Tolga Kashif
Encyclopedia
Tolga Kashif (born 1962) is a British
born musical conductor, composer, orchestrator, producer and arranger of Turkish Cypriot descent.
. Before going on to further education, Kashif went to Forest School. His compositional and conducting studies at the Royal College of Music
led him subsequently to Bristol University with Derek Bourgeois
. He had his professional début with the London Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
, resulting in further collaborations with the City of London Sinfonia
, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Northern Sinfonia
and the Wren Orchestra. He has been the Music Director of the London Amadeus Choir, which is thought to have influenced the choral elements of Queen Symphony. In 1992 he became the Associate Conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra, with whom he has enjoyed many successful orchestral concerts, particularly at the Barbican Arts Centre (formerly Barbican Hall).
Kashif's work overseas has also been highly reputable. He has conducted the Polish National Symphony and the St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra. In 1989, he worked with the London Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
abroad in a series of successful concerts held as part of the Istanbul International Festival of the same year. In 1991 he was assigned the position of Permanent Guest Conductor of the Presidential Symphony Orchestra
.
. Through this programme, he composed the soundtrack for Silver Fox Films' children's animation First Snow of Winter (1999), which won a British Academy of Film and Television Arts
Award, a Royal Television Award and a Prix Jeunesse. Following the film's success, Kashif wrote the music to the sequel: The Second Star to the Left (2001). He also wrote the soundtrack for Where the Heart Is (1997 TV series)
, Q.E.D. (TV series)
and the BBC's series of documentaries concerning the Gulf War: Fighting the War. Kashif musically directed the BBC Children in Need's Platinum-selling single, Perfect Day (1997). Not only did it win many accolades and media awards, but it grossed £2,125,000 for Children in Need.
From 2000 to the present, he has worked with music engineer Steven Price on various advertising campaigns for Blockbuster (movie rental store)
, Vodafone
, Nokia
, Marmite
and Zurich Insurance, to name a few.
at the Barbican Arts Centre. In 2004 he both produced and arranged Choreography (Vanessa-Mae album)
for Sony Classical Records
and Maksim Mrvica
's Variations Part I&II
for EMI
. In the same year, he conducted the ECO in Roland Chadwick's The Revealing. Kashif worked with the London Metropolitan Orchestra
when recording 3 tracks for Amy Nuttall
in her crossover album for EMI Classics
: Best Days (2005). He used 33 strings (music)
, flutes, oboes, horn
s, trumpet
s and trombones for the songs, and they were recorded by engineer Geoff Foster at AIR Lyndhurst Hall.
Kashif has recently worked closely with Lesley Garrett
. In an interview, she claimed they go back a long way and that he has a real understanding of her sound. For her cassette, The Singer (2002), he was the conductor. He then orchestrated all of the songs in her album, When I Fall In Love (2007). This ballad collection reached no 11 in the UK Album Chart.
Kashif was also invited by the famous Korean Rock Icon, Seo Taiji, to collaborate and combine Seo Taiji's past music and extraordinary hits, with Kashif's noteworthy orchestral composition and respected talent. The two presented their works at "The Great Seo Taiji Symphony" Concert held in Seoul, South Korea at the World Cup Stadium on September 27, 2008. Many Korean critics expected this collaboration to be "one of the most interesting projects done in Korea, yet." In fact, the concert was such a huge success that an encore performance was given in December 2008.
. The composer went on record explaining his inspiration behind the music.
"The well known phrase 'a drop in the ocean' to me represents a universal choice for humanity; either to view ourselves as separate and insignificant or each of us as a unique part of the whole, the 'ocean' of consciousness. I think it is important for children to understand that however small we may feel at times, we all have a crucial part to play both now and in the future. May we never lose the child in us."
The song was recorded by the New London Children's Choir at Abbey Road Studios
. It was premiered at the Royal Festival Hall
, and was so successful that it received a further performance at the Commonwealth Day Observance at Westminster Abbey
in the presence of Her Majesty Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
. Its subsequent CD and Education Pack was mailed to every school in the country.
, Kashif is a patron of the registered charity, Future Talent. This organisation strives for the high prioritisation of music in Primary schools across the UK - they "nurture the musical talent of the future". On their website, Kashif explains why he is a proud sponsor.
"As a child I was fortunate enough to benefit from encouragement and teaching from a wide range of sources. Through music I have had the privilege to experience remarkable moments and have seen its capacity not only to please and harmonise, but also to heal. I have great pleasure in serving Future Talent".
Quote used courtesy of Future Talent
in its debut on Wednesday 6 November 2002. It was performed in the Royal Festival Hall
and broadcast on ABC TV
to a wide European audience. That night, it received a standing ovation from over two thousand people. This concert was attended by Jer Bulsara (Freddie Mercury's mother), drummer Roger Taylor and guitarist Brian May. They "very much enjoyed it" and they said it was "very moving indeed". Queen Symphony was nominated Album of the Year in the 2003 Classical Brit Awards
.
In 2003 Kashif directed the Northern Sinfonia
in UK tours with Lesley Garrett
. He conducted the Turkish première of Queen Symphony at the International Izmir Festival. He also directed the piece in Australia
in two sold-out performances at the Sydney Opera House
with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. These were broadcast on ABC Classic FM
.
said that he would "like people to put their own interpretation" on his own songs, and Kashif did just that. It is a work comprising six movements - Adagio Misterioso, Allegretto, Adagio, Allegro Vivo, Andante Doloroso and Andante Sostenuto. It is based on around a dozen well-known melodies from the rock
band
Queen
. These include "Bohemian Rhapsody
", "We Will Rock You
", "We Are the Champions
" and "Who Wants to Live Forever
", the latter including a performance by Nicola Loud
. Some critics have compared the overall effect with the work of John Williams
, notably his Star Wars
score. Others have considered the choral elements of the Queen Symphony to be a nod to the rock band's own lavish tendencies, in addition to Kashif's spell as musical director of the London Amadeus Choir. The piece has been performed regularly and in 2004 received US and Dutch premières.
in London, Tolga Kashif conducted the London Symphony Orchestra
in the world premiere of his new composition, The Genesis Suite, based on the music of the Progressive rock
band Genesis
. The suite was recorded that same year at Abbey Road Studios
.
It is composed of seven movements, based on different songs from the band. The first movement is a "filmic" adaptation of the two songs Land of Confusion
and Tonight, Tonight, Tonight. The second is based on Ripples (song)
, which is for Piano and Orchestra. The third movement is a Concertante Fantasy for Violin and Orchestra, based on the tune Mad Man Moon, and is the longest piece in the suite (at 16 minutes 40 seconds long). The forth movement is a comparatively shorter adaptation of Follow You Follow Me. The fifth movement is based on Fading Lights
. The penultimate movement is a solo piano adaptation of Entangled (song)
. The final movement, echoing the character of the opening movement, is a "filmic" adaptation of the two songs Undertow (song) and Blood on the rooftops.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
born musical conductor, composer, orchestrator, producer and arranger of Turkish Cypriot descent.
Early life
Turkish-Cypriot Tolga Kashif was born in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Before going on to further education, Kashif went to Forest School. His compositional and conducting studies at the Royal College of Music
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
led him subsequently to Bristol University with Derek Bourgeois
Derek Bourgeois
Derek Bourgeois is an English composer. Educated at Cambridge University , he spent two years at the Royal College of Music studying composition with Herbert Howells and conducting with Sir Adrian Boult.From 1970 to 1984 he was a lecturer in music at Bristol University, and then Director of the...
. He had his professional début with the London Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is a British orchestra based in London. It tours widely, and is sometimes referred to as "Britain's national orchestra"...
, resulting in further collaborations with the City of London Sinfonia
City of London Sinfonia
The City of London Sinfonia is an English chamber orchestra based in London. In London, the CLS performs regularly at Cadogan Hall and St Paul's Cathedral. It is also the resident orchestra at Opera Holland Park. The CLS has annual residencies in four towns in Southern England: Ipswich, King's...
, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Northern Sinfonia
Northern Sinfonia
The Northern Sinfonia is a British chamber orchestra, based initially in Newcastle upon Tyne, and currently in Gateshead. For the first 46 years of its history, the orchestra gave the bulk of its concerts at the City Hall, Newcastle upon Tyne. Since 2004, the orchestra has been resident at The...
and the Wren Orchestra. He has been the Music Director of the London Amadeus Choir, which is thought to have influenced the choral elements of Queen Symphony. In 1992 he became the Associate Conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra, with whom he has enjoyed many successful orchestral concerts, particularly at the Barbican Arts Centre (formerly Barbican Hall).
Kashif's work overseas has also been highly reputable. He has conducted the Polish National Symphony and the St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra. In 1989, he worked with the London Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is a British orchestra based in London. It tours widely, and is sometimes referred to as "Britain's national orchestra"...
abroad in a series of successful concerts held as part of the Istanbul International Festival of the same year. In 1991 he was assigned the position of Permanent Guest Conductor of the Presidential Symphony Orchestra
Presidential Symphony Orchestra
Presidential Symphony Orchestra is the presidential symphony orchestra of the Republic of Turkey. It is headquartered in Ankara...
.
The Music Sculptors
As of 1989, Kashif's role as a creative partner in "The Music Sculptors" - one of the principal companies specialising in sound-to-picture - saw him combining his roles as Composer, Conductor and Producer. He worked with some more highly regarded ensembles, including the BBC Symphony, BBC Scottish Symphony and the English Chamber OrchestraEnglish Chamber Orchestra
The English Chamber Orchestra is a British chamber orchestra based in London. The full orchestra regularly plays concerts at Cadogan Hall, and the ECO Ensemble performs at Wigmore Hall...
. Through this programme, he composed the soundtrack for Silver Fox Films' children's animation First Snow of Winter (1999), which won a British Academy of Film and Television Arts
British Academy of Film and Television Arts
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts is a charity in the United Kingdom that hosts annual awards shows for excellence in film, television, television craft, video games and forms of animation.-Introduction:...
Award, a Royal Television Award and a Prix Jeunesse. Following the film's success, Kashif wrote the music to the sequel: The Second Star to the Left (2001). He also wrote the soundtrack for Where the Heart Is (1997 TV series)
Where the Heart Is (1997 TV series)
Where the Heart Is is a British television drama series set in the fictional town Skelthwaite.First shown in 1997, it was created by Ashley Pharoah and Vicky Featherstone...
, Q.E.D. (TV series)
Q.E.D. (TV series)
Q.E.D. was a 1982 short-lived adventure series set in Edwardian England, starring Sam Waterston as Professor Quentin Everett Deverill . The Professor was a scientific detective in the mold of Sherlock Holmes, and the series had a smattering of what would later be known as steampunk...
and the BBC's series of documentaries concerning the Gulf War: Fighting the War. Kashif musically directed the BBC Children in Need's Platinum-selling single, Perfect Day (1997). Not only did it win many accolades and media awards, but it grossed £2,125,000 for Children in Need.
From 2000 to the present, he has worked with music engineer Steven Price on various advertising campaigns for Blockbuster (movie rental store)
Blockbuster (movie rental store)
Blockbuster LLC is an American-based provider of home video and video game rental services, originally through video rental shops , later adding DVD-by-mail, streaming video on demand, and kiosks. At its peak in 2009, Blockbuster had up to 60,000 employees. There are around 1700 Blockbuster...
, Vodafone
Vodafone
Vodafone Group Plc is a global telecommunications company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's largest mobile telecommunications company measured by revenues and the world's second-largest measured by subscribers , with around 341 million proportionate subscribers as of...
, Nokia
Nokia
Nokia Corporation is a Finnish multinational communications corporation that is headquartered in Keilaniemi, Espoo, a city neighbouring Finland's capital Helsinki...
, Marmite
Marmite
Marmite is the name given to two similar food spreads: the original British version, first produced in the United Kingdom and later South Africa, and a version produced in New Zealand...
and Zurich Insurance, to name a few.
