 PELENNOR FIELDS

Scene One    Théoden summons his forces to attack the Southrons, but is overthrown by the appearance of the Lord of the Nazgul on his winged steed. Eowyn protects her uncle the King, and with the aid of Merry kills the Witch-King; but both are severely wounded, and Eomer assumes the kingship with a summons to vengeance.

Scene Two    Gandalf confronts Denethor and rescues Faramir from the fire, but Denethor refuses to take any comfort and predicts disaster. He seizes a brand from one of his servants and sets the house aflame.

Scene Three The men of the Rohirrim approach the city bearing Eowyn, but here it is discovered that she remains alive and she and Merry are taken to the Houses of Healing.

Scene Four       Eomer leads his men towards the river, but it appears at first that corsairs from Umbar are now attacking from the water. It is only when the ships have landed that it is established that the new arrivals are Aragorn and his Grey Company, and he and the Rohirrim ride now to victory.

23 THE HOUSES OF HEALING

Scene One    Aragorn comes to the assistance of the wounded – Faramir, now the Steward of Gondor, Eowyn and Merry – and cures them with the aid of the plant athelas which the Herb Master and serving-woman Ioreth supply. Gimli and Legolas too now have come to the city, and tell Merry and Pippin of the conquest of the southlands by Aragorn with the Army of the Dead.

Scene Two    Gandalf warns the captains of the armies that Sauron will remain undefeated unless they can find time to allow the Ring-bearer to destroy the Ring and fulfil his quest. It is agreed that Aragorn will lead an army to an assault on Mordor, attempting to distract the Dark Lord from the real danger to his position.

24 THE BLACK GATE OPENS

Before the Black Gate, Aragorn proclaims his title as king of Gondor. In response the Mouth of Sauron [bass], as the representative of the Dark Lord, produces the mail-coat of Frodo as a token that the hobbit has been taken captive and his mission has failed. The forces of the West nonetheless prepare for battle, and Pippin calls that the Eagles are coming to their assistance before he is felled by a stroke from a troll.

25 MOUNT DOOM

Scene One    The scene returns to the end of Cirith Ungol. Sam revives and sets out to rescue Frodo; but entering the tower he finds that the orcs are all dead.

Scene Two    It is revealed that the two orc-captains quarrelled over the distribution of the spoils, and Shagrat now kills Gorbag before escaping with Frodo’s mail-coat. Sam is unable however to find Frodo, and sings a song to try and rouse his attention. But only Snaga remains, threatening Frodo with a whip.

Scene Three    Sam finally rescues Frodo, but the latter is disconsolate when he realises that the Ring has been taken from him. When he discovers that Sam has it, he at first accuses him of theft and makes it clear that if he is nearly in its power; and if it is lost to him he will go mad. Sam helps him to recover.

Scene Four       In the parched desert of Mordor, Frodo and Sam are overtaken by two orcs tracking them, who fall into their own argument during which the captain is killed; but they discover that Gollum also is still on their trail. Sam sees the star of Eärendil shining high above in the heavens, and looks upon it as a sign of hope.

Scene Five Coming to the slopes of Mount Doom, they are suddenly attacked by Gollum seeking to regain the Ring from Frodo. They fend him off, and Frodo continues on his way, but Sam finds himself unable to kill the treacherous Gollum.

Scene Six    At the brink of the fiery pits of Doom, Frodo finally declares that he cannot destroy the Ring, and assumes full ownership of it by placing it upon his finger. Gollum comes up and, biting off Frodo’s finger, falls into the fire together with the Ring. The mountain erupts destroying all the land, the returning Ringwraiths are consumed in the fire, and in a moment of stillness Frodo and Sam prepare for death together, their quest achieved, as Sam wistfully thinks of the songs that will be made of their adventures.

26 THE FIELD OF CORMALLEN

Scene One    The scene returns to the end of The Black Gate opens. Just as the Eagles arrive, Gandalf calls upon the armies to halt as the end of the realm of Mordor is accomplished. He asks Gwaihir as the Lord of the Eagles to bear him rapidly to Mount Doom and they rescue Frodo and Sam from the fires.

Scene Two    In the Houses of Healing, Faramir seeks to comfort Eowyn, who is still devoid of purpose as she fears for the life of Aragorn. But when they see from afar the downfall of Mordor, she realises that hope for the future remains and falls into Faramir’s arms.

Scene Three Frodo and Sam are brought in triumphal procession before Aragorn and Gandalf, and Sam finally achieves his ambition to hear their story told by a minstrel of Gondor.

27 THE STEWARD AND THE KING

Prelude    Gwaihir the Eagle proclaims to the people of Minas Tirith the forthcoming triumph of their king.

Scene One    To a background of chatter from the serving-woman Ioreth, Aragorn is escorted before the gates of Gondor, and Faramir proclaims his title to the kingship. He is hailed by the people, and asks that Gandalf and Frodo should place the crown upon his head.

Scene Two    High in the mountains, Gandalf reveals to Aragorn that the power of the Three Elven-rings has also perished with the One. Aragorn laments that he has no heir to inherit his title and that his realm will fade after his death; but Gandalf discloses the presence of a scion of the White Tree (descendant of one of the two Trees of Valinor) which restores hope. The old tree is uprooted and laid to rest in the tombs of the city.

Scene Three    Heralded by Glorfindel, Elrond now arrives from Rivendell, escorting his daughter Arwen to become the wife of Aragorn and the Queen of Gondor.

28 HOMEWARD BOUND

Scene One    Frodo comes to bid farewell to the King and Queen, and Arwen promises him that if he is unable to find peace in his home he may take her place on the ship to Valinor in the West.

Scene Two Following the funeral of Théoden, Eomer announces the betrothal of his sister Eowyn to Faramir, and Aragorn gives them his blessing.

Scene Three    Coming to Isengard, the company are met by Treebeard, who admits that he has allowed Saruman to leave the tower as he is no longer dangerous. Legolas and Gimli also take their leave, and Aragorn dissolves the remaining members of the Fellowship of the Ring as he returns to his own kingdom.

Scene Four    Entering the land of Eregion, Gandalf, Celeborn and Galadriel together with the hobbits encounter Saruman and Wormtongue, who are seeking a way out of the newly established kingdom. Gandalf fears that the malice of Saruman remains undiminished.

Scene Five    Returning to Rivendell, Frodo and Bilbo are finally reunited; but it appears that Bilbo has now completely forgotten the reasons that his ring had to be destroyed. He only looks forward now to his final rest.

29 THE SCOURING OF THE SHIRE

Prelude    Before he leaves Rivendell, Frodo is told by Elrond that he should look for Bilbo in the autumn of the Shire.

Scene One    Coming to the borders of the Shire, the hobbits find that Frodo’s cousin Lotho, to whom he had sold Bag End, has set himself up as the boss of a gangster-like organisation which is being run by Bill Ferny from Bree. The latter is expelled, but Pippin realises that they still have work to do.

Scene Two    When they arrive at Bywater, the hobbits find that other ruffians have taken control of the country, including Ted Sandyman who is assisting in the despoliation of the landscape. Merry summons the local farmers to rise up against their oppressors, and when Bill Ferny returns in an attack on Farmer Cotton, he is shot by archers. Sam laments the destruction of so much that was held dear, but Saruman who now appears reveals that it is he who has directed the ruination of the land in revenge for the destruction of Isengard. He tries treacherously to kill Frodo, but his blade is turned by the hidden mail-coat and Frodo in his turn forswears retribution hoping that Saruman will eventually find his own salvation. But when Saruman viciously reveals that Wormtongue has killed Lotho, the latter springs on his back and cuts his throat before in turn succumbing to hobbit archers. Saruman’s body gathers a mist around itself, seeking to find reincarnation as Gandalf had done before; but a wind takes it from the West, and it is dispersed.

30 THE GREY HAVENS

Scene One    Frodo, now back in his home at Bag End, is depressed and inconsolate. Not only does he remain in pain from his wounds, and from the loss of the Ring, but he despairs of ever finding the promised redemption in the West.

Scene Two    However in the woods he and Sam encounter a company of Elves from Rivendell and Lórien, with Elrond, Galadriel and Bilbo riding to the Grey Havens and their ship to Valinor. Frodo now bids farewell to Sam, with the foresight that the latter too will in due course be able to follow. The Elves sing as they proceed on their journey.

Scene Three       Coming to the Havens they are greeted first by Círdan the Shipwright and then by Gandalf, who assures them that not all grief is evil. They embark upon the ship to Valinor, and voices from over the water welcome them as they depart for the Deathless Lands.

'''APPENDICES'''

APPENDIX I - THE LAY OF BEREN AND LUTHIEN

Chapter 5    In the original version of this chapter the song Aragorn sang to the hobbits in Scene One was a lay describing the meeting of Beren and Lúthien. An expanded version of this setting was however incorporated into that section of the score in the epic scenes from The Silmarillion, and the revised version now substitutes a different poem about the Elvenking Gil-galad, which is in turn employed as the basis for further musical elaboration within the musical chapters from The Lord of the Rings. Listeners may however prefer to substitute this longer section instead.

APPENDIX II - THE LAY OF EARENDIL

Chapter 6    Just before the end of Scene Two Bilbo stands to sing an extended Lay of Eärendil describing the voyages of Elrond’s father; the setting here, originally designed as an appendix to the epic scenes from The Silmarillion, was then expanded and incorporated into The War of Wrath. Listeners may again be wish to hear it in its original place.

APPENDIX III - EPILOGUE: ARAGORN AND ARWEN

After a rule extending for 120 years, Aragorn decides that it is now time for him to resign his kingdom to his successors. Arwen however is reluctant to abandon her bliss and is not consoled by his promise of a life beyond the circles of the world. She departs in sorrow to the land of Lothlórien which has now been deserted by its people, and lays her down upon Cerin Amroth. [This section of the score was originally conceived as a work for solo piano, The Passing of Arwen, as a supplement to the musical chapters, a parallel to the Akallabêth and the epic scenes from The Silmarillion; it was subsequently expanded to the form given here, complete with solo voices, narrative chorus and orchestra.]

== Recordings ==
In 2024 Volante Opera Productions announced they are working on a complete demo recording of the work using sampled orchestra and professional opera singers. It will be released by Prima Facie records in 2025.
[[Category:Music]]
[[Category:Stage adaptations]]
[[Category:Classical music]]

Paul Corfield Godfrey

2024-04-08T18:27:11Z

SCB74656: Added links and mentions about the new works

__NOTOC__{{author infobox
| image=
| name=Paul Corfield Godfrey
| born=1950
| died=
| education=
| occupation=Composer
| location=United Kingdom
| website=https://www.paulcorfieldgodfrey.co.uk/
}}
'''Paul Corfield Godfrey''' is a British musician who composed music and, most notably, operatic adaptations utilising the words of [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] between the years [[1971]]-[[2023]] with the permission of the [[Tolkien Estate]].

His ''Epic Scenes from The Silmarillion after the mythology of J.R.R. Tolkien -'' a cycle of operatic works originally written between 1980 and 1994 consisted of ''[[Fëanor, Op. 46 (Opera)|Op. 46 - Fëanor]]'', ''[[Beren and Lúthien, Op. 47 (Opera)|Op. 47. Beren and Lúthien]]'', ''[[The Children of Húrin, Op. 48 (Opera)|Op. 48 - The Children of Húrin]]'' and ''[[The Fall of Gondolin, Op.49 (Opera)|Op. 49 - The Fall of Gondolin]].'' The libretti for these works were compiled with the assistance of Christopher Tolkien who supplied Godfrey with, at that point in time, unpublished versions of some of the texts to help expand the words of ''The Silmarillion'' into a more dramatic form.

[[Priscilla Tolkien]] hosted an event for [[The Tolkien Society]] in 1982 where a small ensemble of singers performed highlights from ''The Children of Húrin'' to the assembled members at the [[Oxonmoot]]. Priscilla herself joined the choir for the occasion.

The operas sat unperformed until 2018 when Volante Opera Productions undertook the process of creating demo recordings of the works. During this process Godfrey was persuaded to compose a final part to ''The Silmarillion'' to finish off the tales which was subsequently recorded. This fifth and final part was entitled ''[[The War of Wrath, Op. 71 (Opera)|Op. 71. The War of Wrath]]'' was completed in 2020.

In total the cycle has a duration of approximately ten and a half hours, has a cast of 48 characters and 55 scenes.

In 2024 the Tolkien Estate also granted the rights to his operatic cycles [[Musical chapters from The Lord of the Rings after the mythology of J. R. R. Tolkien, Op. 73]] and [[Musical Chapters from The Hobbit after the mythology of J. R. R. Tolkien, Op. 8]].

Other authorised works currently include ''[[Tolkien Songs, Op. 9|Op. 9 - Tolkien Songs]]'', ''[[Shadow-Bride, Op. 36 (Song)|Op. 33 - Shadow-Bride]]'', ''[[Symphony No. 3 Ainulindalë, Op. 42|Op. 36 - Symphony No. 3 Ainulindalë]]'', ''[[Akallabêth (for solo piano), Op. 42|Op. 42 - Akallabêth (for solo piano)]]'', ''[[Akallabêth (for orchestra), Op. 42a|Op. 42a - Akallabêth (for Orchestra)]]'' and ''[[Daeron, Op. 45 (Flute and Piano)|Op. 45 - Daeron]].'' There are also suites and concert performable highlights from each of the component parts of ''The Silmarillion.''

== Discography ==
*[[Akallabêth and other Tolkien works (Album)]] (Prima Facie 2017)
*[[The Fall of Gondolin, Op.49 (Album)]] (Prima Facie 2018)
*[[Beren and Lúthien, Op. 47 (Album)]] (Prima Facie 2019)
*[[The Children of Húrin, Op. 48 (Album)]] (Prima Facie 2020)
*[[Fëanor, Op. 46 (Album)]] (Prima Facie 2022)
*[[The War of Wrath, Op. 71 (Album)]] (Prima Facie 2023)
*[[Epic Scenes from The Silmarillion after the mythology of J. R. R. Tolkien (Complete)]] (Prima Facie 2023)

== Scores ==
'''Epic Scenes from ''The Silmarillion'' after the mythology of J. R. R. Tolkien:'''

* [[Fëanor, Op. 46 (Vocal Score)]]
* [[Fëanor, Op. 46 (Full Score)]]

* [[Beren and Lúthien, Op. 47 (Vocal Score)]]
* [[Beren and Lúthien, Op. 47 (Full Score)]]

* [[The Children of Húrin, Op. 48 (Vocal Score)]]
* [[The Children of Húrin, Op. 48 (Full Score)]]

* [[The Fall of Gondolin, Op. 49 (Vocal Score)]]
* [[The Fall of Gondolin, Op. 49 (Full Score)]]

* [[The War of Wrath, Op. 71 (Vocal Score)]]
* [[The War of Wrath, Op. 71 (Full Score)]]

*[[Akallabêth and other Tolkien Works (Collected Edition Score)|'''Akallabêth and other Tolkien Works (Collected Edition Score)''']]

==Articles==
* [[Amon Hen 159|''Amon Hen'' 159]]
**Operas of ''The Silmarillion''
*[[Lembas Extra 2022|''Lembas Extra'' 2022: Númenor]]
**"The Second Age: A beginning and an end"

===External link===
*[https://tolkienlibrary.com/press/956-interview-with-paul-corfield-godfrey.php Interview with Paul Corfield Godfreyl] at tolkienlibrary.com.

