Mike Oldfield - Music Of The Spheres

[roger]

postscript said:

Why are they called jewel cases?

From Wikipedia:

Origin of the name
The name is not derived in any way from containers for jewelry, or from the fact that the case is typically made from transparent plastic as is sometimes believed. Instead, the name originates from watchmakers' use of the term jewel to refer generally to a polished hemispherical bearing used in a mechanism (high-quality mechanical watches and clocks commonly use gemstones, typically rubies, for such bearings because of their low friction properties). A jewel case has two molded hemispherical plastic bearings, in its hinges, hence the use of the term "jewel."

Note the last line which mentiones "hemispherical bearings". It also states that a jewel box contains two of them. It is my belief that two hemispheres make one sphere which, by some stroke of good fortune, has brought us nicely back on topic.

Roger

[grant]

roger said:

Note the last line which mentiones "hemispherical bearings". It also states that a jewel box contains two of them. It is my belief that two hemispheres make one sphere which, by some stroke of good fortune, has brought us nicely back on topic.

Roger

Hi Roger

Thank you very much!

There appears to be no limit to the things that can be learned on this forum!

Best wishes
Grant

[graemek]

Hi All & thanks for your compliments.

Well, embarrassing to admit this, but I had no idea that those "CD cases", as I call them, were called jewel cases.

Graeme

[Richard]

Here's a review from Audiophile Audition. Sadly the reviewer doesn't comment on Hayley's contribution.

MIKE OLDFIELD: Music of the Spheres - Lang Lang, piano / Hayley Westenra, lead vocals / Sinfonia Sfera Orchestra / Karl Jenkins - Decca

Oldfield enters the classical realm with his interpretation of the Music of the Spheres.

Published on March 19, 2008

It feels a bit odd to be listing the latest release from the creator of Tubular Bells in our Classical section, but the Decca Label Group put it in that category and Oldfield does play a classical guitar in the work. And after all, a number of pop composers have ventured into classical territory recently: Paul McCartney and Billy Joel among them. Actually, I was hoping to list this in our Hi-Res section since the SACD and DVD-A surround mixes of Oldfield’s Tubular Bells were so much fun, but it’s been issued as only a standard stereo CD because Oldfield no longer seems to like surround sound reproduction - he has said in an interview it seems unnatural and he feels like he must turn around to face the sounds behind him. Well, from an artist who created so many exciting SQ and 5.1 recordings, and even had a complete quadraphonic studio, that’s quite a surprise. Especially befuddling since one of the initial reactions to this album I noticed referred to its “open quality - that of space and movement.” Sounds made to order for surround!

Oldfield has carried multitracking in his albums way beyond the original invention of Les Paul, but he did play all the various instruments himself. He has also tried to expand musical horizons and mix various folk, pop, rock, and electronic elements. This time - after almost four decades - he bravely ventures into the concert music genre with a massive mostly instrumental work which he created using a computer program known as Logic, and then gave it over to classical composer/conductor Karl Jenkins to orchestrate for performance by a full symphony. (It turns out the two had worked together in 1975 when BBC-TV broadcast a live performance of Tubular Bells and Jenkins played oboe on it.) However, this wasn’t all recorded at once in the Abbey Road studio - a great deal of mixing occurred, and pianist Lang Lang sent in his piano passages over the Net using iChat.

The influence of Jenkins is particularly strong when a women’s chorus makes brief appearances, singing what seem to be wordless sounds with a sharp sort of nasal Eastern European timbre similar to Jenkins Adiemus albums. There are also sections featuring Lang Lang that sound almost like a piano concerto, as well as other passages bringing Oldfield’s classical guitar to the fore. There is a portion that will definitely remind the listener of Tubular Bells. A minimalist flavor is apparent, but also more lavish Late-Romantic symphonic scoring such as might be heard from Vaughan Williams or Holst.

Oldfield has based this work on the ancient idea that every celestial body has an inner music - derived from the movements of the planets and stars - that is inaudible to the human ear. Music of the Spheres is his interpretation of what would be heard if these sounds could be accessed. The work reminded me of some of the orchestral suites which were composed in the earlier days of hi-fi expressly to provide a wide variety of sounds and effects to show off electronics and speakers; however Music of the Spheres is less clunky and flows more smoothly thru its length. I found it most enjoyable and evidence that Oldfield is not just repeating himself.

TrackList:
Part one
1. "Harbinger" - 4:08
2. "Animus" - 3:09
3. "Silhouette" - 3:19
4. "Shabda" - 4:00
5. "The Tempest" - 5:48
6. "Harbinger (reprise)" - 1:30
7. "On My Heart" - 2:27 (Featuring Hayley Westenra)

Part two
1. "Aurora" - 3:42
2. "Prophecy" - 2:54
3. "On My Heart (reprise)" - 1:16 (Featuring Hayley Westenra)
4. "Harmonia Mundi" - 3:46
5. "The Other Side" - 1:28
6. "Empyrean" - 1:37
7. "Musica Universalis" - 6:24

- John Sunier

Richard

[Stephany]

Hi all,

'Music of the Spheres' is out in France too and I've read some very positive reviews in the French press.
They are all impressed by Hayley's "angelic" voice.

Stephany

[martindn]

dave said:

Hi Emil,

What you see when you open the CD case is a single page advert for Hayley and Treasure, inserted after the booklet so it must have been specially printed for the UK market (it mentions classicsandjazz.co.uk).

Booklet?? My copy has only a single sheet at the front of the case, with the front cover graphic on one side and the Treasure ad on the other.
I've been done!!!

Martin

[Dave]

Hi Martin,

Yes there should be an 8 page booklet included, 2 od which are ads and one is the front cover photo so 5 pages of information. Basically it's just a tracklisting and credits - I'd take it back to the shop for an exchange.

Cheers, Dave

[martindn]

Thanks Dave,

Unfortunately it isn't as simple as that, as I bought it mail order from Amazon.

Martin

[milewalker]

Hello all

MOTS comes out in the US on March 25, so I will likely pick it up next weekend. I have several of Oldfields older works (Tubular Bells, Hergest Rigde, Omnidawn etc) anyway.

I am not surprised that the reviews I have seen from the US thus far do not mention Hayley as a contributing artist. If you look at the product description on Amazon (US) for example, it contains no mention of Hayley - and one gets the sense that her contribution here from their point of view was purely a professional convenience. They needed a soprano, and Hayley was available. With this in mind, I am going to operate under the assumption that while it is certainly beautiful, it isnt going to do much for her overall profile (outside of the UK anyway) - at least until other events prove me wrong.....

Jon

[scoobedoo]

They needed a soprano, and Hayley was available. With this in mind, I am going to operate under the assumption that while it is certainly beautiful, it isnt going to do much for her overall profile (outside of the UK anyway) - at least until other events prove me wrong.....

Jon]

As far as promoting Hayley in the US is concerned,as a supporting artist or anything else. The above quote has a familiar “Ring” about it

cheers,

Rodders CH CH NZ

[stevemacdonald]

Unfortunately, in the States Mike Oldfield isn't regarded as anything more than the answer to the Trivial Pursuit question, "Who composed that hauntingly creepy music for The Exorcist?" That opening keyboard theme made a strong impression and is instantly recognisable to anyone who saw the movie, which, it so happens, ranks as one of the scariest movies of all time. Hayley's association with Oldfield's music will not make her scary to anyone, but it's doubtful that it will do her much good on these shores.

[Dave]

Hi Jon and Steve,

I've just had a quick look at Mike Oldfield's album charts performance in the US and since his second album in 1974, his highest Billboard 200 chart position has been no. 138 - so that is the benchmark. Matching or bettering that will be a success for the album but either way, it won't affect Hayley's US profile. Incidentally, Celtic Treasure is still in the Billboard Classical Crossover chart after 52 weeks - at no. 17 and it will be interesting to see if it climbs or is unaffected by Mike's release.

In the UK, he had a no. 4 album 8 years ago (Tubular Bells 3) and since then, 3 more albums which reached no. 40, 60 and 51 respectively. So even here, the amount of exposure (and extra sales for her own albums) will be very limited as she currently sells more albums than Mike.

The midweek sales charts indicate that Music of the Spheres should enter the top 10 of the UK album chart on Sunday so initially, it will be Mike's best performing album for 8 years and will do about the same as Hayley would expect from one of her own albums.

So it will give Hayley a small boost in the UK (they all help!) but as you say, it will not have much effect in the US. It will be interesting to see if Mike does better than usual with this album in NZ when released, because Hayley is on it. It's 16 years since he last entered the NZ album chart - no. 27 with Tubular Bells 2 so any chart entry will be a success.

Cheers, Dave

[postscript]

roger said:

postscript said:

Why are they called jewel cases?

From Wikipedia:

Origin of the name
The name is not derived in any way from containers for jewelry, or from the fact that the case is typically made from transparent plastic as is sometimes believed. Instead, the name originates from watchmakers' use of the term jewel to refer generally to a polished hemispherical bearing used in a mechanism (high-quality mechanical watches and clocks commonly use gemstones, typically rubies, for such bearings because of their low friction properties). A jewel case has two molded hemispherical plastic bearings, in its hinges, hence the use of the term "jewel."

Note the last line which mentiones "hemispherical bearings". It also states that a jewel box contains two of them. It is my belief that two hemispheres make one sphere which, by some stroke of good fortune, has brought us nicely back on topic.

Roger

Hi Roger and all.

1. Thanks for the detailed information.
2. I know you don't encourage 'quotes' as opposed to simple replies but I thought your info was worth a repeat as I am sure I am not the only one previously mystified and having supplied so full an answer it was worth the additional promotion.
3. I have chosen to over look the source of your information
4. But thought my cunning presentation helped to remind members not to over-indulge in quotations

Peter S.

PS: and in reply to Richard's 163 following post that follows, sorry! It's for ever my fault, I just get consumed in a flowing conversation!

[Richard]

And well done Peter for taking this thread off-topic again!

Richard

[postscript]

post 157.
Try emailing them Martin. You might or might not be the first to discover it. They might simply take your word or do a check to see if there are any more and then post a booklet.

Keep us posted, please.
Peter S