Some Music for this Musical

[hama]

I am pleased to announce that there may actually be some music from this musical in the foreseeable future. I just spoke with Stephen Pearl, Chairman and CEO of Halan Entertainment/StageStarz Records, which purchased the music publishing rights to The One Ring last spring. He informed me that they have booked 4 days of rehearsal and recording studio time for the project in early November. He is trying to coordinate with some well established Broadway performers to sing some of the key roles. Songs being considered for this recording and subsequent demo CD include, I AM YOUR FRIEND, WITH HIS WORDS, IS THERE..., and THE QUARTET.

Obviously, when we get the music recorded you will be able to hear it first at The Tolkien Trail. I am also excited because this represents a real investment (If anyone knows what 40 hours of New York City studio time and musicians cost!!!!) and vote of confidence in the work.

[Elven Warrior Maiden]

You've heard from me before. That is so cool! Whenever I find out about a musical, I imagine who I might be able to play in it. In this case it was Frodo. Bit impossible, isn't it. But I like to know what is happening.

[webwizard333]

Keep us posted with all the events, and if you ever need an actor for any role talk to me ;) .

[hama]

To elven maiden warrior, yes I know I have heard from you before and am delighted to hear from you again and always. As far as envisioning yourself in a role, I know exactly how you feel. I was an actor long before I started writing and I always thought about parts I could play or how I might play them differently from the actor I was watching. All too often I would see an actor play I role I had and say "My god, I never thought of that." As for you playing Frodo, don't dismiss it so quickly...By your screen name I assume you are female but as I have already made one gender identification mistake on this board, I am reluctant to assume anything. However, I will not be surprised if in the actual production many "male" roles will actually be played by women. For some of the lead roles, the first that comes to mind is Legolas. Pardon me if this seems sexist, but somehow I feel that an actress may be able to communicate the lithe, graceful strength of this marvelous elf better than an actor could.

As for the Hobbits, there are simply more women 5 feet tall or less than men. I clearly see Legolas, and the Hobbits as "trouser roles"...women playing men's parts.

And to you webwizard...it may be easier for you and I to discuss this and your potential as an actor in The One Ring than you think as I have a home in Massachusetts as well. Who knows...maybe we can drive down to the Entmoot together.

[Elven Warrior Maiden]

I agree completly with webwizard333, keep us posted!

Hama, can you tell us when you think the songs will be on Tolkien Trail? I've tried making up tunes for them. ( I hope yours are better)

And when we (or at least I) say keep us posted, I mean absoloutly every single tiny detail.

When you get the actors and actresses, get people who know and love the Lord of the Rings, being able to sing and act is a bonus :)

I hope you're not joking when your're telling people here who ask about auditioning that if they email you ir something like that they can.(Sorry if my being curious about that insults you, but it's not every day your favourite book becomes a musical, and you think you may have a chance in it)

You live in America somewhere, don't you?

[hama]

I will definitely keep you up to date. As for the timing of when the songs will be available on Tolkien Trail, I can only guess sometime later this year. Our first recording session is sceduled for early October assuming we can coordinate and work around a lot of people's schedules. Exactly how long the sound engineer will work on re-mixing the various tracks, I don't really know. As this will be the first time recorded versions of the songs will be available for listening, I don't want to rush anything and have the quality not be the best it can be.

As far as my not kidding people about auditioning, a gentleman whom I met on line through playbillonline sent me his headshot and resume. He is a huge Tolkien fan. He is a school teacher in North Carolina but will be coming to New York to sing some of the chorus parts for the CD. I have no idea what kind of voice he has, although by the shows and roles he has listed on his resume, (which I confirmed with the theaters listed) he must be at least okay and a welcome addition to the project. For the lead roles I am hoping to arm twist some of my old broadway-actor pals into giving me a few hours of their time.

Last but not least, yes I live in America, splitting my time between New York and Boston.

[Elven Warrior Maiden]

Good luck in your arm-twisting. Can't wait 'till I can here the music. Hey, if it comes out in words or on CD soon, will people be able to use it in choirs and stuff. My school choir has only 8 people in it, and we need some songs that will sound good with a small number of people singing.

Is it fun to be writing something, and listening to other peoples ideas? I want to be an author, and I need to know these sort of things.

[hama]

Is it fun? Well yes, more often than not. Sometimes it is exhilirating and sometimetimes it is pure drudgery. Of course you must remember that I am not "writing" something, yes I am writing lyrics and some dialoque but I am really just adapting the great thoughts and great epic of Tolkien's.

In some ways that is easier. I could never have dreamed up and expressed so wonderfully the world of Middle Earth. Other times it is harder because I am taking into my hands a work beloved by millions of people and hoping to do it justice. When I have to cut out a scene or a character, it feels as if I am slicing into a magnificent beast.

Listening to what other people think...well develop a thick skin...some of the comments I have gotten include "The lyrics sound like they were written by a chimpanzee on crack." or "This clown is certainly no threat to Stephen Sondheim or Andrew Lloyd Webber." But for every bad comment there have been positive ones as well. Even more gratifying is when people are initially skeptical of the project but then they read it and realize it is good or at least that I obviously love LotR.

[Renille]

These are the times I really wish I was a teen professional actor. But do you HAVE to be an equity actor to audition?? Because I've had absolutely no experience with Broadway or, really, any other fully professional theater. (I've been involved with a semi-professional summer theater in my hometown for two years now,though.)

[Elven Warrior Maiden]

Renille, you're lucky to be doing even that. I bet most people in the world at least once hoped that they could be an actor. The only thing in acting I've done is last year's grade seven musical. I did have a main part, but I lost my voice the day before the musical:(
Not allowed to do any other acting.

Hama, I'm glad you aren't paying attention to the people sending bad comments, because they really don't have any idea what they're talking about. And don't worry about the cutting down. You do have to fit it into a certain time, and this isn't a book that can go on forever. Other people and yourself have to know that.

[Serena]

I too, hope you're serious about letting people audtion online. I have some acting skill, but I go to a school for the arts, where I study vocal music, and if you need someone for a role, let me know. I'd like to see the music -- but as I live in Canada, I'm forced to accept that there could be a problem getting me to any recording or practice sessions.

But, hey. This is still cool. Keep me posted, please.

[Agburanar]

I just put in an entry to another section of this conversation. I'd love to design a stage set for the musical, could we arrange something? I think, maybe it would be good to take over the whole theatre, like Cats or even Starlight Express. Expensive to produce, but I just know it would be a hit!

[hama]

Agburanur,

I think you are so right. I think a set that takes over the whole theater is the only way to go. I unfortunately don't have the imagination that you obviously do to make something like that come to reality. At some point yhat you feel is appropriate, I would love to see your sketches and/or ideas. Yes, the show will be expensive to produce. We are estimating an intitial capitalization of 12 to 15 million, certainly expensive by Broadway standards but I agree, if we do it right it should be a major hit.

[Mouth of Sauron]

Please email or PM me when this happens. I'm interested to hear the songs, especially WITH HIS WORDS.

[hama]

Hey MOS,

Good to see you out in the light! I will definitely be in touch when the music is available. I appreciate you interest. I wasn't too surprised when you asked about With His Words. From your review it seemed to be a favorite. I was gratified but not surprised. Hey maybe you could post a link to review here if you think people might be interested.

See you in Lugburz.

[Serena]

Hello Again.

I'm still hoping I could get a role (I know it's wishful thinking . . . but hey.)

About the sets -- I've got a couple of ideas my self. I'll go through them and see if I can put them into something understandable.

[hama]

I would be delighted to see your designs. You might want to discuss your ideas with Agburanur. He has shown me some great ideas and has some simulation software that seems very interesting. Set design is an area where I have some ideas but am essentially clueless about specifics or specifics.

[Agburanar]

Yeah. Let's start a set discussion thread!
We can design it as a group over the web.

[musicalandlotrlovr]

I think it's really cool that you're writing this musical. :) It must be REALLY hard turning J.R.R's books into music and stuff. I've read how hard it was for the writers to put "LotR" into a MOVIE. I can't imagine how hard it would be to make a stage musical out of it. But from what I've read and heard it sounds likes you're doing a cool job. I've read some of the lyrics online and I think they're really good! If you ever need a young, pretty-short actress with REALLY curly, brown/auburn hair.....;) I'm your girl!
Do you take the book word by word and just put it into the musical? Are you writing the music, too? What kind of music is it going to be? Minor and mythical or triumphant and major or what? I've often dreamed of writing musicals (I'm starting on the music for one of them), and I would love some tips.....
Sorry if I'm bogging you down with questions!

[Agburanar]

I imagine writing the music would be the hardest thing! I've writen a musical called 'Silver Machine' but that just uses 60s and 70s hits, I'm no good as a composer!