{{references}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Godfrey, Paul Corfield}}
[[Category:British people]]
[[Category:Classical music]]
[[Category:Composers]]
[[Category:People by name]]

Musical chapters from The Lord of the Rings after the mythology of J. R. R. Tolkien, Op. 73

2024-04-08T18:23:23Z

SCB74656: Added links to other pages

Musical Chapters from The Hobbit after the mythology of J. R. R. Tolkien, Op. 8

2024-04-08T18:21:17Z

SCB74656: New page for the work

Musical chapters from The Lord of the Rings after the mythology of J. R. R. Tolkien, Op. 73

2024-04-08T17:57:36Z

SCB74656: New page for the work

An operatic cycle by composer [[Paul Corfield Godfrey]], ''Musical Chapters from The Lord of the Rings after the mythology of J. R. R. Tolkien,'' was written between the years 1967-2023. The composer originally planned a massive cycle of eleven evenings of music (two of which were to be devoted to The Hobbit) and the text was prepared but only certain contained sections were composed. It was only when the recordings of [[The Fall of Gondolin, Op.49 (Opera)]], [[Beren and Lúthien, Op. 47 (Opera)]], [[The Children of Húrin, Op. 48 (Opera)]] were released and the recordings of [[Fëanor, Op. 46 (Opera)]] and [[The War of Wrath, Op. 71 (Opera)]] were being worked upon by Volante Opera Productions that Paul was persuaded to go back to his notes and complete the cycle. The original plan was trimmed back to the still epic plan of six evenings of music dedicated to ''The Lord of the Rings'' and two to ''The Hobbit''.

In 2024 the Tolkien Estate granted the rights to the composer to use the Tolkien texts from [[The Lord of the Rings]] and [[The Adventures of Tom Bombadil]] (to set a truncated version of ''The Sea Bell'' as part of the final chapter).

This cycle is musically connected to the composer's other Tolkien settings, most notably [[Epic Scenes from The Silmarillion after the mythology of J. R. R. Tolkien (Complete)]], where characters and themes continue their development from the "earlier" age.

This part of the cycle contains roughly seventeen hours of music across thirty chapters and three appendices.

== Characters ==
'''MUSICAL CHAPTERS FROM THE LORD OF THE RINGS'''

'''HOBBITS:'''

Bilbo Baggins of the Shire (Tenor)

Frodo Baggins, his heir (Tenor)

Samwise Gamgee (Baritone)

Peregrin Took (Tenor)

Meriadoc Brandybuck (Baritone)

Lobelia Sackville-Baggins, Bilbo's cousin (Mezzo)

Otho Sackville-Baggins, her husband (Baritone)

Hamfast Gamgee, Sam's father (Baritone)

Ted Sandyman, the miller (Tenor)

Daddy Twofoot (Bass)

Old Knoakes (Bass)

Rory Brandybuck, Merry's father (Baritone)

Everard Took, Pippin's cousin (Tenor)

Odo Proudfoot, Bilbo's cousin (Bass)

Hob Hayward, a hobbit from Buckland (Baritone)

Farmer Cotton, from Bywater (Bass)

Smeagol/Gollum (Tenor)

Deagol (Bass)

A Stranger (Baritone)

'''WIZARDS AND OTHER ELEMENTALS:'''

Gandalf the Grey/White (Baritone)

Saruman the White/Sharkey (Tenor)

Gwaihir, Lord of the Eagles (Soprano or Tenor)

Tom Bombadil (Baritone)

Goldberry, his wife (Soprano)

A Barrow-Wight (Counter Tenor or Mezzo)

The King of the Dead (Counter Tenor or Mezzo)

The Voice of Elbereth, Queen of the Valar in the Blessed Realm (Soprano)

'''RACE OF MEN:'''

Strider/Aragorn, Captain of the Dunedain (Baritone)

Boromir, son of the Steward of Gondor (Bass)

Faramir, son of the Steward of Gondor (Tenor)

Denethor, Steward of Gondor (Bass)

Theoden, King of Rohan (Bass)

Eomer, his nephew (Tenor)

Eowyn, his niece (Mezzo)

Imrahil, Prince of Dol Amroth (Baritone)

Beregond, guard of Minas Tirith (Baritone)

Wormtongue, Counsellor to Theoden (Tenor)

Eothain, Marshal of the Mark (Baritone)

Hama, Captain of the Guard of Edoras (Baritone)

Ceorl, a rider of Rohan (Bass)

Ingold, guard of Minas Tirith (Tenor)

Ioreth, a handmaiden of the Houses of Healing (Mezzo)

Halbarad, a Dunedain (Bass)

Herb Master of the Houses of Healing (Bass)

Mablung, one of the men of Ithilien (Baritone)

Damrod, one of the men of Ithilien (Bass)

Anborn, one of the men of Ithilien (Bass)

Barliman Butterbur, Landlord of The Prancing Pony (Bass)

Bill Ferny, a man of Bree (Bass)

A Minstrel (Tenor)

'''ELVES:'''

Legolas, son of Thranduil Elvenking of Mirkwood (Tenor)

Galadriel, Queen of Lothlorien (Soprano)

Elrond Halfelven, Lord of Rivendell (Tenor)

Arwen, his daughter (Soprano)

Celeborn, husband of Galadriel (Bass)

Glorfindel, elf of Rivendell (Tenor)

Haldir, Captain of Lothlorien (Baritone)

Lindir, elf of Rivendell (Counter Tenor or Mezzo)

Galdor, elf of the Grey Havens (Baritone)

Gildor Inglorion, of the House of Finrod (Tenor)

Elladan, twin son of Elrond (Baritone)

Elrohir, twin son of Elrond (Baritone)

Cirdan, Lord of the Grey Havens (Bass)

'''DWARVES:'''

Gimli son of Gloin (Bass)

Gloin, of the Lonely Mountain (Bass)

Dain, King Under the Lonely Mountain (Bass)

'''ENTS:'''

Treebeard (Bass)

Quickbeam (Baritone)

'''FORCES OF EVIL:'''

The Voice of Sauron (Bass)

Khamul, a Ringwraith (Bass)

The Witch-King, Lord of the Ringwraiths (Baritone)

The Mouth of Sauron (Bass)

Ugluk, Orc of Isengard (Baritone)

Grishnahk, Orc of Mordor (Tenor)

Gorbag, Orc Captain of Minas Morgul (Baritone)

Shagrat, Orc Captain of Cirith Ungol (Tenor)

Tracker, Orc of Mordor (Tenor)

Soldier, Orc of Mordor (Bass)

Snaga, Orc of Cirith Ungol (Tenor)

'''CHORUS:'''

Hobbits, Elves, Customers at The Green Dragon, Black Riders, Wargs, Men of Rohan, Ents, Men of Harad,

Men of Gondor, Orcs, Creatures of Minas Morgul, Guards of Minas Tirith, Heralds, Host of the Dead,

Creatures of Mordor, Distant Voices over the Water.

'''APPENDIX I - THE LAY OF BEREN AND LUTHIEN'''

Aragorn/Strider, Captain of the Dunedain (Baritone)

'''APPENDIX II - THE LAY OF EARENDIL'''

Bilbo Baggins of the Shire (Tenor)

'''APPENDIX III - EPILOGUE: ARAGORN AND ARWEN'''

Arwen, Queen of Gondor and Arnor (Soprano)

Aragorn, King Elessar of Gondor and Arnor (Baritone)

'''CHORUS:'''

Unseen Voices

== Synopsis ==
'''THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING'''

1 A LONG-EXPECTED PARTY

Scene One    In the Ivy Bush tavern a group of hobbits are discussing the forthcoming arrangements for the eleventy-first birthday of Bilbo Baggins. Ham Gamgee (known as “the Gaffer”) explains how Bilbo has come to adopt his young relative Frodo following the death of the latter’s parents, and the two of them are throwing a party to which all the local residents are being invited.

Scene Two In his garden at Bag End, Bilbo is accompanied by the wizard Gandalf as they discuss some mysterious surprise which the former is intending for the celebrations.

Scene Three    At the boisterous party, when Bilbo finally manages to make himself heard over the dancing and rejoicing, he announces to his stunned guests that he is leaving the Shire immediately and vanishes before their eyes.

Scene Four Back in Bag End, he is packing for his journey when Gandalf appears and is perturbed when Bilbo refuses to leave his magic ring of invisibility for Frodo along with the remainder of his possessions. He has indeed to threaten Bilbo before the latter finally agrees to leave it behind. When, after his departure, Frodo finally enters, Gandalf warns him that he is going away at once on urgent business, and that in the meantime Frodo is to be careful of the ring.

2 THE SHADOW OF THE PAST

Scene One    Eighteen years later, the Gaffer’s son Sam is drinking with the local blacksmith Ted Sandyman in the Green Dragon inn. They discuss troubling rumours about the manner in which the borders of the Shire are threatened, and that the Elves are leaving Middle-earth.

Scene Two Gandalf unexpectedly returns to warn Frodo that he has discovered that his ring is deadly perilous: that it is in fact the One Ring, lost by the Dark Lord Sauron at the end of the Second Age and which he is now seeking in order to re-establish his rule over Middle-earth. He explains how the Ring was discovered by the creature Gollum (from whom Bilbo had won it in a game of riddles) and that Sauron had now ascertained where it was to be found. Frodo will have to leave the Shire at once lest he bring ruin and destruction on the land. Gandalf catches Sam eavesdropping on the conversation, and decides that he will have to accompany Frodo on his journey.

Scene Three    Frodo has sold Bag End and his friend Merry is taking his goods off by cart to Buckland where it is given out that he intends to settle. But while he is waiting for Sam and his other friend Pippin, he overhears a stranger questioning the Gaffer about his movements and intentions.

Scene Four    Frodo, Sam and Pippin are going along the road when they are overtaken by a mysterious horseman clad in black, who seems to be searching for them. After he fails to discover their hiding place, Sam and Pippin sing a drinking song, but the horseman is returning when Elves are heard singing in the trees and he retreats. Gildor, leader of the wandering Elves, warns Frodo that his pursuers are sent by the Enemy.

Scene Five Arriving at Buckland, Frodo is forced to confess to Merry and Pippin that he does not after all intend to remain there but to leave immediately. They astonish him by revealing that Sam has already told them about the Ring, and Merry suggests that the only way of avoiding pursuit is to go through the Old Forest despite its fearsome reputation.

3 TOM BOMBADIL

Scene One    Entering the Old Forest, the hobbits soon become lost and are entrapped by the roots of a willow tree. Calling for help, Frodo is assisted by the mysterious Tom Bombadil who releases his friends and invites them to follow him for food and rest.

Scene Two At the house of Tom Bombadil the hobbits are welcomed by his wife Goldberry, but during the night Frodo sees a vision of Gandalf imprisoned on top of a tower. In the morning Goldberry bids them farewell.

Scene Three       In a mist on the Barrow-downs the hobbits are captured and entombed by a Barrow-wight which haunts the tombs of ancient kings.

Scene Four       It is only when Frodo calls on the name of Tom Bombadil that the latter appears and once again releases the hobbits from their imprisonment. But he will not pass the borders of his own lands, and he advises them to make for the village of Bree and the inn The Prancing Pony where they can find shelter for the following night.

4 THE PRANCING PONY

Scene One    At the inn the landlord Barliman Butterbur gives them a warm welcome, but Frodo is intrigued by a mysterious stranger Strider who appears in the bar and seems to know more about his business that he should. He tries to distract attention by singing a rousing drinking song, but at the climax the Ring slips on to his finger and he vanishes. Although he tries to pass off the incident as a joke, Strider insists that he must have an urgent and private conversation with him; and one of the other customers, Bill Ferny, slips discreetly away.

Scene Two Strider warns the hobbits that they are still being pursued by the Black Riders from whom they are in deadly peril, and offers his services as a guide. But it is only when Butterbur delivers a delayed letter from Gandalf to Frodo that the latter decides that he can trust him. Merry warns them that Black Riders have already entered Bree, and Strider says they will have to escape into the wilderness the following morning and make for Weathertop where he hopes Gandalf will meet them.

5 FLIGHT TO THE FORD

Scene One Reaching Weathertop, Strider and the hobbits find that Gandalf has already been and gone. Strider sings a song to rouse their spirits, but in the dark their camp is attacked by the Black Riders and under their compulsion Frodo places the Ring on his finger. Immediately he can see their spectral forms beneath their robes, but they pierce his shoulder with a knife before they retreat.

Scene Two    When Frodo recovers, Strider explains that the wound will progressively bring him under the control of the Riders and that they must now depart for Rivendell with all speed.

Scene Three       On the road, the hobbits come across the three stone trolls encountered by Bilbo and the dwarves on their eastward journey over seventy years before. Sam sings a comic song to rouse Frodo’s spirits, but the latter is sinking increasingly into lassitude and despair.

Scene Four They are overtaken by Glorfindel, an elf from Rivendell sent to search for them; he persuades Frodo to mount his horse in the very nick of time, as the black horsemen are already in pursuit.

Scene Five    Fleeing to the Ford of Bruinen, Frodo turns in defiance against the Black Riders, but they call to him to follow them to Mordor with the Ring and he is barely able to fend them off. Suddenly the waters of the Ford rise and sweep the horsemen away, just as Frodo finally collapses fainting to the ground.

6 THE COUNCIL OF ELROND

Scene One Frodo, having been healed by Elrond, is roused by Gandalf, who explains to him how the waters of the Ford rose in obedience to the command of Elrond as the Master of Rivendell. Sam and the other hobbits are delighted to find their companion recovered just in time for a celebratory feast.

Scene Two At the feast, Frodo is surprised to see Strider in close conversation with Arwen the daughter of Elrond. He is even more surprised to find himself seated next to the dwarf Glóin, one of Bilbo’s companions on his quest, and then to discover Bilbo himself seated in a quiet corner. But when Bilbo asks to see the Ring, Frodo suddenly finds himself uneasy and only a song in praise of Elbereth from one of the Elven minstrels restores calm.

Scene Three    The following morning Frodo and Gandalf are summoned to attend a council held by Elrond. Glóin reports on the visit of a Black Rider to the dwarf kingdom in Erebor. Boromir, the son of the Ruling Steward of Gondor, tells of a prophetic dream regarding the Sword that was Broken; and during the course of the subsequent discussion it is revealed that Strider is none other than Aragorn, the heir of Isildur and rightful King of Gondor. It is he who has helped Gandalf to locate Gollum, and confirm that Frodo’s treasure is indeed the One Ring. Legolas, the son of Thranduil the Elvenking of Mirkwood, reports that Gollum has again escaped; and Gandalf in his turn explains how he was betrayed and imprisoned by Saruman the White, who wishes to seize the Ring for himself. He has only escaped from Isengard as the result of rescue by Gwaihir, the Lord of the Eagles. The council concludes that the Ring cannot be kept hidden from Sauron and his forces, but that it is too dangerous a temptation to be used lest it corrupt the wearer. But only in Mount Doom, in the heart of the Enemy’s realm of Mordor, can the Ring be unmade; and Frodo volunteers to undertake this task.

7 FAREWELL TO RIVENDELL

Scene One    Elrond appoints companions to the Fellowship of the Ring, to assist Frodo on his quest: Gandalf, Aragorn, Boromir, Legolas and Gimli son of Glóin in addition to the four hobbits. Bilbo gives to Frodo his sword Sting and his coat of mail, and settles down by the fireside in peace.

Interlude The Sword that was Broken, that cut the Ring from Sauron’s hand, is reforged for Aragorn and named by him Andúril.

Scene Two    The Fellowship of the Ring sets out on their journey.

Scene Three    Some weeks later, encamped in the land of Eregion, they feel a shadow pass over the moon and are attacked by wolves. Their only recourse is to take refuge in the Mines of Moria, although Aragorn forewarns Gandalf of danger.

8 A JOURNEY IN THE DARK

Scene One    Arriving at the Gates of Moria, they are at first unable to open the doors, and only make their way inside after an attack by the mysterious Watcher in the Water.

Scene Two    They come to a guard chamber where they rest for the night, although Pippin dislodges a stone into the water and signals are heard from the deep. Frodo on watch sees eyes coming stealthily in pursuit.

Scene Three They find the tomb of Balin, the last Lord of Moria, and learn of the destruction of the dwarves at the hands of orcs. They are in their turn attacked, leaving Gandalf to defend their retreat.

Scene Four Coming to the perilous Bridge of Khazad-dûm, the Fellowship are attacked by a Balrog of Morgoth, a survivor from the First Age, with whom Gandalf falls in battle.

9 THE MIRROR OF GALADRIEL

Scene One    Led by Aragorn, the Fellowship escape from Moria and enter the realm of Lothlórien where they are intercepted by Haldir and escorted by him to the city of their rulers in Caras Galadhon. Aragorn upon the hill of Cerin Amroth has a vision of his beloved Arwen and bids her farewell.

Scene Two    Reaching Caras Galathon, they tell Celeborn and Galadriel of the fall of Gandalf, and are offered aid and assistance.