Musical Collaborations
Kashif co-wrote the original score for the feature film, The Criminal (2000), with Mark Sayer-Wade. He conducted the world premiere of his composition, The Garden of the Prophet (2000) with the English Chamber OrchestraEnglish Chamber Orchestra
The English Chamber Orchestra is a British chamber orchestra based in London. The full orchestra regularly plays concerts at Cadogan Hall, and the ECO Ensemble performs at Wigmore Hall...
at the Barbican Arts Centre. In 2004 he both produced and arranged Choreography (Vanessa-Mae album)
Choreography (Vanessa-Mae album)
Choreography is a Vanessa-Mae album featuring work by Vangelis, Bill Whelan, A. R. Rahman, Tolga Kashif, and Walter Taieb. She performs with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra....
for Sony Classical Records
Sony Classical Records
Sony Classical Records was started in 1927 as Columbia Masterworks Records, a subsidiary of the American Columbia Records. In 1948, it issued the first commercially successful long-playing 12" record...
and Maksim Mrvica
Maksim Mrvica
Maksim Mrvica is a Croatian pianist. He plays classical crossover music.- History :Mrvica was born in Šibenik, Croatia. He took up piano lessons from the age of nine from Marija Sekso and gave his first public performance in the same year. Just three years later he gave his first concert...
's Variations Part I&II
Variations Part I&II
Variations Part I&II is Croatian pianist Maksim Mrvica's third album, including his first album, "Gestures".-Track listing:#Tonci Huljic: "Kolibre"#Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No.1#Sakamoto: "Merry Christmas Mr...
for EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
. In the same year, he conducted the ECO in Roland Chadwick's The Revealing. Kashif worked with the London Metropolitan Orchestra
London Metropolitan Orchestra
London Metropolitan Orchestra , founded in 1994, is a London-based studio orchestra whose primary function is to record music for film, television, and other multimedia projects...
when recording 3 tracks for Amy Nuttall
Amy Nuttall
Amy Nuttall is an English actress and singer most notable for playing the role of Chloe Atkinson in the long-running ITV soap opera Emmerdale from 2000 until 2005.-Early life:...
in her crossover album for EMI Classics
EMI Classics
EMI Classics is a record label of EMI, formed in 1990 in order to reduce the need to create country-specific packaging and catalogs for internationally distributed classical music releases....
: Best Days (2005). He used 33 strings (music)
Strings (music)
A string is the vibrating element that produces sound in string instruments, such as the guitar, harp, piano, and members of the violin family. Strings are lengths of a flexible material kept under tension so that they may vibrate freely, but controllably. Strings may be "plain"...
, flutes, oboes, horn
Horn (instrument)
The horn is a brass instrument consisting of about of tubing wrapped into a coil with a flared bell. A musician who plays the horn is called a horn player ....
s, trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
s and trombones for the songs, and they were recorded by engineer Geoff Foster at AIR Lyndhurst Hall.
Kashif has recently worked closely with Lesley Garrett
Lesley Garrett
Lesley Garrett CBE is an English musician, broadcaster and media personality.- Early life :Garrett was born in the town of Thorne near Doncaster in South Yorkshire, into a musical family. She attended Thorne Grammar School, where she performed in school plays and musicals. As she grew up she...
. In an interview, she claimed they go back a long way and that he has a real understanding of her sound. For her cassette, The Singer (2002), he was the conductor. He then orchestrated all of the songs in her album, When I Fall In Love (2007). This ballad collection reached no 11 in the UK Album Chart.
Kashif was also invited by the famous Korean Rock Icon, Seo Taiji, to collaborate and combine Seo Taiji's past music and extraordinary hits, with Kashif's noteworthy orchestral composition and respected talent. The two presented their works at "The Great Seo Taiji Symphony" Concert held in Seoul, South Korea at the World Cup Stadium on September 27, 2008. Many Korean critics expected this collaboration to be "one of the most interesting projects done in Korea, yet." In fact, the concert was such a huge success that an encore performance was given in December 2008.
National Foundation for Youth Music
In March 2002, Kashif received a commission from the NFYM to write a song for youth: Drop In the Ocean, with additional lyrics by Richard StilgoeRichard Stilgoe
Richard Henry Simpson Stilgoe OBE is a British songwriter, lyricist and musician. He is noted for clever wordplay as much as for his music....
