Passion: Music for The Last Temptation of Christ
Encyclopedia
Passion: Music for The Last Temptation of Christ is a musical album released in 1989 by Peter Gabriel
. It is his second soundtrack and eighth album overall. It was originally composed as the soundtrack
for the film The Last Temptation of Christ
, but Gabriel spent several months after the film's release further developing the music, finally releasing it as a full-fledged album instead of a "movie soundtrack". It is seen as a landmark in the popularisation of world music
, and it won a Grammy in 1990 for Best New Age Album. It was remastered with most of Gabriel's catalogue in 2002.
, Africa
, and South Asia
. He worked with them to create music meant to enhance the mood of the film, but also added a modern ambient music
al touch to the original pieces, producing a musical work that has influenced many musicians in the years since its release. Passion introduced many listeners to such artists as Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Youssou N'Dour
, L. Shankar
, and Baaba Maal
.
Later in the year a companion album was released, Passion – Sources, featuring additional songs on which Gabriel does not perform. Gabriel described this album as "a selection of some of the traditional music, sources of inspiration, and location recordings."
The cover art for the album, Drawing study for Self Image II (1987), is a mixed media composition by the artist Julian Grater.
Side One
Side Two
Side Three
Side Four
and Gabriel) and "Stigmata" (based on improvisation by Mahmoud Tabrizi Zadeh and Gabriel). "Zaar" was written around a traditional Egyptian rhythm which is performed to fend off evil spirits.
Peter Gabriel
Peter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
. It is his second soundtrack and eighth album overall. It was originally composed as the soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
for the film The Last Temptation of Christ
The Last Temptation of Christ (film)
The Last Temptation of Christ is a 1988 drama film directed by Martin Scorsese. It is a film adaptation of the controversial 1953 novel of the same name by Nikos Kazantzakis. It stars Willem Dafoe as Jesus Christ, Harvey Keitel as Judas Iscariot, Barbara Hershey as Mary Magdalene, David Bowie as...
, but Gabriel spent several months after the film's release further developing the music, finally releasing it as a full-fledged album instead of a "movie soundtrack". It is seen as a landmark in the popularisation of world music
World music
World music is a term with widely varying definitions, often encompassing music which is primarily identified as another genre. This is evidenced by world music definitions such as "all of the music in the world" or "somebody else's local music"...
, and it won a Grammy in 1990 for Best New Age Album. It was remastered with most of Gabriel's catalogue in 2002.
Overview
As the soundtrack for the film, Gabriel used the resources of the organisation he founded, WOMAD, to bring together musicians from the Middle EastMiddle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
, Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, and South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
. He worked with them to create music meant to enhance the mood of the film, but also added a modern ambient music
Ambient music
Ambient music is a musical genre that focuses largely on the timbral characteristics of sounds, often organized or performed to evoke an "atmospheric", "visual" or "unobtrusive" quality.- History :...
al touch to the original pieces, producing a musical work that has influenced many musicians in the years since its release. Passion introduced many listeners to such artists as Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Youssou N'Dour
Youssou N'Dour
Youssou N'Dour is a Senegalese singer, percussionist and occasional actor. In 2004, Rolling Stone described him as, in Senegal and much of Africa, "perhaps the most famous singer alive." He helped develop a style of popular music in Senegal, known in the Serer language as mbalax, a type of music...
, L. Shankar
L. Shankar
Lakshminarayanan Shankar, also known as L. Shankar and Shenkar, is an Indian-born American violinist, singer and composer.-Early life:...
, and Baaba Maal
Baaba Maal
Baaba Maal is a Senegalese singer and guitarist born in Podor, on the Senegal River. In addition to acoustic guitar, he also plays percussion. He has released several albums, both for independent and major labels. In July 2003, he was made a UNDP Youth Emissary.-Biography:Born 12 November 1953...
.
Later in the year a companion album was released, Passion – Sources, featuring additional songs on which Gabriel does not perform. Gabriel described this album as "a selection of some of the traditional music, sources of inspiration, and location recordings."
