Full credits: The Passing of the Elves known as The Elvish Lament Music by David Donaldson, David Long, Steve Roche & Janet Roddick (or Plan 9 & David Long); Lyrics by J.R.R. Tolkien, translated into Sindarin by David Salo; Performed by Janet Roddick, Steve Roche, David Long & David Donaldson (or Plan 9 & David Long).
D.Donaldson, S.Roche & J.Roddick also known as Plan 9.
See also An interview with Plan 9.
Info from The Annotated Score (The Music of The Lord of the Rings Films):
Plan 9 assembled “The Elvish Lament” for the Wood-elves whom Frodo and Sam spy departing Middle-earth. This text is adapted from J.R.R. Tolkien
INSTRUMENTALISTS
Plan 9 first collaborated with Peter Jackson on 1995’s Forgotten Silver. In The Lord of the Rings films, they specialized in diagetic, or on-screen music, including the hobbits’ party music (“Flaming Red Hair”) and the Wood-elves’ song (“The Elvish Lament”).
TEXTS
THE PASSING OF THE ELVES known as THE ELVISH LAMENT
Text by J.R.R. Tolkien
Sindarin Translation by David Salo
FIRST HEARD: DISC ONE | TRACK TEN
Fanuilos heryn aglar | Snow-white! Snow-white! O Lady clear!
Rîn athar annún-aearath, | O Queen beyond the Western Seas!
Calad ammen i reniar | O Light to us that wander there
Mi ‘aladhremmin ennorath! | Amid the world of woven trees!
A Elbereth Gilthoniel | Gilthoniel! O Elbereth!
I chîn a thûl lin míriel | Clear are thy eyes and bright is breath,
Fanuilos le linnathon | Snow-white! Snow-white! We sing to thee
Ne ndor haer thar i aearon. | In a far land beyond the Sea!
A elin na gaim eglerib | O Stars that in the Sunless Year
Ned în ben-anor trerennin | With shining hand by thee were sown,
Si silivrin ne pherth ‘waewib | In windy fields now bright and clear
Cenim lyth thílyn thuiennin. | We see your silver blossom blown!
A Elbereth Gilthoniel | O Elbereth Gilthoniel!
Men echenim sí derthiel | We still remember, we who dwell
Ne chaered hen nu ‘aladhath | In this far land beneath the trees,
Ngilith or annún-aearath. | Thy starlight on the Western Seas.
the passing of the elves
Howard Shore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Rîn athar annún-aearath,
Calad ammen i reniar
Mi 'aladhremmin ennorath!
A Elbereth Gilthoniel
I chîn a thûl lin míriel
Fanuilos le linnathon
A elin na gaim eglerib
Ned în ben-anor trerennin
Si silivrin ne pherth 'waewib
Cenim lyth thílyn thuiennin.
A Elbereth Gilthoniel
Men echenim sí derthiel
Ne chaered hen nu 'aladhath
Ngilith or annún-aearath.
The lyrics of Howard Shore's song "The Passing of the Elves" contain a blend of Sindarin, Quenya, and English languages. The Sindarin and Quenya languages are both fictional languages created by J. R. R. Tolkien for his Middle-earth universe. The song, featured in the movie "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring," describes the departure of the Elves, the immortal creatures who are leaving Middle-earth and sailing to the Undying Lands across the Western Ocean.
The first verse of the song, "Fanuilos heryn aglar/Rîn athar annún-aearath," translates to "Silent hills crowned with snow/Rising into the night from the far grey shore." The second verse, "Calad ammen i reniar/Mi 'aladhremmin ennorath!" means "The shining pillars of our halls/Stand in the wind and in the darkness." The chorus, "A Elbereth Gilthoniel/I chîn a thûl lin míriel/Fanuilos le linnathon/Ne ndor haer thar i aearon," can be interpreted as a prayer to Elbereth, the Queen of the Valar who is revered by the Elves. It asks for her guidance and inspiration as the Elves leave Middle-earth and embark on their journey to the Undying Lands.
