Countdown to Weatherstock : A Closer Look at the Bands
With the largest music festival known across Middle Earth looming just a few weeks away, we here at the Landroval Times have set out to give concert goers a first look at the ten bands competing for your favour! Today, we introduce Symphonia et Gloria of a land far away!
What prompted you to start a band?
We are a very versatile family which owns a guest house. The love of music has let us play again and again in different constellations.
How long have you been making music together?
Emyli grew up in Gondor. A few years ago, when she first visited the Shire, she went into music education and Grandmother Took soon founded their first church. A year ago, the clan was Symphonia et Gloria, where Symphonia stands for music and culture in the community, the struggle for Gloria.
What kind of music can Weatherstock goers expect to hear?
We play different songs from rock to classical pieces. In any case, they will be a surprise.
Do you transcribe the music yourselves?
We have two very hardworking melody writer in the family. Emyli Guruthos and Isendihl Proudfoot.
Does your band have any original pieces they play, or is there a particular tune known as your band’s staple song?
The big band plays different songs than the Irish folk band. We have a signature hymn with its own melody and lyrics.
How do choose which songs to add to your repertoire?
Emyli seeks out the songs she likes and she writes for the band. If anyone has a song request, then we try to work it in.
Do you hold regularly scheduled concerts on your home server?
We play every Tuesday 6:00 pm (server time Belegaer) in front of the Prancing Pony in Bree, and Wednesdays 8:00 pm in our guest house in the same settlement Glírgar, unless it is an evening of poems and stories.
Are you available for parties/events other kins may be throwing?
Yes. We can be booked for weddings and family celebrations. We can travel out to various locations in Middle-earth, or offer all inclusive parties in our guest house for up to 100 guests.
How do you decide on wardrobe and colour choices?
We have chosen to start up a kin uniform. This is blood red, which is already easily recognisable.
Any special surprises in store for Weatherstock that you care to share with readers, or any special message you’d like to give readers?
We’d love to encourage you to come visit Belegaer, to bring joy to the Weatherstock floor. Also, we’re travelling to Landroval with with lots of music enthusiasts to spend the evening together and have a lot of fun and excitement.
original interview in German below
Was hat Sie bewogen, eine Band zu gründen?
Wir sind eine sehr vielseitige Sippe die ein Gasthaus besitzt. Die Liebe zur Musik hat uns immer wieder in verschiedenen Konstellationen zusammen spielen lassen.
Wie lange sind Sie schon gemeinsam Musik zu machen?
Emyli ist in Gondor aufgewachsen, als sie vor ein paar Jahren das erste Mal das Auenland besuchte ging sie in die Musikausbildung bei Mütterchen Tuk und gründete bald darauf ihre erste Kapelle. Vor einem Jahr entstand die Sippe Symphonia et Gloria, wobei Symphonia für Musik und Kultur in Gemeinsamkeit steht, Gloria für den Kampf.
Welche Art von Musik kann Weatherstock Gänger erwarten?
Wir spielen unterschiedliche Lieder von Rock über Rock´n Roll bis hin zu Klassik Stücken. Auf jeden Fall wird es selbstgedichtete Songs geben.
Sie transkribieren die Musik selbst?
Wir haben zwei sehr fleißige Melodienschreiber in der Sippe. Emyli Guruthos und Isendihl Stolzfuß.
Gibt es in Ihrem Band keine eigene Stücke sie spielen, oder gibt es eine bestimmte Melodie als Ihre Band heften Lied bekannt?
Die Bigband spielt andere Lieder als die Irish Folk band. Wir haben eine Sippynhymne mit eigener Melodie und Text.
Wie kann wählen, welche Lieder zu Ihrem Repertoire hinzufügen?
Emyli sucht sich Lieder heraus die sie mag und schreibt sie für die Band. Wenn jemand einen Liedwunsch aht versuchen wir es um zu setzen.
Haben Sie halten regelmäßig Konzerte auf Ihrem Home-Server geplant?
Wir spielen jeden Dienstag 06:00pm (serverzeit Belegaer) in Bree vor dem Tänzelnden Pony und Mittwochs 08:00pm in unserem Gasthaus in der Elbensiedlung Glírgar, es sei denn es ist Abend der Gedichte und Geschichten.
Sind Sie für Partys / Events anderen Kins werden werfen können?
Ja. Wir werden für Hochzeiten und Sippenfeiern gebucht. Reisen dafür durch Mittelerde oder bieten all inclusive Partys in unserem Gasthaus für bis zu 100 Gäste.
Wie gehen Sie auf Garderobe und Farbauswahl zu entscheiden?
Wir haben zu Gründungszeiten eine Sippenkleidung gewählt. Diese ist Blutrot, welches bereits einen Wiedererkennungswert hat.
Etwaige besondere Überraschungen für Weatherstock, dass Ihnen etwas ausmachen, mit den Lesern zu teilen, oder jede spezielle Nachricht, die Sie Leser geben würde?
Wir versuchen Belegaer Mut zu machen euch zu besuchen, Freude auf Weatherstock zu wecken, wie wir auch selbst mit ganz viel Spaß und Spannung nach Landroval reisen, um mit ganz vielen Musikbegeisterten zusammen diesen Abend zu verbringen.
Re: Countdown to Weatherstock : A Closer Look at the Bands
For our second Weatherstock interview, we bring you the incredibly amusing and delightful band, Don't Tempt Me Frodo from the not so far off land of Silverlode.
What made you decide to start a band?
Fallilith: Really, it was just something fun to do. We entertain people coming and going in Bree, or play for the animals in the forest. *the rest of the band gives her a series of snickers and raised eyebrows over their glasses*
Falillith: What? I like to pretend I'm Snow White or Cinderella. ...oh wait... Different genres…companies. *takes a sip of her wine and eyes Chastine* Sorry.
Mirineth: There wasn't really any decision to be made. DTMF was pretty much born to entertain the masses.
Chastine: Miri's got it. We like nonsense and entertaining people,…with nonsense.
Junes: The moment we discovered it was possible, it was pretty much a given.
How long have you been making music together?
Junes: We don't make music. The music makes *us*, maaaan.
Chastine: My publicist says it's better if we don't actually divulge that information.
What kind of music can Weatherstock goers expect to hear?
Mirineth: My advice to our audience is to not expect anything. If you try to expect the unexpected, then the unexpected becomes the expected, and that's not our style.
