#christopher tolkien
So, I’m still thinking about Aulë and the creation of the Dwarves, and how this makes them such softer creatures in my eyes.
When the Dwarves sing the Song of the Lonely Mountain to Bilbo in The Hobbit, their voices are described as “deep-throated singing of the dwarves in the deep places of their ancient homes,” and furthermore Tolkien adds the addendum, “this is like a fragment of their song, if it can be like their song without the music.”
In this instance, we see an initial, subtle example of the immense power Music and Song has over Middle Earth (as at the time of publication, of course, The Silmarillion had not been published and the audience did not know of Eru’s composition, nor the great Music).
I absolutely adore this description of the Dwarves’ voices though, as it ultimately reflects the feeling behind their music and also their origin being made after Aulë’s own passion and hands.
Despite the song being so hardy, devoted and most of all mourning,the Dwarves play gentle instruments like harps and flutes. Despite how they work with their hands and are often those to cut down trees and - in Yavanna’s sentiment - have no disregard for the living things of nature, Aulë’s influence of being beautifulabove even a craftsman is very much present. The Dwarves value precious jewels and heirlooms and crafts, and treat their heritage as such.
The sad news has come today that Christopher Tolkien has passed away. He was 95 and passed away at a hospital near his home in France. He has been such a remarkable conservator of his father’s work and vision, providing us with such a wealth of material from Tolkien’s notes and manuscripts. It is truly astounding how much he has given to the Tolkien community–both the scholarly and fandom parts of it–in his tireless pursuit of continuing his father’s legacy and sharing the stories with us all. Condolences to his family and the entire worldwide Tolkien community. This is a devastating loss of a dedicated and talented individual.
The publication of the Silmarillion alone would have been a gift but his continued research and organization of his father’s work to provide us with The History of Middle Earth, The Children of Hurin, Beren and Luthien, and most recently The Fall of Gondolin has truly resulted in a wealth of material and a vast legendarium that is unparalleled.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/breaking-christopher-tolkien-dead-son-21295706
Middle-earth March - Day 27
“Unfinshed Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth” is a collection of Tolkien texts posthumously compiled, revised, annotated and published by his son Christopher in 1980. They are not coherent stories, but more of a collection of fragments.
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And in Utumno Melkor gathered his demons about him, those spirits who first adhered to him in the days of his splendour, and became most like him in his corruption.
— The Silmarillion
Artwork by Viking-Heart
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And Melkor made also a fortress and armoury not far from the north-western shores of the sea, to resist any assault that might come from Aman. That stronghold was commanded by Sauron, lieutenant of Melkor; and it was named Angband.
— The Silmarillion
Artwork by toherrys
In seven hours the glory of each tree waxed to full and waned again to naught; and each awoke once more to life an hour before the other ceased to shine. Thus in Valinor twice every day there came a gentle hour of softer light.
— The Silmarillion
Artwork by HelenKei
“The weaver, the shaper of wood, and the worker in metals; and the tiller and husbandman also, though these last and all that deal with things that grow and bear fruit must look also to the spouse of Aulë, Yavanna Kementári.”
— The Silmarillion
Artwork by Viktoria Sinner
“At last, in the year when Eärendil was seven years old, Morgoth was ready, and he loosed upon Gondolin his Balrogs, and his Orcs, and his wolves; and with them came dragons of the brood of Glaurung, and they were become now many and terrible. The host of Morgoth came over the northern hills where the height was greatest and the watch least vigilant, and it came at night upon a time of festival, when all the people of Gondolin were upon the walls to await the rising sun, and sing their songs at its uplifting; for the morrow was the great feast that they named the Gates of Summer.”
Artwork by John Howe
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Rest in peace Christopher Tolkien, and namárië.
On this day in T.A. 3019, Saruman dispatches his ruthless Uruk-hai warriors to track down the Fellowship of the Ring in a bid to obtain the One Ring for himself.
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Christopher Tolkien, third son of J.R.R. Tolkien and editor of much of his posthumous work, including The Silmarillion, has died at age 95. Thank you for bringing your father’s vision to life through your work. Rest in peace.
On this day 20 years ago, Ian McKellen arrived in New Zealand and joined the cast on January 10, 2000 to begin filming Peter Jackson’s epic the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Thank you for all the magical and wonderful memories.
“By the command of Morgoth the Orcs with great labour gathered all the bodies of those who had fallen in the great battle, and all their harness and weapons, and piled them in a great mound in the midst of Anfauglith; and it was like a hill that could be seen from afar. Haudh-en-Ndengin the Elves named it, the Hill of Slain, and Haudh-en-Nirnaeth, the Hill of Tears. But grass came there and grew again long and green upon that hill, alone in all the desert that Morgoth made; and no creature of Morgoth trod thereafter upon the earth beneath which the swords of the Eldar and the Edain crumbled into rust.”
Artwork by Ted Nasmith
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I post lots of Tolkien content on Twitter. If you have an account on there and want more Tolkien in your life, I seriously suggest checking my page out!
“Therefore Húrin was brought before Morgoth, for Morgoth knew that he had the friendship of the King of Gondolin; but Húrin defied him, and mocked him. Then Morgoth cursed Húrin and Morwen and their offspring, and set a doom upon them of darkness and sorrow; and taking Húrin from prison he set him in a chair of stone upon a high place of Thangorodrim. There he was bound by the power of Morgoth, and Morgoth standing beside him cursed him again; and he said: ‘Sit now there; and look out upon the lands where evil and despair shall come upon those whom thou lovest. Thou hast dared to mock me, and to question the power of Melkor, Master of the fates of Arda. Therefore with my eyes thou shalt see, and with my ears thou shalt hear; and never shalt thou move from this place until all is fulfilled unto its bitter end.’”
Artwork by Alan Lee
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“Now the thought of Morgoth dwelt ever upon Turgon; for Turgon had escaped him, of all his foes that one whom he most desired to take or to destroy. And that thought troubled him, and marred his victory, for Turgon of the mighty house of Fingolfin was now by right King of all the Noldor; and Morgoth feared and hated the house of Fingolfin, because they had the friendship of Ulmo his foe, and because of the wounds that Fingolfin gave him with his sword. And most of all his kin Morgoth feared Turgon; for of old in Valinor his eye had lighted upon him, and whenever he drew near a shadow had fallen on his spirit, foreboding that in some time that yet lay hidden, from Turgon ruin should come to him.”
Credit to the artist
