Music of the Spheres

Mike Oldfield - Music of the Spheres

Music of the Spheres
List Price: $16.98
Our Price: $9.71
You Save: $7.27 (43%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $8.75 (click here)
Category: Music CD
See more CD details
Listen soundtracks from this album


(Click here)
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store

CD Details

Artist: Mike Oldfield
Composer: Mike Oldfield
Conductor: Mike Oldfield
Performer: Mike Oldfield
Orchestra: Various Artists
Performer: Hayley Westenra
Performer: Lang Lang
Edition: Music CD
Audio: English (Unknown)
CD Release Date: 2008-03-25
Music Label: Decca
Soundtracks:
  1. Harbinger
  2. Animus
  3. Silhouette
  4. Shabda
  5. The Tempest
  6. Harbinger Reprise
  7. On My Heart (feat. Hayley Westenra)
  8. Aurora
  9. Prophecy
  10. On My Heart Reprise (feat. Hayley Westenra)
  11. Harmonia Mundi
  12. The Other Side
  13. Empyrean
  14. Musica Universalis

Music reviews of Music of the Spheres

Music Review: Refreshing!
Rating: 5 Stars

It's not fair for me to say that I'm no fan of Mike Oldfield's music since, before now, I had never heard anything by him - not even Tubular Bells. I had seen his name tossed around, especially in conjunction with Tubular Bells, but I never felt intrigued enough to seek out anything by him. I more or less disregarded him as a New Ager with zero musical sensibilities.

How wrong I was!

I came about this piece of music by sheer chance, it seems. In fact, I probably wouldn't have purchased the album if Amazon hadn't included it among its recommendations for things I "might also like." I checked out a couple of reviews both here and on iTunes, and it seemed that everybody who had listened to it couldn't say hardly a negative thing about it. Wondering "what gives," I decided to drop a little cash and see precisely what everyone was chattering about.

It turns out, what everyone is chattering about happens to be one of the most spectacular, luscious musical landscapes I've heard in quite a long time - and given that I'm almost constantly purchasing new music ranging from composed music (such as this) to hip-hop/rap, I feel this is quite a compliment.

This music defies physics: time altogether seems to pass by slowly, but not dull. No, far from it: every second is enjoyable! From the warm, celestial textures of the opening "Harbinger" to the soothing, blissful vocal of Hayley Westenra featured on "On My Heart," as I listen to this music I truly feel as if I'm swimming through atmospheres, dancing among the stars, and watching a divine interplay among the heavens. I'm not exaggerating. These metaphors are completely valid! The music vaguely reminds me of some of Aaron Copland's classic works ("Appalachian Spring"), and the way the vocals are utilized reminds me of Howard Shore ("Lord of the Rings") which may or may not prove to be an unfair comparison. There are hints of Oldfield's foray in to New Age as I'm reminded of Adiemus during certain sections, but I definitely don't think this is a bad thing. In all actuality, Oldfield's approach to classically composed music is refreshing given the rather stagnant nature such music has been in: either contemporary composers are selling us watered-down music in the traditional vein, or we're being exposed to unnecessary avant-garde hybrids. It's nice to hear a piece of music by a gentleman who hasn't got his head stuck in the clouds of Julliard.

Even if I never hear another work by Mike Oldfield as long as I live, this one will reign supreme among my other treasured works by the likes of Pärt, Copland, Glass, and even Sibelius.
More Music of the Spheres free music reviews:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Description of Music of the Spheres

Mike Oldfield has always been famed for his unconventional approach to music. Throughout his career he has consistently broken musical boundaries, and with Music of the Spheres he continues to do so. Taking influences from Holst and Rachmaninov as much as Steve Reich or William Orbit, this piece is classical in nature, but yet is also immediately identifiable as classic Mike Oldfield. Using a full concert orchestra and choir, and with solo parts from Mike himself on guitar, legendary soprano Hayley Westenra and renowned pianist Lang Lang, this is a work with huge emotional and musical scope. The title of the piece is a reference to something that Mike feels strongly: that all music should aim to represent the spriritual, or otherworldly elements of life: something beyond the mundane and everyday. In this he has clearly succeeded. Music of the Spheres is by turns epic, tender, mournful and triumphant. It is the work of a composer who above all can make beautiful and substantial music, regardless of genre or instrumentation.

