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NAMM 2006 Show NewsVangelisVangelis has been one of the most acclaimed electronic musicians of all time. He has recorded a great variety of music over the last thirty years, won the academy award for musical score, composed hit songs, and written the scores for several ballets. Vangelis is best known for his music that was featured in the television show Cosmos, and his scores to movies. His scores include Chariots of Fire, The Bounty, and Blade Runner. His music is very melodic, drawing on the melodies of folk music, especially the Greek music of his homeland. Vangelis has a unique sound that is the result of his orchestral approach to electronics. His music could be considered symphonic electronica, because he often uses the unique sounds and capabilities of synthesizers in an orchestral way. His playing brings the electronic sounds to life by putting dynamics and expression into them.
Vangelis showed his natural talent at an early age. By the age of four, he was playing and making up his own music. His parents exposed him to traditional music training, but he had little interest in this, preferring to follow his own inspiration. This lack of interest in traditional classical music infuses his work. While his playing is often quite virtuosic, he music does not explore the complex structures and development of classical music, instead focusing on creating new approaches to orchestration. As a young man, Vangelis was in several rock bands. His band Formynx was popular because it was one of Greece's first rock bands. With Demis Roussos and Loukas Sideras, Vangelis formed a progressive rock band, Aphrodite's Child. They released several acclaimed albums, and had several number one singles in Europe. Their most significant release was the controversial double album 666. This was the first music that provides a taste of Vangelis' later output. In the early seventies, Vangelis recorded several soundtracks for the French director Frederic Rossif. He also released his first solo ablum, the progressive rock Earth. Earth continued some of the ideas that Vangelis explored on 666, such as chant-like vocals, serious lyrical themes, and a more orchestral rock feel. In 1974, Vangelis moved to London. He signed with RCA and build Nemo Studios, a large recording studio with 24-track capabilities. This is where Vangelis created his unique sound, and some of his most important work. His work at Nemo included Heaven and Hell, Albedo 0.39, Spiral and Opera Sauvage. In the eighties, Vangelis developed a more mature symphonic electronica style. He recorded many solo albums, including See You Later, Mask, and Direct. His best known work from this time, though, is his soundtrack work. In 1981, he scored Chariots of Fire, for which he won an Oscar. His score for Blade Runner was a crucial element of the movie's appeal. He contributed a tragic, minimal score to the movie Missing. His recording Antartica captures the music of a movie by the same name. He also contributed scores to The Bounty and other movies. In the nineties through this day, his recorded output has slowed somewhat from his peak. Some of the recordings from this era include The City, Voices and 1492: The Conquest of Paradise. Vangelis has colloborated with a large number of artists. Since the 1970's he has worked with Jon Anderson of Yes. Their recordings together include Short Stories and Friends of Mr. Cairo. His recordings with Irene Papas, including 1986's Rhapsodies, are beautiful, dramatic, and expressive. Other important collaborators include Demis Roussos and Montserrat Caballe. Vangelis is still active, though not as prolific as in the seventies and eighties. He's worked on several stage productions recently, and on a set of pieces linked to NASA's Mission to Mars, Myghodea. Synthtopia Reviews of Vangelis' MusicVangelis - 1492 Conquest of Paradise2/19/2004Conquest of Paradise is a sumptious combination of orchestral electronica, folk melodies, choral vocals and renaissance influences. Vangelis - Alexander Soundtrack11/18/2004Alexander, the soundtrack to the Oliver Stone biopic, features Vangelis at his best. It is a rousing score, a satisfying album, and a likely Oscar contender. Vangelis - Beaubourg12/7/2003This is one of Vangelis' most daring and experimental pieces. Listeners that love Vangelis experimental side will love it, while listeners that like his new age side will be covering their ears. Vangelis - Blade Runner2/20/2004Blade Runner is a science fiction classic, and it has a classic electronica score to go with it. Vangelis - Chariots of Fire1/18/2004When Chariots of Fire was released in 1981, it came with a unique soundtrack by Vangelis. At that time, putting a soundtrack of electronic music on a period film was unheard of. The music worked, though, because of the simple, beautiful melodies and the way Vangelis used synthesizers in an orchestral way. Vangelis - China12/6/2003If you're interested in a real fusion of Chinese and western musics, this isn't it. But if you like the music of Vangelis, China is work from one of his creative peaks. Vangelis - Direct1/17/2004This 1988 Vangelis CD is a bridge between the symphonic electronica sound that Vangelis made popular in the eighties and is current, more dense orchestral sound. Direct is a mixture of electronica, new age, space music, and folk sounds, mixed together in the unique style of Vangelis. Vangelis - Heaven and Hell1/3/2004This 1975 recording is the first time Vangelis fully realized his lush orchestral style. The music contrasts images of heaven and hell. After nearly 30 years, it holds up as a classic of electronic music. Vangelis - Oceanic4/18/2004Oceanic is a collection of tone poems with Ocean themes. On this 1996 release, Vangelis creates a soothing 50 minute journey through deep oceanic spaces, sounding a bit like a Hearts of Space show. The new age music showcases his wonderful ear for melodies and lush synthetic orchestration, but does not have the edge or sense of experimentation that marks his best work. Vangelis - Opera Sauvage11/22/2003Vangelis' Opera Sauvage is one of the classics of popular electronic music. Vangelis - See You Later1/3/2004This CD is one of the strangest that Vangelis has ever created. The music is the soundtrack to a dystopian future, or maybe just the ugly side of the present. This cult record is not for the new age fans, but Blade Runner freaks and people who like the darker side of electronic music will find a lot to like. Search for Vangelis with the Ebay Auction Finder! |
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