More Symphonic Music with Synthesizers

Episode 69

More Symphonic Music with Synthesizers

 

Playlist

1. Tomita, “Gardens In The Rain (Estampes, 3)” from Snowflakes Are Dancing (1974 RCA Red Seal). "Electronic performances of Debussy's tone paintings." Performed, arranged, and electronically created by Isao Tomita, composed by Claude Debussy. Modular Moog synthesizer by Isao Tomita, with equipment listed as: Moog synthesizer; One 914 extended range fixed filter bank; Two 904-A voltage-controlled low-pass filters;  One 904-B voltage-controlled high-pass filter;  One 904-C filter coupler;  One 901 Voltage-controlled oscillator;  Three 901-A oscillator controllers;  Nine 901-B oscillators;  Four 911 envelope generators;  One 911-A dual-trigger delay;  Five 902 voltage-controlled amplifiers;  One 912 envelope follower;  One 984 four-channel mixer;  One 960 sequential controller;  Two 961 interfaces;  One 962 sequential switch;  Two 950 keyboard controllers;  One 6401 Bode ring modulator;  Tape recorders,  One Ampex MM-1100 16-track,  One Ampex AG-440 4-track, One Sony TC-9040 4-track,  One Teac A-3340S 4-track,  One Teac 7030GSL 2-track;  Mixers,  Two Sony MX-16 8-channel mixers,  Two Sony MX-12 6-channel mixers;  Accessories,  One AKG BX20E Echo unit;  One Eventide Clockworks "Instant Phaser";  Two Binson Echorec "2" units ; One Fender "Dimension IV;"  One Mellotron.    3:41
2. Tomita, “The Old Castle” from Pictures At An Exhibition (1975 RCA Red Seal). “Electronic interpretations of works by classical composer Modest Mussorgsky.” Performed, arranged, and electronically created by Isao Tomita, composed by Modest Mussorgsky. Modular Moog synthesizer by Isao Tomita. Assume same instrumentation as above. 5:16
3. Pulsar, “Strands of the Future” from Strands of the Future (1976 Kingdom Records). Recorded in Switzerland, released in France. Drums, Percussion, Victor Bosch; Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, Gilbert Gandil; Flute, Solina Synthesizer, Roland Richard; Lyrics By François Artaud; Organ, Moog Synthesizer, Mellotron, Bass Guitar, Jacques Roman. 22:13
4. Vangelis Papathanassiou, “Flamants Roses” from Opéra Sauvage (1979 Polydor). "Original Music For Frédéric Rossif's Television Series.” Recorded in London, 1979. Composed, Arranged, Produced, synthesizers, piano, Fender Rhodes electric piano, drums, percussion, xylophone, Vangelis Papathanassiou; harp, Jon Anderson. 11:48
5. Rick Wakeman, “Overtures, Part 1 and 2” from 1984 (1981 Charisma). Part 1: Piano, Prophet Synthesizer, Rick Wakeman. Part 2: Organ, Piano, Prophet Synthesizer, RMI Synthesizer, Rick Wakeman. Bass, Runswick D., McGee R.; Bassoon, Sheen G., Hammond H. Cello, Truman B., Robinson M., Willison P.; Cello [Lead], Daziel A.; Clarinet, Weinberg T., Puddy K.; Drums, Tony Fernandez;  Drums, Frank Ricotti;  Fender Bass, Boghead, Steve Barnacle; Flute, Sandeman D., Gregory J.; Guitar, Beaky, Tim Stone; Horn, Thomson M., Easthope P.; Keyboards, Dave Crombie; Oboe, Theodore D., Whiting J.; Producer, Rick Wakeman Saxophone [Selmer] Gary Barnacle; Trombone, Hardie, Wilson; Trumpet, Miller J., Wallis J.; Tuba, Jenkins J. Viola, Newlands D., Robertson G., Andrade L.; Viola [Lead], Cookson M.; Violin, McGee A., Dukov B., Katz D., Bradles D., Clay L., Good T.; Violin, Leader, Rothstein J.. 5:12
6. Keith Emerson, “Tramway” from Nighthawks (Original Soundtrack) (1981 Backstreet Records). Keith played a Fairlight CMI on this track. The Fairlight was programmed by Kevin Crossley. Keyboards, Performed, Produced, Composed by Keith Emerson; Drums, Neil Symonette; Percussion, Frank Scully; Orchestral Percussion, Tristen Fry; Saxophone, Jerome Richardson; Trumpet [Lead], Greg Bowen. 3:25
7. Jean Michel Jarre, “Fourth Rendez-Vous” from Rendez-Vous (1986 Polydor). ARP 2600 synthesizer, Eminent organ, Matrisequencer, Roland TR 808 drum machine, Michel Geiss; Elka Synthex, EMS Synthi AKS, Oberheim OBX, Yamaha DX100 synthesizers, Matrisequencer, Roland TR 808 drum machine, Linn 9000 Electronic Drums, Jean-Michel Jarre. 3:59
8. Jean Michel Jarre, “Fifth Rendez-Vous” from Rendez-Vous (1986 Polydor). “Baby Korg” synthesizer, David Jarre; ARP 2600 synthesizer, Matrisequencer, Michel Geiss; Emulator II sampler/synthesizer, Dave Smith Prophet-5 synthesizer, Casio CZ 5000, ARP 2600, Fairlight CMI, Roland JX 8P, synthesizers, Matrisequencer, Jean-Michel Jarre. 7:56
9. Jean Michel Jarre, “Last Rendez-Vous: "Ron's Piece" from Rendez-Vous (1986 Polydor). Saxophone, Pierre Gossez; Elka Synthex, Seiko DS 250, Fairlight CMI synthesizers, Matrisequencer, Eminent organ, Jean-Michel Jarre. 5:45
10. William Ørbit, “Ogive Number 1” from Pieces In A Modern Style (2000 WEA Records). Recorded in England. Written by Erik Satie. Arranged, Programmed, Produced, Performed by William Ørbit. I think this piece is more likely Orbit’s arrangement of "Ogive Number 2", not Number 1. But who cares? It’s lovely to hear the French musician electrified like this. 6:45
11. Steve Jansen, Richard Barbieri, Nobukazu Takemura, “Empty Orchestra” from Changing Hands (1997 Medium Productions Limited). UK album of downtempo electronic music with a classical flavor. Recorded in Kyoto and London. Composed, Performed, Produced by Nobukazu Takemura, Richard Barbieri, Steve Jansen. 14:11
12. Sarah Davachi, “Magdalena” from Antiphonals (2021 Late Music). Canadian electro-acoustical composer and musician who blends classical instruments with electronics. Mellotron (English Horn, Bass Flute, Clarinet, Recorder, Oboe, French Horn, Chamber Organ, Nylon String Guitar), Tape Echo, Korg CX-3 Electric Organ, Pipe Organ, Harpsichord, Piano, ARP Odyssey Synthesizer, Acoustic Guitar, Violin, Voice, Sarah Davachi. 10:12

 

Background music:

James Newton Howard, “Margaret I’m Home” from ‎James Newton Howard (1974 Kama Sutra). Performed, Composed, Arranged by, James Newton Howard.

 

Opening and closing sequences voiced by Anne Benkovitz.

Additional opening, closing, and other incidental music by Thom Holmes.

For additional notes, please see my blog, Noise and Notations.