In 1981 BBC Radio 4 broadcast a dramatisation of JRR Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings in 26 half-hour stereo installments. The hauntingly beautiful soundtrack, by Stephen Oliver was published on vinyl separately. Picture: Theoden and Wormtongue by Greg and Tim Hildebrandt From dark Dunharrow in the dim morning with thane and captain rode Thengel’s son: to Edoras he came, the ancient halls of the mark-wardens mist-enshrouded; golden timbers were in gloom mantled. Farewell he bade to his free people, hearth and high-seat, and the hallowed places, where long he had feasted ere the light faded. Forth rode the king, fear behind him, fate before him. Fealty kept he; oaths he had taken, all fulfilled them. Forth rode Theoden. Five nights and days east and onward rode the Eorlingas through Folde and Fenmarch and the Firienwood, six thousand spears to Sunlending, Mundburg the mighty under Mindolluin, Sea-kings’ city in the South-kingdom foe beleagured, fire encircled. Doom drove them on. Darkness took them, horse and horsemen; hoofbeats afar sank into silence: so the songs tell us.