The third and final verse, "A elin na gaim eglerib/Ned în ben-anor trerennin/Si silivrin ne pherth 'waewib/Cenim lyth thílyn thuiennin/A Elbereth Gilthoniel/Men echenim sí derthiel/Ne chaered hen nu 'aladhath/Ngilith or annún-aearath," describes the beauty of Middle-earth and the sadness of leaving it behind. The Elves are saying farewell to the land they have known and loved for thousands of years, but they are also looking forward to the peace and immortality they will find in the Undying Lands.
Line by Line Meaning
Fanuilos heryn aglar
A song for the Eagles of Glory
Rîn athar annún-aearath,
The day has come for the journey to the west,
Calad ammen i reniar
The ships are ready to sail,
Mi 'aladhremmin ennorath!
We will depart into the West!
A Elbereth Gilthoniel
Oh Elbereth Star-kindler,
I chîn a thûl lin míriel
To you I will chant my song of praise,
Fanuilos le linnathon
On Eagles' wings we fly over the mountains,
Ne ndor haer thar i aearon.
And behold the land of Aman.
A elin na gaim eglerib
Oh stars that in the Sunless Year,
Ned în ben-anor trerennin
With shining hand by silmaril crowned
Si silivrin ne pherth 'waewib
In shining white fierce flames are bound,
Cenim lyth thílyn thuiennin.
We will swim in pools of light as silver fishes.
A Elbereth Gilthoniel
Oh Elbereth Star-kindler,
Men echenim sí derthiel
We still remember, we who dwell
Ne chaered hen nu 'aladhath
In this far land beneath the trees
Ngilith or annún-aearath.
Thy starlight on the Western Seas.
Contributed by Ethan B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@rem8099
Translation lyrics
Snow-white! Snow-white! O lady clear!
O queen beyond the Western seas!
O light to us that wonder there
Amid the world of woven trees
O Elbereth! Gilthoniel!
Clear are thy eyes and bright is breath
Snow-white! Snow-white! We sing to thee
In a far land beyond the sea
O stars that in the sunless year
With shining hand by thee were sown
In windy fields now bright and clear
We see your silver blossom blown
O Elbereth! Gilthoniel!
We still remember, we who dwell
In this far land beneath the trees
Thy starlight on the Western seas
@kalgalanosleblanc4103
Blanche Blanche-neige ! Blanche-neige ! Ô claire dame !
Ô Reine d'au-delà des Mers Occidentales !
Ô Lumière pour nous qui errons ici
Parmi le monde des arbres entrelacés !
Gilthoniel ! Ô Elbereth !
Vifs sont tes yeux et claire ton haleine !
Blanche-neige ! Blanche-neige ! Nous chantons pour toi
Dans une terre lointaine au-delà de la Mer.
Ô étoiles qui dans l'Année sans soleil
Par sa lumineuse main fûtes semées,
Dans les chants venteux maintenant brillante et claire
Nous voyons votre floraison d'argent essaimée !
Ô Elbereth ! Gilthoniel !
Nous nous souvenons encore, nous qui demeurons
Dans cette terre lointaine sous les arbres,
De ta lumière stellaire sur les Mers Occidentales
@arvellonelleth698
Favorite Middle Earth Character?
@zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz267
Thranduil
Glorfindel
@dsijj123
eärendil
@aureusknighstar2195
Sauron, if you count him
@nadiasoundy5280
Glorfindel, Gildor, Gil-Galad and Fingolfin. I couldn't decide.
@samuelroveda9706
Fëanor
@BlindDweller
Just imagine being an elf for a second - imagine living in a world as an immortal surrounded by beings who vanish in what seems to you but an instant. Knowing that the only fate destined for an elf on Middle Earth is to let go and diminish, all because of Melkor’s corruption on the Vala’s creation. Absolutely heartbreaking but sheer genius concept of Tolkien’s. I feel this music in perfectly encapsulates what this really means.
@dirtypure2023
What if our world isn't so different, but we are so remote from that knowledge and connection to spirit, that we've forgotten? Just a thought.
@Reige17
I'm afraid to die, but better to enjoy everything while it lasts than live and watch everyone/everything perish while you remain trapped as an ageless being for eternity.
@kaylarose1081
it mirrors the Christian sense of sorrow over living in a world that was meant to be beautiful and perfect, but was corrupted through sin. Now we must pass through it, in all its miseries, on our way to our eternal home. Just a guess, but Tolkien's deep Catholicism makes me think this might have inspired the elves' stories.