Junes: Weatherstock goers should take all the expectations they have and toss them right out their windows, because we're going to bundle their earlobes up into a big old auditory snowball and roll that sucker down the Hill of Musical Bliss and into the Lake of Rock n' Roll.
Chastine: *laughs hysterically*
Fallilith: I'm afraid I can't answer this question. My lawyer hasn't approved it yet.
Do you transcribe the music yourselves?
Chastine: I'm afraid I really don't understand that question.
Junes: I don't think I follow either.
Fallilith: *inspects her fingernails intently*
Mirineth: Actually, we have hired a group of specially-trained circus animals to do any transcriptions we might need.
Does your band have any original pieces they play, or alternately, is there a signature tune your band is known for?
Junes: *looks up at the ceiling and starts singing to himself* ...trololololo, lololo, lololo, trololololooo...
How do you choose which songs to add to your repertoire?
Chastine: We play stuff. If it sounds good, we keep playing it. Sometimes we continue to play it, even if it sounds horrible. We aren't quitters. Are you calling us quitters? FALLI GET MY LAWYER ON THE WIRE.
Junes: All [EXPUNGED] aside... It's a several step process. First, we get all hopped up on adrenaline and moon rocks and browse The Fat Lute for hours going "that sounds good" and "oh man yes" and filling our music folders with tiny files that we'll probably never get around to playing. Then some day, perhaps months later, we check in the piles of dusty, cobwebbed .abcs and find something that we can be bothered to copy and paste into LOTRO, and then we listen to it with our extremely discerning ears and pronounce it either fit for public consumption or a hideous travesty. Then, finally, we all play it on bagpipes and immediately wish we hadn't.
Mirineth: Unless there is a specific song that we think would sound particularly delightful on bagpipes, we usually just browse The Fat Lute when we get bored. Song selections are usually based on "Ooh, I bet that would be fun!", as long as it is not followed by "No. No, it wouldn't.".
Do you hold regularly scheduled concerts on your home server?
Fallilith: Nah. That stuff's for hipsters. We fly by the seat of our pants, or dresses, depending on the day.
Junes: *snorts* I don't even hold regularly scheduled mealtimes. I think I might be allergic to planning.
Chastine: Mostly we like to sweep into a location and then we discreetly deploy our highly trained group of music-playing ninja assassins.
Mirineth: Our publicists feel that it would be inconsistent with our 'style' to do anything predictable.
Chastine: Why do you keep telling people that?
Mirineth: [EXPUNGED]
Are you available for parties/events other kins may be having?
Chastine: Absolutely. Contact Me or Fallilith via tell or in-game mail for booking.
Junes: We accept cash, credit cards, IOUs, good karma, gold bars, and the wishes of innocent children. The best way to contact us is to dial 1-800-GET-DTMF, apologize to whoever picks up because you'll have the wrong number, then hang up and contact one of us in-game.
Mirineth: We do reserve the right to refuse to cater events at which we perform (a concept some haven't quite yet grasped) and break out into 'Trololo' at any and all points during the event.
How do you decide on wardrobe and colour choices?
Chastine: We tend to choose our wardrobe based on whatever we feel like at the moment. As stated on our recruitment page, we would never discriminate against any members of the vegetable kingdom.
Junes: No, honey. You remember. Our costuming department comes up with an idea in-house and makes a demo, which is then presented to the marketing department, who makes a presentation to the board of directors who file an application for funding from the accountancy department, who fill out Form D-32B and make resources available to costuming, who make us up a working model, and the rest is just a matter of synergizing collective productived watershed innovation for leveraged dynamic payable mass-synaptic uptier incentivization going forward.
Fallilith: Meh, I personally wear whatever I feel like wearing. Sometimes, at our impromptu concerts you can see me in a shabby dress and hat.
Mirineth: Our wardrobe selection process is very similar to our song selection process. Usually initiated by a "Ooh, I bet that would look cool!" without a subsequent "No. No, it wouldn't."
Re: Countdown to Weatherstock : A Closer Look at the Bands
The next band we have had the pleasure of interviewing in our Countdown to Weatherstock is the fantastically fun band from over the Brandywine, RKO.
What made you decide to start a band?
Steeloak: Our kin’s (Runic Knights) founder and leader, Meldor, wanted the kin to become more involved with events and parties and, so he sent out the call for any interested parties to start up a band. So I stepped up and decided it would be fun to do.
How long have you been making music together?
Steeloak: As it stands, Sanicle, Primrosiah, and myself are part of the original group, which was founded in October, 2009.
Khalawyn: I’ve only been with Runic Knights and RKO for the last year. I’m a musician in real life, and find the music system in this game to be intriguing, and seeing what people can do with it is just amazing.
Zaxin: I caught the band playing a show actually and decided I wanted to be a part of it, and joined with Chantillyrose.
Chantillyrose: Zax is a musician in real life.
Sanicle: Many of us are at least amateur musicians in real life.
Chantillyrose: Yes, same here music has been a part of my life for over 50 yrs.
Grimbori: Yes, me definitely – musician in real life, concert starved
Pinoh: Been here since 2010. I wandered into the kinhouse while they were practising.
Rathlaer: I used to play, but I have a knack for working with MIDI files.
Primrosiah: Mostly kin members hear we have practice and come join in if they like.
What kind of music can Weatherstock goers expect to hear?
Steeloak: High energy, dancing music. Just about anything. We hope to bring a bunch of unique and energetic stuff to Weatherstock.
Khalawyn: We do all types of music – from classical to stuff written recently. People coming to our concert before Weatherstock will probably hear everything from Mozart to Enya to Coldplay.
Do you transcribe the music yourselves?
Steeloak: We started off using the fat lute website and slowly started trying it out ourselves.
Khalawyn: Pinoh and Rath are our current in-group transcribers. I’ve poked around with it a little, but haven’t done a lot.
Primrosiah: I just whine for music I like and they take care of it!
Khalawyn: But most of our music was transcribed by our group. We’ve got, what? 700 songs now?
Does your band have any original pieces they play, or is there a particular tune known as your band’s staple song?
Steeloak: You could say our signature songs are “Yakety Sax” aka the Benny Hill theme, and “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” of Monty Python.
Grimbori: No original pieces at the moment.
How do choose which songs to add to your repertoire?
