Bilbo's Last Song - music by Donald Swann, from "The Road Goes Ever On"

"Bilbo's Last Song" is a poem by J.R.R.Tolkien that doesn't appear in his "Lord of the Rings," but if it had, it would have appeared in the final pages of the book, at the Grey Havens.

Donald Swann was the first composer to set Tolkien's poems and songs to music with the professor's express approval, as documented in the 1967 book and record "The Road Goes Ever On." Shortly after Tolkien's death, his publishing secretary shared this poem, given to her as a parting gift by Tolkien, with Swann, and he set it to music that very day.

Many composers have gone on to set "Bilbo's Last Song" to music, but Swann's is still my favorite. Still, search YouTube and you'll find many endearing versions composed and performed by Middle Earth fans.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• bilbo's last song
• the grey havens
• bilbo baggins
• j.r.r. tolkien
• donald swann
• the road goes ever on

[TheGaslightHorror]

Interesting, thanks for posting. I still reckon the version from the BBC Radio production is a far superior song, genuinely moving, wheras this veers towards sentimentality.

[nbutlerdidit]

@TheGaslightHorror I agree with you re:BBC, and that this version certainly veers towards sentimentality. Um, but still, I guess I can't see this song as anything BUT sentimental. :)

[5610winston]

@TheGaslightHorror Sentimentality is entirely appropriate here. Listen to the words! Bilbo is meeting his departure from his world on his own terms. It is not a death, but an ascenscion to another world in keeping with Tolkien's devout Christian belief.

Swann set this text as a triumphant final testament by the old hobbit, whereas the BBC radio version is a dirge.

[5610winston]

@TheGaslightHorror Swann's acount of the events point out that he received this poem at Tolkien's funeral, hence it was not a collaboration or an "approved" setting.

Tolkien had approved Swann's settings of several poems after Swann and Michael Flanders performed them for the professor. Tolkien's only disagreement was with the setting of "Namarie", and he (Tolkien) sang it as he had intended it for the composer who noted it as musical dictation and included it in "THE ROAD GOES EVER ON".

[gchadder3]

I like both the BBC version and this version. They are both sentimental (which I have no complaint with) but the sentiments are somewhat different: this version is somewhat more reflective in a triumphant way. The BBC version, in a minor key, is sadder and more wistful.

[Offshoreorganbuilder]

Thanks for this interesting posting.

[5610winston]

In comparison of Swann's settings with those in the BBC radio production, I have to favor Swann at every turn.

Perhaps Swann was the last great light composer in the tradition of Finzi and Butterworth.  There will certainly never be another like him.

[TheGaslightHorror]

@nbutlerdidit Can't argue with that!

I suppose that yes, it's inherently sentimental really, not always a bad thing..I just always find that the BBC version, especiailly coming as it does after 13 hours of that LOTR dramatisation, chokes me up a little. All the music on that production was strong I thought.

Very interesting to hear this though, all the more so because I understand it got Tolkiens seal of approval or was a collaboration?

[hymnforlorca]

An absolutely beautiful setting. I adore this song & I find his singing very endearing.