Johan de Meij’s first symphony The Lord of the Rings is based on the trilogy of that name by J.R.R. Tolkien. This book has fascinated many millions of readers since its publication in 1955. The symphony consists of five separate movements, each illustrating a personage or an important episode from the book. The movements are: I. Gandalf (The Wizard) II. Lothlorien (The Elvenwood) III. Gollum (Smeagol) IV. Journey in the Dark (a. The Mines of Moria b. The Bridge of Khazad) V. Hobbits (all movements are also available separately). The symphony was written in the period between March 1984 and December 1987, and had its premiere in Brussels on 15th March 1988, performed by the Groot Harmonie-orkest van de Gidsen under the baton of Norbert Nozy. In 1989, The Symphony The Lord of the Rings was awarded a first prize in the Sudler International Wind Band Composition Competition in Chicago, and a year later, the symphony was awarded by the Dutch Composers Fund. In 2001, the orchestral version was premiered by the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra and recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra.