Primrosiah: People kinda like to hear what they can relate to.. and we try to meet that.
Grimbori: Big secret: Random Number Generator!!!
Pinoh: Whatever I can find good midi’s for.
Primrosiah: to get transcribed, someone has to like it. What stays is what most people are happy with.
Steeloak: Whatever the transcribers want. If someone requests something, they’ll do it if they can find good midis. We’ve got a lot of 70s and 80s songs, some classical, swing, oldies, rock, metal, jazz, pop, etc.
Zaxin: Some country too, we’ve got some Alan Jackson.
Do you hold regularly scheduled concerts on your home server?
Steeloak: No regularly scheduled concerts. We try to hold practise every month.
Khalawyn: Though we do occasionally just go somewhere and play.
Are you available for parties/events other kins may be throwing?
Steeloak: We’ve done a Christmas concert, and have done the Popul Festivus three years in a row.
Grimbori: We also recently played at our kin’s 5 year anniversary.
Primrosiah: We are willing to consider events?
Pinoh: I think we would.
Grimbori: Heck yea
Khalawyn: Probably both on Brandywine and Landroval now.
Primrosiah: This is really inconvenient.. but I am loving this server too
Grimbori: We’d definitely be open to playing parties or events, even though no one has asked yet.
How do you decide on wardrobe and colour choices?
Steeloak: I originally asked for ideas on what we should wear, but there was no response, so I just designed it myself. Well, the guys’ outfits. The ladies designed their own outfits. I just wanted easy to get clothing, since there is a lot of stuff that looks good, but can be hard to get.
Primrosiah: We found something everyone could wear!
Any special surprises in store for Weatherstock that you care to share with readers, or any special message you’d like to give readers?
Steeloak: Thanks to everyone for the opportunity to compete and have fun. We just really want to put on a good concert, and good music with lots of dancing and cheering!
Primrosiah: Tell everyone to stay away from the Orange Mushrooms!!
Re: Countdown to Weatherstock : A Closer Look at the Bands
01) What made you decide to start a band? Andunie is just the latest. Keptwise and I got together with the idea of creating a music group that was made up of anyone interested. I created The Songbook of Laurelin in the late spring of 2008 and we started gathering musicians over on Elendilmir. Simply put our ideas bloomed with starting Music Societies where members were not required to belong to one kinship. Keptwise‘s Eriador Music Society was the first but we evolved and brought together Falibrand’s Green Hill Music Society and eventually Andúnië an Elven Music Society. Since I am a roleplayer I went from Landroval to Laurelin and asked for musicians who were interested in starting a music society made up of roleplaying Elves. There was lots of musical interest so we started a year ago transcribing songs and working on originals. We have members on both Landroval and Laurelin now.
02) How long have you been making music together? Officially Andúnië was born after Weatherstock last year, 2011. We have added musicians as we go about our events or testing. I should mention that if any of your Elven readers are interested in playing music in a band we would be happy to give you a berth with Andúnië. If you do not know much about music we can teach you, both to play and to transcribe.
03) What kind of music can Weatherstock goers expect to hear? We intend to play original tunes for the event but we do many other tunes as well which you will hear in our concert Saturday June 2nd.
04) Do you transcribe the music yourselves? Indeed we do and we love to find obscure songs to work on or songs we have not heard others play. We never play songs our members have not originally transcribed and I admit I personally have NEVER played with such a talented group of creative musicians. I think every member is a real musician outside of game as well.
05) Does your band have any original pieces they play, or alternately, is there a signature tune your band is known for?
We have many original tunes by several of our members. Our signature tune is an original song called Unity. You will hear it at Weatherstock. When we get our drums out you will know we intend to play it for you.
06) How do you choose which songs to add to your repertoire? Very simply we see how many Andúnië members show up and go down the list of songs for that many parts. We add some we have not played last time and remove some we have played recently so things are fresh. Our members act as a team and we decide together all the things we need to discuss before our events.
07) Do you hold regularly scheduled concerts on your home server?
We test our songs on Thursdays on Laurelin and once testing is complete we usually retire to Lord Elrond’s Hall of Fire to play for anyone who cares to listen. We have played for Elven dances and have given one “official” and advertised concert in Celondim which was very well received.
08) Are you available for parties/events other kins may be having? We love to play for events if we can gather together the players. Since our players are from all areas of the globe it sometimes requires a bit of thought. Our players will many times set their alarms for the middle of the night in order to come in game and play for an event. I am on the west coast of the US and one of our members is in Moscow so you can see that getting musicians together can be a chore.
09) How do you decide on wardrobe and colour choices? Hey, we are Elves! You can expect classical style that has been around for many yeni! Colors? Generally white so we do not conflict with any official colors of the ancestral houses or insignias of well-known Elves.
10) Any special surprises in store for Weatherstock that you care to share with readers, or any special message you’d like to give concert goers? Surprises? If we told you it wouldn’t be a surprise would it?
Special message? Perhaps a special petition to the Valar that none of us goes link-dead during a song would be helpful!
I thank you for giving Andunie the opportunity to be included in the interviews and to allow event goers to know more about us prior to the Weatherstock event.
Re: Countdown to Weatherstock : A Closer Look at the Bands
Hoi! Dallofin Bolderbrook here, Leader o’ th’ Breakfast Club, th’ Second Breakfast Kinship’s Band from Crickhollow! I’ll try t’ answer all o’ them questions an hope I don’t get too long-winded…
What made me (or us) d’cide t’ start a band?
Well, it weren’t exactly my decision; I joined up with Second Breakfast (“SB” from here on out) a year ago come July, an one o’ th’ first big shindigs I was present fer was when Harperella (who started our Kinship, as y’ might not know) brought a edition o’ Ales an Tales over t’ Crickhollow one week. Well, we needed a band t’ play fer that, an there WAS a band already, but fer reasons havin t’ do with th’ far-off realm o’ Ree’il Lyphe, none o’ th’ Official leader types was really available t’ organize it. So I hiked up m’ trousers an waded on in. Not that I knew what I was doin, mind ye, but SOMEbody had t’ get th’ thing organized. Well; as it turned out, it weren’t a total catastrophe. But then nothin more really happened with th’ Band an so that Fall, I posted in th’ Forum, “Bring Back th’ BAND!” Well, y’ know th’ sayin, “Be careful what y’ ask fer”… Th’ Powers That Be said, “Y’ want a Band? All right, BLAM!! Yer th’ Leader, congratulations!” … so that’s how THAT happened.
