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:

The long version of "A Elbereth Gilthoniel," also known as "Aerlinn in Edhil o Imladris (Hymn of the Elves of Rivendell)," written in Tengwar script using the mode of Beleriand.

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!^{^[1]}

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!^{^[2]}

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.^{^[3]}

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.

The german heavy metal band Ibn Ghalad also wrote a ballad of that name. The refrain is made of the Sindarin text and of its english translation while the verse is loosely on the same topic.

References

^ The Fellowship of the Ring, J.R.R. Tolkien, Many Meetings
^ The Two Towers, J.R.R. Tolkien, The Choices of Master Samwise
^ The Return of the King, J.R.R. Tolkien, The Grey Havens

External links

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[1] The Fellowship of the Ring, J.R.R. Tolkien, Many Meetings

[2] The Two Towers, J.R.R. Tolkien, The Choices of Master Samwise

[3] The Return of the King, J.R.R. Tolkien, The Grey Havens

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