Musical instruments: Difference between revisions

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==Elven musical instruments==
==Elven musical instruments==


''[[There and Back Again]]'' speaks about "elven-harps",<ref>{{H|15}}</ref> and the harp is indeed frequently associated with the [[Elves]]. Among the elven peoples known to have performed the harp are the [[Elves of Mirkwood]],<ref>{{H|8}}</ref>, the [[Galadhrim]],<ref>{{FR|Lorien}}</ref> and the [[Vanyar]].<ref>{{TI|Bilbo}}, p. 97</ref> Other instruments known to have been used by Elves include the flute,<ref>{{AB|Ship}}</ref> and '''[[Wikipedia:trumpet|trumpets]]''' (although mostly spoken of being used in battle).<ref>{{S|Quenta}}, ''passim''</ref>
''[[There and Back Again]]'' speaks about "elven-harps",<ref>{{H|15}}</ref> and the harp is indeed frequently associated with the [[Elves]]. Among the elven peoples known to have performed the harp are the [[Elves of Mirkwood]],<ref>{{H|8}}</ref>, the [[Galadhrim]],<ref>{{FR|Lorien}}</ref> and the [[Vanyar]].<ref>{{TI|Bilbo}}, p. 97</ref> When [[Elrond]] took the [[White Ship]] to [[Valinor]] after the [[War of the Ring]], he is said to have brought "a silver harp".<ref>{{RK|VI9}}</ref> Other instruments known to have been used by Elves include the flute,<ref>{{AB|Ship}}</ref> and '''[[Wikipedia:trumpet|trumpets]]''' (although mostly spoken of being used in battle).<ref>{{S|Quenta}}, ''passim''</ref>


==Hobbit musical instruments==
==Hobbit musical instruments==
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Among the [[Ainur]], [[Ulmo]] is said to have made music upon his great horns of white shell, the '''[[Ulumúri]]'''.<ref>{{S|IIb}}</ref>
Among the [[Ainur]], [[Ulmo]] is said to have made music upon his great horns of white shell, the '''[[Ulumúri]]'''.<ref>{{S|IIb}}</ref>


==Portrayal in adaptations==
'''1982-97: ''[[Middle-earth Role Playing]]'':'''
:About a dozen different musical instruments are included with stats in the supplement ''[[Treasures of Middle-earth (2nd edition)|Treasures from Middle-earth]]'', most of them first described in other supplements. Examples of instruments imbued with magical powers are Elrond's Silver Harp, Boromir's Great Horn, and Maglor's Lute of the Golden Hand.<ref>{{ICE|2010}}, pp. 126-8</ref>
==See also==
*the [[Great Horn]]
*[[Horn of the Mark]]
{{references}}
{{references}}
[[Category:Lists]]
[[Category:Lists]]
[[Category:Objects]]
[[Category:Objects]]

Revision as of 21:12, 22 March 2017

The Harp No Longer Sings by Jenny Dolfen

Musical instruments of different types appear in the legendarium.

Dwarven musical instruments

Among the Dwarves, several types of instruments are recorded in the stories from Middle-earth. Thorin and Company played the following instruments at the unexpected party at Bag End:

Apparently, other members in Thorin's Company also played the harp, since it is written that the dwarves produced "music of harps and of fiddles" when visiting Lake-town.[2] In Smaug's treasure, Fíli and Kíli found "many golden harps strung with silver": these were magical (and apparently made by Dwarves[3]), always staying in tune.[4] The Dwarves of Khazad-dûm were also known to have played the harp.[5]

Elven musical instruments

There and Back Again speaks about "elven-harps",[6] and the harp is indeed frequently associated with the Elves. Among the elven peoples known to have performed the harp are the Elves of Mirkwood,[7], the Galadhrim,[8] and the Vanyar.[9] When Elrond took the White Ship to Valinor after the War of the Ring, he is said to have brought "a silver harp".[10] Other instruments known to have been used by Elves include the flute,[11] and trumpets (although mostly spoken of being used in battle).[12]

Hobbit musical instruments

At Bilbo's Farewell Party, hobbits were heard playing "'trumpets and horns, pipes and flutes, and other musical instruments". Among these other instruments were "musical crackers" (which "contained instruments, small, but of perfect make and enchanting tones") and bells.[13]

Mannish musical instruments

The Rohirrim are said to have played the harp.[14]

When the people of Minas Tirith prepared for the arrival of the victorious Army of the West, there came "the harpers that harped most skilfully in all the land" from Dol Amroth, and "there were players upon viols and upon flutes and upon horns of silver". As Aragorn passed the streets of Minas Tirith during his coronation, the Gondorians played "music of harp and of viol and of flute".[15]

The Númenóreans had trumpets,[16][17] although it is unknown if they were used for musical purposes.

Ainu musical instruments

Among the Ainur, Ulmo is said to have made music upon his great horns of white shell, the Ulumúri.[18]

Portrayal in adaptations

1982-97: Middle-earth Role Playing:

About a dozen different musical instruments are included with stats in the supplement Treasures from Middle-earth, most of them first described in other supplements. Examples of instruments imbued with magical powers are Elrond's Silver Harp, Boromir's Great Horn, and Maglor's Lute of the Golden Hand.[19]

See also

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "An Unexpected Party"
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "A Warm Welcome"
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "An Unexpected Party", Far over the misty mountains cold (poem)
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "Not at Home"
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "A Journey in the Dark", Song of Durin
  6. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "The Gathering of the Clouds"
  7. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "Flies and Spiders"
  8. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "Lothlórien"
  9. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Treason of Isengard, "V. Bilbo's Song at Rivendell: Errantry and Eärendillinwë", p. 97
  10. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Grey Havens"
  11. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, "The Last Ship"
  12. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: The History of the Silmarils", passim
  13. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "A Long-expected Party"
  14. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The King of the Golden Hall", Lament for the Rohirrim
  15. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Steward and the King"
  16. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Númenor"
  17. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Akallabêth: The Downfall of Númenor"
  18. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Valaquenta: Of the Valar"
  19. Wolfgang Baur (1994), Treasures of Middle-earth (2nd edition) (#2010), pp. 126-8