How long have we been makin music?
Well, some o’ us, since last Fall. It was touch an go fer a few months there, we’d have mebbe 3 or 4 people turn up at th’ weekly practice, but I figgered I’d been given a job, an I like t’ blieve that I ain’t a quitter, so we kept meetin regardless o’ numbers. But recently, we seem t’ have turned a corner, an we got probly half th’ members in th’ last 2-3 months.
What kind o’ Music?
I’d say all our music pretty much fits under one headin: Eclectic. We can do a entire concert o’ Lore-appropriate stuff, but we also play Big Band, Classical, bit o’ Heavy Metal… ye’ll just have t’ wait an see
Do we transcribe our own music?
A lot of it, aye. I’d say probly 40% o’ th’ numbers we do has been produced by someone in th’ Band. Th’ rest is stuff we stolborroappropria are tryin t’ expose t’ a larger audience.
Do we do original stuff, or have a “signature piece”?
So far, there’s only one original piece in our repertoire, a musical settin o’ Bilbo’s “Th’ Road Goes Ever On” which I took th’ liberty o’ workin up. But when I transcribe other songs, I tend t’ re-arrange ‘em an sometimes write in extra parts an whatnot. As fer a Signature piece, nothin Official, but mebbe th’ song we’re goin t’ open our set with at Weatherstock might become that. What song is it? Guess ye’ll find out when everyone else does
How do we choose new songs?
Well, first off, any o’ th’ band members can add a song; as th’ Leader, th’ songs I’m liable t’ choose fer performances is th’ ones that I think are musically interestin. I want songs that folks’ll listen to, not chat over. But really, that’s th’ only criterion.
Do we hold reglar concerts?
Not as o’ yet; but that may be changin soon. There’s some discussion o’ rollin our weekly meetins into some kind o’ performance. We’ll see how that turns out.
Would we play fer people’s parties/weddins/funerals/baptisms?
Sure, if anyone ever asked us
What about our wardrobe?
Well, tho SB has lots o’ good members from every race o’ th’ Free Peoples (well, no Ents… I dunno, do they count?), still, it’s a Hobbit-oriented Kinship, an Hobbits, I don’t need t’ tell ye, ain’t too fond o’ Regimentation. So we don’t have a Uniform. We DO color-coördinate, tho, so people can tell us from th’ passers-by. I chose th’ colors on m’ own, an found out later that most members o’ th’ Band ain’t too fond o’ one of ‘em, so we may need t’ readjust that, but not til after Weatherstock. More important stuff t’ worry about.
Any Surprises?
Now that’s a trick question! If I told ye, it wouldn’t be a surprise, now would it? We WERE plannin t’ hatch a Drake Egg durin our finale, but th’ organizers frowned on that idea fer some ridiculous reason havin t’ do with casualties… I dunno, mebbe we’ll think o’ somethin else
Re: Countdown to Weatherstock : A Closer Look at the Bands
Today, we have the lovely hobbits that make up the Songburrow Strollers visiting from Laurelin! Let’s hear what last year’s co-winners of the Light in the Dark award have to say!
What made you decide to start a band?
The Strollers is a kinship band in the Grand Order of the Lost Mathom. We first started playing together before the wedding of two of our members, Lothilia Bolewood and Rurydoc Featherfoot, where we had a concert for the wedding guests. After this, the band has stayed together over the years, playing concerts or embarking on tours whenever the desire to see hobbits dancing gets irresistible.
How long have you been making music together?
It is soon to be four years now, ever since August 2008. Of the current members, Simbo (the band leader) and Rowana were part of the original lineup, while Lina and Sevelda have joined over the years. We also have Bootsy as an honorary member, who joins us when she’s not off selling taters to the dwarves. And, from time to time, we bring in surprise guest musicians too!
What kind of music can Weatherstock goers expect to hear?
While we haven’t set the list of songs to play there yet, us Strollers generally play a lively mixture of folk-inspired jigs, reels and ballads, all suitable for the ears (and feet) of Shire folk. We take our inspiration from a wide variety of sources, on the principle that if we think it sounds right (and in keeping with the lore), then we will play it. And hopefully you will dance to it and sing along as well!
Do you transcribe the music yourselves?
Oh yes, we like to tinker with music, so we find our own hobbity sound to the songs we play. It is grand fun indeed! And this way, we can stay well clear of pesky bagpipes too… *shivers*
Does your band have any original pieces they play, or is there a particular tune known as your band’s staple song?
We don’t write any original music, but we write our own lyrics to many songs, and quite a few of them have become staple songs in our set lists. So we have a number of songs on topics that are dear to hobbits, like dancing, biscuits and other foodstuff. “Home Sweet Home” is our usual closing number, where the audience joins in and sings along to the chorus. And, of course, there is our “Bywater Bouncing Song”, which we have played on all our shows since 2010. That always has the crowd bouncing along, reaching for those pies in the sky. It is a grand sight to see!
How do choose which songs to add to your repertoire?
Oh, besides avoiding bagpipes? *shivers* We tend to go for the songs that are sure to get hobbits onto the dance floor and singing along with us! As mentioned earlier, songs related to food and the good life in the Shire are particularly popular.
Do you hold regularly scheduled concerts on your home server?
Indeed we do! We often go on tour on Laurelin, and we regularly play at our own parties. You can read reports from these tours on the Grand Order noticeboard: http://lostmathom.org/libraries/the-...-strollers.50/
Currently we have embarked on a tour of the Shire farms, and we’re set to play on Milo Bolger’s farm near Budgeford on June 24. We’ll see if we can make them pigs there dance along to our tunes! Before we bring out the sausages and bacon for the after-party, that is…
Are you available for parties/events other kins may be throwing?
We are sometimes asked to do that, and if we’re available, we certainly welcome any requests to play. Especially if we get some pie, biscuits and ales!
How do you decide on wardrobe and colour choices?
Rowana selected the band’s uniform, which was originally white before the move to a more practical green. Traditionally each band member has picked a suitable piece of headwear and an optional cloak of their own choosing. Our uniform pre-dates many of the more fancier cosmetic outfits now available, but the look has become synonymous with the band and has remained. And we quite like it too!
