Richard Cox (SymphoniaX): The Lord of the Rings
Richard Cox was born in 1958 in Colchester, Essex (England's earliest recorded town) and now lives in London. He obtained a first class honours degree with the Open University, majoring in Computer Science and Mathematics and currently works as a Senior Consultant for a Management Consultancy with a global client base, largely involved in software development for the Internet.
Richard took a year's piano lessons at the age of ten, cello lessons and general music lessons at school (including eager participation in the annual Gilbert And Sullivan production), two years of music courses at Middlesex University in his late twenties (both interrupted and curtailed by severe illness), more piano lessons, this time with Marina Horak. In January 2000, Richard began composition lessons with Professor Paul Rhys of Reading University, a continuing and exceptionally rewarding experience.
From early teenage years, Richard began composing, having his own works performed with friends at private gatherings; he is also frequently asked to perform more famous works on the piano and to sing. He is an enthusiastic proponent of the songs of Michael Flanders and Donald Swann which are always well received by somewhat surprised audiences. His experience with computers and other recent technology has made it possible to produce renderings of his orchestral works and more difficult piano pieces. This, in turn, has lead to Richard's work being featured on internet sites (most notably "The Twelve Days of Christmas" which reached overall no. 31 on MP3.COM as a result of being featured there), and in music and technology magazines such as MP3 magazine and digitalFOTO magazine.
The Lord Of The Rings suite was originally conceived as a single tone poem - a gigantic project which would take the rest of the composer's life. So, in order to present at least some of it to listeners, Richard took some of the more characteristic (and, so far, happier) themes and created the series of movements which make up the suite. Work is progressing on several movements which describe the journey through the mines of Moria.
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Richard Cox sent us his CD: The Lord of the Rings, Orchestral Suite. The CD contains 5 tracks which can all be previewed at MP3.com. The tracks are all instrumental with no vocals and the style can be described as classical orchestral. The five songs try to depict 5 themes: The Riders of Rohan, Lothlorien, Minas Tirith, The Shire and The Return of the King. Richard Cox has done a very good job catching the essence of each theme in a musical interpretation. The Shire is mellow and soothing. The Riders of Rohan is adventurous and upbeat. All in all a very impressive classical interpretation of some of Tolkien's themes. Our favourite piece: The Riders of Rohan
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You can order the CD at MP3.com here
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Contributed by: Richard Cox - Link: http://www.mp3.com/SymphoniaX
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