The cover art for the album, Drawing study for Self Image II (1987), is a mixed media composition by the artist Julian Grater.
Track listing
All compositions written by Peter Gabriel except as indicated in the Personnel section below.Side One
- "The Feeling Begins" – 4:00
- "GethsemaneGethsemaneGethsemane is a garden at the foot of the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem most famous as the place where, according to Biblical texts, Jesus and his disciples are said to have prayed the night before Jesus' crucifixion.- Etymology :...
" – 1:26 - "Of These, Hope" – 3:55
- "LazarusLazarus of BethanyLazarus of Bethany, also known as Saint Lazarus or Lazarus of the Four Days, is the subject of a prominent miracle attributed to Jesus in the Gospel of John, in which Jesus restores him to life four days after his death...
Raised" – 1:26 - "Of These, Hope - Reprise" – 2:44
- "In Doubt" – 1:33
- "A Different Drum" – 4:40
Side Two
- "Zaar" – 4:53
- "Troubled" – 2:55
- "Open" – 3:27
- "Before Night Falls" – 2:18
- "With This Love" – 3:40
Side Three
- "Sandstorm" – 3:02
- "StigmataStigmataStigmata are bodily marks, sores, or sensations of pain in locations corresponding to the crucifixion wounds of Jesus, such as the hands and feet...
" – 2:28 - "Passion" – 7:39
- "With This Love (Choir)" – 3:20
Side Four
- "Wall of Breath" – 2:29
- "The Promise of Shadows" – 2:13
- "Disturbed" – 3:35
- "It Is Accomplished" – 2:55
- "Bread and Wine" – 2:21
Personnel
Compositions by Peter Gabriel, with the exception of "Open" (based on an improvisation by L. ShankarL. Shankar
Lakshminarayanan Shankar, also known as L. Shankar and Shenkar, is an Indian-born American violinist, singer and composer.-Early life:...
and Gabriel) and "Stigmata" (based on improvisation by Mahmoud Tabrizi Zadeh and Gabriel). "Zaar" was written around a traditional Egyptian rhythm which is performed to fend off evil spirits.
- The Feeling Begins
- Manny EliasManny EliasManny Elias is an English drummer, notable for being the original drummer with Tears for Fears during the 1980s.Originally a member of the rock band Interview from Bath, Somerset. Elias began working with Tears For Fears in 1982 and drummed on the albums The Hurting and Songs From The Big Chair,...
- octabans, surdoSurdoFor the football player of the same name see Surdu.The surdo is a large bass drum used in many kinds of Brazilian music, most notably in Axé/Samba-reggae and samba and its variants, where it plays the lower parts from a percussion section....
, skins - Hossam RamzyHossam RamzyHossam Ramzy is an Egyptian percussionist and composer. He has worked with Western artists like Jimmy Page and Robert Plant as well as with Arabic music artists like Rachid Taha and Khaled.-Early life and career:...
- finger cymbals, tablaTablaThe tabla is a popular Indian percussion instrument used in Hindustani classical music and in popular and devotional music of the Indian subcontinent. The instrument consists of a pair of hand drums of contrasting sizes and timbres...
, dufs - Peter GabrielPeter GabrielPeter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
- synthesizers, shakers, skins, surdo - David BottrillDavid BottrillDavid Bottrill is a Canadian record producer. He has won three Grammys. Currently, he owns Rattlebox Studios in Toronto, Ontario with producer Brian Moncarz...
- drone mix - David Rhodes - guitar
- L. ShankarL. ShankarLakshminarayanan Shankar, also known as L. Shankar and Shenkar, is an Indian-born American violinist, singer and composer.-Early life:...
- double violin - Vatche Housepian - Armenian doudoukDudukThe duduk , traditionally known since antiquity as a Ծիրանափող is a traditional woodwind instrument indigenous to Armenia. Variations of it are popular in the Middle East and Central Asia...
- Antranik Askarian - Armenian doudouk
- The doudouk is playing an Armenian melody, "The Wind Subsides". (Armenian doudouks recorded for Ocora Records under the direction of Robert Ataian.)
