Gandalf – the Wizard (from "The Lord of the Rings")

Johan de Meij's first symphony, The Lord of the Rings, is based on the trilogy of the same name by J.R.R. Tolkien. The work is known to us as "The Lord of the Rings" and has captivated millions of readers since its publication in 1955. The symphony consists of five independent movements, each of which describes a character or a significant episode in the book.

The symphony was written between March 1984 and December 1987 and premiered in Brussels on 15 March 1988 by the Royal Band of the Belgian Guides conducted by Norbert Nozy. In 1989, the symphony DER HERR DER RINGE was awarded first prize at the Sudler International Composition Competition in Chicago. In 2001, the orchestral version was premiered by the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra and recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra.