Continuing my session recaps from Oxonmoot 2026 are two more ‘Why Not?’ presentations that were simply amazing to me.
“An Unalterable Music: Tolkien’s ‘Ainulindale’, Schenker’s ‘Ursatz’ and the Metaphor of Musical Determinisim” by Derek Myler, an Assistant Professor of Music Theory at East Carolina University, at first glance was intimidating. I appreciate music, but can not read it or play an instrument despite past efforts at learning piano, guitar and mandolin.
Schenker’s theory was that “music unfolded according to a predetermined plan” and from that Myler spoke to the Ainulindale and how dissonance is introduced to harmony. He used examples from Chopin where the dissonance arises and folds back into the harmonized music. Schenker as a music theorist was a near contemporary of Tolkien’s having lived from 1868 to 1935, which added to what may have been ‘thinking’ at the time.
It was a fascinating talk and one I will definitely be watching again when the videos are released.
Another unique perspective was given by David Garner, a medical doctor, who presented, “A rare case of wraithism in a fifty year-old hobbit from the Shire.” In his talk Garner broke down Frodo’s being stabbed on Weathertop in terms of a timeline and symptoms described in the text afterward. He then spoke to Tolkien’s lived experience not only in war, but also with his mother’s medical condition that led to her death. While spoiling the unexpected diagnosis, he demonstrated how untreated diabetes, which Tolkien’s mother had, was very much akin to the experience of Frodo’s wraithism.
Along the lines of Wraithism was “Shire…Baggins…” From Nazgul to the Sidhe in Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring” by Noelia Ramos, a PhD candidate. She noted the rise of Irish nationalism in the context of the time in which he was writing and drew on his personal library. Her focus was on “supernatural horror to examine liminality, spectral presence, and the construction of dread.”
It was another presentation that alerted the fan to the diversity of texts he drew from in direct and indirect ways.
It was also another reminder that while not known as a horror writer, he certainly had many more elements than many credit him with. From my own notes, I wrote ‘the Nazgul was more than a ghost, it was drawn on, and improved upon.’ Another case of Tolkien improving on something that already existed and sub-creating something new for us to enjoy.