[musicalandlotrlovr]

You could always give it a shot. :)
It's easy. Just pick a style (major or minor or something), then bang on the piano and see what you come up with. haha. :)
I'm sure you could do it if you tried really hard. I used to think I couldn't write music.... but I gave it a try, and now I write music A LOT!

[hama]

I am delighted that anyone thinks it is cool that I am trying to adapt LOTR to a musical....However as I have said here and on other threads and forums....LotR is already a musical....it was just waiting for a "fool of a Took" to try to adapt it to the stage.

As for the type of music it is Major and triumphant in the main though I find I have written most of the major songs for the male characters in Eb minor with modulations to major...not that I am really a composer...I ddoodle with melodies and let real musicians develop them. I am also glad that you like the lyrics. I think with the time constraints of the musical format it will be necessary to impart a great deal of information about the characters through song.

[musicalandlotrlovr]

You can DEFINITELY tell alot about the characters through the music. Gandalf's songs mysterious, Frodo's songs triumphant, Sam's songs kind of quiet, Pippin's songs funny! So on and so on! (I know you're not doing it like that, but that was just an example). *sigh* the joy and expression of music..... :D

[hama]

a song for Pippin.....hmmmm?

[Agburanar]

Serena, I'd love to see someone else's interpretation of a set for this musical. If you want to discuss ideas etc. you can always e-mail me. The same goes for anyone else who has any ideas!

[tilko]

Hy there again!

Hama, I'd like to ask you if the sheets or midis of music are available. Maybe you should tell us more about the style of music (clasical, rock, jazz, ...).

tilko

[Esmerelda77]

Hello again y'all!! It's been a while. I hope everything works out for the soundtrack there. Whoever is wanting to be in this play email me. Maybe one day we can get picked!! (what a nice thing that would be on my resamay :)

[hama]

I do not yet have any of the music available on midi or mp3 although that is in the works. As for sheet music I do have 3 or 4 lead sheets scanned onto disc. They are "With His Words", "One More Tomorrow" and "Sail on my Friend." Well, I guess it is 3.

As for the style of the music I guess I would describe it as standard Broadway "pop-operatic", perhaps in the style of Les Miserables or Phantom. The orchestrations and incidental music are being written with a certain Celtic flavor which I feel is appropriate for the piece.

[tilko]

Hello!

Äre there any copyrights on these sheets? I'm so curious on this music. And when do you expect the recordings will be available to hear?

tilko

[hama]

tilko,

Yes all the music I have written is copyrighted by me and the company I set up TOR Music, Inc. Halan Entertainment which purchased the music publishing rights to the music also holds certain secondary rights.

I am somewhat hesitant to predict a date certain for the release of the demo CD as my earlier estimates have proved to be ambitious.

[CardenIAntauraNauco]

no minor songs?:(

Major is fine but it really is only one eigth of the spectrum of emotion in a song. It would be a pity if we could only hear the happy and triumphant parts of LOTR protrayed in music. Just play around with E minor. Em, Am, B make some really good chord series although you have to watch it or you'll slip into the russian mode of scales. Please put some kind of minor song in the play.

[hama]

From your post I get the succint impression that you are much more knowledgeable than I when it comes to music theory. I don't have any of the sheet music in front of my but my recollection is the Gandalf's "Beyond the Question"is written in E minor and I am reasonably sure that One More Tomorrow at least starts out in a minor key.

In addition, what would you think of the idea of writing much of the incidental music in minor keys to add texture and depth to the show?

[CardenIAntauraNauco]

That's good .. Yes definitely have minor music for the background music It portrays conflict. That would sound great.

I am no music expert I just got finished studying chords and modes so I know those specific ones but I don't want to put myself on a pedestal that I have no right to stand on.

[hama]

A great suggestion none the less...and I took the time to check back. Gandalf's big song starts in E Flat M.

[musicalandlotrlovr]

Hello everyone! I'm back! Yes, you can groan if you want... j/k :D
I think Pippin should have a song. I dunno, that's my opinion. He should have a funny major-sounding song!!!!! (Pippin in adorable)
The songs in "Les Miz" and "Phantom" are absolutely cool!!! You could do the "Andrew Lloyd Webber" style (Stephen Sondhiem's music is cool, too). Or you could also have the music be sort of Irish or Scottish sounding. I dunno, but whenever I think of "LotR" or myths or Fairy tales or whatever I ALWAYS think of Irish, mythical sounding music.
I think the music should reflect on the creature that's singing it. Elves should have mystic music, Orcs scary (Singing Orcs????), and so on and so on down the line. These are just my opinions, feel free to badmouth them, if you want. :)
P.S. If you really feel that you need help composing the music or anything, I would L-O-V-E to help you in any way.... I compose a lot of music, and I'm a big musical lover. E-mail: idolovehobbits@yahoo.com