Scene Three       Galadriel leads Frodo to view her Mirror, in which he sees images of ships in the past fleeing from Númenor, in the present coming to the assault on Gondor, and in the future passing into the West; but all of these are overshadowed and menaced by the Eye of Sauron searching for the Ring. He offers the Ring to Galadriel, since it will enable her to preserve her realm against the Enemy; but after an ecstatic vision of temptation, she realises that she must remain true to herself and refuse the power.

Scene Four Celeborn presents the Fellowship with boats in which they may travel down the river Anduin, together with provisions for their voyage.

Scene Five    Galadriel, bidding the Fellowship farewell, gives each of them gifts including for Frodo a star-glass containing the light of the star of Eärendil.

10 THE BREAKING OF THE FELLOWSHIP

Scene One    Sam tells Frodo that he has seen Gollum following the Fellowship in their boats down the River, and Aragorn decides that they must try and avoid his pursuit.

Interlude       They pass through the Argonath, the Pillars of the Kings, and enter the realm of Gondor.

Scene Two    At the lawn of Parth Galen they debate what course they should now take. Frodo asks for some time to be allowed to make up his mind alone.

Scene Three Boromir tries to persuade Frodo to come to Minas Tirith, the capital of Gondor, and allow him to make use of the Ring to defeat the Enemy. Frodo refuses to yield up such a weapon of such dangerous potential, and Boromir tries to steal it from him by force. Frodo puts on the Ring and vanishes.

Scene Four    Boromir returns to the Fellowship and reports that Frodo has disappeared. The others scatter in pursuit of him, and only Sam realises that Frodo is trying to escape unseen by boat and intercepts him. Together they cross the river, while the horn of Boromir in distress is heard sounding behind them.

'''THE TWO TOWERS'''

''The chapters are numbered in the score in the order for live performance to reduce the number of performers required in an evening. For the purposes of this synopsis the chapters are in story order of 11, 12, 16, 13, 17, 14, 15 and then 18.''

11 THE PLAINS AND THE FOREST

Scene One    Merry and Pippin, still searching for Frodo, are attacked by orcs and Boromir is killed while trying to rescue them. Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli sing a lament for their fallen comrade and set out in pursuit of the captives.

Scene Two    The orcs led by Ugluk and Grishnakh are in their turn attacked by riders from the kingdom of Rohan, and Grishnakh – who is led to believe that Pippin has the Ring – tries to carry them out of the battle; but he is killed, and the hobbits escape into the forest of Fangorn.

Scene Three       There they meet the Ent, Treebeard, who rules the forest, but has taken no part in the struggles between the forces of Middle-earth. He takes them to his far distant dwelling under the mountains.

12 THE RIDERS OF ROHAN

Scene One    The pursuers Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli come across some slain orcs, and realise that the intention of the orcs is to take the hobbits to the traitor Saruman in Isengard and not to Mordor. They see the mountains of Gondor in the distance.

Scene Two    They now encounter the riders of Rohan led by Eómer the king’s nephew, who tells them that he has destroyed the band of orcs but found no trace of the hobbits they seek. He lends them horses to continue their search.

Scene Three       Pippin and Merry talk to Treebeard of the ambitions of Saruman, and the Ent realises that he needs to intervene to protect his forest; he summons an Entmoot to consider what action needs to be taken.

Scene Four    Coming in their turn to Fangorn, the three pursuers are accosted by a figure in white who they initially take to be Saruman, but who transpires to be Gandalf mysteriously returned from death and now rehoused in a new reincarnation. He now summons his own horse Shadowfax and together they ride towards Edoras, the capital of Rohan.

16 THE BLACK GATE IS CLOSED

Scene One    Frodo and Sam attempt to climb down the cliffs from the Emyn Muil, but are caught in a thunderstorm and only succeed after Sam remembers the rope he obtained from Lórien.

Scene Two    But they are now pursued in their own turn by Gollum, whom they ambush and persuade to lead them towards Mordor. He promises to serve the “Master of the Precious” and takes them by secret paths through the marshes.

Scene Three In the marshes the hobbits see dead faces in the water, those who died in earlier battles with Sauron before the Gates of Mordor.

Scene Four       Gollum in the meantime is caught in an internal debate between himself governed by the desire for the Ring and his earlier life as the hobbit Sméagol. The appearance of a Ringwraith – a Black Rider on wings – terrifies him.

Scene Five    The three come to the Black Gate leading into Mordor; but the way is barred. Frodo and Sam agree to follow Gollum to another secret way known only to him, through the high pass of Cirith Ungol to the south. As they turn away, an army of Southrons summoned by Sauron enter the Gate.

13 THE KING OF THE GOLDEN HALL

Scene One Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli arrive at the gates of Edoras, the seat of the kings of Rohan.

Scene Two Here their way is barred by Hama, who refuses to admit them until they lay aside their arms. He does however permit Gandalf to keep his staff.

Scene Three    At first King Théoden and his adviser Wormtongue scorn Gandalf’s advice and warnings, but when he strikes down Wormtongue with a blast of lightning from his staff, the king recovers his own courage and recognises the worth of the advice he receives. Gandalf realises that Wormtongue has been acting on the orders of Saruman, and he is banished; Théoden himself determines to set forth to war, and on the advice of Hama he leaves his niece Eowyn to lead the remnant of his people.

Scene Four    As the Entmoot proceeds in Fangorn, the Ent Quickbeam sings to Merry and Pippin of the destruction by Saruman’s orcs of the trees that he loves. The Entmoot explodes in a violent outburst of anger, and march towards Isengard to seek revenge.

17 THE WINDOW ON THE WEST

Scene One    Meanwhile, Frodo and Sam have followed Gollum to Ithilien within the borders of Gondor, where they are captured by Gondorian scouts led by Faramir who is organising an ambush of Sauron’s Southron recruits. Faramir reveals that he is the brother of Boromir, whom he knows is dead; and he takes Frodo and Sam with him to a place of safety.

Scene Two    On the journey Faramir tells Frodo that he knows of Boromir’s ambitions and his mission, but that he would not make use of the weapons of the Enemy. Sam realises that Gollum is still following them.

Scene Three    They come to the refuge of Henneth Annun, concealed behind a waterfall, and in the course of their continuing conversations Faramir realises that his brother had tried to steal the Ring from Frodo. But he maintains his principles, and tells them that he will help them to destroy it.

Scene Four    The sentries have tracked Gollum to the waterfall where he is in search of fish to eat. Frodo helps them to capture him.

Scene Five    Faramir demands to know from Gollum where he leading the hobbits. When he discovers their intended destination he warns Frodo that Cirith Ungol is a place of peril, and that he should also beware of the intentions of his guide; but he bids him go with goodwill.

14 THE JOURNEY TO ISENGARD

Scene One    In a series of brief scenes, we see and hear reports of the movements of the riders of Rohan as well as Gandalf and Wormtongue, both of whom have left the army.

Scene Two    Théoden comes to the fortress of the Hornburg in Helm’s Deep where he intends to make a stand against the invading forces of Saruman. Aragorn and Eomer protect the gates, while Legolas and Gimli man the wall; but Saruman has invented a blasting fire that can demolish the stone.

Scene Three    Inside the fortress, Théoden is reduced to near despair; but Aragorn promises to lead forth his forces.

Scene Four    He bids defiance to the orcs, and as he leads a charge out from the gates of the Hornburg, Gandalf also appears with an army of Ents which overpower the orcs. The wizard bids Théoden to follow him to Isengard to confront Saruman.

Scene Five    Arriving at Isengard, the king and his army find the stronghold overthrown and Merry and Pippin feasting in the ruins. The latter tell how the Ents destroyed the fortifications after Saruman’s army left and then flooded the remains. But Aragorn remains puzzled by the fact that Saruman has apparently been undertaking trade with the Shire. Gandalf asks them to come with him to talk to the traitor, but to beware of his voice.

15 THE VOICE OF SARUMAN

Scene One    The reason for Gandalf’s warnings become evident when Saruman in turn tries to seduce Théoden, and the Gandalf himself, with flattery and sophistries masquerading as appeals to self-interest and reason. But Gandalf now reveals himself in his new reincarnation as Gandalf the White, who has been sent to supersede Saruman as the leader of the White Council. He shatters Saruman’s staff, and deputes the Ents to watch Isengard to ensure that he remains imprisoned there. Wormtongue attempts to kill him by hurling a stone from a window above, but Pippin rescues the crystal object and Gandalf takes it in charge.

Scene Two    Pippin is now fascinated by the crystal, and despite the warnings of Merry he goes and steals it from the sleeping Gandalf. Once he looks into it, he is transfixed by the Eye of Sauron, who delivers to him a message for Saruman before he awakens with a shriek. Gandalf realises the dangers of the Palantir in the wrong hands, and delivers it into the safe keeping of Aragorn before riding in haste to Minas Tirith with Pippin. As he leaves a Nazgûl, a Ringwraith, flies over the camp, as Sauron sends his messenger to Saruman seeking for news of the Ring.

18 CIRITH UNGOL

Scene One    Far south in Ithilien a thunderstorm is brewing as Gollum leads Frodo and Sam to the borders of Mordor. In the lightning Frodo sees that an old statue of the king, overgrown with vegetation and flowers, has now been given a crown again.

Scene Two    They pass by the fortress of Minas Morgul, and see the Lord of the Nazgûl leading out an army to storm Minas Tirith on the opposite bank of the river.

Scene Three Higher up in the mountains Frodo and Sam see a fortress above and find themselves left alone as Gollum suddenly disappears without explanation. But they still manage to take some sleep, and when Gollum returns he seems to repent of whatever actions he had planned. He is surprises when Sam awakens and accuses him of sneaking off, refusing to say where he has been. Nevertheless he insists that they must make haste.

Scene Four       Having led them into a dark tunnel, Gollum again vanishes and leaves the hobbits alone. Now they suddenly hear the bubbling noise of a giant spider, and the monstrous Shelob only falls back when Frodo produces the star-glass of Eärendil. Using the sword Sting, the hobbits are able to cut themselves loose from Shelob’s cobwebs.

Scene Five But Gollum falls on Sam as soon as he emerges from the tunnel, leaving Frodo to be felled by Shelob. By the time Sam has reached him, Frodo has been stung and apparently killed. Sam drives Shelob off, but is unable to rouse his master and eventually in desperation he takes the Ring in order that the quest may continue. At that moment bands of orcs both from Minas Morgul and the fortress of Cirith Ungol come and seize Frodo’s body; Sam rushes in pursuit of them.

Scene Six       In a tunnel beneath the fortress Sam learns that Frodo is not dead but paralysed; Shelob does not eat cold meat. Gorbag, one of the captains, looks forward eagerly to a bout of interrogation; but Shagrat, the other captain, says that all captives are wanted intact by Sauron and he will be kept securely in the uppermost part of the tower. Sam is unable to get in through the gates, and falls senseless before the closed doors.

'''THE RETURN OF THE KING'''

19 MINAS TIRITH

Scene One    Gandalf brings Pippin to Minas Tirith and is hailed by the guards.

Scene Two    He escorts Pippin before the seat of Denethor, the Ruling Steward, who interrogates the hobbit as to the manner of death of his son Boromir. Pippin swears fealty to Denethor in acknowledgement of his debt.

Scene Three Beregond, one of the guards, shows Pippin the field of Pelennor before the gates as they feel the shadow of a Nazgûl passing over. Later when Gandalf returns he warns Pippin that since darkness is spreading out of Mordor there will be no dawn.

20 THE PASSING OF THE GREY COMPANY

Scene One    The action returns to the end of The Voice of Saruman. Aragorn is joined by some of his kindred from the North, who warn him that he may have to essay the Paths of the Dead.

Scene Two    The following morning Merry swears loyalty to Théoden, but Aragorn informs his companions that since he has looked into the palantir he has seen a new danger to Gondor which means that he will indeed have to take the perilous journey of the Paths of the Dead. Eowyn is aghast at his proposal, and when he refuses to take her with him as part of her company reveals that she is now in love with him.

Scene Three       Aragorn leads his company, together with Legolas and Gimli, through the paths of the Dead. The spectral king of the Dead agrees that his followers will fulfil their old oath to Gondor, and Aragorn unveils the banners which declare his title as king.

21 THE SIEGE OF GONDOR

Prelude    The chorus describe the ride of the Rohirrim under Théoden, coming to the aid of Gondor.

Scene One    Looking out across the fields of Pelennor, the guards discover that the forces of Sauron are being led by the Witch-King, the Lord of the Nazgûl. The retreating Faramir leads his men back to the city.

Scene Two    Denethor is dismayed to learn that Faramir has allowed the Ring to escape his grasp, and insists that he should make amends by leading the resistance to the force of Sauron.

Scene Three       Denethor laments the downfall of his house and his Stewardship, and his despair is confirmed when Faramir is brought back wounded.

Scene Four While Gandalf takes command of the defence, Denethor instructs his men to bring fire to the tomb where he proposes that he and Faramir will be consumed. Pippin begs Beregond to protect Faramir, and runs to summon Gandalf.

Scene Five    But Gandalf is confronted by the Witch-King, who has broken the gates of the City. At that moment the distant horns of the Rohirrim are heard as they enter the field of battle.

22 PELENNOR FIELDS

Scene One    Théoden summons his forces to attack the Southrons, but is overthrown by the appearance of the Lord of the Nazgul on his winged steed. Eowyn protects her uncle the King, and with the aid of Merry kills the Witch-King; but both are severely wounded, and Eomer assumes the kingship with a summons to vengeance.

Scene Two    Gandalf confronts Denethor and rescues Faramir from the fire, but Denethor refuses to take any comfort and predicts disaster. He seizes a brand from one of his servants and sets the house aflame.

Scene Three The men of the Rohirrim approach the city bearing Eowyn, but here it is discovered that she remains alive and she and Merry are taken to the Houses of Healing.

Scene Four       Eomer leads his men towards the river, but it appears at first that corsairs from Umbar are now attacking from the water. It is only when the ships have landed that it is established that the new arrivals are Aragorn and his Grey Company, and he and the Rohirrim ride now to victory.

23 THE HOUSES OF HEALING

Scene One    Aragorn comes to the assistance of the wounded – Faramir, now the Steward of Gondor, Eowyn and Merry – and cures them with the aid of the plant athelas which the Herb Master and serving-woman Ioreth supply. Gimli and Legolas too now have come to the city, and tell Merry and Pippin of the conquest of the southlands by Aragorn with the Army of the Dead.

Scene Two    Gandalf warns the captains of the armies that Sauron will remain undefeated unless they can find time to allow the Ring-bearer to destroy the Ring and fulfil his quest. It is agreed that Aragorn will lead an army to an assault on Mordor, attempting to distract the Dark Lord from the real danger to his position.

24 THE BLACK GATE OPENS

Before the Black Gate, Aragorn proclaims his title as king of Gondor. In response the Mouth of Sauron [bass], as the representative of the Dark Lord, produces the mail-coat of Frodo as a token that the hobbit has been taken captive and his mission has failed. The forces of the West nonetheless prepare for battle, and Pippin calls that the Eagles are coming to their assistance before he is felled by a stroke from a troll.

25 MOUNT DOOM

Scene One    The scene returns to the end of Cirith Ungol. Sam revives and sets out to rescue Frodo; but entering the tower he finds that the orcs are all dead.

Scene Two    It is revealed that the two orc-captains quarrelled over the distribution of the spoils, and Shagrat now kills Gorbag before escaping with Frodo’s mail-coat. Sam is unable however to find Frodo, and sings a song to try and rouse his attention. But only Snaga remains, threatening Frodo with a whip.

Scene Three    Sam finally rescues Frodo, but the latter is disconsolate when he realises that the Ring has been taken from him. When he discovers that Sam has it, he at first accuses him of theft and makes it clear that if he is nearly in its power; and if it is lost to him he will go mad. Sam helps him to recover.

Scene Four       In the parched desert of Mordor, Frodo and Sam are overtaken by two orcs tracking them, who fall into their own argument during which the captain is killed; but they discover that Gollum also is still on their trail. Sam sees the star of Eärendil shining high above in the heavens, and looks upon it as a sign of hope.

