The Bristol Press – Plainville Wind Ensemble brings the music of Middle-earth to life

World-renowned composer Johan de Meij will conduct the ensemble.

“He’s hugely well-known in the band world,” said Ken Bagley, musical director of the Plainville Wind Ensemble. “He has performed all over the world and recently recorded his fifth symphony. It’s fantastic to be able to work with such a renowned composer.

According to the Plainville Wind Ensemble, conductor Johan de Meij attended the Royal Conservatory of Music in The Hague.

“His award-winning body of original compositions, symphonic transcriptions and film music arrangements have earned him international acclaim and have become a staple in the repertoire of renowned ensembles around the world,” the Plainville Wind Ensemble said in a statement. communicated. “His Symphony No. 1, ‘The Lord of the Rings’, has been recorded by a myriad of ensembles, including the London Symphony Orchestra, the North Netherlands Orchestra, the Nagoya Philharmonic and the Amsterdam Wind Orchestra.”

“The Lord of the Rings Symphony” was first performed in 1988 and the following year the symphony was awarded the Sydler Composition Prize. It consists of five movements based on JRR Tolkien’s novels, with titles such as “Gandalf (The Wizard)”, “Lothlorien (The Elvenwood)”, “Gollum (Smeagol)”, “Journey in the Dark” and ” hobbit”.

“The Lord of the Rings Symphony” will be played May 22 at Plainville High School, 47 Robert Holcomb Way, at 2 p.m.