[hama]

Yes the orchestrations definitely must have a Celtic sound and feel...hopefully that will come through most directly in the incidental music and the under-scoring. With the exception of Andrew Lloyd Webber, I heartily concur with your musical tastes. However as my music tends to be very lyric driven (without the mind blowing brilliance of Sondheim) I am hoping it is a somewhat original sound. Perhaps in ten years people will be talking of a Marston style musical....but perhaps I am being too bold.

As for helping, I just ftp'd Ben the sheet music for one of my favorite peices from the show..."With His Words". When Ben gets it up on the site why don't you take a look at it and tell me what you think and how you think it could be improved.

[musicalandlotrlovr]

I think it's very possible that ten years from now someone could be talking about a "Marston style". :)
I'll look at the sheet music, print it out, play it, and tell you what I think. And when the musical is famous someday I'll say, "I talked on a message board with the person who wrote that musical." :)
Are you going to have an opening song?

P.S. Sondhiem music and Celtic music rock. Have you heard "Into the Woods"? I sing the song "My Fault" from that musical constantly. It drives everybody nuts. :)

[Agburanar]

Into the woods is a great show!

[musicalandlotrlovr]

You have good taste in musicals, Agburanar!!! :D
"Into the Woods" is a good musical!!!

P.S. If anyone is doing that show and holding auditions, could they let me know?

[hama]

I absolutely adore Into the Woods especially the second act.

"ah, if life were only moments,
Even now and then a bad one.
But if life were only moments,
Then you'd you never know you had one."

and "No More" and "No One is Alone"....

God if I could ever write something half as brilliant....

[musicalandlotrlovr]

I'm sure you can write something as good as "Into the Woods"!!!! If you think you can't, you never will!! But if you say you can and try, you'll do it!!! Give it a try!!!! YEAHH!!!!! ;)
Oh, Oh, "No one is Alone" is SUCH a gorgeous song. The melody is so pretty. *sigh* :)
There are a lot of good points made in "Into the Woods". Like, the quote you said in the post before this. The one about "If life was only moments, you'd never know you had one". Musicals are better if they make a good point. If your characters (and the audience, too, really) learn something.
You didn't answer my question, are you going to have an opening song?
Tell me if my never-ending questions start to bug you. :)

P.S.
"But it wasn't my fault,
I was given those beans
You persuaded me to trade away my cow for beans..."
Dude, I LOVE that song "My Fault" :D

[hama]

Thank you so much for the words of encouragement....I really appreciate it. I have an incredible awe of Sondheim...his rhymes are so brilliant. I actually don't try to rhyme the way Sondheim does. His internal rhymes are brilliant. Perhaps I should work more in the vein of Sondheim....I think his brilliance mirrors that of Tolkien's quite well. Although I think that while a great writer, Tolkien is a rather poor and pedantic lyricist.

Gandalf's songs should probably have the erudite internal rhymes so identified with Sondheim....maybe in re write number 6.

As far as your "endless questions boring me...never...I am honored. As for "my fault" it is actually "Your Fault" from ITW. and my other favorite song of the same type is "The Blame" from Titanic" (the musical).

ISMAY

"POSSIBLY A SHIP WILL COME.
POSSIBLY SHE'LL STAY A FLOAT.
POSSIBLYALL THIS WILL COME TO AN END
ON A POSITIVE NOTE."

ARCHITECT

"NOT UNLESS WE LEARN TO FLY.
NOT UNLESS WE ALL SPROUT WINGS.
PARDON ME SIR I HAVE BUILT HE FROM SCRATCH
AND I KNOW CERTAIN THINGS."

[tilko]

I would also like to see the sheets!! Please...

The most I like Webber's musicals, as we sang them with our choir. But I would also like to hear some others. Does anyone know where to find recordings of these musicals? Perhaps somewhere on the net?

tilko

[musicalandlotrlovr]

I knew the song was called "Your Fault". Honest. :) I was really tired the day I wrote that post. I'm really not an airhead. Truly (even though I know I sound like one in my posts). I'm just enthusiastic. :D
Sondhiem was brilliant with his rhymes, I agree whole-heartedly.If you want to "play" Sondhiem, I think a Gandalf song would be a good target. Either that or a Pippin song (I'm so stuck on that idea). You could have Pippin getting all messed up with his rhymes. :) The fool of a Took...
Does Frodo have any songs?

[hama]

Well Gandalf's song "Beyond The Questions" probably has the most "intelligent" or "intricate" lyrics in the show and the most though few internal rhymes in the show.

I also listened to the second act of ITW on my way home from Hartford. It really is wonderful.

[musicalandlotrlovr]

How long do think the musical is going to be?
Do you have all of the songs planned out, or are you kind of making them up and placing them as you go along? :) (That's probably what I would be doing)
When/if you cast the musical, would you cast girls as the Hobbits since girls are generally tinier and shorter than men?
Whoa. This was totally an-all-question-post. :) Ahh! Must... relieve... tension... (Sorry, I'm just a goofy person. I've decided I don't want to know what you think of me) :)

P.S. From what I've heard of the music in "Follies" (More Sondhiem), it's really good. I love the songs "Losing my Mind" and "Broadway Baby"!!

[hama]

The songs write themselves and place themselves...when what you to say is too powerful to put into spoken dialogue...that is when a song comes out....

That is how this musical wrote itself....

[musicalandlotrlovr]

Don't you love it when the songs just write themselves? And they turn out good, too!

[hama]

Right now the script is 125 pages and I anticipate approximately 3 hours and 12 minutes running time for the show. And yes I love Follies. I played Old Ben in a touring production a couple of years ago.

[musicalandlotrlovr]

125 pages?? That's a long script....
So you think it's probably going to be the same length as the first movie? OK, that's cool.
"Follies" is an awesome show. I think it's really meat that you toured in it!!!!
Tell me if you ever direct "Into the Woods". I'll audition. :)
Are you going to cast and direct the musical when you finish it? I would like to audition........:)

[hama]

No, I won't be directing The One Ring. I would hope that I have some voice in the casting but that will ultimately be the job of the casting director, director and producer. Assuming I find a producer, they will buy the rights to the script and music and then it will essentially be in their control. The producer will hopefully consult with me regarding re-writes but once they put up the money it will basaically become their project.

As far as ITW goes, I would love to direct it someday and well who knows? Anyone who loves the show as much as you do would probably be great.

[musicalandlotrlovr]

I wish you all the luck in the world! At finding a Producer and everything! I think you will find a Producer. I mean, from what I've read so far you have a good musical here.
Thanks. I'd love to be in "Into the Woods"... or "Les Mis"... or "Phantom"... or any musical, really. :) ITW especially, though.
You must have a lot of people asking you to be in the musical or asking to help you with the musical. I'm sorry if I keep bugging you about how I want to audition or how much I want to help or any stuff like that. I don't want to be annoying or anything.
I'm sure the Producer will let you help with the casting. I mean, you wrote it, right? :)

[hama]

Well I would hope that the Producer would allow me some voice in casting decisions. Obviously this is my vision of the world that Tolkien created and the actors who bring these characters to life should reflect my vision but I am trying to be realistic.

As for being annoying, not at all and offers of help, how could that annoy me? I gain great satisfaction from peoples interest in this project and the encouraging words such as yours about what they have read of my work.

I posted on the Tolkien Books forum here at entmoot asking for comment from the "scholars" on this board but have gotten precious little response.

[musicalandlotrlovr]

They haven't responded yet? You'd think they would. I'd imagine it would be nice to get their opinions on "Tolkien's world".
I would love to hear the music to your musical! Do you think you could scan the sheet music and E-mail it to me? Or at least somehow let me hear "With His Words". :) I REALLY want to hear it. Thanks.

[Earenya]

Another actress here hoping for info about auditions/etc. :)
Would you like headshots/resumes sent to you? I think this is terribly exciting and I commend you for working on it! I agree with the celtic-influence. I think that is partly because it (the Brittish Isles) was one of the closest and last worlds to which fantasy and myth met reality, and being European, held much of the landscape to which Tolkein would've imagined.

[hama]

Welcome Earenya,

I am glad you like what you have seen so far. If you would like you can PM me and I can give you the snail mail address for headshots/resumes or you can e-mail them to me.

Brad

[musicalandlotrlovr]

When are you going to actually hold auditions for "The One Ring"? In the summer? I'm assuming you're going to hold the auditions in England since you will be performing it there.

[hama]

Earenya,

Actually, in addition to Tolkien's writing LOTR as a backdrop for his created languages, I think he also intended to create a mythology based on British/European history.

Brad