Alan Horvath | The Williamsport Sun-Gazzette Article

The Williamsport Sun-Gazette | December 20, 2001
Entertainment: Feature Article Williamsport, Pennsylvania

Acoustic Rendering of 'Fellowship'
Horvath's Refashioned 'Rings Project' Preludes Tolkien's Literary Trilogy
By JOHN J. BLAIR - Sun-Gazette Correspondent
Artwork (above) by the late Buddy Miller - Nashville, Tennessee

Professor J.R.R. Tolkien was baffled by the shape of his fame. In the late 1960s, his reconfigured children's stories (written decades earlier) became "required reading" for a nascent counter-culture -- the same lot that propagated "Jesus Freaks," LSD and "Star Trek." Tolkien, a reserved academic and conservative Christian, merely sought to tell riveting stories of friendship and loyalty, valor and virtue, good overcoming evil and a search for purity in an unpure world.

The success of "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" became a brace for the Flower Children. Story has it that even The Beatles wanted to make a film of Tolkien's fantasies but opted to create the less-ambitious "Magical Mystery Tour."

Tolkien's culture birthed its own music industry. His "Middle Earthen" characters are the subject of songs and full-length albums by an astonishing number of artists. A web site devoted to tracking Tolkien's sonic spawn lists hundreds of titles. Styles include classical, contemporary Christian, folk, jazz, metal, and New Age. A short list of well-known tributists include The Allman Brothers, Jack Bruce, Enya, The Grateful Dead, Led Zeppelin and singer-actor Leonard Nimoy.

Ironically, Tolkien involved himself in but one recording project during his career, even though his books are loaded with lyrics and songs. Tolkien tunesmith trackers should take note of Alan Horvath's "The Rings Project: The Fellowship Volume One." Horvath's own fascinating career began in the 1960s. He gigged on the bi-coastal troubadour's circuit traversed by legendary guitar-poets Tim Buckley, Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell. This led to a recording contract with Elektra Records in 1973. Described as "acoustic rock," the New Jersey-based multi-instrumentalist has worked on Tolkien-related projects for 30 years.

Horvath's first "Rings Project" was a stage production. This sequed into a concept album, released in 1980. Fantasy Films wanted it, David Bowie wanted it, and the project received marginal media attention before Horvath set it aside to become a staff songwriter in Nashville.

He returned to his heritage as a performing singer-songwriter in 1992. In addition to his vigorous guitar playing and muscular singing, he added custom autoharps, dulcimers, octave mandolin and digital recording to his organic mechanisms - all featured on this project.

"Volume One" is true to the book. He intersperses musical portraits with calm narrations. For those who prefer to explore through acoustic ears, Horvath provides a cogent introduction to Tolkien's vision. The project must be heard as part of an ongoing work-in-progress. The only complaint is "Volume One" is too short.

Horvath may be touring this area in 2003 and is constantly updating his catalog online. More information is available by visiting www.AlanHorvath.com/rings.

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� 2001 by The Williamsport Sun-Gazette - All Rights Reserved

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