Any special surprises in store for Weatherstock that you care to share with readers, or any special message you’d like to give readers?
Well, we wouldn’t want to spoil any surprises in advance. As for messages? Enjoy the festival, mind the bagpipes *shivers*, offer us many biscuits, and come dance the night away with us. And sing along to our tunes! Weatherstock, Weatherstock, hands up in the air Weatherstock, Weatherstock, sing with voices fair Be yer hobbit, dwarf or longshanks If yer dance we give yer our thanks We’re the Strollers, dance with us tonight
Today I bring the absolutely delightful Mornie Alantie from Belegaer who just performed their preview show last night, and may I say it was a fantastic concert indeed!
What made you decide to start a band?
All began with the first songs written by an elfish musician of our kinship named Arelas, more and more musicians became fascinated by his songs and wanted to play music together. Song after song was written and the time for our first concerts had come.
How long have you been making music together?
Most of our musicians play together for more than 4 years.
What kind of music can Weatherstock goers expect to hear?
We use to play all different kinds of music, in accordance with middle earth
Do you transcribe the music yourselves?
Our songs are transcribed by Arelas and some by Perinulf. Most of them are made by ear without the help of Midis and websites
Does your band have any original pieces they play, or is there a particular tune known as your band’s staple song?
Most of our songs are transcribed, but there are also songs in our repertoire Arelas had composed especially for Middle Earth and our kinship.
How do choose which songs to add to your repertoire?
Normally we decide together which new songs would suit in our repertoire and our songwriters try their best to satisfy our high demands *chuckles*
Do you hold regularly scheduled concerts on your home server?
Beside our scheduled concerts we love to surprise our audience on unusual places in Middle Earth, so maybe someday you could find us in the crafting hall of Esteldin or the forsaken inn.
Are you available for parties/events other kins may be throwing?
We are available for all kinds of events, and we will always try our best to participate if our well filled schedule allows it.
How do you decide on wardrobe and colour choices?
Our musicians wardrobe varies from time to time, for Weatherstock we decided to wear our kinship wardrobe in red.
Any special surprises in store for Weatherstock that you care to share with readers, or any special message you’d like to give readers?
Let yourself be surprised by our music and we are looking forward to a remarkable Weatherstock event!
Original German translation below
Was hat Euch bewogen, eine Band zu gründen?
Alles begann mit den ersten Liedern welche unser Sippenmitglied Arelas geschrieben hat, diese gefielen einigen so sehr, dass sich immer mehr musikbegeisterte fanden, die die Lieder auch gemeinsam spielen wollten. Immer mehr Lieder wurden geschrieben und so dauerte es auch nicht lange, bis wir uns an die ersten Auftritte wagten.
Wie lange macht Ihr schon gemeinsam Musik?
Der “harte Kern” unserer Musiker spielt schon seit über vier Jahren zusammen.
Welche Art von Musik können wir bei Weatherstock erwarten?
Wir spielen die unterschiedlichsten Lieder, jedoch versuchen wir mit unserer Liedwahl immer nach Mittelerde zu passen.
Haben Ihr die Musik selbst transkribiert?
Alle unsere Lieder wurden per Hand von Arelas und einige von Perinulf transkribiert. Die meisten wurden nach Gehör geschrieben, ohne Midis oder diverse websites.
Habt Ihr auch eigene Stücke, oder gibt es eine bestimmte Melodie für die Eure Band bekannt ist?
Der Großteil der Lieder ist transkribiert, jedoch haben wir auch einige Stücke in unserem Repertoire die von Arelas komponiert wurden.
Wie wählt ihr die Lieder für Euer Repertoire?
An unseren Probeabenden werden meistens die Liedwünsche besprochen und unsere begabten Liederschreiber versuchen dann unseren Erwartungen gerrecht zu werden *lacht*
Sind regelmäßige Konzerte auf Eurem Home-Server geplant?
Neben unseren geplanten Auftritten geben wir auch sehr gerne spontane Konzerte an den unterschiedlichsten Orten, vielleicht sieht man sich ja demnächst in der Handwerkshalle von Esteldin oder der Verlassenen Herberge……
Spielt Ihr auch auf Partys / Events?
Natürlich sind wir für alle möglichen Veranstaltungen buchbar und so es unser Terminkalender zuläßt nehmen wir auch sehr gerne daran teil.
Wie wählt ihr Eure Garderobe aus?
Unser Musikergewand ist nicht immer gleich, wir versuchen auch hier zu variieren, jedoch haben wir uns dazu entschieden für Weatherstock in unseren Sippenfarben, sprich rot aufzutreten.
Können wir besondere Überraschungen für Weatherstock erwarten, oder gibt es noch etwas, das Ihr mit den Lesern teilen wollt?
Laßt euch von unserer Musik überraschen, wir freuen uns auf einen unvergeßlichen Auftritt bei Weatherstock!
Re: Countdown to Weatherstock : A Closer Look at the Bands
Today, we have Landroval’s very own the Travelling Ingolemos, or as they are usually known as, Mar Vanwa Tyalieva!
What made you decide to start a band?
Ingolemo: I needed the money. To be honest, I didn’t start the band…I was hired. They begged me to do the gig, knowing my vast and universally acclaimed experience on stage was the only thing that could make something of them. “Please, Ingolemo! Only you have the raw talent and sheer masculine potency to be our frontman!” And of course, they were right.
Fionnuala: It was my husband Arachas and I who started the band. Arachas is not an Elf who likes the limelight, however, and he soon stepped aside to allow Ingolemo to take over as bandleader. Arachas and I originally became involved with playing music in a band years ago when we were members of the kinship Gweth Valacirca. We learned a lot from them and when Este, Earnal and others from GV decided to go into retirement, we decided that we could no longer live with music. So we formed our own band to carry on the traditions we had been taught.
How long have you been making music together?
Ingolemo: That’s a very personal question. Ha… I joke, of course. Please don’t tell Etaoin I said that. Let’s see… it gets a bit blurry at times… they pay me in booze, of course… but it’s been a solid two years now. Mind you, performers come and go, but I’m like diamonds, babe. Ingolemo is forever.
Fionnuala: The MVT Band has been performing together for two and a half years as a part of the Mar Vanwa Tyalieva kinship. Recently the journey of the kinship has come to a close but the band will continue to live on. Instead of being kinship inclusive, the MVT Band is opening its doors to all and sundry who are interested in having fun and rocking out with the music system.
