Mellonath Gléowine

Forodrims musikgille

Mellonath Gléowine is the music guild of the Forodrim. The songs on the CD are taken from the concert, banquet and ceremonies at the Forodrim 36-year jubilee in June 2008, and were recorded one month earlier, in May 2008, under the leadership of guild-master Éowyn (Elin Ryner).

Songs

A Elbereth
Dryckesvisa från Riftedal
Aiya Valie Calo
Mahal, Ai-oi!
Ai Varda, Ai Tintalle
Min Mearh
Gondor är vårt
Frodo och Sam
Valar gav oss nåd
Forodrimsången
Hyllning till Jarlarna
La Réjouissance
Of Ale
Gavotte
Pastyme With Good Companye
Angmars kampsång

Listen

Listen to a few samples (on MP3 format) from our CD!

Lyrics

A Elbereth

These High-elven songs are sung at especially solemn occasions. Varda is the High-elven name for Elbereth. The texts are part of the rich Elvish Elbereth-poetry, that has become widely known from the samples recorded by Bilbo and Frodo Baggins in the Red Book of Westmarch. It includes Sam's invocation in Kirith Ungol and the famous Grey-elven hymn in Imladris: A Elbereth Gilthoniel . . . and likewise the song sung by Gildor Inglorion's company in the Shire:

Snow-white! Snow-white! O Lady clear!

O Queen beyond the Western Seas!

O Light to us that wander here

Amid the world of woven trees!

. . .

Elbereth-poetry is very common among the Noldor in exile, and expresses a longing to return to the blesses realm Aman, where Manwe and Varda rule. A look into the far-seeing palantír in Elos-tirion, the highest of the three White Towers in the west part of the Shire, somtimes may grant a glimpse of Varda's snow-white veil on the top of Mount Taniquetil, far far away across the sea. Therefore she is also called Fanuilos, Snow-white.

For an exhaustive analysis of the sindarin text, see Helge Fauskangers page on Ardalambion!

Dryckesvisa från Riftedal

Drinking song from Rivendell

Written down by Beregond (Anders Stenström)

Refrain:

Här i glada alvers lag
|: bjudes på drycker av bästa slag. :|: Here in the team of happy elves; is offered drinks of the best kind

Verses:

Här i tysta stjärneljuset
hjärtat lyss till västhavsbruset.
Här med bägarn i min hand
jag |: trängtar och längtar till Vardas land. :|: Here in the silent starlight; The heart hark to the murmur of the Western Seas.; Here with the goblet in my hand; I |: yearn and long to Varda's land. :|
Här i Midgård, under träden,
vill jag dricka, lyss till kväden
hela vackra natten lång,
ja, |: trivas och livas av alvisk sång. :|: Here in Middle-earth, beneath the trees,; I want to drink, hark to epic songs; all the beautiful night long; Yea, |: thrive and be enliven by elvish song. :|
Å, det tysta stjärneljuset
blir så suddigt grant i ruset,
sinnet muntert, tanken kort;
dess |: trossar jag lossar och vaggar bort. :|: O, the silient starlight; becomes so nicely blurred in the intoxication,; The mind cheerful, the thought short;; its |: moorings I loosen and sway away. :|
Kom, om du är glad och galen,
hit inatt! Kom ner i dalen!
Lustig stjärnnatt låt oss ha,
och tral-la och lal-la som al-ver ska:
tra-la-la tril-lil-lil lal-li-la!: Come, if you are happy and wild,; here tonight! Come down in the valley!; A droll star-night let us have,; and trolly and lolly as elves should:; tra-la-la tril-lil-lil lal-li-la!

End refrain:

Tra-la-lal-li lal-li-la
tra-la-la tril-lil-lil lal-li-la!

The imfamous tra-li-la-ing is a tradition of the Last Homely House of Rivendell, noted by e.g. Bilbo at his first visit with Thorin and c:o.

Aiya Valie Calo!

High-elven hymn to Elbereth

Discovered by the King's writer Findegil (Björn Fromén)

Aiya Valie Calo! sila fanalya mí lóme.
Aire alcarinqua, Pelóreo palantir,
or ránemmo tiennar lanta silmelya mí lóme.: "Hail Power of Light, your radiant shape shines in the night.; Glorious holy one, widely watching from fencing height,; above the paths of our wandering your starlight falls in the night."

