Customer Reviews

Tubular Bells

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

First, be warned that despite the cover with the big 4 on it this is NOT tubular bells 4. This album consists of two tracks each of which is an arrangement of the first half of the classic Tubular Bells (I). The first arrangement is for two pianos, and two synths; while the second is for four pianos. Both pieces are performed by "Piano Ensemble" which consists of two couples. I've never heard of any of them before, though that doesn't really mean much.
All said, the album is decent, the arrangements are interesting and played well. It is obvious that a lot of work went into producing this album, along with a lot of love for Oldfield.
All in all a decent album for the Mike Oldfield collector (which I am one), but don't be fooled, it's not Mike's latest and greatest version of Bells (which he has claimed he is never going to do).

Mike Oldfield's first solo album, leading to a string of distinctive works spanning a decade before he drifted towards commercial mediocrity, remains a masterpiece.
As progressive as instrumental progressive rock gets.
We've all heard the opening piano-and-bells sequence in The Exorcist, but surprisingly few have listened to the equally-remarkable remaining 20 minutes of Part 1, much less Part 2.
Oldfield specializes in complex, overlapping, syncopated melodies and polyrhythms, foreshadowing the nouveau-classical works of Vangelis, Jean Michel Jarre, Steve Reich and many others.

I am struck by the absolute timelessness of this music. We have loved it for 30 years, and now our children all love it too. This version is beautifully played, and having the two versions on the same CD is very interesting. I prefer the total piano version. Its a great record. Greg Yates in Adelaide, Australia.

This is an amazing album all around. The performances are sharp and neat, while the sound is full, clear, and resonant in all the right places. Highly recommended.

And what stunningly beautiful interpretations these two versions turned out to be.

Certainly, much of the grittiness of the original work is lost to orchestrations which utilize pianos alone or pianos with subtle synth parts.

Frankly, I think that's beside the point.

Questions I always have: Does this new work give me fresh insights into the old? Does this new recording bear repeated listening and does it entertain me in a way similar to the original work? In a 'nostalgic' work such as this, does it take me back to a time and place like the original does?

All I can say is yes, yes, and yes.

The pianists are technically brilliant. The sound is superb. And the shimmering flow of this unique set of orchestrations is inspiring.

I am usually the first to dismiss some lame new reinterpretation of a brilliant work that should probably be left untouched.

But this CD won me over big time.

What sounds like a really interesting idea--arranging Tubular Bells for four keyboards--turns out to be a dud. The ensemble arranged only part I of the piece and recorded it twice, once for two pianos and two synths and the better of the two for four pianos. Both versions leave off the very end of part I. Maybe if they released a recording with the entire composition, I would find something rewarding in listening to an otherwise lackluster performance.

.....a golden & good interpretation...good show! bravo!...goes right along with the other 'tubulars'....they need a box set of all the tubular bells with the live DVD versions!...there already is a Tubular Bells IV(4)..it is my understnding it is the Millenium Bell..& the live DVD from Berlin....ENJOY!

Although I enjoy piano versions of music, this album was just not the same for me as the original new age concept music. Oldfield has commented in his autobiography that the insight which gave him his first two albums seems in some ways to have been lost forever, and for me there is simply nothing like the original versions of Tubular Bells and Hergest Ridge.