Voices at the Door
Music composed by Deborah Stokol, 2001 (while on a flight to Athens, Greece). Poem by J.R.R. Tolkein from Return of the King, 1955. Performed by Deborah Stokol, 2007.
Photo by Deborah Stokol. San Sebastian, Spain. 2008.
Music composed by Deborah Stokol, 2001 (while on a flight to Athens, Greece). Poem by J.R.R. Tolkein from Return of the King, 1955. Performed by Deborah Stokol, 2007.
Photo by Deborah Stokol. San Sebastian, Spain. 2008.
It’s beautiful Deb! Are you playing and singing at the same time? The piano is gloriously haunting.
Thank you so much, Marie!! I almost always play and sing at the same time, but on some of these recordings–this one included–I recorded the piano first (my melody) and sang it afterward. I am so glad you feel that way and that you listened. That means a lot to me.
This one’s my favorite, but for the life of me, I can’t tell how much my (subjective) objectivity is being compromised by Tolkien partisanship.
If I were capable of being a little less of a Tolkien fan, perhaps my favorite would have been “Spinning/I do so Wish” (I liked the overall tone and the chorus lyrics). “You Leave Me Behind” gets an honorable mention.
Mmmm. And I think Trapeze would make an excellent accompaniment for a silent film in a genre that hasn’t yet been invented (expressionist horror starring Buster Keaton).
So many melancholic songs. So nice… So, when are you going to compose some *new* ones :’) violate some more copyright hopefully :’D The next time someone complains about Tolkien’s poetry, I’m going to send them here.
Avi, thank you so much for saying such things! And for listening. I, too, am clearly a Tolkien fan…I love your Buster Keaton idea and am immensely flattered. I have been composing some new ones, and I will put them up soon as I get the chance!
Beautiful
Thank you!
You’re welcome.
I’m looking forward to your posting of more music, let me know when you do, although I’m sure I’ll come across it eventually when relistening to your songs. Presently, this one’s tempting me to read LOTR again instead of doing my homework, but homework must be done, so I better get going…
After one more replay :’)
G’night.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Avi Conzevoy and Avi Conzevoy, Avi Conzevoy. Avi Conzevoy said: http://deborahstokol.com/2010/01/15/voices-at-the-door/ A very beautifully sung (and played) Tolkien Song. Copyright be damned! [...]
Avi, it really touches me to know that you enjoyed this song so and that it could inspire you to pick up LOTR once more. I did not want to post the poem/lyrics because they are mine, and I am not making money off of this, so I just wanted to share the music. I am so happy you like it. I composed it while reading LOTR on a flight to Greece summer 2001…I do have another of his poems to which I wrote music, but I haven’t recorded it. Once I do, I will let you know in case you want to listen. Good luck with your homework!
I bumped LOTR to third on my fiction reading list, but then I bumped down Persuasion, and then I bumped down The Fixer (do you like any Malamud?) and now it looks like I’ll be rereading LOTR for the whoknowshowmanyth time starting in a few minutes, but for the first time since 2001, I think. I used to read it one to three times a year starting in the second grade, but stopped reading it after the movies since I wanted the movie images to fade from my memory and not influence my readings of the books. Unfortunately that didn’t work well even though I haven’t seen them since 2004. Heh… I’ll just have to try consciously controlling my imagination as best I can so that Middle Earth isn’t Peter Jackson’s Middle Earth, but Tolkien’s and mine.
I’m slightly anxious that I’ll come to the book and not like it as much as I used to. But realistically, I think that’s unlikely (and I’ve peeked in it for passages over the last several years, and I know that I still love Tolkien’s literary style even if it works like a soporific for many). Still… What if I’m wrong? Then a book I’ve looked forward to returning to for years will no longer be my first paper home. That’d be the sort of tragedy that could only afflict a bibliophilic quixote (which is exactly why I’m dreading it).
Hmmm… Of course, it’s quite possible that I’ll like it even more now than I did before (dear God, what is this optimism?!) so, I better get started.
Oh! And there’s no “in case” about it. I definitely want to hear your next songs, especially the Tolkien ones.
Alright… I’m shivering with nervous anticipation (and possibly the lack of a jacket), here goes :’)
Thank you for bringing those voices to my door.