Mahal, ai-oi!

Dwarvish praise to Aule

Recorded from an unknown source by Peregrin Took (Magnus Åberg)

Mahal, yi 'azghal khazâd!
Mahal, ignudi gabil tamâm sharûhu!
Mahal, urəkhâs sulûn 'ayâsu barak 'azaghâl!
Mahal, ai-oi!: Maker, I am the warrior of the Dwarves!; Maker, I will excavate the great hollows of the mountains!; Maker, orcs will fall for the warrior's axe!; Maker, hail!

The text is in Khuzdul (Dwarvish). The music is identical to the song "Alle Psallite" from late 13th century. In the mediaeval text fragments from the Dwarvish original can be found. "Alle" corresponds to Mahal (Aule), as a kind of invocation, and "[lu]ya" to [ai-]oi, as a kind of salute (the whole thus looks quite like Hebr. Allelu-jah, "Salute Jahveh"). Mahal is the Dwarves' name for Aule, the Vala who created them. Note: the letter ə in the text represents the mid central vowel ("schewá").

To learn more about this language, see Pippin's Khuzdul page.

Ai Varda! Ai Tintalle!

High-elven hymn to the Queen of the sky

Recorded in the music archive of Imladris by Gildir (Per Lindberg)

Ai Varda! Ai Tintalle! Eleni silar sí ve miri ninque!
Må dina stjärnor klara bringa ljus åt oss alla i detta dunkla land.
Ai! mornie avanie símen.: "O Varda! O Star-kindler! Stars now shine like jewels white!; May your bright stars bring light to us all in this dark land.; O! Darkness has here disappeared."

Min Mearh

Song from Rohan

Tranlated from the language of Eorl by Elenwe (Andrea Söderberg) and Lothíriel (Erika Agering)

A princess of the Eorlingas sits by the green banks of the Snowbourne and sings to her noble horse (mearh in the tounge of the Rohirrim). Nahar is the horse of the vala Orome, who found the first elves, and whose horn Valaróma put fear into the dark beings.

Prisad vare du, hästars konung
Nahars avbild och människors vän
Silkeslen man och silverhovar
Vars like aldrig skådats av män
Marken dundrar av dina steg
Och allas oro lämnas härhän
Min mearh, du bär mig alla dagar
Aldrig har jag sett dig tröttas än: Praised be you, king of horses; Nahar's image and friend of men; Silk-soft mane and silver hoofs; The like of which was never seen by men; The ground thunders from yous steps; And everyone's worries are left behind; My mearh, you carry me all days; Never have I seen you tire yet

Gondor är vårt

Pirate chanty from Umbar

Written down by Morceleb (Eva Gornitzka)

Åh Sauron kallar, Gondor är vårt!
Ja Sauron kallar, kom nu mannar, Gondor är vårt!: Oh, Sauron calls, Gondor is ours!; Sauron calls, come ye men, Gondor is ours!

Nu hissa segel alle man / Vi seglar uti Morgoths namn
Osgiliath det står ej kvar / Ett Gondorliv vi inte spar
Sju murar ska vi riva ner / Sju murar kan ej skydda mer
Se'n Denethor ska hängas opp / Han hängas ska i vår rånock
Det vita trädet hugges ner / Det duger knappast ens till ved: Now hoist the sails all men / We sail in Morgoth's name; Osgiliath stands no more / A Gondor-life we do not spare; Seven walls we will tear down / Seven walls can't protect any more; Then Denethor will hang / We'll hang him from our yard-arm; The white tree is cut down / It hardly serves as firewood

"Gondor är vårt" is also sung as chorus after each verse half. This is a typical sea chanty or work-song, sung by the seafaring men of Umbar.