. The composer went on record explaining his inspiration behind the music.
"The well known phrase 'a drop in the ocean' to me represents a universal choice for humanity; either to view ourselves as separate and insignificant or each of us as a unique part of the whole, the 'ocean' of consciousness. I think it is important for children to understand that however small we may feel at times, we all have a crucial part to play both now and in the future. May we never lose the child in us."
The song was recorded by the New London Children's Choir at Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios is a recording studio located at 3 Abbey Road, St John's Wood, City of Westminster, London, England. It was established in November 1931 by the Gramophone Company, a predecessor of British music company EMI, its present owner...
. It was premiered at the Royal Festival Hall
Royal Festival Hall
The Royal Festival Hall is a 2,900-seat concert, dance and talks venue within Southbank Centre in London. It is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames, not far from Hungerford Bridge. It is a Grade I listed building - the first post-war building to become so protected...
, and was so successful that it received a further performance at the Commonwealth Day Observance at Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
in the presence of Her Majesty Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
. Its subsequent CD and Education Pack was mailed to every school in the country.
Future Talent
Along with his good friend Lesley GarrettLesley Garrett
Lesley Garrett CBE is an English musician, broadcaster and media personality.- Early life :Garrett was born in the town of Thorne near Doncaster in South Yorkshire, into a musical family. She attended Thorne Grammar School, where she performed in school plays and musicals. As she grew up she...
, Kashif is a patron of the registered charity, Future Talent. This organisation strives for the high prioritisation of music in Primary schools across the UK - they "nurture the musical talent of the future". On their website, Kashif explains why he is a proud sponsor.
"As a child I was fortunate enough to benefit from encouragement and teaching from a wide range of sources. Through music I have had the privilege to experience remarkable moments and have seen its capacity not only to please and harmonise, but also to heal. I have great pleasure in serving Future Talent".
Quote used courtesy of Future Talent
History
Kashif spent two years composing the Queen Symphony. He conducted the Royal Philharmonic OrchestraRoyal Philharmonic Orchestra
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is a British orchestra based in London. It tours widely, and is sometimes referred to as "Britain's national orchestra"...
in its debut on Wednesday 6 November 2002. It was performed in the Royal Festival Hall
Royal Festival Hall
The Royal Festival Hall is a 2,900-seat concert, dance and talks venue within Southbank Centre in London. It is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames, not far from Hungerford Bridge. It is a Grade I listed building - the first post-war building to become so protected...
and broadcast on ABC TV
ABC Television
ABC Television is a service of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation launched in 1956. As a public broadcasting broadcaster, the ABC provides four non-commercial channels within Australia, and a partially advertising-funded satellite channel overseas....
to a wide European audience. That night, it received a standing ovation from over two thousand people. This concert was attended by Jer Bulsara (Freddie Mercury's mother), drummer Roger Taylor and guitarist Brian May. They "very much enjoyed it" and they said it was "very moving indeed". Queen Symphony was nominated Album of the Year in the 2003 Classical Brit Awards
Classical Brit Awards
The Classic BRIT Awards are an annual awards ceremony held in the United Kingdom covering aspects of classical music, and are the classical equivalent of pop music's BRIT Awards....
.
In 2003 Kashif directed the Northern Sinfonia
Northern Sinfonia
The Northern Sinfonia is a British chamber orchestra, based initially in Newcastle upon Tyne, and currently in Gateshead. For the first 46 years of its history, the orchestra gave the bulk of its concerts at the City Hall, Newcastle upon Tyne. Since 2004, the orchestra has been resident at The...
in UK tours with Lesley Garrett
Lesley Garrett
Lesley Garrett CBE is an English musician, broadcaster and media personality.- Early life :Garrett was born in the town of Thorne near Doncaster in South Yorkshire, into a musical family. She attended Thorne Grammar School, where she performed in school plays and musicals. As she grew up she...
