My body just melts starting at 3:55 I remember what it was like to actually be in a band experiencing those chords all around me, and I can't even try to control the convulsions of pleasure. :)!
I played this THREE TIMES in my career as a student musician (Trombone). Some of the BEST, most MEATY trombone parts I ever played. I get goosebumps to this day every time I hear it. Freshman yr. HS: Mvts. 1 & 5 Senior yr. HS: Mvts. 1, 4 & 5 Freshman yr. college: Mvts. 1-5 :)
que genio es johan de meij, esta semana lo tenemos aqui en venezuela, dirigiendo su tercera sinfonia, y hoy 28/10/10 nos dio una conferencia sobre su musica y fue lo maximo, grande honer tenerle aqui en venezuela....
This piece is bad ass, playing this for concert band and it is the greatest challenge I've had as a clarinet player ever since playing Tchaikovsky symphony no. 4!!! Great piece and scored very well!
I played the third clarinet part to this my senior year at an honor band in alabama and now I'm attending the University of Alabama and we're playing the fifth movement of this symphony Hobbits and I'm playing bass. Such an awesome work
Dude you are not lying. Played the 2nd part in high school and college. This music puts the hair on the back of my neck on edge. Exhilaration in sound.
in every recording or lotr 1st symphony 1. gandalf, i still think this is the best recording ever because of the sexy horn sound at 4:20 . still gimme chills even today hahaha
OMG, that is so powerful! Almost a decade after I played it in high school and it still captivates my imagination. This is still my most favorite piece I have ever played
I remember playing this long ago in 1990 at the FSU Tri-State Honor Band when I was a Junior in High School.......I have been looking for a nice clean copy. This is GREAT!
@ecks76 I played this song this year. I also play tromone. The first part is so much fun. (Goosebumps make it so worth it). Since I was in a youth band rather than school, my trombone section was outstanding! (Although the rest of the band didn't play too well. especially the trumpets). A great masterpiece none the less.
If you're playing 1st trumpet for this music, you shouldn't be complaining. It is a GREAT HONOR to be playing first on such amazing fanfares and whatnot.
Its not often I miss playing my trombone, but when I do I think of this piece and of Hobbits as well. I get teary and remember that magical part of my life when music was more important then breathing.
aw man i get to conduct this piece:) well the condensed version of the entire symphony (still 12 min long) but im so excited, its my first time conducting a large wind symphony/concert band and i just love this piece so it had to be my first:D
We played this my senior year in high school. 3:54 gave me chills all that time ago and still does to this day. One of my most favorite pieces I've ever played. :)
A loooong time ago, when I was in high school, our band director wanted to arrange the symphony as our Marching Band show for that season. But the composer wouldn't give him permission, and our director wouldn't do it without permission. Talk about being disappointed!
I played this yesterday, and it has got to be the most fun thing I've ever played. Although there is a oboe/alto sax melody that is really hard to get in tune...
@rudyhamzah de Meij originally wrote it for Wind Band in the 80s I think. He transcribed it for symphony orchestra around the time the movies were released, and the LSO recorded it. Heaps of people bought it thinking it was the movie soundtrack and de Meij made a fortune :D
There are differences to be appreciated in both...You get a lot more "bass" sound in concert band at places like 00:27 The strings also sound nice at places as well. Either way you look at this it's a crazy awesome piece.
@thesunsethorizons You're right :D The orchestration was done by Henk de Vlieger, According to the Amstel Music website, and they would know. And yes, he is a genius.
This is extraordinarily more composed than any movie version. Howard Shore is great and all, but Tolkein specifically asked De Meij to write these pieces based on only the books, and he certainly delivered.
Briar Hood, do you have a citation for Tolkien asking De Meij to write these? De Meij was only 20 at the time of Tolkien's death and was hardly an accomplished composer by any stretch. The fact that he didn't complete this symphony until 11 years after Tolkien's death also casts doubt. But I'm open to a credible source.
This is hands down the best version of this piece of music. It leaves me speechless..
Holy mother of god this is one of the most badass things I’ve ever heard.
This piece helped me through those long nights of being a music major. I absolutely adore it!
I played this at an honor band and I will tell you, even though I played third part, the clarinet part is no joke either
My body just melts starting at 3:55
I remember what it was like to actually be in a band experiencing those chords all around me, and I can't even try to control the convulsions of pleasure. :)!
This symphony is a real masterpiece
I played this THREE TIMES in my career as a student musician (Trombone). Some of the BEST, most MEATY trombone parts I ever played. I get goosebumps to this day every time I hear it.
Freshman yr. HS: Mvts. 1 & 5
Senior yr. HS: Mvts. 1, 4 & 5
Freshman yr. college: Mvts. 1-5 :)
Played the timpani part to this when I was in high school.
It's a timpani player's wet dream.
