The procession of the Elves of Rivendell winds its way through the forests as the former caretakers of Middle-earth travel to the Grey Havens. Reluctantly, Arwen Undómiel has joined her kin. But on her journey the noble woman of the Elves experiences a vision—a potential future spelled out before her eyes. Though she was led to imagine her future on Middle-earth as fraught with death and isolation, she learns that that same future was to hold a son, Eldarion, for her and Aragorn. The beautiful voice of Renée Fleming introduces Shore’s new maturation of the Evenstar theme, the melody that once spoke to the gulf between the two lovers now come to represent the distance between disparate futures.
Fleming’s appearance in The Return of the King is indicative of the subtly modulating vocal sound of Middle-earth. The music of The Fellowship of the Ring embraced the pure, almost folk-like tones of vocalists such as Enya and Isabel Fraser. The palette in The Two Towers became more varied and exotic. Vocal performances from Emilana Torrini, Sheila Chandra and Isabel Bayrakdarian underscored the emphasis on Northern European, Eastern Asian and Eastern European tones. The Return of the King represents the peak of this progression—The Lord of the Rings’ vocal music at its most developed and resplendent. Renée Fleming’s voice is that of a coloratura soprano, one of the most revered and complex tones in music. Says Shore, “She has such an amazing voice, but i couldn’t have used her in Fellowship. I couldn’t start there—I had to get there as the story became more complex.”
Arwen, stunned by her vision, turns Asfaloth back towards Rivendell, back towards her father. Strings absorb the Evenstar melody, weaving beneath it the Rivendell Arpeggios. Arwen accuses her father of denying her the full truth. Elrond concedes, “Nothing is certain.” Tender woodwinds elaborate the end of Evenstar as Arwen begs Elrond to help mankind in the only way he can. The orchestra again stirs with the Rivendell Arpeggios. Elrond turns away and Arwen collapses. He comes to her, only to find her hands cold, her Elvish immortality having been surrendered. Fleming’s voice returns with an even gentler, more sober reading of Evenstar as Elrond is shocked, but moved. His daughter’s gesture can only be honored if he is to act.
The Rivendell theme begins in earnest, swelling and rolling as in the theme’s prime. The shards of Narsil are brought before Elvish metalsmiths. They will be reforged and returned to the World of Men. Shore’s Minas Tirith theme is rhythmically compressed, as if it too is born anew and yet to stretch its limbs.
But the Fellowship is still to reach Minas Tirith, though Gandalf and Pippin are charging towards it. An excitedly muscular Fellowship theme presses the duo across Middle-earth until, via Shadowfax’s swift footfall, they cross into Gondor. Horns and strings immediately announce their arrival with a proud summoning of the Realm of Gondor theme. And yet their first view of Minas Tirith is met by an odd inversion of the Gondor theme. All is not well in the White Tower and Gandalf knows it. Over the rails of rhythmic string patterns, brass charges forth with a canonic examination of the Gondor theme, and Gandalf and Pippin ascend the great burgh. As Shadowfax’s hooves meet the city’s stones the Realm of Gondor theme again crystallizes, clarified into a march-like rigor. But the theme ends differently than it has in the past, rising, after its opening, with down-and-back-up three- note figures. The Fellowship has finally brought Gondor’s aid: a worthy interim leader. Gandalf the White’s arrival temporarily shifts Gondor in Decline to Gondor in Ascension. The same down-and-back shape that opens the Fellowship theme, and forms the basis of the Geroics of Aragorn and Gandalf the White (in the Fellowship) now closes Gondor’s theme. Gondor has suddenly – if momentarily – remembered its place as the seat of justice and decency in Middle-earth.
Gandalf’s arrival at the top of Minas Tirith earns the climax of Shore’s crescendo, a rich A-major chord sounding in all ranges of the orchestra. But this opulence is short-lived. At the summit, Gandalf and Pippin find a wilted tree, the same tree from Pippin’s palantír vision. As Gandalf explains the significance of the White Tree of Gondor, Shore returns to a mournful, recollective setting of the Minas Tirith theme, now all the sadder compared to the rousing version heard back in Rivendell. Gondor, whatever its potential, is as weak as the steward who currently oversees the throne. Like distant war, drums rumble under a thin string cluster, and Gandalf and Pippin head into the throne room to meet with Denethor, the Steward of Gondor.
