Duel of the Fates: What does it mean?

[RickJay]

In the John Williams vocal composition “Duel of the Fates,” which is part of the “Phantom Menace” composition, what the heck are they singing?

[HeyHomie]

I don’t know the answer, but here’s a little tidbit that might help: I heard on VH1 that the text is from an ancient Welsh poem about a battle between, get this, two trees.

[Chronos]

I seem to recall hearing that it’s just meaningless vocalizations. Whatever it is, it sure sounds cool.

[bibliophage]

This is probably better suited to the Cafe Society forum.

bibliophage
moderator, GQ

[Achernar]

Woo-hoo! My first reply wherein I brag that I got an answer after one Google search! Check out INKPOT#82 CLASSICAL MUSIC REVIEWS: John WILLIAMS The Phantom Menace OST (Sony). Look for a blue box about halfway down the page, on the right. I won’t paste the whole thing here, but the brief answer says:

It’s a line from a Celtic poem, Cad Goddeu (“Battle of the Trees”), originally translated by Robert Graves, and literally transcribed into Sanskrit. The line goes, “Under the tongue root a fight most dread, and another raging, behind, in the head.”