. He conducted the Turkish première of Queen Symphony at the International Izmir Festival. He also directed the piece in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in two sold-out performances at the Sydney Opera House
Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in the Australian city of Sydney. It was conceived and largely built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, finally opening in 1973 after a long gestation starting with his competition-winning design in 1957...
with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. These were broadcast on ABC Classic FM
ABC Classic FM
ABC Classic FM is a classical music radio station available in Australia, and internationally online. It is operated by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation . It was established in 1976 as "ABC-FM", and later for a short time was known as "ABC Fine Music" , before adopting its current name...
.
The work
In 1974, Freddie MercuryFreddie Mercury
Freddie Mercury was a British musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist of the rock band Queen. As a performer, he was known for his flamboyant stage persona and powerful vocals over a four-octave range...
said that he would "like people to put their own interpretation" on his own songs, and Kashif did just that. It is a work comprising six movements - Adagio Misterioso, Allegretto, Adagio, Allegro Vivo, Andante Doloroso and Andante Sostenuto. It is based on around a dozen well-known melodies from the rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
. These include "Bohemian Rhapsody
Bohemian Rhapsody
"Bohemian Rhapsody" is a song by the British rock band Queen. It was written by Freddie Mercury for the band's 1975 album A Night at the Opera...
", "We Will Rock You
We Will Rock You
"We Will Rock You" is a song written by Brian May and recorded and performed by Queen for their 1977 album News of the World. Rolling Stone ranked it #330 of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2004, and the RIAA placed it at #146 on its list of Songs of the Century...
", "We Are the Champions
We Are the Champions
"We Are the Champions" is a power ballad written by Freddie Mercury, recorded and performed by British rock band Queen for their 1977 album News of the World. One of their most famous and popular songs, it remains among rock's most recognisable anthems...
" and "Who Wants to Live Forever
Who Wants to Live Forever
"Who Wants to Live Forever" is a song by the English rock band Queen. The song is the sixth track on the album A Kind of Magic, released in June 1986, and was written by guitarist Brian May for the soundtrack to the film Highlander, directed by Russell Mulcahy...
", the latter including a performance by Nicola Loud
Nicola Loud
Nicola Loud is a British violinist who, in 1990 at the age of 15, became BBC Young Musician of the Year.She studied at the Royal Academy of Music with her principal tutor György Pauk who described her as: "Very musical, with fantastic flair and presence - one of the most talented British...
. Some critics have compared the overall effect with the work of John Williams
John Williams
John Towner Williams is an American composer, conductor, and pianist. In a career spanning almost six decades, he has composed some of the most recognizable film scores in the history of motion pictures, including the Star Wars saga, Jaws, Superman, the Indiana Jones films, E.T...
, notably his Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
score. Others have considered the choral elements of the Queen Symphony to be a nod to the rock band's own lavish tendencies, in addition to Kashif's spell as musical director of the London Amadeus Choir. The piece has been performed regularly and in 2004 received US and Dutch premières.
The Genesis Suite
On 11th October 2010, at the BarbicanBarbican Centre
The Barbican Centre is the largest performing arts centre in Europe. Located in the City of London, England, the Centre hosts classical and contemporary music concerts, theatre performances, film screenings and art exhibitions. It also houses a library, three restaurants, and a conservatory...
in London, Tolga Kashif conducted the London Symphony Orchestra
London Symphony Orchestra
The London Symphony Orchestra is a major orchestra of the United Kingdom, as well as one of the best-known orchestras in the world. Since 1982, the LSO has been based in London's Barbican Centre.-History:...
in the world premiere of his new composition, The Genesis Suite, based on the music of the Progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band Genesis
Genesis (band)
Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
. The suite was recorded that same year at Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios is a recording studio located at 3 Abbey Road, St John's Wood, City of Westminster, London, England. It was established in November 1931 by the Gramophone Company, a predecessor of British music company EMI, its present owner...
.