Scene Five Coming to the slopes of Mount Doom, they are suddenly attacked by Gollum seeking to regain the Ring from Frodo. They fend him off, and Frodo continues on his way, but Sam finds himself unable to kill the treacherous Gollum.

Scene Six    At the brink of the fiery pits of Doom, Frodo finally declares that he cannot destroy the Ring, and assumes full ownership of it by placing it upon his finger. Gollum comes up and, biting off Frodo’s finger, falls into the fire together with the Ring. The mountain erupts destroying all the land, the returning Ringwraiths are consumed in the fire, and in a moment of stillness Frodo and Sam prepare for death together, their quest achieved, as Sam wistfully thinks of the songs that will be made of their adventures.

26 THE FIELD OF CORMALLEN

Scene One    The scene returns to the end of The Black Gate opens. Just as the Eagles arrive, Gandalf calls upon the armies to halt as the end of the realm of Mordor is accomplished. He asks Gwaihir as the Lord of the Eagles to bear him rapidly to Mount Doom and they rescue Frodo and Sam from the fires.

Scene Two    In the Houses of Healing, Faramir seeks to comfort Eowyn, who is still devoid of purpose as she fears for the life of Aragorn. But when they see from afar the downfall of Mordor, she realises that hope for the future remains and falls into Faramir’s arms.

Scene Three Frodo and Sam are brought in triumphal procession before Aragorn and Gandalf, and Sam finally achieves his ambition to hear their story told by a minstrel of Gondor.

27 THE STEWARD AND THE KING

Prelude    Gwaihir the Eagle proclaims to the people of Minas Tirith the forthcoming triumph of their king.

Scene One    To a background of chatter from the serving-woman Ioreth, Aragorn is escorted before the gates of Gondor, and Faramir proclaims his title to the kingship. He is hailed by the people, and asks that Gandalf and Frodo should place the crown upon his head.

Scene Two    High in the mountains, Gandalf reveals to Aragorn that the power of the Three Elven-rings has also perished with the One. Aragorn laments that he has no heir to inherit his title and that his realm will fade after his death; but Gandalf discloses the presence of a scion of the White Tree (descendant of one of the two Trees of Valinor) which restores hope. The old tree is uprooted and laid to rest in the tombs of the city.

Scene Three    Heralded by Glorfindel, Elrond now arrives from Rivendell, escorting his daughter Arwen to become the wife of Aragorn and the Queen of Gondor.

28 HOMEWARD BOUND

Scene One    Frodo comes to bid farewell to the King and Queen, and Arwen promises him that if he is unable to find peace in his home he may take her place on the ship to Valinor in the West.

Scene Two Following the funeral of Théoden, Eomer announces the betrothal of his sister Eowyn to Faramir, and Aragorn gives them his blessing.

Scene Three    Coming to Isengard, the company are met by Treebeard, who admits that he has allowed Saruman to leave the tower as he is no longer dangerous. Legolas and Gimli also take their leave, and Aragorn dissolves the remaining members of the Fellowship of the Ring as he returns to his own kingdom.

Scene Four    Entering the land of Eregion, Gandalf, Celeborn and Galadriel together with the hobbits encounter Saruman and Wormtongue, who are seeking a way out of the newly established kingdom. Gandalf fears that the malice of Saruman remains undiminished.

Scene Five    Returning to Rivendell, Frodo and Bilbo are finally reunited; but it appears that Bilbo has now completely forgotten the reasons that his ring had to be destroyed. He only looks forward now to his final rest.

29 THE SCOURING OF THE SHIRE

Prelude    Before he leaves Rivendell, Frodo is told by Elrond that he should look for Bilbo in the autumn of the Shire.

Scene One    Coming to the borders of the Shire, the hobbits find that Frodo’s cousin Lotho, to whom he had sold Bag End, has set himself up as the boss of a gangster-like organisation which is being run by Bill Ferny from Bree. The latter is expelled, but Pippin realises that they still have work to do.

Scene Two    When they arrive at Bywater, the hobbits find that other ruffians have taken control of the country, including Ted Sandyman who is assisting in the despoliation of the landscape. Merry summons the local farmers to rise up against their oppressors, and when Bill Ferny returns in an attack on Farmer Cotton, he is shot by archers. Sam laments the destruction of so much that was held dear, but Saruman who now appears reveals that it is he who has directed the ruination of the land in revenge for the destruction of Isengard. He tries treacherously to kill Frodo, but his blade is turned by the hidden mail-coat and Frodo in his turn forswears retribution hoping that Saruman will eventually find his own salvation. But when Saruman viciously reveals that Wormtongue has killed Lotho, the latter springs on his back and cuts his throat before in turn succumbing to hobbit archers. Saruman’s body gathers a mist around itself, seeking to find reincarnation as Gandalf had done before; but a wind takes it from the West, and it is dispersed.

30 THE GREY HAVENS

Scene One    Frodo, now back in his home at Bag End, is depressed and inconsolate. Not only does he remain in pain from his wounds, and from the loss of the Ring, but he despairs of ever finding the promised redemption in the West.

Scene Two    However in the woods he and Sam encounter a company of Elves from Rivendell and Lórien, with Elrond, Galadriel and Bilbo riding to the Grey Havens and their ship to Valinor. Frodo now bids farewell to Sam, with the foresight that the latter too will in due course be able to follow. The Elves sing as they proceed on their journey.

Scene Three       Coming to the Havens they are greeted first by Círdan the Shipwright and then by Gandalf, who assures them that not all grief is evil. They embark upon the ship to Valinor, and voices from over the water welcome them as they depart for the Deathless Lands.

'''APPENDICES'''

APPENDIX I - THE LAY OF BEREN AND LUTHIEN

Chapter 5    In the original version of this chapter the song Aragorn sang to the hobbits in Scene One was a lay describing the meeting of Beren and Lúthien. An expanded version of this setting was however incorporated into that section of the score in the epic scenes from The Silmarillion, and the revised version now substitutes a different poem about the Elvenking Gil-galad, which is in turn employed as the basis for further musical elaboration within the musical chapters from The Lord of the Rings. Listeners may however prefer to substitute this longer section instead.

APPENDIX II - THE LAY OF EARENDIL

Chapter 6    Just before the end of Scene Two Bilbo stands to sing an extended Lay of Eärendil describing the voyages of Elrond’s father; the setting here, originally designed as an appendix to the epic scenes from The Silmarillion, was then expanded and incorporated into The War of Wrath. Listeners may again be wish to hear it in its original place.

APPENDIX III - EPILOGUE: ARAGORN AND ARWEN

After a rule extending for 120 years, Aragorn decides that it is now time for him to resign his kingdom to his successors. Arwen however is reluctant to abandon her bliss and is not consoled by his promise of a life beyond the circles of the world. She departs in sorrow to the land of Lothlórien which has now been deserted by its people, and lays her down upon Cerin Amroth. [This section of the score was originally conceived as a work for solo piano, The Passing of Arwen, as a supplement to the musical chapters, a parallel to the Akallabêth and the epic scenes from The Silmarillion; it was subsequently expanded to the form given here, complete with solo voices, narrative chorus and orchestra.]

== Recordings ==
In 2024 Volante Opera Productions announced they are working on a complete demo recording of the work using sampled orchestra and professional opera singers. It will be released by Prima Facie records in 2025.

Paul Corfield Godfrey

2023-06-13T20:17:16Z

SCB74656: Added links to the pages for the scores

__NOTOC__{{author infobox
| image=
| name=Paul Corfield Godfrey
| born=1950
| died=
| education=
| occupation=Composer
| location=United Kingdom
| website=https://www.paulcorfieldgodfrey.co.uk/
}}
[[File:Paul Corfield Godfrey.png|thumb]]
'''Paul Corfield Godfrey''' is a British musician who composed music and, most notably, operatic adaptations utilising the words of [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] between the years [[1971]]-[[1986|2023]] with the permission of the [[Tolkien Estate]].

His ''Epic Scenes from The Silmarillion after the mythology of J.R.R. Tolkien -'' a cycle of operatic works originally written between 1980 and 1994 consisted of ''[[Fëanor, Op. 46 (Opera)|Op. 46 - Fëanor]]'', ''[[Beren and Lúthien, Op. 47 (Opera)|Op. 47. Beren and Lúthien]]'', ''[[The Children of Húrin, Op. 48 (Opera)|Op. 48 - The Children of Húrin]]'' and ''[[The Fall of Gondolin, Op.49 (Opera)|Op. 49 - The Fall of Gondolin]].'' The libretti for these works were compiled with the assistance of Christopher Tolkien who supplied Godfrey with, at that point in time, unpublished versions of some of the texts to help expand the words of ''The Silmarillion'' into a more dramatic form.

[[Priscilla Tolkien]] hosted an event for [[The Tolkien Society]] in 1982 where a small ensemble of singers performed highlights from ''The Children of Húrin'' to the assembled members at the [[Oxonmoot]]. Priscilla herself joined the choir for the occasion.

The operas sat unperformed until 2018 when Volante Opera Productions undertook the process of creating demo recordings of the works. During this process Godfrey was persuaded to compose a final part to ''The Silmarillion'' to finish off the tales which was subsequently recorded. This fifth and final part was entitled ''[[The War of Wrath, Op. 71 (Opera)|Op. 71. The War of Wrath]]'' was completed in 2020''.''

In total the cycle has a duration of approximately ten and a half hours, has a cast of 48 characters and 55 scenes.

Other authorised works currently include ''[[Tolkien Songs, Op. 9|Op. 9 - Tolkien Songs]], [[Shadow-Bride, Op. 36 (Song)|Op. 33 - Shadow-Bride]], [[Symphony No. 3 Ainulindalë, Op. 42|Op. 36 - Symphony No. 3 Ainulindalë]], [[Akallabêth (for solo piano), Op. 42|Op. 42 - Akallabêth (for solo piano)]], [[Akallabêth (for orchestra), Op. 42a|Op. 42a - Akallabêth (for Orchestra)]]'' and ''[[Daeron, Op. 45 (Flute and Piano)|Op. 45 - Daeron]].'' There are also suites and concert performable highlights from each of the component parts of ''The Silmarillion.''

== Discography ==
[[Akallabêth and other Tolkien works (Album)]] (Prima Facie 2017)

[[The Fall of Gondolin, Op.49 (Album)]] (Prima Facie 2018)

[[Beren and Lúthien, Op. 47 (Album)]] (Prima Facie 2019)

[[The Children of Húrin, Op. 48 (Album)]] (Prima Facie 2020)

[[Fëanor, Op. 46 (Album)]] (Prima Facie 2022)

[[The War of Wrath, Op. 71 (Album)]] (Prima Facie 2023)

[[Epic Scenes from The Silmarillion after the mythology of J. R. R. Tolkien (Complete)]] (Prima Facie 2023)

== Scores ==
'''Epic Scenes from The Silmarillion after the mythology of J. R. R. Tolkien:'''

* [[Fëanor, Op. 46 (Vocal Score)]]

* [[Fëanor, Op. 46 (Full Score)]]
* [[Beren and Lúthien, Op. 47 (Vocal Score)]]
* [[Beren and Lúthien, Op. 47 (Full Score)]]
* [[The Children of Húrin, Op. 48 (Vocal Score)]]
* [[The Children of Húrin, Op. 48 (Full Score)]]
* [[The Fall of Gondolin, Op. 49 (Vocal Score)]]
* [[The Fall of Gondolin, Op. 49 (Full Score)]]
* [[The War of Wrath, Op. 71 (Vocal Score)]]
* [[The War of Wrath, Op. 71 (Full Score)]]

[[Akallabêth and other Tolkien Works (Collected Edition Score)|'''Akallabêth and other Tolkien Works (Collected Edition Score)''']]

==Article==

* [[Amon Hen 159]]
**Operas of ''[[The Silmarillion]]''

===External Link===
*[http://www.tolkienlibrary.com/press/956-Interview-with-Paul-Corfield-Godfrey.php Interview with Paul Corfield Godfreyl] at tolkienlibrary.com.

{{references}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Godfrey, Paul Corfield}}
[[Category:Authors]]
[[Category:British people]]
[[Category:People by name]]
[[Category:Composers]]
[[Category:Music]]
[[Category:Classical music]]
[[Category:Adaptations]]

Akallabêth and other Tolkien Works (Collected Edition Score)

2023-06-13T20:08:32Z

SCB74656: Page created for the music book

[[File:Akallabeth Score Cover.jpg|thumb|Score artwork by permission of David Brooke.]]
Zarathustra Music's 2020 published score of [[Paul Corfield Godfrey]]'s ''Akallabêth and other Tolkien Works'', which is a collection of Paul's smaller scale Tolkien works released on the album ''[[Akallabêth and other Tolkien works (Album)|Akallabêth and other Tolkien Works (Album)]]'' along with selections from ''Epic Scenes from The Silmarillion after the mythology of J. R. R. Tolkien'' (''[[Fëanor, Op. 46 (Opera)|Op. 46 - Fëanor]]'', ''[[Beren and Lúthien, Op. 47 (Opera)|Op. 47. Beren and Lúthien]]'', ''[[The Children of Húrin, Op. 48 (Opera)|Op. 48 - The Children of Húrin]],'' ''[[The Fall of Gondolin, Op.49 (Opera)|Op. 49 - The Fall of Gondolin]]'' and ''[[The War of Wrath, Op. 71 (Opera)|Op. 71. The War of Wrath]])'' designed for concert performance.

This is a 140 page A4 sized book with full gloss covers.

Cover Illustration: DAVID BROOKE ©2022

== Contents ==
''[[Akallabêth (for solo piano), Op. 42|Akallabêth]], Op. 42'' (piano)

''[[Tolkien Songs, Op. 9|Tolkien Songs]], Op. 9'' (voice and piano)

# Strider
# Song of the Eagle
# Fisherman's Song
# Drinking Song
# Song of the Prisoner
# Song of the Wanderer

''[[Shadow-Bride, Op. 36 (Song)|Shadow-Bride]], Op. 33'' (voice, viola and piano)

''[[Daeron, Op. 45 (Flute and Piano)|Daeron]], Op. 45'' (flute and piano)

Highlights from ''Epic Scenes from The Silmarillion after the mythology of J. R. R. Tolkien''

* ''[[Fëanor, Op. 46 (Opera)|Fëanor]]'', ''Op. 46''
** The Doom of Mandos (baritone and piano)
* ''[[Beren and Lúthien, Op. 47 (Opera)|Beren and Lúthien]]'', ''Op. 47''
** Love Scene (soprano, baritone, mixed choir, solo flute, piano)
** Beren's Farewell (baritone and piano)
* ''[[The Children of Húrin, Op. 48 (Opera)|The Children of Húrin]], Op. 48''
** All my deeds and past days (tenor and piano)
* ''[[The Fall of Gondolin, Op.49 (Opera)|The Fall of Gondolin]], Op. 49''
** The horns of Ulmo (tenor and piano)
** Wedding March (piano or harp)
** The Nameless Land (soprano, tenor, solo violin and piano)
* ''[[The War of Wrath, Op. 71 (Opera)|The War of Wrath]], Op. 71''
** To the Sea (tenor and piano)
** The Lay of Eärendil (tenor and piano)
** The Lay of Eärendil (mixed choir and piano)

[[Category:Music books]]

File:Akallabeth Score Cover.jpg

2023-06-13T19:43:59Z

SCB74656:

Score artwork by permission of David Brooke.

The War of Wrath, Op. 71 (Full Score)

2023-06-13T19:42:11Z

SCB74656: Page created for the music book

[[File:WOW Full Score Cover.png|thumb|Artwork from the Full Score by permission of Ted Nasmith.]]
Published by Zarathustra Music in 2023, the complete Full Score of [[Paul Corfield Godfrey]]'s ''[[The War of Wrath, Op. 71 (Opera)]]'' updated to reflect amendments made during the production of Volante Opera Production's Demo Recording of the work.

This is a 356 page A4 sized book with full gloss covers.

This is a complete orchestral score with introduction by the composer, synopsis and translations of the Elvish.

Cover Illustration: TED NASMITH ©2019 “Beren: Song of Parting”
[[Category:Music books]]

File:WOW Full Score Cover.png

2023-06-13T19:39:56Z

SCB74656:

Artwork from the Full Score by permission of Ted Nasmith.

