SAUSSY ANTHEM
TO BE PERFORMED IN
THE CONCERTEGEBOUW
SEPTEMBER 9, 2004

On September 9th, in the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, the Netherlands Theatre Orchestra will play an evening of music entirely dedicated to the Lord of the Rings.

Actor Christopher Lee will narrate as the Orchestra plays "Lord of the Rings" compostions by Leonard Rosenman, Howard Shore, Johan de Meij, and Tupper Saussy.

Rosenman and Shore have composed scores to "Rings" movies, while de Meij is known for his Symphony based on the Tolkien creation.

Saussy's "Mordor National Anthem" is from his "Neon Philharmonic" album released in 1970 by Warner Brothers, and newly released as part of a collector's edition by RhinoHandmade.

The audience will be invited to sing the Anthem, which could make the concert "a very special event," according to Jules van Hessen, Musical Director of the Theatre Orchestra.

"But Mordor is a kingdom of darkness," Saussy explains. "The audience will be expected to sing with its back to stage, orchestra, and conductor."

The lyrics to the Anthem, by Saussy, are as follows:

Blest be our shadowland,
dark empty shadowland,
profane intruders keep away
or be consuméd...
Mordor our shadowland,
most noble barrenland,
with great solemnity we pledge
eternal hatred
for the Light that spoils thee.