For quick reference: Gandalf (The Wizard) - 0:07 Lothlorien (The Elvenwood) - 6:22 Gollum (Smeagol) - 14:11 Journey in the Dark: (The Mines of Moria) - 24:09 (The Bridge of Khazad-Dum) - 30:19 Hobbits - 32:29

I am in Valparaiso University Chamber Concert Band and we just worked with Maestro De Meij and performed this symphony in our beautiful Chapel of the Resurrection. Such amazing music and such a gifted composer and conductor. Playing this under his conducting has been the highlight of my musical career!!!

First time I've seen left-handed conducting.

Wow, what a show these few people are getting. This is one of the best symphonic pieces of music (if not the best), played exquisitely, for free. Absolutely a masterpiece--done right. The musicians and director should be proud.

I was first chair French Horn when I played this in college! We did movements I, II, & V. Such fun to play!

I played a condensed version of this in High School Band. I missed playing this it was fun.

just amazing! sincere congratulations to the band and to the composer / conductor

I'm so amazed! It was so beautiful to see them play, and wonderful listening to them make such breath-taking music!!!

I have only played the first movement as a second flute, and I after this long I still have not let go of it as my favourite piece of music. Stinking difficult for my level, but so much fun. After listening to the whole piece in all 5 of its glorious movements, I fall in love with it even more. I would go back to it again to get better at those 32nd note passages and to enjoy it as a live performer. Moving into that maestoso line at the rit always brings chills up my spine. Best part of the piece by far.

the Bass Trombone lady plays very well! nice sound..

We did this for our fall marching show my senior year in high school (baritone). Very cool to see DeMeij himself conducting! Thanks for sharing!!

This is definitely a classic piece!! And everyone had good voice in this band. Even though there are some pitch problem, it was still a good job!!

Wow! Just fabulous! What an honor to be conducted by Johan De Meij himself. I'm speechless. Great job!

I really enjoyed this performance and seeing de Meij conduct the group! Thank you!!

I once wrote a libretto for an opera based on Beowulf -- the poet Paul Muldoon met with me and discussed it and he told me I was on the right track -- my dream was for JdM to compose it -- after years of work I emailed him and he said he was interested and would read it -- but I got cold feet (I was still in my 20's) and never sent it :( I sometimes wonder what my life would be like now if I had sent it along.

Your group is marvelous. Our local concert band played a short suite from this symphony last night. How fun to have the composer conduct. Too bad you didn't have a bigger audience. Congratulations.

Performing about the first 6min in my highschool band for a concert :) Such a lovely piece

Although there are some pitch issues and a couple of wrong notes, this is very well done. Having performed this many times myself (principal trombone), I can say this is a very rewarding piece to prepare.

We named the contra-alto Clarinet at JMU "Schmeagul" after performing this. It was a brand new piece then!

Is great. Sound one is no mistake. I am a junior high school students live in Japan now. I belong to the brass band. I'm doing good so tuba but no sound. People of conductor It is a good expression to it. You are thrilled to hear this. Thank you for a great performance.

So glad I'm not the only left-handed director out there!

one word : Superb !

playing this in school band it hard

It makes me sad, how few people were there. My high school band played this in school, and I always thought this was a much better piece of music than what Howard Shore wrote for the films. And with de Meij conducting this himself! I would have loved to see it in person.

I'm in high school and we're playing a shorter version of this song. I am the only trumpet of 4 playing trumpet 1, so I have all the trumpet solos. We are performing on Tuesday and I am super scared. Wish me luck!

Makes me chuckle recognizing a few faces in that band.

In an orchestra players will often rub their knee's as a way of silently applauding each other when doing a difficult part well =) it's possible the part had given them difficulties in rehearsal so they were pleased with how it went in the performance.

so good !

Fair effort, but plenty of pitch issues.

Very nice!

Nice example of program music, although it is tonal and reminds me Berlioz (Symphonie fantastique). I like wind orchestra very much.

Sop sax sounded really good IMO.

I remember my director being so animated at the part @ 21:40. This guy lol. I was also a passionate band director showing the music’s emotion on my movements and face.

The conductor looks like James May...

thanks Pablo!

I didn't know Louis C.K. played bari sax

Big sound, yet very transparent (especially the picc.) The standing timpanist was interesting, and some impressive tubas. Is there an elf on the end of the flutes?

Ok, some problems, but the fact is... why are empty sits?

Does anyone know where to find the full orchestra version? I played a shorter version at music camp and the strings really add a beautiful element to the piece.

Such a beautiful piece :) i do recognise quite some passages from the work heaven on earth by Maurice Hamers, so I guess he copied some stuff from it, but great performance and great orchestra :)

is it me, or does meji look an awful lot like pippin

Jeez, can you imagine playing for 40 minutes straight?

at 8:13 is that Eugene from Buzzfeed playing the oboe?

thanks

Over the last 2 days I watched the Peter Jackson movies and I picked up on subtle queues from this piece in the score. Just a few bars here and there showing up in the background music. We played this at State (Texas - ATSSB) when I was either a junior or senior in High school (either 1997 or 1998). Spots around 4:30 and the theme from around 8:00 stuck out to me. 6:00 Trumpet crack...good lord...your supposed to be professionals and this sounds like a typical middle school...

Is this related to Howard Shore? Who was first?

And Meij looks like John Cleese!

The second or third trumpet keeps flubbing notes throughout

Whoa, I actually didn't hear any tuning issues in Gandalf. But then again, I'm basically tone deaf... any tuning issues that are minor enough can make it past me :P

Did they forget to tune?

I am so disappointed with the percussion section (and I’m only at minute 3) I can’t continue watching. So sad considering that it is de Meij conducting. Note I played this as a percussionist in high school and can still remember ever part so yeah I’m a critical audience. But seriously y’all.

That hobbit theme

Mr.Schill be like

Jaysus

shore is better

INTONATION !...not that I'm perfect.....

It’s a great piece, but it seems like they didn’t tune, and that’s based off of listening to the first 20-30 seconds :/

I'm not...

The douche in the audience at the lower right of your screen nodding off & falling asleep @ 20:52 & again @ 21:00. What’s funny is that the director is almost directing it with his own head-nodding movements @ 20:52 lol

let's play "spot the black person"!

the worst percussionists ever :/ wtf at some places they don't enter at tempo

Sorry, but the oboe is awful!!!