Elven Manuscript
Encyclopedia
Elfiyskaya Rukopis' is a metal opera and concept album
by Russia
n power metal
band Epidemia
. Vocalists from Aria
, Arida Vortex, Master
, Chorny Obelisk and Boney NEM participated in the opera. The album was produced by Vladimir Holstinin
(Aria
's gutarist), who also played the lute at track 4.
and The Lord of the Rings
.
Desmond the half-elf grew up in the elven kingdom of Enia, hidden from the whole world by a magic barrier, and learned the magic from the king's wizard, Irdis. He fell in love with the princess Alatiel and was exiled by the elven king. Desmond continued his studies in the magic school of the human lands, and participated in some adventurers' campaigns. There, he saved Thorwald the knight, who became his best friend.
At this time, Enia was attacked by the dark forces from the otherworld, led by Deimos. The otherworld, where Deimos ruled, was doomed because of its dying sun. Using the El-Gilet sphere, Deimos wished to teleport his whole army to Enia and conquer this new world. Deimos demanded Alatiel become his wife, which would let him be the legal king of the elven lands. He threatened that princess would otherwise be sacrificed in the sphere ritual, which required elven blood, but the brave maiden refused his offer.
Irdis the wizard was hurt while fighting the invaders but escaped through the portal to Desmond and asked him to save his homeland. Desmond agreed, hoping this deed would clear his name, and asked Thorwald to join him in his campaign. On their way, they met the inn's Tavern Master, who was instructed by Irdis and showed them the secret undermountain tunnel to Enia.
While walking through the tunnel, Desmond felt the presence of ancient magic and found the Scepter of The First Kings of Enia. They used this magic device to defeat the Dragon sent by Deimos. Followed by the remainder of elven knights, they stormed up into the king's palace, where Deimos was trying to complete the ritual. During the fight, Thorwald destroyed the sphere with the rod. Deimos escaped through the window and fled away on his dragon.
Desmond married Alatiel, though Irdis served as the regent and the real ruler until Desmond and Alatiel's children grew up, because the half-elf exile could not be crowned as the king.
all tracks by Yuri 'Juron' Melisov except tracks 3, 4 by Melisov/Pavel 'Bush' Bushuyev, track 5 by Melisov/Ilya Kniazev and track 9 by Roman Valeriev.
track 12 is not a part of the opera but the bonus track on Elven Manuscript CD.
Epidemia's ex-drummer Andrey Laptev has tried to record his apocryphal
sequel to the opera, entitled 'The Battle of Gods,' though he was not allowed to use the copyrighted name, logo and characters.
Concept album
In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
by Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n power metal
Power metal
Power metal is a style of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. The term refers to two different but related styles: the first pioneered and largely practiced in North America with a harder sound similar to speed metal, and a...
band Epidemia
Epidemia
Epidemia is a Russian power metal band famous for doing the Elven Manuscript metal opera in 2004. It was formed by guitarist Yuri "Juron" Melisov in 1993, with the first songs made in 1995. The band was once nominated for an MTV Europe Music Award....
. Vocalists from Aria
Aria (band)
Aria is a Russian heavy metal band that was formed in 1985 in Moscow. Although it was not the first Soviet band to play Heavy music, Aria was the first to break through to mainstream media and commercial success. According to several public polls, Aria ranks among top 10 most popular Russian rock...
, Arida Vortex, Master
Master (Russian band)
This article is about the Russian thrash metal band. For the American death metal band, see Master .Master is a thrash metal band from Russia, founded in 1987 by former members of Aria.-Biography:...
, Chorny Obelisk and Boney NEM participated in the opera. The album was produced by Vladimir Holstinin
Vladimir Holstinin
Vladimir Petrovich Holstinin is a Russian guitarist. He is one of the founding members of heavy metal band Aria.Vladimir was born May 12, 1958, in Lyubertsy, Russian SFSR. He graduated Moscow Power Engineering Institute, where he met Vitaly Dubinin. The two institute mates became friends and...
(Aria
Aria (band)
Aria is a Russian heavy metal band that was formed in 1985 in Moscow. Although it was not the first Soviet band to play Heavy music, Aria was the first to break through to mainstream media and commercial success. According to several public polls, Aria ranks among top 10 most popular Russian rock...
's gutarist), who also played the lute at track 4.
Opera Scenario
The scenario of the opera is an epic fantasy story, written by Juron Melisov, lead guitarist of Epidemia. Some parts of the story are influenced by DragonlanceDragonlance
Dragonlance is a shared universe created by Laura and Tracy Hickman, and expanded by Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis under the direction of TSR, Inc. into a series of popular fantasy novels. The Hickmans conceived Dragonlance while driving in their car on the way to TSR for a job application...
and The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is a high fantasy epic written by English philologist and University of Oxford professor J. R. R. Tolkien. The story began as a sequel to Tolkien's earlier, less complex children's fantasy novel The Hobbit , but eventually developed into a much larger work. It was written in...
.
Desmond the half-elf grew up in the elven kingdom of Enia, hidden from the whole world by a magic barrier, and learned the magic from the king's wizard, Irdis. He fell in love with the princess Alatiel and was exiled by the elven king. Desmond continued his studies in the magic school of the human lands, and participated in some adventurers' campaigns. There, he saved Thorwald the knight, who became his best friend.
At this time, Enia was attacked by the dark forces from the otherworld, led by Deimos. The otherworld, where Deimos ruled, was doomed because of its dying sun. Using the El-Gilet sphere, Deimos wished to teleport his whole army to Enia and conquer this new world. Deimos demanded Alatiel become his wife, which would let him be the legal king of the elven lands. He threatened that princess would otherwise be sacrificed in the sphere ritual, which required elven blood, but the brave maiden refused his offer.
Irdis the wizard was hurt while fighting the invaders but escaped through the portal to Desmond and asked him to save his homeland. Desmond agreed, hoping this deed would clear his name, and asked Thorwald to join him in his campaign. On their way, they met the inn's Tavern Master, who was instructed by Irdis and showed them the secret undermountain tunnel to Enia.
While walking through the tunnel, Desmond felt the presence of ancient magic and found the Scepter of The First Kings of Enia. They used this magic device to defeat the Dragon sent by Deimos. Followed by the remainder of elven knights, they stormed up into the king's palace, where Deimos was trying to complete the ritual. During the fight, Thorwald destroyed the sphere with the rod. Deimos escaped through the window and fled away on his dragon.
Desmond married Alatiel, though Irdis served as the regent and the real ruler until Desmond and Alatiel's children grew up, because the half-elf exile could not be crowned as the king.
Tracklist
- Золотые Драконы (Zolotie Drakoni / Golden Dragons)/intro
- Час Испытания (Chas Ispytania / Time of Trial)
- Рожденный Для Битвы (Rozhdeonny dla Bitvy / Born for the Battle)
- Пройди Свой Путь (Proydi Svoy Put' / Make It Through Your Way )
- Кровь Эльфов (Krov' Elfov / Blood of Elves)
- На Пороге Ада (Na Poroge Ada / At the Hell's Threshold)
- Вечный Воитель (Vechny Voitel / Eternal Champion)
- Романс о Слезе (Romans o Sleze / A Ballad about the Tear)
- Магия и Меч (Magia i Mech / Magic and Sword)
- Осколки Прошлого (Oskolki Proshlogo / Shards of the Past)
- Эпилог (Epilog, Epilogue)/ outro
- Всадник из Льда (Vsadnik iz L'da / Icy Rider) bonus track
all tracks by Yuri 'Juron' Melisov except tracks 3, 4 by Melisov/Pavel 'Bush' Bushuyev, track 5 by Melisov/Ilya Kniazev and track 9 by Roman Valeriev.
track 12 is not a part of the opera but the bonus track on Elven Manuscript CD.
Starring
- Desmond the half-elf - Maxim Samosvat (EpidemiaEpidemiaEpidemia is a Russian power metal band famous for doing the Elven Manuscript metal opera in 2004. It was formed by guitarist Yuri "Juron" Melisov in 1993, with the first songs made in 1995. The band was once nominated for an MTV Europe Music Award....
) - Thorwald the knight - Andrey Lobashov (Arida Vortex)
- Irdis the elven wizard - Arthur BerkutArthur BerkutArtur Vyacheslavovich Mikheev , better known under his stage name Arthur Berkut , is a Russian singer. Through his career he participated in numerous bands, most notable are Autograph, Mavrik, and Aria....
(AriaAria (band)Aria is a Russian heavy metal band that was formed in 1985 in Moscow. Although it was not the first Soviet band to play Heavy music, Aria was the first to break through to mainstream media and commercial success. According to several public polls, Aria ranks among top 10 most popular Russian rock...
) - Deimos the dark lord - Dmitry Borisenkov (Chorny Obelisk)
- Sky the blue dragon - Kirill Nemolayev (Boney NEM)
- Alatiel the elven princess - Anastacia Chebotareova
- Tavern Master - Lexx (MasterMaster (Russian band)This article is about the Russian thrash metal band. For the American death metal band, see Master .Master is a thrash metal band from Russia, founded in 1987 by former members of Aria.-Biography:...
)
Sequels
Epidemia released Elven Manuscript 2: the Tale for All Times in 2007.Epidemia's ex-drummer Andrey Laptev has tried to record his apocryphal
Apocrypha (fiction)
In the context of fiction, apocrypha includes those fictional stories that do not belong within a fictional universe's canon, yet still have some authority relating to that fictional universe...
sequel to the opera, entitled 'The Battle of Gods,' though he was not allowed to use the copyrighted name, logo and characters.