Uploaded January 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
If you liked this concert, please drop a like + subscribe to our channel! Thank you ♥
__________________________________________________________________
The Hobbit
Music by Howard Shore
Arr. Elias Gilbert ‘24 & Maggie Schnyer ‘24
with sections adapted from Douglas Wagner
Conducted by Maggie Schnyer ′24
__________________________________________________________________
ABOUT THE WORK
The Hobbit, or There and Back Again, was a novel originally published by J.R.R. Tolkien in 1937 and later inspired the creation of its sequel series, The Lord of the Rings, in 1954. The story follows hobbit Bilbo Baggins and his treacherous journey to reclaim the kingdom of Erebor with the help of a wizard and some other friends. The movie adaptation of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) features a soundtrack written and conducted by Howard Shore, a Canadian composer best known for his scoring of all the films in The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit series.
The arrangement opens with the iconic theme of “Old Friends” played on clarinet. The upbeat transition in “The Adventure Begins” features the same theme, this time in a waltz-feel. It’s passed on a third time to the penny whistle, a nod to “Concerning Hobbits” from The Fellowship of the Ring. “Misty Mountains” highlights the lower instruments of the orchestra with a tuba and euphonium solo over droning cellos and violas. The full orchestra is used to create a wall of sound in “An Ancient Enemy” as both this piece and “Riddles in the Dark” build to the climactic “A Thunder Battle.” Victory is achieved in “A Good Omen” and peace is restored with the return of the penny whistle in “Dreaming of Bag End.” The finale of the piece recalls themes from “Misty Mountains” and “Riddles in the Dark” with re-orchestration.
~ Maggie Schnyer 24
If you liked this concert, please drop a like + subscribe to our channel! Thank you ♥
__________________________________________________________________
The Hobbit
Music by Howard Shore
Arr. Elias Gilbert ‘24 & Maggie Schnyer ‘24
with sections adapted from Douglas Wagner
Conducted by Maggie Schnyer ′24
__________________________________________________________________
ABOUT THE WORK
The Hobbit, or There and Back Again, was a novel originally published by J.R.R. Tolkien in 1937 and later inspired the creation of its sequel series, The Lord of the Rings, in 1954. The story follows hobbit Bilbo Baggins and his treacherous journey to reclaim the kingdom of Erebor with the help of a wizard and some other friends. The movie adaptation of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) features a soundtrack written and conducted by Howard Shore, a Canadian composer best known for his scoring of all the films in The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit series.
The arrangement opens with the iconic theme of “Old Friends” played on clarinet. The upbeat transition in “The Adventure Begins” features the same theme, this time in a waltz-feel. It’s passed on a third time to the penny whistle, a nod to “Concerning Hobbits” from The Fellowship of the Ring. “Misty Mountains” highlights the lower instruments of the orchestra with a tuba and euphonium solo over droning cellos and violas. The full orchestra is used to create a wall of sound in “An Ancient Enemy” as both this piece and “Riddles in the Dark” build to the climactic “A Thunder Battle.” Victory is achieved in “A Good Omen” and peace is restored with the return of the penny whistle in “Dreaming of Bag End.” The finale of the piece recalls themes from “Misty Mountains” and “Riddles in the Dark” with re-orchestration.
~ Maggie Schnyer 24
