Symphony No. 1 The Lord of the Rings

[5] The musicologist Estelle Jorgensen wrote that while the symphony has a programmatic aspect, it is "also formally interesting as sheer instrumental sound.

He commented that though it was Dutch, it was in the tradition of British concert band and symphonic composers like Malcolm Arnold and Gustav Holst.

The second movement, Bratman wrote, presents the character of a place, the Elvish wood of Lothlórien, "which, like everyone from Bo Hansson to Enya, de Meij seems to hear as steamy.

"[2] He made an exception for the fourth movement, "Journey in the Dark", which does narrate a story, the dangerous passage through the Mines of Moria.

[2] In celebration of the symphony's 25th anniversary, De Meij conducted the Performance of the piece by the bands of Valparaiso University.