MOTM

elle_webb@... writes:

>>It's amazing that synthesizers have been around for decades, yet so little 
serious work has been done in the area of orchestrating and performing 
classical works. There seems to be a stigma of this type of work being 
"classical lite".  Bob James, the jazz keyboardist, did a great set of 
synthesized arrangements of Rameau keyboard works. Does anybody have any 
other recommendations in this area, beyond Carlos, Tomita, and ELP?<<

I think Ken Tkacs made the good point that the lack of serious synth works 
isn't just confined to classical works.  Because of Switch On Bach's 
influence, there seemed to be a rather large ratio of classical synth 
records.  I break them into two catagories, the older analog synth records 
and the modern digital (and sometimes analog), most of which aren't worth 
listening to.  BTW, Bob James also did a Scarlatti synth record too.

Older analog records that I find well done in most places are:

* Unusual Classical Synthesizer by Tom Hankinson, EMS Putney synth.

* Tchaikovsky 1812 Overture and Nutcracker by Kraft & Alexander, Arp 2600, up 
to 200 tracks of sound in places.

* Everything You Always Wanted to Hear on the Moog, Spanish classical music

* Classical Landscapes, Tim Cross,  Bach Brandenburg #4 and Saint Matthew 
Passion are pretty good

And in the age of CDs there was so much classical synth stuff I could fill a 
page...Bach Busters, 21st Centruy Bach, Synthesizer Through All Ages, 
Favorite Synth Pieces, Bach by Design, Bach for a New Age, Baroque Busters, 
Bach/Handel 300, New Age Bach The Goldberg Variations, and on and on...  If I 
didn't think I needed this stuff in the future to demonstrate what NOT to do 
in classical synth music, I'd put the whole pile up on ebay.

As for Rick Wakeman, my favorite is his "Criminal Record".  I don't think 
I've heard any other Wakeman that compares to the total keyboard energy and 
greatness of his "Stature of Justice" piece.  And his "Judias Iscariot" is 
his most classical sounding piece, full orchestra, choir and pipe organ.

ken.tkacs@... writes:
>>Supposedly, Amin Bhatia's excellent "Interstellar Suite" was to be released 
on CD some time ago. It was his soundtrack to an imaginary sci-fi film, a 
tribute to Tomita, Carlos, John Williams, Jerry Goldsmith, etc. Really nice.<<

The closest I've heard to Tomita's style in places is from Amin Bhatia.  
"Interstellar Suite" comes from a couple of Roland synth contest entries he 
did earlier on.  I like those older versions better.  From those contest 
tapes, I recorded an MP3 of his "Flight Beyond The Stars" for somebody else 
to hear.  It's all done on just a Minimoog, but you'd think it was a lot more 
than that.  If it doesn't violate some copyright (it was never a commercial 
release) I might be able to upload it.  I just got set up with ATT, and now 
have enough storage space for greater than 2Meg files.  Just need to learn 
how to do it.

-Elhardt