Article summary

Legendary musician and composer Mike Oldfield returns with his follow up to 2005's 'Light & Shade' by creating his first truly classical recording. Joined by renowned composer Karl Jenkins and the Sinfonia Sfera Orchestra, 'Music Of The Spheres' sees Oldfield take inspiration from his million selling debut 'Tubular Bells' creating a unique piece of music split into two parts. Classical vocalist Hayley Westenra and acclaimed pianist Lang Lang also appear.

Music Of The Spheres By Mike Oldfield

In this world, everything has a pulse or a vibration. This sound is unique to each living or non living thing and in itself creates a music that no-one can hear. I believe that this has a very powerful resonance with, and a deep effect, on our lives. What would happen if we took this further and apply this to bigger things , more powerful things ; like an entire solar system or galaxy say, what would that sound like?

Musica Universalis is the ancient theory that every celestial body, the sun, the moon and the stars has an inner music. This is a harmonic and mathematical concept derived from the movements of the planets in the solar system. The music created is inaudible to the human ear.

Music of the Spheres is my interpretation of this theory. Every planet and every star; even the whole universe has music within it that no-one can hear, this is what it would sound like if it was set free. This is Music of the Spheres.

Mike Oldfield.

Customer's review

Good-to-be-alive music

Brought up on TB1, I have to admit to bias but without doubt this is joyous music which lifts the spirits and makes one glad to be alive. Sit back and enjoy!

Thanks, Mike.

it just gets better week after week.

Have had this lp for about a month,at first i thought it was t.b by orchestra but over the weeks it has developed a place of its own. It is not "planets" for the millenium ,it is a valid piece of classical styled music.Give it a go" your worth it".

Music?

I'd waited the two weeks it takes for parcels to cross from UK to the Gulf in huge anticipation after inadvertently discovering this album on Amazon - Oldfield taking a crack at galactic vibration - now you're talking!

What a deflationary, nay, interplanetary let-down.

I'm listening to and rejoicing in Amarok as I write - even though I'm depriving myself of sleep and have an early start, you simply cannot start Amarok and not go right through to the end of its glorious, muli-layered delights which include the most innovative bridges ever committed to tape - and I cannot help but wonder why Mike chose to align himself with Karl Jenkins and his Lowest Common Denominator Orchestral Music Prevention Officers. And I really could have done without the Queen of Twee halfway through this 21st Century Planet Suite (please!! - poor old Gustav must be spining like a top!). I am aghast and saddened that MOTS has apparently become the standard bearer for classical music ingenues????

Mike Oldfield is an under celebrated genius who has written, recorded and performed some of the world's most original, joyous, mournful, exciting, upsetting, gut-wrenching, tear-jerking, lively, funny, mind bending music in my universe - sadly, only the faintest of echoes are found on this travesty.

If, by faint chance, this is your first exposure to the wonder that is Oldfield, please, please, please treat yourself to one, more or all of Tubular Bells (an integral part of my life for 35 years), Hergest Ridge, Ommadawn, Platinum (George Gerswhin never could have known how wrenchingly beatiful I Got Rhythm could be when slowed to a crawl), Crises and, again, the hour long, singular delight that is Amarok.

Don't be misled and think that this is Mike Oldfield at his best and, please, don't let the cloth-eared nincompoops drag you down - explore the work of this man with an open mind and join in revering his extensive gifts elswhere beyond the repetitious scope of this piffle.

Where's the trademark Mike Oldfield??

This much awaited album came as a disappointment. It may be good as a classical album, but the trademark seering guitars, the power and energy in the compositions are completely lacking. I agree with many other reviewers on Amazon and elsewhere. I thought this album might grow on me, so after listening to it for 3 months or so, still I feel it has not worked it's magic. Dear Mike, please give us another trademark album before you retire!

Great as usual

Again Mike Oldfield gave us a record that is unique but has his strong style. I was just a little surprised that CD is so short - but it is because there is never enought of listening of Mike's music.

Music Of The Spheres

Article summary

Customer's review

Good-to-be-alive music

it just gets better week after week.

Music?

Where's the trademark Mike Oldfield??

Great as usual

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