What kind of music can Weatherstock goers expect to hear?
Ingolemo: Only the finest, my dear. Only the finest. Our set is held together by a theme of travel, for starters, and I hinted at some of the bands we’d be emulating in our pre-concert concert. (Not to be confused with our post-concert concert.) So don’t be surprised to hear songs by such luminaries as the All-hobbit Brothers, or Tar-Miriel. One or two others as well. We try to stay true to the times and themes of Weatherstock, partly for the conceit, but mostly because that’s just what I like to play, and I call the shots.
Fionnuala: Some bands are concerned with playing music that is “Environmentally Appropriate”, but we’ve never been concerned with following arbitrary standards. The music that we play tends to fall under the designation of “classic rock” more often than not simply because that is what my husband and I, who are our main transcribers, enjoy the most. Though you’re likely to hear us branching out into all sorts of genres if you come to our concerts regularly.
Do you transcribe the music yourselves?
Ingolemo: Oh, most certainly. All songs performed by the Traveling Ingolemos (a wholly owned subsidiary of MVT Band Inc.) are transcribed and tested by members of the band. We have a reputation to uphold, after all. For this show, all the music we’ll be playing atop Amon Sul has been transcribed by either myself or the talented (and apparantly happily married) Fionnuala.
Fionnuala: The MVT Band is very proud of our excellent composers. It started with Arachas and myself, who were taught by the first class musicians of Gweth Valacirca, and we are always eager to share everything we learned from our years of experience with the music system with any up and coming musicians who want to learn to transcribe music themselves.
Does your band have any original pieces they play, or alternately, is there a signature tune your band is known for?
Ingolemo: Alas, I am not so gifted with the talent of composition. My sainted mother wanted me to study musical theory, but I was a bit too preoccupied with studying my tutor’s…ahem…cadenzas…if you follow me. We have been known for a few songs that we play often. It is a tradition for me to end my concerts with “Money For Nothing”, ever since a fan declared “I want my MVT!” And earlier still, the band would often end concerts with a rousing rendition of “Safety Dance” by “Men With (funny) Hats”.
Fionnuala: During our recent pre-Weatherstock concert we tried something new with one of our more fun tunes involving special dance moves for the audience. I think “Timewarp” might become one of our signature songs as well.
How do you choose which songs to add to your repertoire?
Ingolemo: Generally speaking, I hear a song and I say “We need to have that!” Like I said, I call the shots, so we play what I like, lest the iron fist leave the velvet glove in tatters! Occasionally, for larger events, we set ourselves a theme, or several themes in tandem, to give a cohesive whole to our setlist. Then we sit and ask, “Okay, so what songs fit in here. What would be fun, or funny, or make Ingolemo giggle like a little girl over a stupid pun?”
Fionnuala: We have fairly high standards for the music we play. We’ll play almost any kind of music, but we always want to make sure that each song is as good as it can get before we play it publicly. If we test a song and it just doesn’t sound right or we think it could be done better, we’ll keep it in the transcribing/testing cycle until it meets our standards. Above all, we strive to make the music you hear at an MVT Band concert the highest quality music you’ve ever heard in Middle-earth.
Do you hold regularly scheduled concerts on your home server?
Ingolemo: Oh yes! At the moment, we try for a bi-weekly Saturday evening concert, with alternating Saturdays dedicated to testing. This seems to work for us pretty well at the moment. Not long ago, we held concerts weekly, but poor attendance (did you know lutists can’t play if you break their fingers for being late to testing?) and otherworldly concerts pushed it back a bit.
Fionnuala: While MVT has not always had the most regular schedule for our concerts, we have been utilizing the front lawn of the Prancing Pony in Bree-town for our shows for over two years. However, we’re always interested in innovating and pushing the boundaries of musical performance. In the coming months we’ll have some very special things in store for Landroval.
Are you available for parties/events other kins may be having?
Ingolemo: That depends…is there an open bar? Do they mind if Flopsie savages any guests? In theory, absolutely. Given sufficient advance notice, we’d be happy to entertain and wow your kin and/or sorority sleepover.
Fionnuala: With our large selection of music (over 600 different songs), I’m sure we could help make just about any event truly magnificent.
How do you decide on wardrobe and colour choices?
Fionnuala: MVT weekend concerts are mostly a pretty laid back affair and so we don’t generally employ a standard costume. We do ask our musicians to come looking respectable and to leave their weapons behind. However, it is our tradition for Weather stock to choose a uniform that refects the theme of our set of music. So you’ll see that on Saturday.
Ingolemo: I wear my purple robe. End of decision. In purple, my sweet, I’m stunning. And, of course, there’s the eyepatch. There’s been some controversy surrounding that. Some say I’m missing the eye behind it. Others say that it covers a perfectly whole eye, but one marked by the sign of the demon I have made a pact of vengeance with. The truth of the matter is, I wear it to spare women the strain of having to deal with my sensual, smoldering glance in all its passionate fury. I don’t want to go breaking up homes every time we have a concert.
Any special surprises in store for Weatherstock that you care to share with readers, or any special message you’d like to give concert goers?
Fionnuala: Ingolemo’s lyrics always come as a bit of a surprise to me. Not a bad surprise, mind you. But you’ll want to make sure you’re paying attention!
Ingolemo: Surprises? I don’t think so. We plan to deliver exactly what we are known across Eriador for: some of the very finest musical performances you’ll ever see. So prepare for that, fans and first time attendees alike! For my fellow performers, you must forgive me, but my Quenya is rusty: In ondolinduris laitalmë lé! [Roughly: For those about to rock, we salute you!]
Last edited by redpoisonapple; Jun 15 2012 at 02:36 PM.
Reason: formatting
Re: Countdown to Weatherstock : A Closer Look at the Bands
We were lucky to catch up with the sinfully delightful Symphonious, visiting from the fair land of Crickhollow. Could this be Symphonious’ year to win?
This interview features several of Symphonious’s beloved bandmates:
Dessuidhiel (also known as Dessy) is the band leader and Symphonious founder.
Theobrend is a band member and the leader of Riders of Ravencrest.
Oridon is a founding band member and song transcriber.
Kyrianna is a band member and song transcriber.
Butternut is a band member and adorable Hobbit.