The War of Wrath, Op. 71 (Vocal Score)

2023-06-13T19:37:39Z

SCB74656: Page created for the music book

[[File:WOW Vocal Score Cover.png|thumb|Artwork from the Vocal Score by permission of Ted Nasmith.]]
Published by Zarathustra Music in 2023, the complete Vocal Score of [[Paul Corfield Godfrey]]'s ''[[The War of Wrath, Op. 71 (Opera)]]'' updated to reflect amendments made during the production of Volante Opera Production's Demo Recording of the work.

This is a 138 page A4 sized book with full gloss covers.

This is a complete piano reduction of the score with introduction by the composer, synopsis and translations of the Elvish.

Cover Illustration: TED NASMITH ©2019 “Beren: Song of Parting”
[[Category:Music books]]

File:WOW Vocal Score Cover.png

2023-06-13T19:34:50Z

SCB74656:

Artwork from the Vocal Score by permission of Ted Nasmith.

The Fall of Gondolin, Op. 49 (Full Score)

2023-06-13T19:30:45Z

SCB74656: Page created for the music book

[[File:Gondolin Full Score Artwork.png|thumb|Artwork from the Full Score by permission of Ted Nasmith.]]
Published by Zarathustra Music in 2019, the complete Full Score of [[Paul Corfield Godfrey]]'s ''[[The Fall of Gondolin, Op.49 (Opera)|The Fall of Gondolin, Op. 49 (Opera)]]'' updated to reflect amendments made during the production of Volante Opera Production's Demo Recording of the work.

This is a 368 page A4 sized book with full gloss covers.

This is a complete orchestral score with introduction by the composer, synopsis and translations of the Elvish.

Cover Illustration: TED NASMITH ©2019 “Tuor reaches the Hidden City of Gondolin”
[[Category:Music books]]

File:Gondolin Full Score Artwork.png

2023-06-13T19:29:05Z

SCB74656:

Artwork from the Full Score by permission of Ted Nasmith.

The Fall of Gondolin, Op. 49 (Vocal Score)

2023-06-13T19:27:24Z

SCB74656: Page created for the music book

[[File:Gondolin Vocal Score Cover.jpg|thumb|Artwork from the Vocal Score by permission of Ted Nasmith.]]
Published by Zarathustra Music in 2019, the complete Vocal Score of [[Paul Corfield Godfrey]]'s ''[[The Fall of Gondolin, Op.49 (Opera)|The Fall of Gondolin, Op. 49 (Opera)]]'' updated to reflect amendments made during the production of Volante Opera Production's Demo Recording of the work.

This is a 114 page A4 sized book with full gloss covers.

This is a complete piano reduction of the score with introduction by the composer, synopsis and translations of the Elvish.

Cover Illustration: TED NASMITH ©2019 “Tuor reaches the Hidden City of Gondolin”

[[Category:Music books]]

File:Gondolin Vocal Score Cover.jpg

2023-06-13T19:22:55Z

SCB74656:

Artwork from the Vocal Score by permission of Ted Nasmith.

The Children of Húrin, Op. 48 (Full Score)

2023-06-13T19:20:52Z

SCB74656: Page created for the music book

[[File:Hurin Full Score Artwork.png|thumb|Artwork from the Full Score by permission of Ted Nasmith.]]
Published by Zarathustra Music in 2020, the complete Full Score of [[Paul Corfield Godfrey]]'s ''[[The Children of Húrin, Op. 48 (Opera)]]'' updated to reflect amendments made during the production of Volante Opera Production's Demo Recording of the work.

This is a 388 page A4 sized book with full gloss covers.

This is a complete orchestral score with introduction by the composer and synopsis.

Cover Illustration: TED NASMITH ©2020 “The Slaying of Glaurung"
[[Category:Music books]]

File:Hurin Full Score Artwork.png

2023-06-13T19:18:51Z

SCB74656:

Artwork from the Full Score by permission of Ted Nasmith.

The Children of Húrin, Op. 48 (Vocal Score)

2023-06-13T19:17:13Z

SCB74656: Page created for the music book

[[File:Hurin Vocal Score Artwork.png|thumb|Artwork from the Vocal Score by permission of Ted Nasmith.]]
Published by Zarathustra Music in 2020, the complete Vocal Score of [[Paul Corfield Godfrey]]'s ''[[The Children of Húrin, Op. 48 (Opera)]]'' updated to reflect amendments made during the production of Volante Opera Production's Demo Recording of the work.

This is a 116 page A4 sized book with full gloss covers.

This is a complete piano reduction of the score with introduction by the composer and synopsis.

Cover Illustration: TED NASMITH ©2020 “The Slaying of Glaurung"
[[Category:Music books]]

File:Hurin Vocal Score Artwork.png

2023-06-13T19:13:48Z

SCB74656:

Artwork from the Vocal Score by permission of Ted Nasmith.

Beren and Lúthien, Op. 47 (Full Score)

2023-06-13T19:11:17Z

SCB74656: Page created for the music book

[[File:Beren Full Score Cover.jpg|thumb|Artwork from the full score by permission of Ted Nasmith.]]
Published by Zarathustra Music in 2019, the complete Full Score of [[Paul Corfield Godfrey]]'s ''[[Beren and Lúthien, Op. 47 (Opera)]]'' updated to reflect amendments made during the production of Volante Opera Production's Demo Recording of the work.

This is a 422 page A4 sized book with full gloss covers.

This is a complete orchestral score with introduction by the composer, synopsis and translations of the Elvish.

Cover Illustration: TED NASMITH ©2019 “Lúthien"
[[Category:Music books]]

File:Beren Full Score Cover.jpg

2023-06-13T19:08:15Z

SCB74656:

Artwork from the full score by permission of Ted Nasmith.

Beren and Lúthien, Op. 47 (Vocal Score)

2023-06-13T19:06:45Z

SCB74656: Page created for the music book

[[File:Beren Vocal Score Cover.jpg|thumb|Vocal score cover by permission of Ted Nasmith]]
Published by Zarathustra Music in 2019, the complete Vocal Score of [[Paul Corfield Godfrey]]'s ''[[Beren and Lúthien, Op. 47 (Opera)]]'' updated to reflect amendments made during the production of Volante Opera Production's Demo Recording of the work.

This is a 119 page A4 sized book with full gloss covers.

This is a complete piano reduction of the score with introduction by the composer, synopsis and translations of the Elvish.

Cover Illustration: TED NASMITH ©2019 “Lúthien"
[[Category:Music books]]

File:Beren Vocal Score Cover.jpg

2023-06-13T19:02:47Z

SCB74656:

Vocal score cover by permission of Ted Nasmith

Fëanor, Op. 46 (Full Score)

2023-06-13T19:00:38Z

SCB74656: Page created for the music book

[[File:FEANOR Full Score Cover.jpg|thumb|Cover for the full score by permission of Ted Nasmith]]
Published by Zarathustra Music in 2022, the complete Full Score of [[Paul Corfield Godfrey]]'s ''[[Fëanor, Op. 46 (Opera)]]'' updated to reflect amendments made during the production of Volante Opera Production's Demo Recording of the work.

This is a 363 page A4 sized book with full gloss covers.

This is a complete orchestral score with introduction by the composer and synopsis.

Cover Illustration: TED NASMITH ©2022 “Morgoth and the High King of the Noldor"
[[Category:Music books]]

File:FEANOR Full Score Cover.jpg

2023-06-13T18:56:41Z

SCB74656:

Cover from the full score by permission of Ted Nasmith

Fëanor, Op. 46 (Vocal Score)

2023-06-13T18:54:20Z

SCB74656: Page created for the music book

[[File:FEANOR Vocal Score Cover.jpg|thumb|Vocal Score cover by permission of Ted Nasmith]]
Published by Zarathustra Music in 2022, the complete Vocal Score of [[Paul Corfield Godfrey]]'s ''[[Fëanor, Op. 46 (Opera)]]'' updated to reflect amendments made during the production of Volante Opera Production's Demo Recording of the work.

This is a 103 page A4 sized book with full gloss covers.

This is a complete piano reduction of the score with introduction by the composer and synopsis.

Cover Illustration: TED NASMITH ©2022 “Morgoth and the High King of the Noldor"
[[Category:Music books]]

File:FEANOR Vocal Score Cover.jpg

2023-06-13T18:49:37Z

SCB74656:

Cover artwork for Feanor VS by permission of Ted Nasmith

Paul Corfield Godfrey

2023-06-12T21:11:46Z

SCB74656: Added discography

__NOTOC__{{author infobox
| image=
| name=Paul Corfield Godfrey
| born=1950
| died=
| education=
| occupation=Composer
| location=United Kingdom
| website=https://www.paulcorfieldgodfrey.co.uk/
}}
[[File:Paul Corfield Godfrey.png|thumb]]
'''Paul Corfield Godfrey''' is a British musician who composed music and, most notably, operatic adaptations utilising the words of [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] between the years [[1971]]-[[1986|2023]] with the permission of the [[Tolkien Estate]].

His ''Epic Scenes from The Silmarillion after the mythology of J.R.R. Tolkien -'' a cycle of operatic works originally written between 1980 and 1994 consisted of ''[[Fëanor, Op. 46 (Opera)|Op. 46 - Fëanor]]'', ''[[Beren and Lúthien, Op. 47 (Opera)|Op. 47. Beren and Lúthien]]'', ''[[The Children of Húrin, Op. 48 (Opera)|Op. 48 - The Children of Húrin]]'' and ''[[The Fall of Gondolin, Op.49 (Opera)|Op. 49 - The Fall of Gondolin]].'' The libretti for these works were compiled with the assistance of Christopher Tolkien who supplied Godfrey with, at that point in time, unpublished versions of some of the texts to help expand the words of ''The Silmarillion'' into a more dramatic form.

[[Priscilla Tolkien]] hosted an event for [[The Tolkien Society]] in 1982 where a small ensemble of singers performed highlights from ''The Children of Húrin'' to the assembled members at the [[Oxonmoot]]. Priscilla herself joined the choir for the occasion.

The operas sat unperformed until 2018 when Volante Opera Productions undertook the process of creating demo recordings of the works. During this process Godfrey was persuaded to compose a final part to ''The Silmarillion'' to finish off the tales which was subsequently recorded. This fifth and final part was entitled ''[[The War of Wrath, Op. 71 (Opera)|Op. 71. The War of Wrath]]'' was completed in 2020''.''

In total the cycle has a duration of approximately ten and a half hours, has a cast of 48 characters and 55 scenes.

Other authorised works currently include ''[[Tolkien Songs, Op. 9|Op. 9 - Tolkien Songs]], [[Shadow-Bride, Op. 36 (Song)|Op. 33 - Shadow-Bride]], [[Symphony No. 3 Ainulindalë, Op. 42|Op. 36 - Symphony No. 3 Ainulindalë]], [[Akallabêth (for solo piano), Op. 42|Op. 42 - Akallabêth (for solo piano)]], [[Akallabêth (for orchestra), Op. 42a|Op. 42a - Akallabêth (for Orchestra)]]'' and ''[[Daeron, Op. 45 (Flute and Piano)|Op. 45 - Daeron]].'' There are also suites and concert performable highlights from each of the component parts of ''The Silmarillion.''

== Discography ==
[[Akallabêth and other Tolkien works (Album)]] (Prima Facie 2017)

[[The Fall of Gondolin, Op.49 (Album)]] (Prima Facie 2018)

[[Beren and Lúthien, Op. 47 (Album)]] (Prima Facie 2019)

[[The Children of Húrin, Op. 48 (Album)]] (Prima Facie 2020)

[[Fëanor, Op. 46 (Album)]] (Prima Facie 2022)

[[The War of Wrath, Op. 71 (Album)]] (Prima Facie 2023)

[[Epic Scenes from The Silmarillion after the mythology of J. R. R. Tolkien (Complete)]] (Prima Facie 2023)

==Article==

* [[Amon Hen 159]]
**Operas of ''[[The Silmarillion]]''

===External Link===
*[http://www.tolkienlibrary.com/press/956-Interview-with-Paul-Corfield-Godfrey.php Interview with Paul Corfield Godfreyl] at tolkienlibrary.com.

{{references}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Godfrey, Paul Corfield}}
[[Category:Authors]]
[[Category:British people]]
[[Category:People by name]]
[[Category:Composers]]
[[Category:Music]]
[[Category:Classical music]]
[[Category:Adaptations]]

Akallabêth and other Tolkien works (album)

2023-06-12T21:04:39Z

SCB74656: Page created for the Album

[[File:Akallabeth CD cover.jpg|thumb|Album artwork - image by Dave Brooke]]
Released by Prima Facie in 2017 on CD and digital download, this album contains a collection of composer [[Paul Corfield Godfrey]]'s Tolkien works - ''[[Daeron, Op. 45 (Flute and Piano)|Daeron]], [[Akallabêth (for solo piano), Op. 42|Akallabêth (for solo piano)]]'' and the ''[[Tolkien Songs, Op. 9|Tolkien Songs]]'' along with another song cycle ''Mysteries of Time'' based upon non-Tolkien sources.

Featuring Tara Mcswiney (soprano), Andrew Henley (tenor), Adam Jondelius (baritone), Nicola Loten (flute), Niamh Ferris (viola), Immanuel Carl Maria Vogt (piano), and Connor Fogel (piano).

== Track Listing ==
1. Daeron (Op. 45)

2. Strider (Tolkien Songs, Op. 9)

3. Song of the Eagle (Tolkien Songs, Op. 9)

4. Alive Without Breath (Tolkien Songs, Op. 9)

5. Drinking Song (Tolkien Songs, Op. 9)

6. In Western Lands (Tolkien Songs, Op. 9)

7. Roads go ever ever on (Tolkien Songs, Op. 9)

8. Shadow-Bride (Op. 33)

9. The Mystery (Mysteries of Time, Op. 44)

10. Cywydd (Mysteries of Time, Op. 44)

11. Graveyard (Mysteries of Time, Op. 44)

12. The Seven Woods of Coole (Mysteries of Time, Op. 44)

13. The Queen of Air and Darkness (Mysteries of Time, Op. 44)

14. Akallabêth (Op. 42)
[[Category:Music]]
[[Category:Albums]]

File:Akallabeth CD cover.jpg

2023-06-12T21:03:41Z

SCB74656:

Artwork from the CD cover - image by Dave Brooke

Fëanor, Op. 46 (Album)

2023-06-12T20:57:05Z

SCB74656: mis-spelling corrected

[[File:Feanor Cover.png|thumb|CD Artwork by permission of Ted Nasmith]]
Complete Demo Recording of composer Paul Corfield Godfrey's operatic work [[Fëanor, Op. 46 (Opera)]] from his cycle ''Epic Scenes from The Silmarillion after the mythology of J. R. R. Tolkien'' recorded by Volante Opera Productions and released by Prima Facie on CD and digital download in 2022.

