Philip Davis again directed QWO for the September 2007 concert which featured Johan de Meij's Symphony no. 1, Lord of the Rings.  This programme also featured the Australian premiere of Rolf Rudin's The Dream of Oenghus.

Queensland Wind Orchestra

Symphony and Sorcery

Philip Davis conductor 

Sunday 9 September, 3.00pm

Old Museum Concert Hall

Cnr Bowen Bridge Rd and Gregory Tce, Bowen Hills 

Mitre 10 Mega, Beenleigh 
 

Program 

The Dream of Oenghus, Op. 37    Rolf Rudin 

Return and Rebuild the Desolate Places, Op. 213   Alan Hovhaness 

Interval 

Symphony No. 1 The Lord of the Rings   Johan de Meij

I. Gandalf (The Wizard)  
II. Lothlorien (The Elvenwood)  
III. Gollum (Sméagol)  
IV. Journey in the dark  
         a. The Mines of Moria  
         b. The Bridge of Khazad-Dûm  
V. Hobbits  

 
Johan de Meij

Symphony No. 1 The Lord of the Rings 

Johan de Meij’s first symphony The Lord of the Rings is based on the trilogy by author J.R.R. Tolkien. This book has fascinated millions of readers since its publication in 1955. The symphony consists of five separate movements, each illustrating a personage or an important episode from the book.  

The symphony was written in the period between March 1984 and December 1987, and had its première in Brussels on 15th March 1988, performed by the Groot Harmonieorkest van de Gidsen under the baton of Norbert Nozy. In 1989, The Lord of the Rings was awarded first prize in the Sudler International Wind Band Composition Competition in Chicago, and a year later, the symphony was awarded by the Dutch Composers Fund. In 2001, the orchestral version was premiered by the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra and recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra. 

Gandalf (The Wizard)  
The first movement is a musical portrait of the wizard Gandalf. His wise and noble personality is expressed by a stately motif which is used in a different form in movements IV and V. The sudden opening of the Allegro vivace is indicative of the unpredictability of the grey wizard, followed by a wild ride on his beautiful horse Shadowfax. 

Lothlorien (The Elvenwood)  
The second movement is an impression of Lothlórien with its beautiful trees, plants, exotic birds, expressed through woodwind solos. The meeting of the Hobbit Frodo with the Lady Galadriel is embodied in a charming Allegretto; in the Mirror of Galadriel, a silver basin in the wood, Frodo glimpses three visions, the last of which, a large ominous Eye, greatly upsets him.  

Gollum (Sméagol)  
The third movement describes the creature Gollum, a slimy, shy being represented by the soprano saxophone. It mumbles and talks to itself, hisses and lisps, whines and snickers, is alternately pitiful and malicious, is continually fleeing and looking for his cherished treasure, the Ring.  

Journey in the dark  
The fourth movement describes the laborious journey of the Fellowship of the Ring through the dark tunnels of the Mines of Moria. The slow walking cadenza and the fear are clearly audible in the monotonous rhythm of the low brass, piano and percussion. After a wild pursuit by hostile creatures, Gandalf is engaged in battle with a horrible monster, the Balrog, and crashes from the subterranean bridge of Khazad-Dûm into a fathomless abyss. To the melancholy tones of a Marcia funèbre, the bewildered companions trudge on, looking for the only way out of the Mines.  

Hobbits  
The fifth movement expresses the carefree and optimistic character of the Hobbits in a happy folk dance; the hymn that follows emanates the determination and noblesse of the hobbit folk. The symphony does not end on an exuberant note, but is concluded peacefully and resigned, in keeping with the symbolic mood of the last chapter “The Grey Havens” in which Frodo and Gandalf sail away in a white ship and disappear slowly beyond the horizon.  
 

Conductor

Philip Davis GCHE 

Philip Davis is head of Performance Music, conductor and brass tutor at Redlands College; an AMEB examiner in brass; music director and conductor of Brisbane Philharmonic Orchestra; part-time lecturer at the University of Queensland and musical director of Queensland Symphonic Winds and a freelance musician. He is also musical advisor and guest conductor of the Dunman High and Yio Chu Kan High School Symphonic Bands and the Sembawang Wind Orchestra in Singapore.