TEXTS
THE EVENING STAR
Text by Philippa Boyens
Sindarin Translation by David Salo
FIRST HEARD: DISC ONE | TRACK TWELVE
Ngil cennin eriel vi | I saw a star rise high in the
Menel aduial | Evening sky,
Glingant sui mîr | It hung like a jewel,
Síliel mae. | Softly shining.
Ngil cennin firiel vi | I saw a star fade in the
Menel aduial | Evening sky,
Dûr, dûr i fuin | The dark was too deep and so light died,
Naenol mae. | Softly pining.
An i ú nathant | For what might have been,
An i naun ului | For what never was.
A chuil, anann cuiannen | For a life, long lived
A meleth, perónen. | For a love half given.
(c) The Annotated Score (The Music of The Lord of the Rings Films)
The Grace of Undómiel
Howard Shore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
text by PHILIPPA BOYENS, translation by DAVID SALO
( SINDARIN )
Ngîl cennin eriel vi
Menel aduial.
Glingant sui mîr
Síliel mae.
(( I saw a star rise high in
The evening sky.
It hung like a jewel
Softly shining. ))
Ngîl cennin firiel vi
Menel aduial.
Dûr, dûr i fuin
Naenol mae.
(( I saw a star fade in
The evening sky.
The dark was too deep and so light died
Softly pining. ))
An i ú nathant
An i naun ului
A chuil, anann cuiannen
A meleth perónen.
(( For what might have been
For what never was
For a life long lived
For a love half given. ))
The Evening Star is a beautiful and melancholic song that captures the essence of longing and unfulfilled dreams. The lyrics are in Sindarin, an Elvish language created by J.R.R. Tolkien, and were translated by David Salo. The first stanza describes the singer seeing a star rising high in the evening sky, captivating them with its jewel-like brilliance. The second stanza, however, tells a different story, as the same speaker sees the star fade away, unable to shine through the depth of darkness that surrounds it. The soft and gentle sounds of the song add to the sense of bittersweet beauty that permeates its lyrics, capturing the fleeting nature of joy and the inevitability of loss.
The final stanza, however, adds another layer of complexity to the song, as it speaks of things that might have been, but never were. The singer longs for a life long-lived and a love given fully, but it seems that these desires are destined to remain unfulfilled. The repeated use of the word "softly" throughout the lyrics emphasizes the gentle and fragile nature of the singer's hopes and dreams, as well as their acceptance of their eventual loss. Overall, The Evening Star is a poignant and haunting song, capturing the essence of beauty and longing in just a few short lines.
Line by Line Meaning
Ngîl cennin eriel vi
I saw a star rise high in the evening sky.
Menel aduial.
The sky was dusky and dimly lit.
Glingant sui mîr
The star glimmered like a precious jewel.
Síliel mae.
As it shone softly and beautifully.
Ngîl cennin firiel vi
I saw a star fade away in the evening sky.
Menel aduial.
The sky was too dark and deep to hold its light.
Dûr, dûr i fuin
The darkness was prolonged, and so the light vanished.
Naenol mae.
The star was filled with longing and sorrow as it disappeared.
An i ú nathant
For what might have been,
An i naun ului
For what never was,
A chuil, anann cuiannen
For a life long lived,
A meleth perónen.
For a love half given.
Contributed by Charlie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Niko O
SINDARIN:
Ngîl cennin eriel vi
Menel aduial
Glingant sui mîr
Síliel mae
Ngîl cennin firiel vi
Menel aduial
Dûr, dûr i fuin
Naenol mae
An i ú nathant
An i naun ului
A chuil, anann cuiannen
A meleth perónen
ENGLISH:
I saw a star rise high in
The evening sky
It hung like a jewel
Softly shining
I saw a star fade in
The evening sky
The dark was too deep and so light died
Softly pining
For what might have been
For what never was
For a life long lived
For a love half given
14Undertaker31
All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by the frost. From the ashes a fire shall be woken, A light from the shadows shall spring; Renewed shall be blade that was broken, The crownless again shall be king
Jimicus Jolcen
Goosebumps :)
Amber V
Is this from the book?
Ezra Motz
@Amber V yes
Leopold Köppen
@Amber V Written by Bilbo actually.
No Cat
Beautiful.
Valkyrie Editing
I love how this song takes you from a sad realization, to the edge of despair, to the spark of a chance, to the strike of hope and to the heights of imagination all within seven minutes.
Evenstar Saima
Valkyrie Editing its bloody brilliant
さんサツキモモイ
Valkyrie Editing ، you are 100% right
Marvelfanatic95
“Tell me what you’ve seen! You have the gift of foresight! What did you see?”