Graveyard smash at the Party Tree!

Last Sunday, I attended Hobbiton Philarmonic's annual Minstrel Mash, a concert to celebrate the coming of the fall season. Predictably, Beorbrand had asked me to join B.B.B. again. I acquiesced, not knowing what was in store for me. So after listening to the lovely songs of the Eriador Music Society and the HP, I found myself dressed in a ridiculous tunic and wearing a ghastly helmet, standing on a table alongside Aegthil, Wrenaya, Beorbrand, Blingamerrydo and Carica, who were similarly garbed. We were quite a spectacle -- and I don't mean that in a good way. What was the Lady Ghingeriel thinking when she asked B.B.B. to play? I was glad the mask was hiding my face -- thank goodness for small mercies! Beor, Aegthil and the rest didn't seem to notice or mind the fact that the crowd was in hysterics over those masks. Their degenerate attitude really troubles me.

However, we soon gave our audience something else to think about! With our specially-prepared setlist, we blew the ladies off their feet and made even the strongest men present collapse in a drunken stupor. At least, that was the impression I got from the stage... er, table. All in all, it was a good time -- I was pleasantly surprised! I do apologize for Aegthil and Beor, though. They were, of course, exercising their tongues, and I even heard talk of sending someone Gourgini in the mail, chopped into little pieces. What a thought! Please rest assured that he will not be in pieces -- that would be a ghastly sight. We'll have to find some other way of cramming him into a mailbox, though...

Of course, I had contributed to the setlist in my own little way. In his last-minute scramble for music, Beor had asked me for a transcription of any spooky song that suited my fancy. I recalled an old battle-cry from the soldiers of Minas Ithil, which I had heard sung during my travels through Gondor; something about a bad moon, storms, trouble, and so on. So I went about transcribing it. Unfortunately, my very down-to-earth and un-romantic Mentor stole the sheet music while I was otherwise occupied, and... altered it a bit. I didn't find out until the day of the concert that he had set it to some idiotic percussive rhythm -- completely unsuited to the mood of the piece! I had no choice but to sing it as it was written. I'll leave you to judge his handiwork for yourselves: Here's the abc file, and here is what it sounds like.

I'll have to be more careful about leaving things lying around in the future. Oh well... our adventures continue. I dread to think of what Beor will come up with in the way of outfits for our next concert.