J.R.R. Tolkien reciting "Namárië"

Tolkien is one of many writers that inspire me, and I'm so grateful that he shared his love of folklore with us all. Old myths retold in his own wonderful magical way, igniting the muse in others.

"Namárië" is a poem by J. R. R. Tolkien written in Quenya, a constructed language, and published for the first time in The Lord of the Rings (The Fellowship of the Ring, Book 2, Chapter "Farewell to Lórien"). It has the subtitle "Galadriel's Lament in Lórien", which in Quenya is Altariello nainië Lóriendessë. The poem appears only in one other book by Tolkien, The Road Goes Ever On.

The Quenya word namárië is a reduced form of á na márië, meaning literally "be well", an Elvish formula used for greeting and for farewell.

The first stanza of "Namárië" written in Tengwar script.

"Namárië" is the longest Quenya text in the The Lord of the Rings and also one of the longest continuous texts in Quenya that was ever written by Tolkien. It was rewritten many times by Tolkien before it reached the form that was published (see Early versions below). Many Tengwar versions were made by Tolkien. An English translation is provided in the book.

TNamarie in Tengwar. Handwritten and decorated by SoigneCalligraphy

The first version of "Namárië" was published in The Treason of Isengard pp. 284–285.

Namárië was set to music by Donald Swann with the help of Tolkien. The sheet music and an audio recording are part of the book The Road Goes Ever On. In a recording, Tolkien sings it in a Gregorian manner.

Excerpt: Namárië, Swann, 22.

From 1997 to 2005 the Danish Tolkien Ensemble published four CDs featuring every poem from the Lord of the Rings, amongst them two versions of Namárië, both composed by the ensemble leader Caspar Reiff: The first, sung by Signe Asmussen, sets the original Quenya text to music; the second version features the English translation spoken by Christopher Lee. HERE

Aiya Earendil Elenion Ancalima

HERE

Ai! laurië lantar lassi súrinen,
yéni únótimë ve rámar aldaron!
Yéni ve lintë yuldar avánier
mi oromardi lisse-miruvóreva
Andúnë pella, Vardo tellumar
nu luini yassen tintilar i eleni
ómaryo airetári-lírinen.

Sí man i yulma nin enquantuva?

An sí Tintallë Varda Oiolossëo
ve fanyar máryat Elentári ortanë,
ar ilyë tier undulávë lumbulë;
ar sindanóriello caita mornië
i falmalinnar imbë met, ar hísië
untúpa Calaciryo míri oialë.
Sí vanwa ná, Rómello vanwa, Valimar!

Namárië! Nai hiruvalyë Valimar.
Nai elyë hiruva. Namárië!

The song translates into English thus:

Ah! like gold fall the leaves in the wind,
long years numberless as the wings of trees!
The years have passed like swift draughts
of the sweet mead in lofty halls beyond the West,
beneath the blue vaults of Varda
wherein the stars tremble in the song of her voice, holy and queenly.

Who now shall refill the cup for me?

For now the Kindler, Varda, the Queen of the Stars,
from Mount Everwhite has uplifted her hands like clouds,
and all paths are drowned deep in shadow;
and out of a grey country darkness lies on the foaming waves between us,
and mist covers the jewels of Calacirya for ever.
Now lost, lost to those from the East is Valimar!

Farewell! Maybe thou shalt find Valimar.
Maybe even thou shalt find it. Farewell!

Varda

J.R.R. Tolkien singing "Namárië" (Rare recording)

Ainulindalë (J.R.R Tolkien Short Animation)

Storybook Inspiration: I get so wrapped up in this kind of story, and being a deep thinker, I developed a creation tale for ACoPF, not sure if I will add it to the second book as don't want to complicate the overall story. So I may add the tale to the website at a later date. We'll see. :o) 

Writers have so much background knowledge enabling them to understand characters, worlds, etc, it always seems a shame to leave them out. 

The more I research certain aspects of the story, the more I appreciate that everything is connected. I've always known it, but writing about it is quite a magical, moving, and humble experience. I wouldn't say that I'm an especially spiritual person, but I feel drawn to the mystical areas of life and the nerd in me loves to delve into science. This, with the love of folklore, inspired me to write a story of karma. I only hope that I can write it as well as I see it. Still learning. I think that's the hardest part, remembering the reader cannot fill the gaps, and to try and capture the special beauty of the mystical. It has been quite a challenge to combine a spiritual undertone with a normal 'Joe bloggs' life, but it's been fun. :o) 

The Passing of the Elves by Moondusts #Deviantart

J.R.R. Tolkien

Below is one of my favourite fan videos of  

'The Silmarillion' 

I haven't fully explored this website, but it appears to be a grand place for information relating to everything Tolkien.              Tolkien Gateway~  Link HERE

Love and light,

Trace

xoxo