Tubular Bells (50th Anniversary Edition)

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Robin Smith: There are plenty of those, my word! I really respect that, and as I said, they can go down to the pub and see a band play that almost every weekend. There’s somebody always doing that. In fact, this year the concerts are full of people doing the original version as it is – somebody’s doing the [1974] version by David Bedford with an orchestra. The difference is, I started this six years ago when I played it to Mike – who said, “This is absolutely beautiful, Robin. Do finish this off.” So I didn’t actually write this for the anniversary, I wrote this to bring it to an audience because I love the work; it’s coincidental that we’re playing it on the anniversary. Tubular bells can be used as church bells, such as at St. Alban's Anglican Church in Copenhagen, Denmark. [5] These were donated by Charles, Prince of Wales. In tubular bells, modes 4, 5, and 6 appear to determine the strike tone and have frequencies in the ratios 9 2:11 2:13 2, or 81:121:169, "which are close enough to the ratios 2:3:4 for the ear to consider them nearly harmonic and to use them as a basis for establishing a virtual pitch". [3] The perceived "strike pitch" is thus an octave below the fourth mode (i.e., the missing "1" in the above series). Along with the musicians, I’m really thrilled to be offering this beautiful re-imagined version of Tubular Bells to a wider audience up and down the country. Tubular Bells The 50th Anniversary Celebration will feature an expansive live group, conducted and arranged by Oldfield’s long-term collaborator Robin Smith. It will see Tubular Bells performed in full, along with further Oldfield compositions, touring across the UK beginning at Cardiff’s St David’s Hall on 3rd February, right through until the end of March.

The original album has been mixed into Dolby Atmos by David Kosten, and this mix will be released digitally and as part of the SDE Blu Ray edition. A special digital compilation edition edition will also be available. So I would definitely say to anybody who only knows the beginning is to embrace it, listen to it, and come and see us – I have tried to take the whole work and give it an overall modern sound which hopefully enhances all these different episodes. There are some bits which, when changed slightly, the orchestration sounds like it could have been the Game Of Thrones theme or from a Hans Zimmer film. Multi-instrumentalist Mike Oldfield named his first album Tubular Bells, best known for providing the musical theme to The Exorcist film (1973). At the beginning of his solo symphony recording project in 1972, Oldfield discovered a set of tubular bells at The Manor Studio in Oxfordshire, England, and asked new owner Richard Branson for permission to use them. The chimes were played by Oldfield on parts of the album, and they supplied the album name. Branson's company Virgin Records benefitted tremendously as Oldfield's album sold millions of copies; this also contributed to Branson's personal wealth and industry leverage. [4] Other uses [ edit ] It’s amazing to think that it’s 50 years since I started writing Tubular Bells, and I am touched that my music has reached so many people, all over the world, during that time. I am sure that the 50th Anniversary Live Concert Experience of Tubular Bells will be spectacular, theatrical, fantastical and thrilling, marking 50 years from when I started writing the music” Mike Oldfield We all filed out into the cold frosty air and everyone was clearly buzzing about what they had just seen and enjoyed. It was great to see the Dome nearly full again, and also the wide range of ages making up the audience. This is a concert for anyone, for those who grabbed the album when it came out on vinyl in 1973 to the Spotify audiences of today. Music is at its best when it’s live! A most enjoyable experience. Mike Oldfield’s ‘Tubular Bells’ The 50th Anniversary Celebration, Brighton Dome 5.2.23 (pic Ian Bourn)Joining us on the tour will be the renowned guitarist, Jay Stapley who performed with me at the iconic Tubular Bells II concert live from Edinburgh Castle in 1992. The performance also features other works by Mike Oldfield including Moonlight Shadow, Summit Day, Family Man and Ommadawn.

Robin Smith: I haven’t seen him for a while – the last time was at the 2012 Olympics in London. He’s kind of retired. Once the performers begin playing Tubular Bells and the acrobats take the stage Tubular Bells 50th Anniversary Tour becomes an entertaining mix of music and visuals with the acrobats’ performance complimenting the music but never taking the spotlight from it. The arrangement itself is close enough to the original that it doesn’t sound overly different, apart from replacing the late Vivian Stanshall as Master of Ceremonies.The Tubular Bells Concert Tour will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Tubular Bells, the iconic masterpiece will be performed live with a full band across the UK in Spring 2023. Tubular Bells Concert Tour 2023 Tubular Bells has spawned an orchestral version of the work and two sequels, Tubular Bells II and III. Aspects of the work have been incorporated into songs by metal bands Possessed and Death Angel as well as other artists including the California Guitar trio. Originally released on 25th May 1973, the Tubular Bells The 50th Anniversary Celebration tour will feature an expansive live group, arranged by Mike Oldfield’s long-term collaborator Robin A Smith.