The pioneers of synth: Moroder, Mike Oldfield, Jean Michele Jarre, Vangelis, H. Faltermeyer, etc. (arranged & performed by Dutch composer Ed Starink, also known as Star Inc.).
Aram Khachaturian - Adagio -Spartacus.
Long time ago, in the days of black and white TV, some of you, if you are as old as I am, might remember this piece as the theme of The Onedin Line (TV series).
English songwriter and composer Jerry Lordan came up with the tune in the late 1950s. Lordan was inspired to write the song after watching the 1954 American western film Apache, saying that he wanted something noble and dramatic, reflecting the courage and savagery of the Indian Apache warrior Massai, played by Burt Lancaster.
It was originally recorded by British guitarist Bert Weedon in early 1960, however, Lordan did not like Weedon's version of the song, as he thought it was too jaunty. For this reason, whilst on tour with Cliff Richard and the Shadows, Lordan played the song on his ukulele to the Shadows (famous for instrumentally backing Cliff Richard from 1958 to 1968), who liked the song and recorded it in June, quickly releasing it in July 1960.
"La Petite Fille de la mer" is the second track from the Vangelis' album "L'Apocalypse des animaux", which is a soundtrack album composed to accompany a documentary series about the animal kingdom directed by Frédéric Rossif, first broadcast on French TV in 1970.
As such then, this is one of Vangelis' earliest works, recorded whilst still a member of progressive rock band Aphrodite's Child.
Jean-Michel Jarre recorded the album 'Oxygène' in a makeshift studio that he set up in his apartment in Paris, using a variety of analog synthesizers, a digital synthesizer, and other electronic instruments and effects. Following the international success of the single "Oxygène (Part IV)", the album became Jarre's breakthrough.
Oxygène has been described as the album that "led the synthesizer revolution of the Seventies", and as "an infectious combination of bouncy, bubbling analog sequences and memorable hook lines".
OTTA-orchestra is an interesting all-female musical ensemble that uses both classical instruments (violins and keyboards, drums and percussion, guitar and accordion) as well as oriental ones (such as the Belarusian dulcimer, the Indian sitar, and the Chinese Hulusi). The music that they play was written specifically for them by composer Lee Ott.
If you liked the music, you may also wish to listen to this upbeat musical arrangement by this same fabulous ensemble: https://zafoid.com/post/view/1827
Robert Miles' "Children" was certified gold and platinum in several countries and reached number one in more than 12 countries; it was Europe's most successful single of 1996. It's one of the pioneering tracks of Dream house, a genre of electronic dance music characterized by dream-like piano melodies, and a steady four-on-the-floor bass drum.
Dream house was intended to calm rave party people prior to their driving home, as a means to reduce car accident deaths.
Joseph Gatt An extended version of Robert Miles' "Children", at 22 minutes long, can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luyKQ8Byhn4
Brilliant and very melodic instrumental performance by OTTA-Orchestra & Samara State Philharmonic Academic Symphony Orchestra.