ValiantCorvus De Meij knows how to keep a timpanist happy!
que genio es johan de meij, esta semana lo tenemos aqui en venezuela, dirigiendo su tercera sinfonia, y hoy 28/10/10 nos dio una conferencia sobre su musica y fue lo maximo, grande honer tenerle aqui en venezuela....
this is kicking my butt as a flute player!!
Bro.... im.... bro i gotta play this rn an. Man....
Wonderful piece though
this is defenitley the hardest and my most favorite song i played so far in high school. i was a freshman and played first clarinet,
This piece is bad ass, playing this for concert band and it is the greatest challenge I've had as a clarinet player ever since playing Tchaikovsky symphony no. 4!!! Great piece and scored very well!
I played this a few years back in an honors band, but my school ensemble is playing it again. I feel like I'll enjoy it much more this time around.
i love the minor change at 4:30 brings me chills every time
3:54 gives me chills. I have 1st french horn part for this piece. Go brass!!
Loved playing this piece back in HS. Haha, love all the trumpet players on here. I was 1st chair when I played this as well.
This piece is so incredible.Played it as a junior in an honor band and ut us still fantastic
I played the third clarinet part to this my senior year at an honor band in alabama and now I'm attending the University of Alabama and we're playing the fifth movement of this symphony Hobbits and I'm playing bass. Such an awesome work
Got lucky to play this twice. once in high school, and the other in college.
Dude you are not lying. Played the 2nd part in high school and college. This music puts the hair on the back of my neck on edge. Exhilaration in sound.
I played this as 1st clarinet with the school band. This is so awesome! I bought the CD years ago, I just can't get enough of this!
Horns at 4:20 ...YES!!
yeah, they really blow at 4:20
in every recording or lotr 1st symphony 1. gandalf, i still think this is the best recording ever because of the sexy horn sound at 4:20 . still gimme chills even today hahaha
love this whole suite... played principle trumpet two yrs ago.. amazing
Most epic film project of the last decade
I will forever remember playing this my senior year in high school. Still gives me chills! Gorgeous!
OMG, that is so powerful! Almost a decade after I played it in high school and it still captivates my imagination. This is still my most favorite piece I have ever played
I played this piece in wind ensemble last year, such a beautiful piece! I loved it so much. Then again, I play flute.
I remember playing this long ago in 1990 at the FSU Tri-State Honor Band when I was a Junior in High School.......I have been looking for a nice clean copy. This is GREAT!
i just got this piece today and my high school symphony band is playing the whole 9 minutes of awesomeness! go bass clarinet!
I've got to tell you, this is a bass trombone player's dream. I absolutely loved performing this.
@ecks76 I played this song this year. I also play tromone. The first part is so much fun. (Goosebumps make it so worth it). Since I was in a youth band rather than school, my trombone section was outstanding! (Although the rest of the band didn't play too well. especially the trumpets). A great masterpiece none the less.
If you're playing 1st trumpet for this music, you shouldn't be complaining. It is a GREAT HONOR to be playing first on such amazing fanfares and whatnot.
love this song! we played it in band at my school. great video!
Its not often I miss playing my trombone, but when I do I think of this piece and of Hobbits as well. I get teary and remember that magical part of my life when music was more important then breathing.
What a great piece of music.
aw man i get to conduct this piece:) well the condensed version of the entire symphony (still 12 min long) but im so excited, its my first time conducting a large wind symphony/concert band and i just love this piece so it had to be my first:D
We played this my senior year in high school. 3:54 gave me chills all that time ago and still does to this day. One of my most favorite pieces I've ever played. :)
Only ever gave me chills when playing my french horn and all the other brass playing around me! ;-)
Haha! :) I loved my clarinet part!
Meagan It's my favorite part of the symphony, besides the whole “Hobbits" movement.
we played this piece 2 years ago, and Johan De Meij is coming to do a workshop with us this week!
i'm so excited!
This piece and Hobbits are my favorite songs EVER! They are AMAZING! Fun to play, and fun to listen to!
I just attended this very piece, directed by Johan himself! It was fantastic!
i love the great great openings in this part!!!! WOW!!!!
Playing this in Wind Ensemble!
how is it to play this piece in
a wind ensemble? playing saxophone myself, in a wind band
Anja-Elin Tveterås It was orginally written for wind orchestras.
thanks, I didn't know that
London Symphony, I love you.
I've played this piece in a symphony before, We were given the piece on a Tuesday and the concert was that Thursday.
I adore this piece...^_^
It's definitely written for brass. ^-^
And is so much fun to play!
I played 1st Clarinet to this in high school. I loved it.
I love the fifth movement of this
Tuba player here. This was a dream of mine to perform.
Yes!!!
we are gonna play this piece for our school's Wind Symphony!!! I have the 1st trumpet part!!!
