A Song Cycle. Musical Score by Donald Swann.
The Road Goes Ever On A Song Cycle. Musical Score by Donald Swann.
Allen and Unwin, 1968.
First edition. 4to. Original cream coloured paper covered boards in dustwrapper with decoration by Tolkien. Decorative borders throughout by Tolkien. A fine copy with an ownership inscription on the front free-endpaper, in a fine (price-clipped) dustwrapper with a hint of tanning on the spine.
A beautifully produced book, in which Donald Swann sets to music Tolkien's poems of Middle-Earth.
Swann and Tolkien met at Priscilla Tolkien's home in May 1965, and Swann gave a private performance of his compositions for 'The Road Goes Ever On', 'Upon The Hearth The Fire Is Red', 'In The Willow-meads Of Tasarinan', 'In Western Lands', 'I Sit Beside The Fire' and 'Namarie'. Tolkien enjoyed the performance and Swann's company greatly, and after successful radio performances the scores were eventually published, with 'A Elbereth Gilthoniel' and 'Errantry' added in the meantime, and 'In Western Lands' discarded.
Hammond B28B.
Stock ID: 45804