Hi all – wondered if you could help us get the word out to Tolkein fans that the Auckland Wind Orchestra plays the only Lord of the RIngs symphony in Auckland on August 12. Written in 1988, it was an instant award-winner but has never been played in NZ. Here’s the press release – thanks in advance – direct any queries to me!
Thanks heaps
Julie
Auckland Wind Orchestra press release JULY 2000
LORD OF THE RINGS COMES TO AUCKLAND
As the world eagerly awaits the release of Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings movie, the compelling Lord of the Rings symphony is to take top billing at the Auckland Wind Orchestra’s August concert.
The symphony gets its first New Zealand airing at the Auckland Town Hall Concert Chamber on Sunday August 12 at 2pm. Conductor is Adrian Raven and among the guest performers are jazz saxophonist Lewis McCallum and the North Shore Youth Orchestra, conducted by Peter Thomas.
Written by 48-year-old Dutchman Johan de Meij in 1988, Lord of the Rings is a powerful and atmospheric five-part symphony describing in music, major events in Tolkien’s 1955 book. You can literally hear Tolkien’s tale.
I Gandalf (The Wizard), the first movement, is a musical portrait of a wise, noble but unpredictable personality.
II Lothlorien (The Elvenwood) paints an impression of the elvenwood with its beautiful trees, plants and exotic birds expressed through woodwind solos. The music tells of hobbit Frodo’s meeting with the Lady Galadriel.
III Gollum (Sméagol) describes the monstrous Gollum, a slimy, shy being looking for his cherished Ring, represented by soprano saxophone.
IV Journey in the Dark re-creates the laborious journey of the Fellowship of the Ring, headed by the wizard Gandalf, through the dark tunnels of the Mines of Moria.
After a wild pursuit by hostile Orks, Gandalf is engaged in battle with a monster, the Balrog, and crashes from the subterranean bridge of Khazad-Dûm in a fathomless abyss. The bewildered Companions trudge on, looking for the way out of the Mines.
IV Hobbits, the fifth movement, describes the Hobbits’ carefree and optimistic character.
The AWO is a 50-strong group of woodwind players from all over Auckland, many of them professional musicians and music teachers. In existence since the late 1960s,
the band has nurtured the early careers of many of the country’s top musicians.
WHAT: Lord of the Rings, Auckland Wind Orchestra
WHEN: Sunday August 12, 2pm
WHERE: Auckland Town Hall Concert Chamber
COST: Tickets are $15/$10 (students, seniors)
BOOKINGS: Ticketek, phone 307 5000 or online at www.ticketek.com.
For further information on the band, the concert, composers or soloists, contact
Hamish Arthur on 579-9366 or e-mail haccar@paradise.net.nz.
