When was Poems and Songs of Middle Earth released?
Caedmon Records first released Poems and Songs of Middle Earth on the 18th of October 1967 in the United States. The UK release followed on the 28th of March 1968.
Questions about Poems and Songs of Middle Earth
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who performed on Poems and Songs of Middle Earth?
J. R. R. Tolkien performed spoken-word readings of his own poetry. Baritone William Elvin sang the songs from Donald Swann's song cycle The Road Goes Ever On, with Swann himself on piano.
What is The Road Goes Ever On on the Poems and Songs of Middle Earth album?
The Road Goes Ever On is a song cycle composed by Donald Swann in 1965, setting selections from Tolkien's verse to music. It occupies the second half of the album and was also published as a book of sheet music around the same time.
Who wrote the liner notes for Poems and Songs of Middle Earth?
The poet W. H. Auden wrote the introductory liner notes for the LP sleeve. He agreed to do so in August 1967, and in his essay praised Tolkien's verse metres as "as exciting as they are various".
Which Elvish languages appear on Poems and Songs of Middle Earth?
Both Quenya and Sindarin appear on the album. Tolkien recited lines in these languages himself, and William Elvin sang additional Elvish texts under Tolkien's direct phonetic guidance.
Who designed the cover art for Poems and Songs of Middle Earth?
Pauline Baynes created the sleeve illustration, a triptych view of a Middle-earth landscape. The image had previously appeared on the slipcase of the deluxe three-volume edition of The Lord of the Rings published by Allen and Unwin in 1964.