Got to play this on Bari Sax with about 150 other musicians in 2001 as part of the Harvard Summer Pops Band. Incredible experience.
Lutheran Summer Music 1998 I was participating in a performance of this work .
great images!!!!!
This is amazing! Such a great piece for the brass sections
Ahhh, we're playing this piece in our MSU Wind Ensemble. Soooo excited for the horn parts!!!!!!
I can't wait to get to play this for our next band concert at my school. Our brass section is going to have a (no pun intended) blast with this.
Johan de Meij is my favorite composer of all time (Koji Kondo is a close second). This stuff is awesome, and I hum it unconciously all of the time.
Great visuals. I have played and conducted this piece, but the visuals at 3:54 are exactly what I imagined for the choral. So majestic.
God.... its so damn powerful i have chills...
A loooong time ago, when I was in high school, our band director wanted to arrange the symphony as our Marching Band show for that season. But the composer wouldn't give him permission, and our director wouldn't do it without permission.
Talk about being disappointed!
SO MUCH BETTER THAN THE MOVIE MUSIC!!!!
Johan de Meij is the Main Clinician at the honor band im going to. Im so excited
Comment #200. I played part of this suite in high school and I shared part V with my high school band mates a few minutes ago.
just got the music for this today, so excited to play it! :)
My band sightread this at CMEA and got a perfect score.
tiene una percusion mortal........no podeis imaginaros lo dificil que es la caja en esta obra
Love the Euphonium part to this song
Me too. !
wow those are some powerful French horns o.o
This is Brilliant
we're playing this in our symphonic wind band i'm a flute so i get all those awsome runs in the beginning
c'est difficile
if you have ever played this Sinf in an String- or Woodorchester, you know how strong and greatfull it feels in your whole body...
Thanks for the insight! I am more familiar with the wind band version than with its reorchestration
4:12 to 4:30: The horns are just incredible!
This is so great.
As a horn player I really appreciate the brass choir part. Horn the official instrument of Gandalf. :)
2:41-3:47 was an absolute nightmare for me as a clarinet player
+HorseLime Haha I'll never forget having to play that haha. I was clarinet as well
When i had play that same part as a Euphonium :(
Hehe, I played it in high school as well!
Third Trumpet I think, was last year or the year before.
Awesome.
I am playing this in band now, im in a freshmen in HS.
beautiful
it was a damn honor to play timpani for this piece last year.
i finally found this i was looking for ages, i love it!
Pressed play. Then I saw how low the volume was set to. I was like "What is this, I'm turning this shit up!" I regret that now...
love the trumpet at 1:01
3:48 so awesome!
Amazing piece for the whole band - do you hear the flutes and woodwinds at the beginning? Blisssssss!
the trills are fun (:
Shoutout to all of those who got jumpscared at 2:14 first time they listened to this.
3:50 so awesome...
@Bassguitarist712
fuck yeah it does!!!! truly amazing :D
I played this yesterday, and it has got to be the most fun thing I've ever played. Although there is a oboe/alto sax melody that is really hard to get in tune...
@universick Me too - gives me goosebumps!
@rudyhamzah
de Meij originally wrote it for Wind Band in the 80s I think. He transcribed it for symphony orchestra around the time the movies were released, and the LSO recorded it. Heaps of people bought it thinking it was the movie soundtrack and de Meij made a fortune :D
@TheDG10000 The 1st part is honestly beautiful beyond comparison :)
Omg! I jumped at the beginning of the song lmao =)
Cuz I was waiting for it 2 load and then it suddenly started playing! Wtf? lol
@famupiccolo92 It was Jacksonville State Honor band two or three years ago. Its an honor band in Alabama lol
@HeirMorgan that's so true. I'm playing the first part trumpet too.
our high school band is doing this whole thing. Ermahgerd
There are differences to be appreciated in both...You get a lot more "bass" sound in concert band at places like 00:27
The strings also sound nice at places as well.
Either way you look at this it's a crazy awesome piece.
this song has a kick ass trombone part
@thesunsethorizons
You're right :D
The orchestration was done by Henk de Vlieger, According to the Amstel Music website, and they would know.
And yes, he is a genius.
@holygroove2
yeah, they sound great! I love the horns though!
Never heard an arrangement of this with strings before. Interesting. Oh, and way more epic than Howard Shore lol
No
Eliott Rey What an elaborate opinion.
This is extraordinarily more composed than any movie version. Howard Shore is great and all, but Tolkein specifically asked De Meij to write these pieces based on only the books, and he certainly delivered.
Why do you feel the need to compare the two and tear down Shore in the process? Both are great music period.
Briar Hood, do you have a citation for Tolkien asking De Meij to write these? De Meij was only 20 at the time of Tolkien's death and was hardly an accomplished composer by any stretch. The fact that he didn't complete this symphony until 11 years after Tolkien's death also casts doubt. But I'm open to a credible source.