How to Improve Sight-Reading Skills
How to improve sight-reading skills An Introduction to Sight-Reading What exactly is sight-reading? Sight-reading is the ability to look at a sheet music chart and sing it for the first
There are many covers of “Misty Mountains Cold”. The song is from a poem named “Far Over the Misty Mountains Cold” in “An Unexpected Party” in the book The Hobbit. In this article we feature (mostly) a cappella renditions of this song.
The poem is first sung by Thorin Oakenshield II and the rest of the dwarves in the book and then later in the film version of “The Hobbit”. The dwarves then use the song to evoke strong emotions in Bilbo Baggins. As a result, they propel Bilbo into the quest. Some may say that the conclusion was that the Dwarves manipulated but I don’t know that it matters. Bilbo is inspired and in a very un-Hobbit like fashion, ultimately decides to join the Dwarves on their Great AdventureTM.
Secondly, the song provides Bilbo with a backstory to explain how the Dwarves were forced out of their mountain home by the dragon Smaug. The words sung change over time with slight variations as events unfold and the Dwarves, with Bilbo’s help defeat Smaug.
Because it is so popular, this post features the many covers of the song “Hobbit Misty Mountains Cold” that I could find. This song is also known as “Far Over the Misty Mountains Cold”. There are quite a few a cappella renditions of this song with variations of the lyrics and music depending on the author and/or arranger.
If you want to hear other covers that feature Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit songs, see this post on Lord of the Rings Cover Songs.
It’s likely that the most logical explanation is the emotional quality of the song. It is, firstly an explanation about their bloody history with the Dragon Smaug. It tells the sad tale of the Dwarves gold lust and final battle. Resulting in the loss of their homeland.
Far over the misty mountains cold
To dungeons deep and caverns old
We must away ere break of day
To seek the pale enchanted gold.
The dwarves of yore made mighty spells,
While hammers fell like ringing bells
In places deep, where dark things sleep,
In hollow halls beneath the fells.
For ancient king and elvish lord
There many a gleaming golden hoard
They shaped and wrought, and light they caught
To hide in gems on hilt of sword.
On silver necklaces they strung
The flowering stars, on crowns they hung
The dragon-fire, in twisted wire
They meshed the light of moon and sun.
Far over the misty mountains cold
To dungeons deep and caverns old
We must away, ere break of day,
To claim our long-forgotten gold.
Goblets they carved there for themselves
And harps of gold; where no man delves
There lay they long, and many a song
Was sung unheard by men or elves.
The pines were roaring on the height,
The winds were moaning in the night.
The fire was red, it flaming spread;
The trees like torches blazed with light.
The bells were ringing in the dale
And men they looked up with faces pale;
The dragon’s ire more fierce than fire
Laid low their towers and houses frail.
The mountain smoked beneath the moon;
The dwarves they heard the tramp of doom.
They fled their hall to dying fall
Beneath his feet, beneath the moon.
Far over the misty mountains grim
To dungeons deep and caverns dim
We must away, ere break of day,
To win our harps and gold from him!
To dungeons deep and caverns old
We must away, ere break of day
To seek our pale enchanted gold
The dwarves of yore made mighty spells
While hammers fell like ringing bells
In places deep, where dark things sleep
In hollow halls beneath the fells
For ancient king and elvish lord
There many a gleaming golden hoard
They shaped and wrought, and light they caught
To hide in gems on hilt of sword
On silver necklaces they strung
The flowering stars, on crowns they hung
The dragon-fire, on twisted wire
They meshed the light of moon and sun
Far over the Misty Mountains cold
To dungeons deep and caverns old
We must away, ere break of day
To claim our long-forgotten gold
Goblets they carved there for themselves
And harps of gold, where no man delves
There lay they long, and many a song
Was sung unheard by men or elves
The pines were roaring on the heights
The wind was moaning in the night
The fire was red, it flaming spread
The trees like torches blazed with light
The bells were ringing in the dale
And men looked up with faces pale
The dragon’s ire, more fierce than fire
Laid low their towers and houses frail
The mountain smoked beneath the moon
The dwarves, they heard the tramp of doom
They fled the hall to dying fall
Beneath his feet, beneath the moon
Far over the Misty Mountains grim
To dungeons deep and caverns dim
We must away, ere break of day
To win our harps and gold from him!
The wind was on the withered heath
But in the forest stirred no leaf
There shadows lay be night or day
And dark things silent crept beneath
The wind came down from mountains cold
And like a tide it roared and rolled
The branches groaned, the forest moaned
And leaves were laid upon the mould
This is a version of Misty Mountains Cold performed by Geoff Castellucci.
Here’s a version of Misty Mountains that is an a cappella version arranged by Cody Curtis and recorded live by the Union University Men’s Choir in 2013. The featured soloist is Phillip Lundy.
Here’s an a cappella version of Misty Mountains that Peter Hollens recorded in 2013. It features Peter Hollens on all parts.
Here’s a version of Misty Mountains of Peter Hollens with Jun Sung Ahn playing the violin.
Here is a newer version of Misty Mountains that features Tim Foust on bass.
Here is a version of Misty Mountains performed by Street Corner Symphony. I think this is a really good balance between the parts and instead of being overwhelmed by the bass line, the way the bassline holds up and supports the rest of the parts represents the modern view of the bass role in a cappella barbershop according to our Director, Ben May.
This is a version sung by the three basses of the Misty Trio – Dash, Conner, and Henry out of Minnesota.
How to improve sight-reading skills An Introduction to Sight-Reading What exactly is sight-reading? Sight-reading is the ability to look at a sheet music chart and sing it for the first
Generally in most years, the SWD sponsors an annual Chorus and Quartet competition. The exception is the pandemic year we experienced due to Covid-19. There was no competition during the pandemic. The BHS recent resumed chorus competitions in 2022.
The Tidelanders excitedly sponsored our first singing competition. We promoted the contest to over 200 high schools in Harris and Fort Bend counties in Texas. We announced two winners (Men’s and Women’s) mid-April. We are looking forward to planning a bigger contest next year.
The Houston Tidelanders Chorus is pleased that we were able to perform for Clear Lake audiences once again! We’ve been performing in the Clear Lake area for about 25 years and it’s one of favorite shows.
“Smile” continues to be considered timeless. Meaning the message always seems to be relevant. As long as it continues to be popular, artists will continue to cover and interpret it’s meaning in order to continue to have it resonate with audiences. Modern artists like Michael Jackson have arranged and performed it.