Frodo och Sam

Gondorean minstrel song

Recorded by Gildir (Per Lindberg)

"And when the glad shout had swelled up and died away again, to Sam's final and complete satisfaction and pure joy, a minstrel of Gondor stood forth, and knelt, and begged leave to sing. And behold! he said: 'Lo! lords and knights and men of valour unashamed, kings and princes, and fair people of Gondor, and Riders of Rohan, and ye sons of Elrond, and Dúnedain of the North, and Elf and Dwarf, and greathearts of the Shire, and all free folk of the West, now listen to my lay. For I will sing to you of Frodo of the Nine Fingers and the Ring of Doom.' And when Sam heard that he laughed aloud for sheer delight, and he stood up and cried: 'O great glory and splendour! And all my wishes have come true!' And then he wept. And all the host laughed and wept, and in the midst of their merriment and tears the clear voice of the minstrel rose like silver and gold, and all men were hushed. And he sang to them, now in the Elven-tongue, now in the speech of the West, until their hearts, wounded with sweet words, overflowed, and their joy was like swords, and they passed in thought out to regions where pain and delight flow together and tears are the very wine of blessedness."

Refrain:

Frodo och Sam |: av halvlingars stam: Aglar'ni pheriain! :|: Frodo and Sam |: of halfling folk: Praise to the halflings! :|

Verses:

Hör, Midgårds folk! Låt mig bli tolk om hobbitarnas mod.
De verkar små, men är ändå prinsar av ädelt blod!: Hark, peoples of Middle-earth! Let me bear witness of the hobbit's courage.; The appear small, but are nevertheless prices of noble blood!
Om deras mod, hur fast de stod, sjungen nu vitt omkring!
De bördan bar, det tappra par. Borta är maktens ring.: Of their courage, how fast they stood, sing ye now wide and far!; The burden they bore, the brave couple. Gone is the ring of power.
Sjung lov och pris på alla vis till ringbärarnas lov!
Vi hylla dem i varje hem och hela Gondors hov.: Sing glory and praise in all ways to the glory of the ring-bearers!; We honour them in every home and the entire court of Gondor.

Valar gav oss nåd

Gondorean carol

Recorded at the King's crowning by Elenwe (Andrea Söderberg)

Valar gav oss nåd!
Gondors folk nu vi sjunga deras lov.: Valar gave us grace!; Gondor's people now we sing their praise.

Vår kung red fram mot Morannon
Med kraft och löften om stordåd
Med Valars hjälp han fann på råd
Därför Gondor nu har fått nåd: Our king rode forth to Morannon; With might and of force of chivalry; With Valar's help he found councel; Wherefore Gondor now has found grace
Han rädddes inte dödens famn
De red med flaggor fladdrande
Och mörkret såg på skälvande
De såg sitt eget ödes hamn.: He held no dread of death's embrace; They rode with banners flying; And darkness looked on trembling; The saw their own destiny's form

Forodrimsången

The Forodrim song

Written by Bilbo (Martin Stugart)

Genom dimma, natt och mörker
bröt en stråle fram av hopp och ljus.
En stig har röjts för Nordens Folk
till ett sista hemlikt hus.
Må ljusen i dess fönster lysa
för vandraren på hans färd
till Forodrims gamla mötesplats
i Midgård underbara värld.: Through mist, night and darkness; broke a ray of hope and light.; A path is cleared for the People of the North; to a last homely house.; May the light in its windows shine; for the wanderer on his journey; to the old meeting-place of the Forodrim; in the wonderful world of Middle-earth.
Låt oss sjunga till vårt stolta sällskap
en munter glädjesång.
Vi som tror på rätt och ära,
vi som vet "det var en gång".
Må vi skydda, värna och bevara
den myt oss fädren gav,
och Forodrim fast försvara
mot ondskans jäsande hav.: Let us sing to our proud society; a merry song of joy.; We who beleive in right and honour,; we who know "once upon a time".; May we protect, shield and keep; the myth our fathers brought; and Forodrim steadfast defend; against the fermenting sea of evil.
Så en skål för dig, min syster,
och en skål för dig, min bror.
Att dricka det mig lyster
för vår framtid, ljus och stor.
För Forodrims glans och ära
vi verkar, slåss och ber,
och vi lyfter högt mot himlens höjd
Forodrims fladdrande banér.: So a toast for thee, my sister,; and a toast to thee, my brother.; To drink I wish; for our future, bright and great.; For Forodrim's glory and hounour; we work, fight and pray,; and we are lifting high to heaven's height; Forodrim's flying banner.