Classical CDs
Music Genres
Bestsellers in Classical CDs
Winterscapes ImageWinterscapes
by London Philharmonic
Prophetic Voice; Published: 2000-07; Audio CD; Book
Best price: $2.75
Price in other shops: $6.99
The Queen, the Bear, & the Bumblebee ImageThe Queen, the Bear, & the Bumblebee
by Dini Petty
Children's Group; Published: 2001-03; Audio CD; Book
Best price: $13.38
Price in other shops: $13.98
Beethoven Lives Upstairs Cdr ImageClassical Kids - Beethoven Lives Upstairs Cdr
Release date: 2000-04-05; Music CD
Best price: $24.98
Tchaikovsky (Life and Works (Naxos)) ImageTchaikovsky (Life and Works (Naxos))
by Malcolm Sinclair, Jeremy Siepmann
Naxos; Published: 2003-11; Audio CD; Book
Best price: $35.99
Jose Carreras - Jubileum Concert [VHS] ImageJose Carreras - Jose Carreras - Jubileum Concert [VHS]
Sling Shot; Release date: 2000-04-18; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $5.86
Price in other shops: $9.99
Tchaikovsky - The Nutcracker / Nureyev, Park, Royal Ballet [VHS] ImageTchaikovsky - The Nutcracker / Nureyev, Park, Royal Ballet [VHS]
Kultur Video; Release date: 1997-09-09; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $29.89
Price in other shops: $29.95
Lonely Town Lonley Street / Sergeant's Early Dream [VHS] ImageRambert Dance Company - Lonely Town Lonley Street / Sergeant's Early Dream [VHS]
Kultur Video; Release date: 1997-10-28; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $14.99
Price in other shops: $29.95
Winter Music: Composing the North ImageWinter Music: Composing the North
by John Luther Adams
Wesleyan; Published: 2004-11-10; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $21.88
Price in other shops: $25.95
Puccini - La Fanciulla del West / Santi, Domingo, Neblett, Royal Opera Covent Garden [VHS] ImagePuccini - La Fanciulla del West / Santi, Domingo, Neblett, Royal Opera Covent Garden [VHS]
Kultur Video; Release date: 1999-05-25; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $6.38
Price in other shops: $29.95
Verdi - Falstaff / Giulini, Bruson, Ricciarelli, Nucci, Royal Opera Covent Garden [VHS] ImageVerdi - Falstaff / Giulini, Bruson, Ricciarelli, Nucci, Royal Opera Covent Garden [VHS]
Kultur Video; Release date: 1999-05-25; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $12.95
Price in other shops: $29.95
Similar CDs
Amarok ImageMike Oldfield - Amarok
Release date: 2000-07-31; Published: 2000; Music CD
Best price: $3.58
Price in other shops: $12.98
Tubular Bells [2009 Deluxe Edition] ImageTubular Bells [2009 Deluxe Edition]
Release date: 2009-06-09; Music CD
Best price: $17.24
Price in other shops: $36.98
Ommadawn ImageMike Oldfield - Ommadawn
Release date: 2010-06-21; Music CD
Best price: $6.33
Price in other shops: $15.98
Tubular Bells 3 ImageMike Oldfield - Tubular Bells 3
Release date: 1999-03-19; Music CD
Best price: $5.27
Price in other shops: $13.98
Guitars ImageMike Oldfield - Guitars
Release date: 1999-05-25; Music CD
Best price: $5.39
Price in other shops: $29.98
Hergest Ridge ImageMike Oldfield - Hergest Ridge
Release date: 2010-06-15; Music CD
Best price: $15.90
Price in other shops: $37.98
Light & Shade ImageMike Oldfield - Light & Shade
Release date: 2005-10-11; Music CD
Best price: $10.55
Price in other shops: $24.97
Incantations ImageMike Oldfield - Incantations
Release date: 2011-08-02; Music CD
Best price: $16.56
Price in other shops: $32.98
Voyager ImageMike Oldfield - Voyager
Release date: 2008-01-13; Music CD
Best price: $5.66
Price in other shops: $13.98
Songs of Distant Earth ImageMike Oldfield - Songs of Distant Earth
Release date: 2008-01-13; Music CD
Best price: $3.94
Price in other shops: $10.98
Books | DVD Video | VHS Video | Health and Personal Care | Digital Cameras and Photo | Kitchen and Housewares | Tools and Hardware | Sports Equipment | Dresses shirts shoes apparel pants
Copyright © 2004-2007 music-hills.com
Google
 
Web music-hills.com
Compare prices and find music notes for more than one million Music CD titles