- Manny Elias
- Gethsemane
- Peter Gabriel - flute samples, flute, voices
- Of These, Hope
- Massamba Dlop - talking drum
- Peter Gabriel - bass, percussion, flute whistle, Prophet 5
- L. Shankar - double violin
- David Rhodes - guitar
- Mustafa Abdel Aziz - arghulArghulThe arghul , also spelled argul, arghoul, arghool, argol, or yarghul , is a traditional Arabic musical instrument...
drone
- Lazarus Raised
- (Players unknown) - Kurdish dudukDudukThe duduk , traditionally known since antiquity as a Ծիրանափող is a traditional woodwind instrument indigenous to Armenia. Variations of it are popular in the Middle East and Central Asia...
& tenbur - David Rhodes - guitars
- Peter Gabriel - piano, Akai S900
- This piece incorporates a traditional melody from Kurdistan telling of the unhappy love of a young girl for Bave Seyro, a legendary warrior. (Kurdish duduks are from UNESCOUNESCOThe United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
Collection - A Musical Anthology Of The Orient, general editor Alain Danielou for Musicaphon Records.)
- (Players unknown) - Kurdish duduk
- Of These, Hope - Reprise
- Massamba Dlop - talking drum
- Peter Gabriel - bass, percussion, flute whistle, Prophet 5
- L. Shankar - double violin
- David Rhodes - guitar
- Mustafa Abdel Aziz - arghul drone
- Baaba MaalBaaba MaalBaaba Maal is a Senegalese singer and guitarist born in Podor, on the Senegal River. In addition to acoustic guitar, he also plays percussion. He has released several albums, both for independent and major labels. In July 2003, he was made a UNDP Youth Emissary.-Biography:Born 12 November 1953...
- vocals - Fatala - additional percussion
- In Doubt
- Peter Gabriel - Audioframe, FairlightFairlight CMIThe Fairlight CMI is a digital sampling synthesizer. It was designed in 1979 by the founders of Fairlight, Peter Vogel and Kim Ryrie, and based on a dual-6800 microprocessor computer designed by Tony Furse in Sydney, Australia...
samples, vocals - Mahmoud Tabrizi Zadeh - kementchéKamanchehThe kamānche or kamāncha is a Persian bowed string instrument related to the bowed rebab, the historical ancestor of the kamancheh and also to the bowed lira of the Byzantine Empire, ancestor of the European violin family. The strings are played with a variable-tension bow: the word "kamancheh"...
- Peter Gabriel - Audioframe, Fairlight
- A Different Drum
- Doudou N'Diaye RoseDoudou N'Diaye RoseDoudou N'Diaye Rose , born Mamadou N'Diaye in Dakar, is Senegalese drummer composer and band leader, and is the recognized modern master of Senegal's traditional drum, the sabar...
- percussion loop (four bars) - Fatala - percussion loop (three bars)
- Peter Gabriel - surdo, percussion, Audioframe, Prophet 5, voice
- L. Shankar - double violin
- Youssou N'DourYoussou N'DourYoussou N'Dour is a Senegalese singer, percussionist and occasional actor. In 2004, Rolling Stone described him as, in Senegal and much of Africa, "perhaps the most famous singer alive." He helped develop a style of popular music in Senegal, known in the Serer language as mbalax, a type of music...
- voice - David SanciousDavid SanciousDavid Sancious is an American musician. He was an early member of Bruce Springsteen's backing group, the E Street Band, and contributed to the first three Springsteen albums, and again on the 1992 album Human Touch. Sancious is a multi-instrumentalist but is best known as a keyboard player and...
- backing vocals
- Doudou N'Diaye Rose
- Zaar
- Hossam Ramzy - tambourines, dufs, tabla, finger cymbals, triangle
- Peter Gabriel - surdo, additional percussion, Audioframe, Akai S900, voice
- Nathan EastNathan EastNathan Harrell East is a jazz, R&B and rock bass player and vocalist. East holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from the University of California, San Diego...
