A Elbereth Gilthoniel

A Elbereth Gilthoniel is an Elvish hymn to Varda in J. R. R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings".

The Hymn

There are three versions of this hymn, the first of which being the largest portion of Sindarin found in the novel:

cquote|A Elbereth Gilthoniel
O Elbereth Starkindler,
silivren penna míriel
white-glittering, slanting down sparkling like a jewel,
o menel aglar elenath!
the glory of the starry host!
Na-chaered palan-díriel
Having gazed far away
o galadhremmin ennorath,
from the tree-woven lands of Middle-earth,
Fanuilos, le linnathon
to thee, Everwhite, I will sing,
nef aear, sí nef aearon!
on this side of the Sea, here on this side of the Ocean! ^{[The Fellowship of the Ring, J.R.R. Tolkien, Many Meetings]}

A Elbereth Gilthoniel
O Elbereth Star-kindler,
o menel palan-díriel,
from heaven gazing afar,
le nallon sí di'-nguruthos!
to thee I cry now beneath the shadow of death!
A tíro nin, Fanuilos!
O look towards me, Everwhite! ^{[The Two Towers, J.R.R. Tolkien, The Choices of Master Samwise]}

A! Elbereth Gilthoniel!
O! Elbereth Starkindler,
silivren penna míriel
white-glittering, slanting down sparkling like a jewel,
o menel aglar elenath,
the glory of the starry host
Gilthoniel, A! Elbereth!
Starkindler, O! Elbereth!
We still remember, we who dwell
In this far land beneath the trees
The starlight on the western seas. ^{[The Return of the King, J.R.R. Tolkien, The Grey Havens]}

Musical Version

In 1967 Donald Swann published a musical rendition in the musical score of the song cycle "The Road Goes Ever On". He and Donald Elvin also recorded this song cycle on an LP record. The LP also included a recording of Tolkien reading this prayer. "The Road Goes Ever On" was republished in 1978 and 1993, and the recording was released as a CD in 1993. The CD contained only the song cycle (including "A Elbereth Gilthoniel"), but not Tolkien's reading of the prayer.In 2005, an album composed by Howard Shore was released entitled Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring: The Complete Recordings. This album contained a recording of "A Elbereth Gilthoniel" as seen in the film . The track was entitled "The Passing of the Elves" after the scene in which this takes place.

References

External links

* [http://www.jrrvf.com/hisweloke/sindar/ Hiswelókë's Sindarin dictionary]
* [http://www.uib.no/People/hnohf/elbereth.htm Ardalambion article]
* [http://www.uib.no/People/hnohf/elbereth.htm uib.no]