What made you decide to start a band?
Dessy: When I first started Symphonious, there were no other bands on the Crickhollow server. Taking inspiration from some of Landroval’s bands, I had this great idea for a roleplaying kin with a music theme. Quickly I realized others wanted to join a band kin too. Once there were enough people on board, I started the band!
Butternut: I love music, but I’m not very talented in real life. Playing in a band in LoTRO kind of gives me that opportunity. XD
How long have you been making music together?
Dessy: Symphonious started playing together in the spring of 2011. We weren’t only a band, but also a kinship.
Theobrend: Recently, Symphonious the kinship merged with Riders of Ravencrest and while the administrative functions of running a kin transferred to the leadership of Riders, the band plays on as it always has, and even has greater exposure to non-roleplaying players which has not only helped the band, but music in general on Crickhollow gain a greater audience than we previously could reach.
Dessy: The merge with Riders has been fantastic. The band still maintains the family atmosphere that it had as an independent kinship. It’s been especially great to invite Riders’ members to join the band. We play music, roleplay, and even quest and raid together.
What kind of music can Weatherstock goers expect to hear?
Kyrianna: Our songs have a “medieval to modern” style.
Oridon: *Ahem* Well, we chose all kinds of music for this year. I would have to say that most of them are rather modern, unlike last year. Fast, fun, and they make you want to move your feet!
Dessy: I’m so excited about Symphonious’s creative music choices this year. I hope everyone in the audience finds our performance enjoyable and memorable.
Do you transcribe the music yourselves?
Kyrianna: We transcribe all of our songs, except for one that was transcribed by our roadie! None have been added to Fat Lute as of yet.
Oridon: It’s hard! There are a lot of things that you have to get past when transcribing music into an ABC. First, you have to have the original music, then you have to split up the music into different instruments. After that, you have to make all the parts synchronized.
Does your band have any original pieces they play, or alternately, is there a signature tune your band is known for?
Kyrianna: No signature piece yet…
Dessy: Back on Crickhollow, we do a lot of freestyle music together. Although we love to use ABC files, we also enjoy just jamming out on our keyboards. It creates a “live performance” vibe that brings a lot of inspiration and life to a concert, and it gives Symphonious a really unique sound. As for original pieces, band member Mikerederic has written some original songs. One is “Her Majesty,” which we played at Weatherstock last year.
How do you choose which songs to add to your repertoire?
Kyrianna: We choose them in stages… first band members submit songs they want to do, then we discuss it together to see which we all agree on and then we discuss the order to play them in. We have widely varied tastes so that produces some interesting combos.
Dessy: Yes. It’s important to make sure the songs flow in the right order, but we’re not shy about thinking outside the box either. The most important thing is choosing songs that sound good independently. Then, they’ll usually sound good when played with other songs.
Theobrend: They shouldn’t sound like the pibgorn is being played, when no pibgorn is actually being played …
Do you hold regularly scheduled concerts on your home server?
Theobrend: We will be!
Dessy: We’re planning to start a weekly concert event for Symphonious performances. Stay tuned for more information about that in the future.
Are you available for parties/events other kins may be having?
Dessy: We’ve played at parties and other events in the past. I think it’s safe to say we’ll play for anyone who doesn’t already have a band. Or we can play with other bands as well. We’re pretty flexible when it comes to events. We’ll even freestyle if the occasion arises, like we did at Ales and Tales when it came to Crickhollow.
Kyrianna: We are coming to Landroval on July 2nd, to play at Ales and Tales again. This is to celebrate my winning the LMB tour of homes. We would be happy to have you come and hear us perform.
How do you decide on wardrobe and colour choices?
Dessy: I usually pick out the outfits but this year it was a team effort. I’m really looking forward to seeing how we look on stage. ^.^
Oridon: For our performance this year, we encouraged the band to wear swords, backpacks, and other gear with their costumes. This represents how we aren’t only a band, but we also fight against evil in Middle-Earth together.
Any special surprises in store for Weatherstock that you care to share with readers, or any special message you’d like to give concert goers?
Butternut: NO! We will not be punting me into the crowd!
Theobrend: Contrary to what Butter is saying, we will have an opening routine where we start with that song ‘Space Jam Theme (Y’all Ready For This)’ and Butter has volunteered to be the cheerleader-type girl that gets tossed about 10 feet in the air, does a split twist somersault in the air and lands in the crowd while we do spirit fingers and jazz hands. We made a special request to Turbine to make animations especially for our ‘surprise’ … they have not yet responded to our request, but I’m sure they are working feverishly to get it ready for Weatherstock.
Butternut: O.o
Theobrend: We are also having a couple guest band members, Slash, of Guns and Roses fame, and Prince will both be joining us on stage this year, but not together. We tried to bring them together during practice and things got a little out of control.
Re: Countdown to Weatherstock : A Closer Look at the Bands
*An Interview with The Chosen Few*
by Grymrock Grey
The backroom of the Prancing Pony is a bit clouded this evening. Over by the fireplace two dwarfs are filling the air with the familiar stench of 'Old Toby', while a young hobbit lass is softly playing the harp over by the window. On the couch another hobbit is snoring away the third supper for the evening when Sparkleigh Larkspur knocks on the frame of the open door to get the peoples attention.
One of the dwarfs by the fireplace turn his head and nods towards Sparkleigh with a smile, and the hobbit lass stops her playing and gives the reporter a gently wave and a big smile. Greetings my Lady. What can we help ya with?
said the dwarf with the black top-hat, as he put out his pipe on the mantel piece.
Sparkleigh nods to the people in the room and smiles back to the dwarf.
Reporter: I was told I could find the band named 'The Chosen Few' somewhere in the Pony tonight.
I am from the Landroval Times you see, and would really much like to ask them a few questions..
The reporter answers, letting her eyes take in the big stack of instruments over in the far corner and get the feeling she's on the right track... 'Oh, that is us, miss!
The hobbit lass exclaims and curtsies deeply for the reporter. My name is Amorey , nice to meet you, miss. That fancy dressing dwarf over there
is Master Grymrock, and that fellow next to him with the big read beard is Master Norgi. ..and my name is Uswin, my lady.
the hobbit on the couch added as he swung his legs towards the floor.