'''Cast:'''

Melkor (later Morgoth) the Enemy (Bass): Laurence Cole

Fingolfin, Son of King Finwë (Baritone): Philip Lloyd-Evans

Fëanor, Son of King Finwë (Tenor): Simon Crosby Buttle

Mandos, Ruler of the Dead (Baritone): Julian Boyce

Elbereth, Queen of Light (Soprano): Emma Mary Llewellyn

The Elder King, Lord of the Valar (Bass): George Newton-Fitzgerald

Maedhros, Son of Fëanor (Bass-Baritone): Stephen Wells

Maglor, Son of Fëanor (Tenor): Michael Clifton-Thompson

Celegorm, Son of Fëanor (Tenor - Baritone for this recording): Philip Lloyd-Evans

Curufin, Son of Fëanor (Tenor - Baritone for this recording): Julian Boyce

Caranthir, Son of Fëanor (Baritone - Bass for this recording): George Newton-Fitzgerald

Amrod, Son of Fëanor (Bass): Laurence Cole

Amras, Son of Fëanor (Bass): Jasey Hall

Olwë, King of the Teleri (Tenor): Michael Clifton-Thompson

'''Chorus of unseen voices and the voice of Ungoliant:'''

Paula Greenwood/Emma Mary Llewellyn/Sophie Yelland/Helen Greenaway

Michael Clifton-Thompson/Simon Crosby Buttle/Julian Boyce/Jasey Hall

== Track Listing ==

==== Disc: 1 ====
{| class="wikitable"
|1
|Prelude
|-
|2
|Scene One: In This Time
|-
|3
|Then Elbereth beheld the darkness
|-
|4
|And as a blue fire flickered
|-
|5
|Many waters flowed down thither
|-
|6
|Scene Two: Last of all
|-
|7
|This is the counsel of the one
|-
|8
|This is the noontide
|-
|9
|Scene Three: In that time was born
|-
|10
|And it came to pass
|-
|11
|As three great jewels they were
|}

==== Disc: 2 ====
{| class="wikitable"
|1
|Scene Four: And Melkor lusted for the Silmarils
|-
|2
|Beware! Small love has the proud son of Miriel
|-
|3
|King and Father
|-
|4
|Thou speakest of Thraldom
|-
|5
|Scene Five: Beneath the sheer walls of the mountains
|-
|6
|Do as I bid
|-
|7
|As I promised
|-
|8
|And even as Feanor and Fingolfin stood
|-
|9
|The Light of the Trees
|-
|10
|Hearest Thou
|-
|11
|Blood and darkness
|-
|12
|Scene Six: Why, O People of the Stars?
|-
|13
|Be he friend or foe
|-
|14
|Against the folly
|-
|15
|Scene Seven: Prelude
|-
|16
|Others of the Elves
|-
|17
|You renounce your friendship
|-
|18
|Then swords were drawn
|-
|19
|Scene Eight: The way was long
|-
|20
|Tears unnumbered ye shall shed
|-
|21
|We have sworn
|-
|22
|Scene Nine: Blackheart!
|-
|23
|Now what ships and rowers
|-
|24
|Epilogue
|}
[[Category:Music]]
[[Category:Albums]]

Beren and Lúthien, Op. 47 (Album)

2023-06-12T20:56:26Z

SCB74656: mis-spelling corrected

[[File:Artwork from the CD Release.jpg|thumb|Artwork from the CD release by permission of Ted Nasmith]]
Complete Demo Recording of composer Paul Corfield Godfrey's operatic work ''[[Beren and Lúthien, Op. 47 (Opera)]]'' from his cycle ''Epic Scenes from The Silmarillion after the mythology of J. R. R. Tolkien'' recorded by Volante Opera Productions and released by Prima Facie on CD and digital download in 2019.

'''Cast:'''

Finrod Felagund, the King of Nargothrond (Tenor): Simon Crosby Buttle

Sauron, servant of Morgoth (Bass): Jasey Hall

Gorlim, follower of Beren (Tenor): Michael Clifton-Thompson

Beren, son of Barahir (Baritone): Julian Boyce

Lúthien Tinúviel, daughter of Thingol (Soprano): Angharad Morgan

Thingol Greycloak, King of Doriath (Bass): Martin Lloyd

Melian, his queen (Mezzo-Soprano): Helen Jarmany

Morgoth, the enemy (Bass): Laurence Cole

'''Chorus of unseen voices:'''

Anitra Blaxhall/Emma Mary Llewellyn/Helen Jarmany/Helen Greenaway/

Michael Clifton-Thompson/Simon Crosby Buttle/Julian Boyce/Jasey Hall

== Track Listing ==

==== Disc: 1 ====
{| class="wikitable"
|1
|Prologue: Dagor Bragollach
|-
|2
|Scene 1: Thus Felagund Escaped
|-
|3
|Scene 2: But Still There Remained
|-
|4
|I Hear Rumour... I Wandered Long
|-
|5
|A Great Darkness Of Sleep
|-
|6
|Thy Death I Will Avenge
|-
|7
|Scene 3: Southward He Turned
|-
|8
|Interlude For Flute
|-
|9
|Ir Ithil Ammon Eruchin
|-
|10
|Enchantment Healed His Weary Feet
|-
|11
|Slowly The Sundering Flood
|-
|12
|He Heard There Oft
|-
|13
|Now Withered Lay
|-
|14
|As Beren Looked
|-
|15
|Scene 4: Prelude
|-
|16
|Who Are You That Come Hither...?
|-
|17
|Death You Have Earned
|-
|18
|I See The Ring
|-
|19
|O King
|-
|20
|Scene 5: My Lord, I Have Need
|-
|21
|Be He Friend Or Foe
|}

==== Disc: 2 ====
{| class="wikitable"
|1
|Scene Six: O King, To Leave This Place
|-
|2
|Where Have You Been...?
|-
|3
|He Chanted A Song Of Wizardry
|-
|4
|It Would Be Little Loss If I Were Dead...
|-
|5
|Farewell, My Friend And Comrade
|-
|6
|In Western Lands
|-
|7
|I Hear A Song Far Under Welling
|-
|8
|Oh Beren, Beren
|-
|9
|Scene 7: A Sable Hill
|-
|10
|What Grevious Terror..?
|-
|11
|Shadow, Descend!
|-
|12
|In Slothful Gardens
|-
|13
|Instrumental: Luthien's Dance
|-
|14
|And All The Fires Faded
|-
|15
|Scene 8: Interlude 16 01
|-
|16
|Farewell Now Here, Ye Leaves Of Trees
|-
|17
|O Proud And Fearless Hand And Heart
|-
|18
|I Have Returned According To My Word
|-
|19
|Scene Nine: And Luthien Came
|-
|20
|Long Are The Paths
|-
|21
|Epilogue: Long Was The Way...
|}
[[Category:Music]]
[[Category:Albums]]

The Children of Húrin, Op. 48 (Album)

2023-06-12T20:55:56Z

SCB74656: mis-spelling corrected

[[File:Hurin CD Cover.png|thumb|Artwork from the CD release with permission from Ted Nasmith.]]
Complete Demo Recording of composer Paul Corfield Godfrey's operatic work ''[[The Children of Húrin, Op. 48 (Opera)]]'' from his cycle ''Epic Scenes from The Silmarillion after the mythology of J. R. R. Tolkien'' recorded by Volante Opera Productions and released by Prima Facie on CD and digital download in 2020.

'''Cast:'''

Morgoth, the enemy (Bass): Laurence Cole

Húrin Thalion, Lord of the House of Hador (Spoken): Julian Boyce

Túrin, his son (Tenor): Simon Crosby Buttle

Morwen Eledhwen, wife of Húrin (Mezzo-Soprano): Helen Greenaway

Saeros, a councillor of Doriath (Tenor): Michael Clifton-Thompson

Mablung of the Heavy Hand, a Captain of Doriath (Bass): Stephen Wells

Beleg Cúthalion, a Captain of Doriath (Baritone): Philip Lloyd-Evans

Gwindor, a Lord of Nargothrond (Baritone): Julian Boyce

Finduilas, daughter of the King of Nargothrond (Soprano): Emma Mary Llewellyn

Glaurung, first and greatest of dragons (Bass): George Newton-Fitzgerald

Niënor, daughter of Húrin (Soprano): Angharad Morgan

Dorlas, a woodsman of Brethil (Tenor): Michael Clifton-Thompson

Brandir, Lord of the men of Brethil (Baritone): Philip Lloyd-Evans

'''Chorus of unseen voices and peoples of Doriath, Nargothrond and Brethil:'''

Angharad Morgan/Emma Mary Llewellyn/Louise Ratcliffe/Helen Greenaway/

Michael Clifton-Thompson/Simon Crosby Buttle/Julian Boyce/Jasey Hall

== Track Listing ==

==== Disc: 1 ====
{| class="wikitable"
|1
|Prologue: I am the Elder King
|-
|2
|Scene One: Morwen the wife of Húrin remained alone, silent in grief
|-
|3
|Who knows now the counsels of Morgoth?
|-
|4
|It is hard, Túrin my son
|-
|5
|Scene Two: And Morwen gave birth to her child
|-
|6
|The King must judge these deeds
|-
|7
|Then all was searched and told
|-
|8
|Scene Three: So Beleg departed from Doriath
|-
|9
|The storm rode up out of the west
|-
|10
|Who are you?
|-
|11
|Scene Four: Thus did Túrin come to Nargothrond
|-
|12
|And Finduilas, daughter of Orodreth the King
|-
|13
|Gwindor, dear friend, you are falling back into sadness
|-
|14
|Daughter of the King, let no grief lie between us
|-
|15
|For I love you, Gwindor, and I am ashamed that I love you not more
|-
|16
|Scene Five: Then the warriors of Nargothrond went forth
|-
|17
|Leaves fall from the trees in a cold wind
|-
|18
|Scene Six: Then Morwen was distraught and she rode forth with Niënor
|-
|19
|Thus the ladies were lost
|}

==== Disc: 2 ====
{| class="wikitable"
|1
|Scene Seven: Prelude
|-
|2
|Who are you, and what do you here?
|-
|3
|All my deeds and past days
|-
|4
|Scene Eight: Around the gloom gathers; darkness grows across the sea
|-
|5
|And all things that she saw seemed new to her and strange
|-
|6
|Scene Nine: Though all to ruin fell the world
|-
|7
|When dusk falls, we must creep to the river
|-
|8
|Niniel, fear not the worst
|-
|9
|Have you seen her?
|-
|10
|Hail, Anglachel, Iron of Death!
|-
|11
|Epilogue: Funeral March
|-
|12
|You have come at last
|}
[[Category:Music]]
[[Category:Albums]]

The War of Wrath, Op. 71 (Album)

2023-06-12T20:55:09Z

SCB74656: Page created for the Album

[[File:War of Wrath Cover.jpg|thumb|Artwork from the CD release by permission of Ted Nasmith.]]

Complete Demo Recording of composer [[Paul Corfield Godfrey]]'s operatic work ''[[The War of Wrath, Op. 71 (Opera)]]'' from his cycle ''Epic Scenes from The SIlmarillion after the mythology of J. R. R. Tolkien'' recorded by Volante Opera Productions and released by Prima Facie on CD and digital download in 2023.

'''Cast:'''

Elbereth, Queen of Light (Soprano): Emma Mary Llewellyn

Círdan, a mariner (Baritone): Julian Boyce

Ulmo, Lord of Waters (Bass): Martin Lloyd

Melian, Queen of Doriath (Mezzo Soprano): Helen Jarmany

Galadriel, sister of Finrod Felagund (Soprano): Angharad Morgan

Thingol, King of Doriath: Martin Lloyd

Maglor, Son of Fëanor (Tenor): Michael Clifton-Thompson

Curufin, Son of Fëanor (Tenor): Huw Llywelyn

Elwing, wife of Eärendil (Mezzo Soprano): Sophie Yelland

Maedhros, Son of Fëanor (Baritone): Stephen Wells

Eärendil, Son of Tuor and Idril (Tenor): Simon Crosby Buttle

Eönwë, Herald of the Valar (Baritone): Philip Lloyd-Evans

The Elder King (Bass): George Newton-Fitzgerald

Mandos, Lord of Death (Baritone): Julian Boyce

Sauron, Lieutenant of Morgoth (Bass): Jasey Hall

Morgoth, the Enemy (Bass): Laurence Cole

Elrond, Son of Eärendil and Elwing (Tenor): Simon Crosby Buttle

'''Chorus of unseen voices:'''

Rosie Hay/Emma Mary Llewellyn/Stella Woodman/Helen Greenaway

Huw Llywelyn/Michael Clifton-Thompson/Simon Crosby Buttle/Philip Lloyd-Evans

Julian Boyce/Stephen Wells/Jasey Hall/George Newton-Fitzgerald

== Track Listing ==
Disc 1

1. Prologue: Aiya Eärendil [06:26]

2. Scene One: I will follow that light [05:52]

3. Scene Two: And at times Melian and Galadriel... [01:09]

4. There is some woe that lies upon you [05:16]

5. Then Galadriel spoke to Melian of the Silmarils [00:39]

6. Now much you tell me [02:03]

7. This is a great matter [06:18]

8. Now the world runs swiftly on to great tidings [02:45]

9. Scene Three: Then a winter, as it were a hoar age of mortal men, fell upon Thingol. [02:31]

10. Now when the horns of the hunt grew faint in the forest [03:08]

11. Wherefore, renegade, do you defile the seat of my lord? [06:09]

12. Scene Four: Eärendil was a mariner [04:09]

13. It is likely that you will see me never again. [01:40]

14. To the Sea [03:21]

15. Beneath the moon and under star he wandered far [03:24]

16. Scene Five: A Silmaril of Fëanor still burns in the woods of Nimbrethil [01:22]

17. Through hopeless night she came to him [01:49]

18. San ninqueruvissë lútier kiryassë Eärendil or vea [03:04]

Disc 2

1. Scene Six: Through Evernight he back was borne [02:49]

2. Hail Eärendil! [01:36]

3. He tarried there from errantry [02:43]

4. Shall mortal Man step living upon the Undying Lands, and yet live? [04:39]

5. A ship then new they built for him [01:32]

6. Surely that is a Silmaril that shines now in the West [03:49]

7. But on him mighty doom was laid [04:15]

8. Scene Seven: But Morgoth looked not for the assault that came upon him [03:54]

9. Then the sun rose and the host of the Valar prevailed [03:45]

10. And Morgoth himself the Valar thrust through the Door of Night [03:10]

11. Scene Eight: Yield up now these jewels which Fëanor our father made [08:00]

12. Thus it came to pass that the Silmarils found their long homes [01:50]

13. Scene Nine: Interlude [00:55]

14. Alas for the weakness of the great! [01:14]

15. Three Rings for the Elvenkings under the sky [02:12]

16. Epilogue: Aiya Eärendil [01:04]

17. A wind in the grass! [02:52]

18. Now the proud elms at last begin to quail [01:48]

19. At night the Elves dance beneath the roofless sky [02:12]

20. Bare has our realm become [01:40]

21. I would not seek the burning domes and sands [04:42]
[[Category:Music]]
[[Category:Albums]]

The Fall of Gondolin, Op.49 (Album)

2023-06-12T20:48:47Z

SCB74656: Page created for the Album

[[File:Gondolin CD Artwork.png|thumb|Artwork from the CD release with permission of Ted Nasmith.]]
Complete Demo Recording of composer [[Paul Corfield Godfrey]]'s operatic work ''[[The Fall of Gondolin, Op.49 (Opera)]]'' from his cycle ''Epic Scenes from The SIlmarillion after the mythology of J. R. R. Tolkien'' recorded by Volante Opera Productions and released by Prima Facie on CD and digital download in 2018.

'''Cast:'''

Ulmo, Lord of the Waters (Bass): Martin Lloyd

Turgon, the King of Gondolin (Bass): George Newton-Fitzgerald

Aredhel, his sister (Mezzo-Soprano): Louise Ratcliffe

Eöl, a dark Elf (Baritone): Julian Boyce

Maeglin, son of Eol and Aredhel (Bass-Baritone): Stephen Wells

Ecthelion, Captain of the Guard of Gondolin (Baritone): Philip Lloyd-Evans

Tuor son of Huor, a mortal man (Tenor): Simon Crosby Buttle

Voronwë, a mariner of Gondolin (Baritone): Julian Boyce

Idril Celebrindal, Daughter of Turgon (Soprano): Anitra Blaxhall

Morgoth, the enemy (Bass): Laurence Cole

'''Chorus of unseen voices and people of Gondolin:'''

Anitra Blaxhall/Emma Mary Llewellyn/Louise Ratcliffe/Helen Greenaway/

Michael Clifton-Thompson/Simon Crosby Buttle/Julian Boyce/Laurence Cole

== Track Listing ==

==== Disc: 1 ====
{| class="wikitable"
|1
|Prologue: Sing Us A Tale Of Earendil The Wandering
|-
|2
|Now Shalt Thou Go To Gondolin, Turgon
|-
|3
|Scene One: And Turgon Rose
|-
|4
|But Aredhel Wearied Of The Guarded City
|-
|5
|So Aredhel Rode Abroad
|-
|6
|Scene Two: But The Trees Of Nan Elmoth
|-
|7
|You Are Of The House Of Eol, Maeglin
|-
|8
|Scene 3 And, Driven By Anger And Despair
|-
|9
|I Rejoice Indeed That My Sister Has Returned
|-
|10
|Welcome, Kinsman; For So I Hold You
|-
|11
|Scene Four: Huor The Brother Of Hurin
|-
|12
|And At That Hour The Sun Went Down
|-
|13
|Rise, Son Of Huor
|-
|14
|Instrumental: Storm Music
|-
|15
|Hail, Veronwe! I Await You
|-
|16
|Often I Have Vowed
|}

==== Disc: 2 ====
{| class="wikitable"
|1
|In A Dim And Perilous Region
|-
|2
|Fell Is This Frost
|-
|3
|Scene Six: This Is Strange In You, Voronwe
|-
|4
|Rejoice That You Have Found
|-
|5
|Instrumental: Wedding March
|-
|6
|Scene Seven: There Elven Lights
|-
|7
|Scene Eight: I Am Maeglin
|-
|8
|Scene Nine : Ilu Iluvatar
|-
|9
|Morgoth Is Upon Us!
|-
|10
|Ah! Woe Is Me
|-
|11
|The Fume Of The Burning
|-
|12
|Then A Green Turf Came There
|-
|13
|Epilogue: I Know A Window In A Western Tower
|-
|14
|Oh Happy Mariner
|}
[[Category:Music]]
[[Category:Albums]]

The Children of Húrin, Op. 48 (Album)

2023-06-12T20:43:24Z

SCB74656: Page created for the Album

[[File:Hurin CD Cover.png|thumb|Artwork from the CD release with permission from Ted Nasmith.]]
Complete Demo Recording of composer Paul Corfield Godfrey's operatic work ''[[The Children of Húrin, Op. 48 (Opera)]]'' from his cycle ''Epic Scenes from The SIlmarilion after the mythology of J. R. R. Tolkien'' recorded by Volante Opera Productions and released by Prima Facie on CD and digital download in 2020.

