Journey in the dark

Johan de Meij’s first symphony The Lord of the Rings is based on the trilogy of that name by J.R.R. Tolkien. This book has fascinated many 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. This transcription for brass band, arranged by the composer has the following movements: I. Gandalf (the Wizard), IV. Journey In The Dark (the Mines Of Moria And The Bridge Of Khazad-dûm), V. Hobbits.

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 The Royal Band of the Belgian Guides under the baton of Norbert Nozy. In 1989, the symphony The Lord of the Rings was awarded a first prize in the Sudler International Wind Band Composition Competition in Chicago, and a year later, the symphony was awarded a grant by the Dutch Composers Fund.

In 2001, the orchestral version was premiered by the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra and recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra.