Review: A Middle-Earth Journey

Hey guys! I’m finally back from my (previously unannounced) hiatus. Let me remind you that I am a high school English teacher. Therefore, I don’t have much time to update this website.

However, I chose today to break my silence by posting about the side-project that has been taking away all the time that this website would have otherwise had. Since it does have to do with a fantasy series (the Lord of the Rings), I don’t mind using this website as a means for self-promotion, since I am, essentially, writing a review about a fantasy-related product.

“A Middle-Earth Journey” is a concept album of piano music featuring some of my favorite locations in Middle-Earth: Hobbiton, Rivendell, Lorien, Rohan, Gondor (Minas Tirith), and Lindon (The Grey Havens). Not only are all the tracks named so that they are thematically linked by locations, but the whole CD is also tied together by a companion story that I wrote, titled “A Hobbit’s Tale”.

Speaking of titles, the piano pieces are not entirely brand-new. Some I wrote while I was in high school and some while I was in college. They’ve all simply been named to fit the theme of the CD (some had temporary names before while others didn’t have names). All in all, the eight tracks are a bit short, only about 15 minutes, and the story is a bit long, 25 pages all told. However, I am very proud of the work that I’ve done with this project, and I am excited for other projects to come.

If you want to listen to and buy the CD, it is on Bandcamp.com. Visit my official website for my music, aehansonmusic.com, for the link. From that same Order page, you can also buy and download the sheet music for the songs. Thanks!