'''Cast:'''

Morgoth, the enemy (Bass): Laurence Cole

Húrin Thalion, Lord of the House of Hador (Spoken): Julian Boyce

Túrin, his son (Tenor): Simon Crosby Buttle

Morwen Eledhwen, wife of Húrin (Mezzo-Soprano): Helen Greenaway

Saeros, a councillor of Doriath (Tenor): Michael Clifton-Thompson

Mablung of the Heavy Hand, a Captain of Doriath (Bass): Stephen Wells

Beleg Cúthalion, a Captain of Doriath (Baritone): Philip Lloyd-Evans

Gwindor, a Lord of Nargothrond (Baritone): Julian Boyce

Finduilas, daughter of the King of Nargothrond (Soprano): Emma Mary Llewellyn

Glaurung, first and greatest of dragons (Bass): George Newton-Fitzgerald

Niënor, daughter of Húrin (Soprano): Angharad Morgan

Dorlas, a woodsman of Brethil (Tenor): Michael Clifton-Thompson

Brandir, Lord of the men of Brethil (Baritone): Philip Lloyd-Evans

'''Chorus of unseen voices and peoples of Doriath, Nargothrond and Brethil:'''

Angharad Morgan/Emma Mary Llewellyn/Louise Ratcliffe/Helen Greenaway/

Michael Clifton-Thompson/Simon Crosby Buttle/Julian Boyce/Jasey Hall

== Track Listing ==

==== Disc: 1 ====
{| class="wikitable"
|1
|Prologue: I am the Elder King
|-
|2
|Scene One: Morwen the wife of Húrin remained alone, silent in grief
|-
|3
|Who knows now the counsels of Morgoth?
|-
|4
|It is hard, Túrin my son
|-
|5
|Scene Two: And Morwen gave birth to her child
|-
|6
|The King must judge these deeds
|-
|7
|Then all was searched and told
|-
|8
|Scene Three: So Beleg departed from Doriath
|-
|9
|The storm rode up out of the west
|-
|10
|Who are you?
|-
|11
|Scene Four: Thus did Túrin come to Nargothrond
|-
|12
|And Finduilas, daughter of Orodreth the King
|-
|13
|Gwindor, dear friend, you are falling back into sadness
|-
|14
|Daughter of the King, let no grief lie between us
|-
|15
|For I love you, Gwindor, and I am ashamed that I love you not more
|-
|16
|Scene Five: Then the warriors of Nargothrond went forth
|-
|17
|Leaves fall from the trees in a cold wind
|-
|18
|Scene Six: Then Morwen was distraught and she rode forth with Niënor
|-
|19
|Thus the ladies were lost
|}

==== Disc: 2 ====
{| class="wikitable"
|1
|Scene Seven: Prelude
|-
|2
|Who are you, and what do you here?
|-
|3
|All my deeds and past days
|-
|4
|Scene Eight: Around the gloom gathers; darkness grows across the sea
|-
|5
|And all things that she saw seemed new to her and strange
|-
|6
|Scene Nine: Though all to ruin fell the world
|-
|7
|When dusk falls, we must creep to the river
|-
|8
|Niniel, fear not the worst
|-
|9
|Have you seen her?
|-
|10
|Hail, Anglachel, Iron of Death!
|-
|11
|Epilogue: Funeral March
|-
|12
|You have come at last
|}
[[Category:Music]]
[[Category:Albums]]

Beren and Lúthien, Op. 47 (Album)

2023-06-12T20:37:18Z

SCB74656: Page created for the Album

[[File:Artwork from the CD Release.jpg|thumb|Artwork from the CD release by permission of Ted Nasmith]]
Complete Demo Recording of composer Paul Corfield Godfrey's operatic work ''[[Beren and Lúthien, Op. 47 (Opera)]]'' from his cycle ''Epic Scenes from The SIlmarilion after the mythology of J. R. R. Tolkien'' recorded by Volante Opera Productions and released by Prima Facie on CD and digital download in 2019.

'''Cast:'''

Finrod Felagund, the King of Nargothrond (Tenor): Simon Crosby Buttle

Sauron, servant of Morgoth (Bass): Jasey Hall

Gorlim, follower of Beren (Tenor): Michael Clifton-Thompson

Beren, son of Barahir (Baritone): Julian Boyce

Lúthien Tinúviel, daughter of Thingol (Soprano): Angharad Morgan

Thingol Greycloak, King of Doriath (Bass): Martin Lloyd

Melian, his queen (Mezzo-Soprano): Helen Jarmany

Morgoth, the enemy (Bass): Laurence Cole

'''Chorus of unseen voices:'''

Anitra Blaxhall/Emma Mary Llewellyn/Helen Jarmany/Helen Greenaway/

Michael Clifton-Thompson/Simon Crosby Buttle/Julian Boyce/Jasey Hall

== Track Listing ==

==== Disc: 1 ====
{| class="wikitable"
|1
|Prologue: Dagor Bragollach
|-
|2
|Scene 1: Thus Felagund Escaped
|-
|3
|Scene 2: But Still There Remained
|-
|4
|I Hear Rumour... I Wandered Long
|-
|5
|A Great Darkness Of Sleep
|-
|6
|Thy Death I Will Avenge
|-
|7
|Scene 3: Southward He Turned
|-
|8
|Interlude For Flute
|-
|9
|Ir Ithil Ammon Eruchin
|-
|10
|Enchantment Healed His Weary Feet
|-
|11
|Slowly The Sundering Flood
|-
|12
|He Heard There Oft
|-
|13
|Now Withered Lay
|-
|14
|As Beren Looked
|-
|15
|Scene 4: Prelude
|-
|16
|Who Are You That Come Hither...?
|-
|17
|Death You Have Earned
|-
|18
|I See The Ring
|-
|19
|O King
|-
|20
|Scene 5: My Lord, I Have Need
|-
|21
|Be He Friend Or Foe
|}

==== Disc: 2 ====
{| class="wikitable"
|1
|Scene Six: O King, To Leave This Place
|-
|2
|Where Have You Been...?
|-
|3
|He Chanted A Song Of Wizardry
|-
|4
|It Would Be Little Loss If I Were Dead...
|-
|5
|Farewell, My Friend And Comrade
|-
|6
|In Western Lands
|-
|7
|I Hear A Song Far Under Welling
|-
|8
|Oh Beren, Beren
|-
|9
|Scene 7: A Sable Hill
|-
|10
|What Grevious Terror..?
|-
|11
|Shadow, Descend!
|-
|12
|In Slothful Gardens
|-
|13
|Instrumental: Luthien's Dance
|-
|14
|And All The Fires Faded
|-
|15
|Scene 8: Interlude 16 01
|-
|16
|Farewell Now Here, Ye Leaves Of Trees
|-
|17
|O Proud And Fearless Hand And Heart
|-
|18
|I Have Returned According To My Word
|-
|19
|Scene Nine: And Luthien Came
|-
|20
|Long Are The Paths
|-
|21
|Epilogue: Long Was The Way...
|}
[[Category:Music]]
[[Category:Albums]]

Fëanor, Op. 46 (Album)

2023-06-12T20:31:37Z

SCB74656: Page created for the Album

[[File:Feanor Cover.png|thumb|CD Artwork by permission of Ted Nasmith]]
Complete Demo Recording of composer Paul Corfield Godfrey's operatic work [[Fëanor, Op. 46 (Opera)]] from his cycle ''Epic Scenes from The SIlmarilion after the mythology of J. R. R. Tolkien'' recorded by Volante Opera Productions and released by Prima Facie on CD and digital download in 2022.

'''Cast:'''

Melkor (later Morgoth) the Enemy (Bass): Laurence Cole

Fingolfin, Son of King Finwë (Baritone): Philip Lloyd-Evans

Fëanor, Son of King Finwë (Tenor): Simon Crosby Buttle

Mandos, Ruler of the Dead (Baritone): Julian Boyce

Elbereth, Queen of Light (Soprano): Emma Mary Llewellyn

The Elder King, Lord of the Valar (Bass): George Newton-Fitzgerald

Maedhros, Son of Fëanor (Bass-Baritone): Stephen Wells

Maglor, Son of Fëanor (Tenor): Michael Clifton-Thompson

Celegorm, Son of Fëanor (Tenor - Baritone for this recording): Philip Lloyd-Evans

Curufin, Son of Fëanor (Tenor - Baritone for this recording): Julian Boyce

Caranthir, Son of Fëanor (Baritone - Bass for this recording): George Newton-Fitzgerald

Amrod, Son of Fëanor (Bass): Laurence Cole

Amras, Son of Fëanor (Bass): Jasey Hall

Olwë, King of the Teleri (Tenor): Michael Clifton-Thompson

'''Chorus of unseen voices and the voice of Ungoliant:'''

Paula Greenwood/Emma Mary Llewellyn/Sophie Yelland/Helen Greenaway

Michael Clifton-Thompson/Simon Crosby Buttle/Julian Boyce/Jasey Hall

== Track Listing ==

==== Disc: 1 ====
{| class="wikitable"
|1
|Prelude
|-
|2
|Scene One: In This Time
|-
|3
|Then Elbereth beheld the darkness
|-
|4
|And as a blue fire flickered
|-
|5
|Many waters flowed down thither
|-
|6
|Scene Two: Last of all
|-
|7
|This is the counsel of the one
|-
|8
|This is the noontide
|-
|9
|Scene Three: In that time was born
|-
|10
|And it came to pass
|-
|11
|As three great jewels they were
|}

==== Disc: 2 ====
{| class="wikitable"
|1
|Scene Four: And Melkor lusted for the Silmarils
|-
|2
|Beware! Small love has the proud son of Miriel
|-
|3
|King and Father
|-
|4
|Thou speakest of Thraldom
|-
|5
|Scene Five: Beneath the sheer walls of the mountains
|-
|6
|Do as I bid
|-
|7
|As I promised
|-
|8
|And even as Feanor and Fingolfin stood
|-
|9
|The Light of the Trees
|-
|10
|Hearest Thou
|-
|11
|Blood and darkness
|-
|12
|Scene Six: Why, O People of the Stars?
|-
|13
|Be he friend or foe
|-
|14
|Against the folly
|-
|15
|Scene Seven: Prelude
|-
|16
|Others of the Elves
|-
|17
|You renounce your friendship
|-
|18
|Then swords were drawn
|-
|19
|Scene Eight: The way was long
|-
|20
|Tears unnumbered ye shall shed
|-
|21
|We have sworn
|-
|22
|Scene Nine: Blackheart!
|-
|23
|Now what ships and rowers
|-
|24
|Epilogue
|}
[[Category:Music]]
[[Category:Albums]]

Epic Scenes from The Silmarillion after the mythology of J. R. R. Tolkien (Complete)

2023-06-12T20:22:46Z

SCB74656: Page created for the Album

[[File:Complete Silmarillion Artwork.jpg|thumb|Artwork from the box set. By permission of Ted Nasmith]]
Complete box set of demo recordings of composer [[Paul Corfield Godfrey]]'s operatic adaptation of ''[[The Silmarillion]]'' recorded by Volante Opera Productions between 2017 and 2023. In June 2023 this set was released as a ten disc box set with a 128 page booklet containing a full synopsis, complete texts, translations of the Elvish and a guide to this version of the legends.

It includes the works ''[[Fëanor, Op. 46 (Opera)|Op. 46 - Fëanor]]'', ''[[Beren and Lúthien, Op. 47 (Opera)|Op. 47. Beren and Lúthien]]'', ''[[The Children of Húrin, Op. 48 (Opera)|Op. 48 - The Children of Húrin]],'' ''[[The Fall of Gondolin, Op.49 (Opera)|Op. 49 - The Fall of Gondolin]]'' and ''[[The War of Wrath, Op. 71 (Opera)|Op. 71. The War of Wrath]].''

== Cast ==
[[Fëanor, Op. 46 (Opera)|'''Op. 46 - Fëanor''']]

Melkor (later Morgoth) the Enemy (Bass): Laurence Cole

Fingolfin, Son of King Finwë (Baritone): Philip Lloyd-Evans

Fëanor, Son of King Finwë (Tenor): Simon Crosby Buttle

Mandos, Ruler of the Dead (Baritone): Julian Boyce

Elbereth, Queen of Light (Soprano): Emma Mary Llewellyn

The Elder King, Lord of the Valar (Bass): George Newton-Fitzgerald

Maedhros, Son of Fëanor (Bass-Baritone): Stephen Wells

Maglor, Son of Fëanor (Tenor): Michael Clifton-Thompson

Celegorm, Son of Fëanor (Tenor Baritone for this recording): Philip Lloyd-Evans

Curufin, Son of Fëanor (Tenor Baritone for this recording): Julian Boyce

Caranthir, Son of Fëanor (Baritone Bass for this recording): George Newton-Fitzgerald

Amrod, Son of Fëanor (Bass): Laurence Cole

Amras, Son of Fëanor (Bass): Jasey Hall

Olwë, King of the Teleri (Tenor): Michael Clifton-Thompson

'''CHORUS:'''

Paula Greenwood/Emma Mary Llewellyn/Sophie Yelland/Helen Greenaway

Michael Clifton-Thompson/Simon Crosby Buttle/Julian Boyce/Jasey Hall

'''[[Beren and Lúthien, Op. 47 (Opera)|Op. 47. Beren and Lúthien]]'''

Finrod Felagund, the King of Nargothrond (Tenor): Simon Crosby Buttle

Sauron, servant of Morgoth (Bass): Jasey Hall

Gorlim, follower of Beren (Tenor): Michael Clifton-Thompson

Beren, son of Barahir (Baritone): Julian Boyce

Lúthien Tinúviel, daughter of Thingol (Soprano): Angharad Morgan

Thingol Greycloak, King of Doriath (Bass): Martin Lloyd

Melian, his queen (Mezzo-Soprano): Helen Jarmany

Morgoth, the enemy (Bass): Laurence Cole

'''CHORUS:'''

Anitra Blaxhall/Emma Mary Llewellyn/Helen Jarmany/Helen Greenaway/

Michael Clifton-Thompson/Simon Crosby Buttle/Julian Boyce/Jasey Hall

'''[[The Children of Húrin, Op. 48 (Opera)|Op. 48 - The Children of Húrin]]'''

Morgoth, the enemy (Bass): Laurence Cole

Húrin Thalion, Lord of the House of Hador (Spoken): Julian Boyce

Túrin, his son (Tenor): Simon Crosby Buttle

Morwen Eledhwen, wife of Húrin (Mezzo-Soprano): Helen Greenaway

Saeros, a councillor of Doriath (Tenor): Michael Clifton-Thompson

Mablung of the Heavy Hand, a Captain of Doriath (Bass): Stephen Wells

Beleg Cúthalion, a Captain of Doriath (Baritone): Philip Lloyd-Evans

Gwindor, a Lord of Nargothrond (Baritone): Julian Boyce

Finduilas, daughter of the King of Nargothrond (Soprano): Emma Mary Llewellyn

Glaurung, first and greatest of dragons (Bass): George Newton-Fitzgerald

Niënor, daughter of Húrin (Soprano): Angharad Morgan

Dorlas, a woodsman of Brethil (Tenor): Michael Clifton-Thompson

Brandir, Lord of the men of Brethil (Baritone): Philip Lloyd-Evans

'''CHORUS:'''

Angharad Morgan/Emma Mary Llewellyn/Louise Ratcliffe/Helen Greenaway/

Michael Clifton-Thompson/Simon Crosby Buttle/Julian Boyce/Jasey Hall

'''[[The Fall of Gondolin, Op.49 (Opera)|Op. 49 - The Fall of Gondolin]]'''

Ulmo, Lord of the Waters (Bass): Martin Lloyd

Turgon, the King of Gondolin (Bass): George Newton-Fitzgerald

Aredhel, his sister (Mezzo-Soprano): Louise Ratcliffe

Eöl, a dark Elf (Baritone): Julian Boyce

Maeglin, son of Eol and Aredhel (Bass-Baritone): Stephen Wells

Ecthelion, Captain of the Guard of Gondolin (Baritone): Philip Lloyd-Evans

Tuor son of Huor, a mortal man (Tenor): Simon Crosby Buttle

Voronwë, a mariner of Gondolin (Baritone): Julian Boyce

Idril Celebrindal, Daughter of Turgon (Soprano): Anitra Blaxhall

Morgoth, the enemy (Bass): Laurence Cole

'''CHORUS:'''

Anitra Blaxhall/Emma Mary Llewellyn/Louise Ratcliffe/Helen Greenaway/

Michael Clifton-Thompson/Simon Crosby Buttle/Julian Boyce/Laurence Cole

'''[[The War of Wrath, Op. 71 (Opera)|Op. 71. The War of Wrath]]'''

Elbereth, Queen of Light (Soprano): Emma Mary Llewellyn

Círdan, a mariner (Baritone): Julian Boyce

Ulmo, Lord of Waters (Bass): Martin Lloyd

Melian, Queen of Doriath (Mezzo Soprano): Helen Jarmany

Galadriel, sister of Finrod Felagund (Soprano): Angharad Morgan

Thingol, King of Doriath: Martin Lloyd

Maglor, Son of Fëanor (Tenor): Michael Clifton-Thompson

Curufin, Son of Fëanor (Tenor): Huw Llywelyn

Elwing, wife of Eärendil (Mezzo Soprano): Sophie Yelland

Maedhros, Son of Fëanor (Baritone): Stephen Wells

Eärendil, Son of Tuor and Idril (Tenor): Simon Crosby Buttle

Eönwë, Herald of the Valar (Baritone): Philip Lloyd-Evans

The Elder King (Bass): George Newton-Fitzgerald

Mandos, Lord of Death (Baritone): Julian Boyce

Sauron, Lieutenant of Morgoth (Bass): Jasey Hall

Morgoth, the Enemy (Bass): Laurence Cole

Elrond, Son of Eärendil and Elwing (Tenor): Simon Crosby Buttle

'''CHORUS:'''

Rosie Hay/Emma Mary Llewellyn/Stella Woodman/Helen Greenaway

Huw Llywelyn/Michael Clifton-Thompson/Simon Crosby Buttle/Philip Lloyd-Evans

Julian Boyce/Stephen Wells/Jasey Hall/George Newton-Fitzgerald
[[Category:Music]]
[[Category:Albums]]
[[Category:Adaptations]]

Daeron, Op. 45 (Flute and Piano)

2023-06-12T20:03:54Z

SCB74656: Added categories for ease of connection

The romance for flute and piano ''Daeron,'' by composer [[Paul Corfield Godfrey]], was written in the late 1980s as a ‘spin-off’ from the work on his cycle of operatic works ''Epic Scenes from The Silmarillion after the mythology of J. R. R. Tolkien'', which was then proceeding apace.

Sections of this work would later be used in orchestral form as the prelude to Scene Four and Interlude before Scene Five of ''[[Beren and Lúthien, Op. 47 (Opera)]].''

== Recording ==
A recording of this work was included on Prima Facie's 2017 album ''Akallabêth and other Tolkien works.''
[[Category:Music]]
[[Category:Classical music]]

Paul Corfield Godfrey

2023-06-12T20:03:17Z

SCB74656: Added links to other pages

__NOTOC__{{author infobox
| image=
| name=Paul Corfield Godfrey
| born=1950
| died=
| education=
| occupation=Composer
| location=United Kingdom
| website=https://www.paulcorfieldgodfrey.co.uk/
}}
[[File:Paul Corfield Godfrey.png|thumb]]
'''Paul Corfield Godfrey''' is a British musician who composed music and, most notably, operatic adaptations utilising the words of [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] between the years [[1971]]-[[1986|2023]] with the permission of the [[Tolkien Estate]].

His ''Epic Scenes from The Silmarillion after the mythology of J.R.R. Tolkien -'' a cycle of operatic works originally written between 1980 and 1994 consisted of ''[[Fëanor, Op. 46 (Opera)|Op. 46 - Fëanor]]'', ''[[Beren and Lúthien, Op. 47 (Opera)|Op. 47. Beren and Lúthien]]'', ''[[The Children of Húrin, Op. 48 (Opera)|Op. 48 - The Children of Húrin]]'' and ''[[The Fall of Gondolin, Op.49 (Opera)|Op. 49 - The Fall of Gondolin]].'' The libretti for these works were compiled with the assistance of Christopher Tolkien who supplied Godfrey with, at that point in time, unpublished versions of some of the texts to help expand the words of ''The Silmarillion'' into a more dramatic form.

[[Priscilla Tolkien]] hosted an event for [[The Tolkien Society]] in 1982 where a small ensemble of singers performed highlights from ''The Children of Húrin'' to the assembled members at the [[Oxonmoot]]. Priscilla herself joined the choir for the occasion.

The operas sat unperformed until 2018 when Volante Opera Productions undertook the process of creating demo recordings of the works. During this process Godfrey was persuaded to compose a final part to ''The Silmarillion'' to finish off the tales which was subsequently recorded. This fifth and final part was entitled ''[[The War of Wrath, Op. 71 (Opera)|Op. 71. The War of Wrath]]'' was completed in 2020''.''
[[File:Complete Silmarillion Artwork.jpg|thumb|Artwork for complete CD box set of The Silmarillion, by permission of Ted Nasmith.]]
In total the cycle has a duration of approximately ten and a half hours, has a cast of 48 characters and 55 scenes.

Other authorised works currently include ''[[Tolkien Songs, Op. 9|Op. 9 - Tolkien Songs]], [[Shadow-Bride, Op. 36 (Song)|Op. 33 - Shadow-Bride]], [[Symphony No. 3 Ainulindalë, Op. 42|Op. 36 - Symphony No. 3 Ainulindalë]], [[Akallabêth (for solo piano), Op. 42|Op. 42 - Akallabêth (for solo piano)]], [[Akallabêth (for orchestra), Op. 42a|Op. 42a - Akallabêth (for Orchestra)]]'' and ''[[Daeron, Op. 45 (Flute and Piano)|Op. 45 - Daeron]].'' There are also suites and concert performable highlights from each of the component parts of ''The Silmarillion.''

==Article==

* [[Amon Hen 159]]
**Operas of ''[[The Silmarillion]]''

===External Link===
*[http://www.tolkienlibrary.com/press/956-Interview-with-Paul-Corfield-Godfrey.php Interview with Paul Corfield Godfreyl] at tolkienlibrary.com.

{{references}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Godfrey, Paul Corfield}}
[[Category:Authors]]
[[Category:British people]]
[[Category:People by name]]
[[Category:Composers]]
[[Category:Music]]
[[Category:Classical music]]
[[Category:Adaptations]]

Daeron, Op. 45 (Flute and Piano)

2023-06-12T20:00:14Z

SCB74656: Created a page with information about the work.

Akallabêth (for orchestra), Op. 42a

2023-06-12T19:52:57Z

SCB74656: Created a page with information about the work.

Originally composed as a Piano Rondo by composer [[Paul Corfield Godfrey]].

Although the ''Akallabêth'' uses a number of musical themes already composed for the other works in Godfrey's ''Epic Scenes from The Silmarillion after the mythology of J. R. R. Tolkien'', it was always designed as a totally independent and original work.

The piano version was commissioned in 1982 by James Meaker both as a display piece and as a symphonic poem in rondo form based on one of the concluding chapters in J R R Tolkien’s ''[[The Silmarillion]]''. As such some of the material later found its way into other parts of the cycle.

It was subsequently orchestrated and modified as ''Akallabêth (for orchestra), Op. 42a.'' The orchestral version of the score follows the outline of the piano original, except that the pastoral interlude and succeeding material is omitted. Sections of this work were used in the score for ''[[The War of Wrath, Op. 71 (Opera)]].''
[[Category:Music]]
[[Category:Classical music]]

Akallabêth (for solo piano), Op. 42

2023-06-12T19:49:04Z

SCB74656: Created a page with information about the work.

Piano Rondo by composer [[Paul Corfield Godfrey]].

Although the ''Akallabêth'' uses a number of musical themes already composed for the other works in Godfrey's ''Epic Scenes from The Silmarillion after the mythology of J. R. R. Tolkien'', it was always designed as a totally independent and original work.

It was commissioned in 1982 by James Meaker both as a display piece and as a symphonic poem in rondo form based on one of the concluding chapters in J R R Tolkien’s ''[[The Silmarillion]]''. As such some of the material later found its way into other parts of the cycle.

It was subsequently orchestrated and modified as ''Akallabêth (for orchestra), Op. 42a'' and sections of it were used in the score for ''[[The War of Wrath, Op. 71 (Opera)]].''

== Recordings ==
A recording of this work is available on Prima Facie's 2017 album ''Akallabêth and other Tolkien works''.
[[Category:Music]]
[[Category:Classical music]]

Symphony No. 3 Ainulindalë, Op. 42

2023-06-12T19:38:37Z

SCB74656: Created a page for the symphony with information about the work.

Orchestral symphony by composer [[Paul Corfield Godfrey|Paul Corfield Godfrey.]]

The symphony follows the programme of Tolkien’s opening chapter of ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', and the original manuscript quoted the whole of the chapter over the music; but these superscriptions are not included in the work as published.

A large section of this work was incorporated in ''[[Fëanor, Op. 46 (Opera)]]'' as the prelude to the work.
[[Category:Music]]
[[Category:Classical music]]

Shadow-Bride, Op. 36 (Song)

2023-06-12T19:30:35Z

SCB74656: Created a page for the song with information about the work.

Composer [[Paul Corfield Godfrey]] was given permission by Rayner Unwin in 1978 to compose this setting of one of J. R. R. Tolkien's non Middle-Earth poems.

Shadow-bride was written with viola and piano accompaniment as a commission for Sheila Searchfield and Myra Ricketts who gave the first performance at the Greenwich Festival in 1978.

The material from the song was later utilised (to describe a similar situation) in the second scene of ''[[The Fall of Gondolin, Op.49 (Opera)|The Fall of Gondolin, Op. 49 (Opera)]]''.

== Recordings ==
A performance of this work is available on the album ''Akallabêth and other Tolkien Works'' released by Prima Facie records in 2017.

Volante Opera Productions did a video recording of this work for Zarathustra: The Paul Corfield Godfrey Music Trust (www.paulcorfieldgodfrey.co.uk/recordings).
[[Category:Music]]
[[Category:Classical music]]
[[Category:Songs]]

Tolkien Songs, Op. 9

2023-06-12T19:22:41Z

SCB74656: Created a page for the songs with information about the work.

[[Paul Corfield Godfrey]]'s ''Tolkien Songs'' for voice and piano were written (and re-written) during the early 1970s and were all conceived as part of an extensive cycle on ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' and ''[[The Hobbit]]''. The rights to these songs were granted by the estate as part of the ''Akallabêth and other Tolkien works'' album release.

They were all subsequently orchestrated. ''In Western Lands'' was also incorporated into ''[[Beren and Lúthien, Op. 47 (Opera)]].''

== Songs ==
Strider

Song of the Eagle

Alive Without Breath

Drinking Song

In Western Lands

Roads go ever ever on

== Recordings ==
Theses songs were included on Prima Facie's 2017 release ''Akallabêth and other Tolkien works.''

Volante Opera Productions have also recorded a video for Zarathustra: The Paul Corfield Music Trust of the orchestrated version of ''Drinking Song (''www.paulcorfieldgodfrey.co.uk/recordings).
[[Category:Music]]
[[Category:Classical music]]
[[Category:Songs]]

Paul Corfield Godfrey

2023-06-12T18:57:21Z

SCB74656: Added image

__NOTOC__{{author infobox
| image=
| name=Paul Corfield Godfrey
| born=1950
| died=
| education=
| occupation=Composer
| location=United Kingdom
| website=https://www.paulcorfieldgodfrey.co.uk/
}}
[[File:Paul Corfield Godfrey.png|thumb]]
'''Paul Corfield Godfrey''' is a British musician who composed music and, most notably, operatic adaptations utilising the words of [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] between the years [[1971]]-[[1986|2023]] with the permission of the [[Tolkien Estate]].

His ''Epic Scenes from The Silmarillion after the mythology of J.R.R. Tolkien -'' a cycle of operatic works originally written between 1980 and 1994 consisted of ''[[Fëanor, Op. 46 (Opera)|Op. 46 - Fëanor]]'', ''[[Beren and Lúthien, Op. 47 (Opera)|Op. 47. Beren and Lúthien]]'', ''[[The Children of Húrin, Op. 48 (Opera)|Op. 48 - The Children of Húrin]]'' and ''[[The Fall of Gondolin, Op.49 (Opera)|Op. 49 - The Fall of Gondolin]].'' The libretti for these works were compiled with the assistance of Christopher Tolkien who supplied Godfrey with, at that point in time, unpublished versions of some of the texts to help expand the words of ''The Silmarillion'' into a more dramatic form.

[[Priscilla Tolkien]] hosted an event for [[The Tolkien Society]] in 1982 where a small ensemble of singers performed highlights from ''The Children of Húrin'' to the assembled members at the [[Oxonmoot]]. Priscilla herself joined the choir for the occasion.

The operas sat unperformed until 2018 when Volante Opera Productions undertook the process of creating demo recordings of the works. During this process Godfrey was persuaded to compose a final part to ''The Silmarillion'' to finish off the tales which was subsequently recorded. This fifth and final part was entitled ''[[The War of Wrath, Op. 71 (Opera)|Op. 71. The War of Wrath]]'' was completed in 2020''.''
[[File:Complete Silmarillion Artwork.jpg|thumb|Artwork for complete CD box set of The Silmarillion, by permission of Ted Nasmith.]]
In total the cycle has a duration of approximately ten and a half hours, has a cast of 48 characters and 55 scenes.

Other authorised works currently include ''Op. 9 - Tolkien Songs, Op. 33 - Shadow-Bride, Op. 36 - Symphony No. 3 Ainulindalë, Op. 42 - Akallabêth (for solo piano), Op. 42a - Akallabêth (for Orchestra)'' and ''Op. 45 - Daeron.'' There are also suites and concert performable highlights from each of the component parts of ''The Silmarillion.''

==Article==

* [[Amon Hen 159]]
**Operas of ''[[The Silmarillion]]''

===External Link===
*[http://www.tolkienlibrary.com/press/956-Interview-with-Paul-Corfield-Godfrey.php Interview with Paul Corfield Godfreyl] at tolkienlibrary.com.

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[[Category:Authors]]
[[Category:British people]]
[[Category:People by name]]
[[Category:Composers]]
[[Category:Music]]
[[Category:Classical music]]
[[Category:Adaptations]]