cross-posted with HoF
Friday evening I went to a concert given by the sister of M's ex and her students. She teaches ancient music (pre-baroque). One of her students is named Dana Howe - his parents came to the concert and bingo: his father was John Howe.
After recovering from the heart attack about dining after the concert in the company of the musicians and their family, I was for most of the diner too shy to abord Mr. Howe. After all, he had come to listen to his son and to be in family... and just imagine how terrible it must to meet people all the time who tell you: "Aren't you John Howe?"... etc. etc.
However, when saying good bye, I admitted my LOTR passion and he told me (he is a very quiet, very shy person, not very out-going by himself) I should have talked to him before. Well....
But then, he told me that he used the passion of his son for drawings about historical instruments and that he had drawn several for the Hobbit and talked to Howard Shore about the possibility of putting more ancient music played on original instruments in the sound-track.
Sorry, I just wanted to share that bit of information and show-off....