Uswin: We are always glad to talk to the press
he smiles and produced a small pie out of his backpack that smelled of ripe blackberries 'Aye,' said the dwarf that was introduced as Grymrock Grey. You just tell us what ya want to know, miss.
The reporter pulls out a chair by the table and unpacks her notebook, and her quill and ink bottle, from her worn backpack.
Reporter:Thank you all very much for that, so why do we not start with the most basic stuff:
How did it all began? I mean... what made you all decide to start a band?
Grymrock looks towards the other people and then after a moment thoughts replies:
Grymrock:Well, we originally started up as a four piece band ya see. This was just after I had moved over here from the mountains and I met some good musicians, in the front room of the pony as a matter of fact, and after the usual 'who are you' and 'lets drink a couple of kegs, eh? we started to do a bit of jamming together. After some time, not sure if it was weeks or months, we came to the decision that we could not deprive the people of Bree our talents, so we formed a band with the usual joy'ish tunes ya still can hear around here and mostly over in the shire.
Uswin nods to the words spoken by Grymrock, and continues
Uswin: Yeah, that is right Grym. We did some good concerts in the beginning, like that Summer Ball hosted by that lovely Lady Fyxe and a few other grand events. We did a good number of concerts that first year as I recall. We where always looking for a few more pieces for the band though, and a couple of people joined and left again due to various reasons during this time. When we then encountered Amorey here playing with her little hobbit band, Hobbit Heart, we realised her harp would be a valuable contribution to our sound so we got her real drunk and.....
Uswin sees the look on the reporters face and laughs out loud
Uswin: Sorry, just pulling your leg there... we respectfully approached her and asked her if she perhaps had the time to play music as a member of the Chosen Few in addition to the Hobbit Heart. A week later we got the reply and we where then a five piece band.
Grymrock nods, and continues
Grymrock: Aye, but we still missed that last 'piece of the puzzle' ya know... that last piece of the tune we where trying to put together, to define the sound of the chosen few sort of. In other words, we needed a bagplayer. I am a dwarf, as ya might have noticed, so a natural way of spending some time is at the 'Ale and Tales' nights up at Thorins Hall. Ya know, the usual bunch of dwarfs with their usual stories and riddles delivered through
'a couple' of pints of beer. Master Norgi was one of the organisers there and he tended to play a tune or two on his lute and harp there... then one night, he pulls out his bagpipes and made my spine tingle with the tunes he produced. Long story short, and some beers later, he was convinced that joining us was the right thing to do. The rest is history i believe.
Reporter: So, how long have you been making music together?
Grymrock : Oh, a couple or years, sire, take or give a month or two i believe.
The reporter turns over a new sheet and says:
Reporter: and what kind of music can Weatherstock goers expect to hear?
Uswiin: For this grand event we have gone through almost everything we have ever written, and picked some tunes we think might give the audience a taste of what we are. A joyful, fast playing band with the occasional quiet tune or two.
Reporter: So you do write the music sheets yourselves?
Grymrock: We have spent many hours around campfires and tables in foreign places carefully writing down the music we have encountered. We then have twisted the original soundsheets around a bit to suit our style of playing so to speak.
((yes, we have transcribed everything we play ourselves))
Reporter: ah, interesting, so does your band have any original pieces they play, or alternately, is there a signature tune your band is known for?
Amorey: We have tried to pull the tunes out of thin air, sire... and we got a few attempts down on sheets but nothing we dare play at an event like this. About signature tunes, I believe they all are.
Amorey smiles to the reporter
Reporter: A question out of my own curiosity, when you are playing in a big band like the Chosen Few, How do you choose which songs to add to your repertoire?
Norgi turns away from the fireplace and eyes the reporter before answering
Norgi: Ah, that is an easy one cause we all have a say in that.. When one of the lads comes with a new tune we have a saying that we will certainly play it once. If everyone like the tune, it goes into the repertoire, if one of us objects then its either trying to rewrite it a bit more, or it goes into the fireplace followed by a lit match.
Norgi grins and takes a pull of his pipe, and watches the reporter write it down in his little notebook.
The reporter turns over another sheet and continues:
Reporter: Do you hold regularly scheduled concerts in your hometown?
Norgi: We have done some big events in our neighborhood in the past, and we are usually easy to spot around Bree when we are in town. We do have one event we run ourselves each year though. It is called 'Archet Aid' and are placed in the late summer. It is a solidarity concert for the poor farmers of Archet. They got their village burned down some years ago ya know... We had five bands attending last year, and we are hoping for more this year...
Reporter: Then it is fair to say that you are available for parties and events other kins may be having?
Grymrock: We certainly are. We have done a lot of birthday parties, grand openings of kinhouses, both summer, winter and spring balls, even a few where the band outnumbered the crowd two to one...but no job is to small for us, so if any readers need a band for their event, just drop us a note and we can discuss matters.
The reporter takes a brief look around the room and pays attention to the outfits each of them are wearing before asking
Reporter: How do you decide on wardrobe and colour choices then?
Grymrock: Oh, we have only one uniform sire. The blue robe with the blue cloak. We are musicians not fashion models...
Grymrock smiles broadly and Amorey giggles in the background.
The reporter smiles and writes it down in her notebook.
Reporter: I guess I only have one question left for you, and that is if you have any special surprises in store for Weatherstock that you care to share with readers, or any special message you'd like to give concert goers?
Uswin: Just to bring your dancing shoes. When we play, standing still is not an option as many of our fans will tell ya.
Grymrock:Aye, we are ready to give ya music ya will tell your grandchildren about.
Grymrock smiles.
Reporter: Thank you all for your time and please let me not detain you any further.
Grymrock: Oh, always time for the press miss, it has been a pleasure talking to both you and your readers.
Grymrock picks up his bagpipe from the side of the fireplace and nods to the other musicians.
Grymrock: Ok...break is over... lets take it again from the top
As the reporter walks down the hallway outside the backroom, she can hear the start of a majestic tune with dual bagpipes that sounded like it was made in the great halls themselves.
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MHORIEL || MALLENCLAUR || CYNEWN || EÁDMÆR || LIMITHIL || SILIVRENITH || MARLEAU || STARLEIGH || SPARKLEIGH
Originally Posted by Glenwin
MHORIEL || MALLENCLAUR || CYNEWN || EÁDMÆR || LIMITHIL || SILIVRENITH || MARLEAU || STARLEIGH || SPARKLEIGH
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