- bass - David Rhodes - guitar
- Mahmoud Tabrizi Zadeh - kementché
- L. Shankar - double violin
- Troubled
- Bill CobhamBilly CobhamWilliam C. Cobham is a Panamanian American jazz drummer, composer and bandleader, who has called Switzerland home since the late 1970s....
- drums, percussion - Hossam Ramzy - finger cymbals
- Peter Gabriel - percussion, Fairlight, Emulator, backing vocals
- David Sancious - backing vocals
- Bill Cobham
- Open
- Peter Gabriel - Prophet 5, Akai S900, vocals
- L. Shankar - double violin, vocals
- Before Night Falls
- Hossam Ramzy - finger cymbals, tabla, dufs
- Kudsi ErgunerKudsi ErgunerKudsi Erguner is a Turkish musician. He is considered a master of traditional Mevlevi Sufi music and is one of the best-known players of the Turkish ney flute.-Biography:...
- neyNeyThe ney is an end-blown flute that figures prominently in Middle Eastern music. In some of these musical traditions, it is the only wind instrument used. It is a very ancient instrument, with depictions of ney players appearing in wall paintings in the Egyptian pyramids and actual neys being found...
flute (playing a traditional Armenian melody) - L. Shankar - double violin
- The Ney flute is playing a traditional Armenian melody.
- With This Love
- Robin Canter - oboe, cor Anglais
- L. Shankar - double violin
- David Sancious - Akai S900, synthesizer arrangement
- Peter Gabriel - Audioframe, Fairlight, piano, Prophet 5, synthesizer arrangement
- Sandstorm
- Location Recording - Moroccan percussion & vocals
- Hossam Ramzy - surdo, tabla, tambourine dufs, mazhar
- Manu KatchéManu KatchéManu Katché is a French musician of Ivorian origin, born in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés on 27 October 1958. He is a drummer and songwriter.-Career:Session musician...
- additional percussion - Mahmoud Tabrizi Zadeh - kementché
- L. Shankar - double violin
- Peter Gabriel - Fairlight
- Stigmata
- Mahmoud Tabrizi Zadeh - kementché
- Peter Gabriel - Prophet 5, voice
- Based on an improvisation by Mahmoud and Peter Gabriel
- Passion
- Djalma Correa - Brazilian percussion
- Jon HassellJon HassellJon Hassell is an American trumpet player and composer. He is known for his influence in the world music scene and his unusual electronic manipulation of the trumpet sound.-Life and career:...
- trumpet - Peter Gabriel - Prophet 5, Akai S900, Fairlight, voice
- Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan - Qawwali voice
- L. Shankar - double violin
- Youssou N'Dour - voice
- Julian Wilkins - choirboy
- With This Love (Choir)
- Robin Canter - cor anglais
- Richard Evans - choir recording
- Wall Of Breath
- Kudsi Erguner - Turkish ney flute
- L. Shankar - double violin
- Musicians Du Nil - arghul
- David Rhodes - Ebow guitar
- Peter Gabriel - synthesizers
- The Promise Of Shadows
- Bill Cobham - drum kit
- David Bottrill - lead tambourine
- Peter Gabriel - Emulator, Prophet 5, Audioframe, additional percussion
- David Rhodes - guitar
- Disturbed
- Hossam Ramzy - surdo, tabla
- Mustafa Abdel Aziz - percussion loop
- Said Mohammad Aly - percussion loop
- Fatala - African percussion
- L. Shankar - double violin
- Peter Gabriel - Fairlight, Prophet 5
- It Is Accomplished
- Bill Cobham - drums, tambourine
- David Bottrill - tambourine 2, distorted slide
- Nathan East - bass
- Mustafa Abdel Aziz - arghul drone
- David Sancious - Hammond organ
- David Rhodes - Steinberger guitar
- Peter Gabriel - doholla, additional percussion, Roland D-50, piano, Prophet 5, voice
- Bread and Wine
- Peter Gabriel - contrabass, Prophet 5, voice
- David Rhodes - EBow guitar
- Richard Evans - tin whistle
- L. Shankar - double violin