Tolkien Speaker: A True Myth about the Power of Music

Name: Tolkien Speaker: A True Myth about the Power of Music
Start: 2024-10-01T18:00:00+01:00
Location: 50 George Square

Schedule

Tue Oct 01 2024 at 06:00 pm

UTC+01:00

Location

50 George Square | Glasgow, SC

This week we will be having our first academic talk of the semester! We will be meeting in 50 George Square, room 2.30 at 6pm.
Drinks and games at 32Below after the talk 🍻
Speaker: Ignacio Saavedra Inaraja
Title: A True Myth about the Power of Music
The prominent presence of music is noticeable in many stories and myths of Tolkien’s Legendarium, from Ainulindalë, the origin of all creations, to the miraculous effect of Elven chants. Although not a musician himself, the influence of music on Tolkien and his myth creation can be traced back to his early ages, when he was immersed in a music-rich environment shaped by his family and religious practice. His exposure to music enriched his sensitivity to the beauty of languages in his career as a philologist, and as a creator of constructed languages. Through the principle of phonoaesthetics, he explored the musical facet of languages. His language designs such as Quenya and Sindarin are not only delicate in grammar, but also meticulously crafted to be melodious and pleasing. This musicality in languages infuses the story with a unique atmosphere, offering deeper insights to the culture and worldview of their speakers.

With an aspiration alike for the profound potential of music in storytelling, Endor Lindë, meaning “music of Middle Earth” in Quenya, was formed in Madrid as a folk music group that regards Tolkien's mythology as a meditation on the power of music. The performances of Endor Lindë can be viewed as a narrative that explores why Tolkien's work, whether consciously or unconsciously, is a myth about the importance and power of music. Through the evocative sound of the harp and other instruments, Endor Lindë brings to life the phonoaesthetic qualities of Tolkien's world, offering audiences a unique experience that bridges the realms of literature, music, and myth.