Hyllning till jarlarna

Celebration of the earls

Written by Ilyéna Milóme (Maria Byquist)

This ceremonial music is heard when a knight or dame of the Forodrim is raised to earlhood. The text is based on the ceremonies of the Forodrim and on the knight oath from arthurian legend.

Ära, heder, eder, hjältemod.: Praise, honour, oaths, heroicism.
Ständigt hjälpa alla svaga. / Rättvist, ärligt, ansvar taga.
Visa vägen, jarlar djärva, / ni som stadigt stod!: Always help the weak. / Fairly, justly, responibility take.; Show the way, earls brave, / you who stood fast!
Genom alla Midgårds tider / har de räddat dem som lider,
lidrat nöden. Jarlen hjälper / med sitt hjältemod.: Through all the times of Middle-earth / they have saved those who suffer,; Eased the need. The earl helps / with his bravery.
Svurna eder, vunnen heder, / stadigt handen rorkult leder.
Säkert för de skutan ut / från tryggad hamn vid flod.: Oaths sworn, honour won, / steady the hand the tiller leads.; Securely they run the ship out / from secured harbour at flood tide.
Under stjärnor, klart de glimma / slagen Midgårds ödestimma,
hylla alla hedervärda, / de som prov bestod!: Under stars, bright they glimmer / stricken the hour of fate of Middle-earth,; Prase all hourourable, / they who passed the test!

La Réjouissance

All rise for the Grand Concil of Forodrim! A piece of pomp and circumstance, often head at the entrance of the Grand Council during our ceremonies.

Of Ale

Drinking song

Thomas Ravenscroft (1614 AD)

Drinking songs are popular amongs the hobbits - and in the Forodrim!

Tosse the pot, tosse the pot, let us be merry,
and drinke till our cheeks be as read as a cherry.
We take no thought, we have no care,
still we spend and never spare
till all of money our purse is bare,
we ever tosse the pot.
When all is gone we have no more,
Then let us set it on the score,
or chalke it up behinde the dore
and ever tosse the pot.
Let us conclude as we began,
and tosse the pot from man to man,
and drinke as much now as we can,
and ever tosse the pot.

Gavotte

Another piece of music used during the entrance of the Great Council.

Pastime with Good Companye

Henry VII

Pastime with good company
I love and shall until I die.
Gruch who lust, but none deny,
So God be pleased thus live will I;: Trivsamt tidsfördriv i gott sällskap; skall jag älska till jag dör.; Klaga den som vill, men ingen kan förneka; Gud tillfreds, så lever jag.
For my pastance,
hunt, sing and dance;
My heart is set
All goodly sport
For my comfort;
Who shall me let?: Till mina förströelser;; jakt, sång och dans,; står min håg!; Allt goda lekar,; för mitt välbefinnande,; så vem skulle mig hindra?
Youth must have some dalliance
Of good or ill some pastance.
Company methinks then best
All thought and fancies to digest;: Ungdomen måste ha lite förströelse,; på gott och ont, lite förlustelser.; Sällskap tror jag då är bäst,; som kan upplösa tungsinne och bekymmer.
For idleness
Is chief mistress
Of vices all;
Then who can say
But mirth and play
Is best of all?: För overksam tristess; är alla lasters moder.; Vem kan då säga annat; än att munterhet och lek; är det bästa?
Company with honesty
Is virtue, vices to flee;
Company is good and ill,
But every man hath his free will.: Gott och ärligt sällskap,; är dygd, och last att fly.; Umgänge är väl på gott och ont,; men varje man har sin fria vilja.
The best ensue,
The worst eschew,
My mind shall be;
Virtue to use,
Vice to refuse;
Thus shall I use me.: Det bästa eftersträva,; och det sämsta sky,; skall vara min avsikt.; Nyttja dygden,; avstå lasten,; så skall jag förvalta mig!

