Middle-earth Journeys

Here's a hint: the answer can be found in Chapter 2 of The Silmarillion.

This is just a w i d e guess: does one of these refer to the eagles?

Oops--well, I looked this up: kelvar are animals and olvar are plants. I know Madame Yavanna is the patron saint of plants, but I'm not sure about who cares for the ones that move.

You are correct, Merry! In "Of Aule and Yavanna," after Aule creates the Dwarves, the Queen of Arda expresses concern for wellbeing of the kelvar and especially the olvar, since they are rooted and cannot run away. Out of her concern comes this response from Eru Iluvatar (through a dream vision of Manwe):

Do then any of the Valar suppose that I did not hear all the Song, even the least sound of the least voice? Behold! When the Children awake, then the thought of Yavanna will awake also, and it will summon spirits from afar, and they will go among the kelvar and the olvar, and some will dwell therein, and be held in reverence, and their just anger shall be feared.

Manwe provides further details about these protective "spirits":

In the mountains the Eagles shall house, and hear the voices of those who call upon us. But in the forests shall walk the Shepherds of the Trees.

This accounts for the existence and purpose of the Eagles of the Lords of the West and the Ents. I have always loved this chapter of The Silmarillion!

Your turn, Merry!

Match the dwarf with the instrument he played at The Unexpected Party:

Balin
Bifur
Bofur
Bombur
Dori
Dwalin
Fili
Kili
Nori
Ori
Thorin

fiddle
flute
drum
clarinet
viol
harp

Oh, boy...let me take a whack at this one...

I remember Dori, Nori and Ori had flutes right? And I'm guessing Bombur played that drum cause he's a big fellow. And I know Thorin had a harp because that is the instrument made for a king for sure. Let's see that's five.

That leaves Kili, Fili, Dwalin and Balin?

Correct so far, Philipa. And don't forget Bifur and Bofur.

I guess Oin and Gloin weren't musical?

Well alright I am having to look this up.

Kili - fiddles
Fili - fiddles
Dwalin - viola
Balin - viola
Bifur - clarinet
Bofur - clerinet

I guess Oin and Gloin weren't musical?

I guess you're right. No mention of them in this chapter. I suppose I'd not noticed that before because there are so many dwarfs to contend to.

Maybe they were the vocalists. I think it is sort of a lovely picture imagining Balin playing the viola.

Your turn, Philipa.

Merry, you and Philipa have named your own poison. Come join the Tolkien artists and give us your take on what all the musicians would look like.

oh, oh

Actually, Dwalin and Balin played the viol, not the viola. A viol is a larger instrument, an early precursor to the cello, and is played held between the knees. Viols could be a variety of sizes, and Tolkien tells us, "They [Dwalin and Balin] came back with viols as big as themselves."

By constrast, the viola is just a little larger than a violin and is played held underneath the chin. It has a darker sound and lower range than the violin.

Oops--mea culpa.

Oh, what a dorky mistake. Thanks for the correction.

I guess it's my turn.

One more Hobbit question and I'm done.

How many other eagles joined the Lord of the Eagles to investigate the 'uproar in the forest...'?