Angmars Kampsång

Fight-song of Angmar

Anonymous, From Mellonath Gléowines first songbook "Endóreo Lindi"

Månen vandrar sin tysta ban,
stjärnorna gnistra och glimma.
Häxmästar'n muttar "det vore väl fan,
om ej godheten ginge att hindra!": The moon wanders it silent path; The stars sparkle and glimmer.; The Witch-king mutters "damn it,; if goodness couldn't be hindered!"
Rykande rester från rasade krogar
är allt som finns kvar av hobernas hem.
Fallande flagor från Fangorns skogar
blandas med löv från Lothlórien.: Smoldering remains of razed taverns; is all that remains of the hobbit's homes.; Falling flakes from Fangorn's woodlands; Are mixed with leaves from Lothlórien.
Alvernas armar de tröttas och tvinar
vid mothugg från Mordors mörkaste män.
Kungens av Gondor krafter de sina
då vättarna krossat hans vänaste vän.: The arms of the elves tire and wither; By smacks from Mordor's darkest men.; The King of Gondor's powers they dry up; When the goblins have crushed his fairest friend.
Gandalf, den gamen, i galgen ska gunga,
alverna ansas till liv och till lem.
MORGOTHS LEVE skall åter runga
när vi kommer till Tidsålder Fem!: Gandalf, that vulture, shall hang fron the gallows,; The elves be pruned of life and limb.; MORGOTH'S VIVA shall again resound; when we come to the Fifth Age!

About us

Mellonath Gléowine is the Music Guild of the Forodrim. It was founded in the Forodrim's year 2 (1974 mundane calendar). We study mediaeval and other music, have fun and sing together. With our song and music we create a middle-earthly atmosphere at the Forodrim's feasts, ceremonies and similar occasions. The guild also has performed at various events like film premieres and accompanying celebrity parties, launching of related Tolkien-products, and the opening of an exhibition of Tolkien-inspired art. Our singing can be heard in the sound book with the new Swedish translation of The Lord of the Rings. The guild had a highly applauded concert at the previous jubilee nine years earlier.

This is our most ambitious project so far; Conducted by our Guildmaster Éowyn we present music from the seven corners of Middle-earth with songs of elves, dwarves, happy drinking hobbits and númenoreans, revengeful orcs, umbaritic pirates, proud eorlings and gondorean bards.

Musical sources

In many cases, the music is known from later sources, listed below.

A Elbereth: 'O Lux Beata Trinitas' (Tallis)
Dryckesvisa från Riftedal: 'Cancionero del Upsala no 39'
Aiya Valie Calo
: 'Ay Luna' (Cancionero del Upsala)
Mahal, Ai-oi!
: 'Alle Psallite' (late 13th c.)
Ai Varda, Ai Tintalle: 'Amate Ben Mio' (Luca Marenzio)
Min Mearh: 'Edi beo Thu Hevne Quene' (a song to the sky-queen in the 13th c.)
Gondor är vårt: 'Pull Down Below' (Trad. sea-chanty)
Frodo och Sam: 'Coventry Carol' (15h c.)
Valar gav oss nåd: 'Deo Gracias, Anglia' (Agincourt Carol, 15th c.)
Forodrimsången: The Holy Ground
Hyllning till Jarlarna: Verbum Patris Humanatur (Cambridge U libr. Ff.i.17)
La Réjouissance: G.F. Händel
Of Ale: Original song by Thomas Ravencroft
Gavotte: J.S.Bach
Pastyme With Good Companye: Henry VII
Angmars kampsång: Original song by unknown composer in the Forodrim

Quotations and reviews

Ján Bakoš, Slovakian Spolocenstvo Tolkiena:: "I am listening the CD of Mellonath Gléowine almost non-stop since I returned home"
Jan Boom, Dutch Tolkien Society Unquendor:: "Great pleasure too on the way back to play you CD a few times, beatifullllllllll"
Eva Jangö, Stockholm Tolkien Society Forodrim, on the jubilee concert 2008:: Not only do the members of Mellonath Gléowine sing beautifully and with great diction, some of them also write those lyrics that are not by Tolkien, as well as compose the music for some of the the songs that were performed in the concert. The hour-long concert contained delicate pieces of an ancient character as well as modern ones. The framework was the well-known journey from the Shire ending in the coronation of Arargorn. All the singers share the honour and the hard work, but choir-mistress Éowyn is worthy of special mention for conducting all seventeen numbers. Eglerio for Gleowine!

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