It is composed of seven movements, based on different songs from the band. The first movement is a "filmic" adaptation of the two songs Land of Confusion
Land of Confusion
"Land of Confusion" is a rock song written by the band Genesis for their 1986 album Invisible Touch. The song was the third track on the album and was the fourth track from the album to become a single, which reached #4 in the US and #14 in the UK in early 1987. It made #8 in the Netherlands...
and Tonight, Tonight, Tonight. The second is based on Ripples (song)
Ripples (song)
Ripples... is a song from Genesis' 1976 album A Trick of the Tail. Musically, it is a slow piece with prominent 12-string guitar and piano...
, which is for Piano and Orchestra. The third movement is a Concertante Fantasy for Violin and Orchestra, based on the tune Mad Man Moon, and is the longest piece in the suite (at 16 minutes 40 seconds long). The forth movement is a comparatively shorter adaptation of Follow You Follow Me. The fifth movement is based on Fading Lights
Fading Lights
Fading Lights is the twelfth and final song on the album We Can't Dance by Genesis. It is also one of the last songs that would include Phil Collins as a member of the progressive rock group. The song was written by Tony Banks, Phil Collins, and Mike Rutherford. It is also the longest song on the...
. The penultimate movement is a solo piano adaptation of Entangled (song)
Entangled (song)
"Entangled" is a song by Genesis, recorded in November 1975 at Trident Studios, London for inclusion on the album A Trick of the Tail. It is the second track on the album, featuring 12-string acoustic guitars. Written by keyboardist Tony Banks and guitarist Steve Hackett, the song tells the story...
. The final movement, echoing the character of the opening movement, is a "filmic" adaptation of the two songs Undertow (song) and Blood on the rooftops.
Soundtracks
- Q.E.D. (TV series)Q.E.D. (TV series)Q.E.D. was a 1982 short-lived adventure series set in Edwardian England, starring Sam Waterston as Professor Quentin Everett Deverill . The Professor was a scientific detective in the mold of Sherlock Holmes, and the series had a smattering of what would later be known as steampunk...
(CBSCBSCBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
, 1982); - Where the Heart Is (1997 ITV series);
- The First Snow of WinterThe First Snow of WinterThe First Snow of Winter is an animated television film produced by Hibbert Ralph Entertainment and Link Entertainment and first aired on the BBC on December 25, 1998 It features the voices of Miriam Margoyles, Dermot Morgan, Kate Sachs, Sorcha Cusack, and Neil McCaul.- Synopsis :On a winter day in...
(Silver Fox Films, 1999); - The Second Star to the Left (Silver Fox Films, 2001);
- Fighting the War (BBC 2, 2003)
Discography
- R. Strauss - Don Juan, Tod und Verklärung; Horn Concerto no 1 (conductor, artist: Frank Lloyd (horn player)Frank Lloyd (horn player)Frank Lloyd is a virtuoso horn player and teacher, Professor of Horn at the Folkwang Hochschule in Essen, Germany and formerly professor of horn at both the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and Trinity College of Music in London....
, ASV RecordsASV RecordsASV Records is a London-based record label set up by Harley Usill, founder of Argo Records, Decca producer and former Argo General Manager, Kevin Daly, and producer Jack Boyce, after Argo's parent company Decca was bought by Polygram in 1980. ASV stands for "Academy Sound and Vision"...
, 1997); - The Singer (conductor, artist: Lesley Garrett, EMI ClassicsEMI ClassicsEMI Classics is a record label of EMI, formed in 1990 in order to reduce the need to create country-specific packaging and catalogs for internationally distributed classical music releases....
, 2002); - Queen Symphony (conductor and composer, performed by London Voices, London Oratory School Choir, Royal Philharmonic OrchestraRoyal Philharmonic OrchestraThe Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is a British orchestra based in London. It tours widely, and is sometimes referred to as "Britain's national orchestra"...
, EMI Classics, 2002); - The Revealing (conductor, artist and composer: Roland Chadwick, performed by English Chamber OrchestraEnglish Chamber OrchestraThe English Chamber Orchestra is a British chamber orchestra based in London. The full orchestra regularly plays concerts at Cadogan Hall, and the ECO Ensemble performs at Wigmore Hall...
, New Classical, 2004); - Choreography (producer and arranger, artist: Vanessa-MaeVanessa-MaeVanessa-Mae Vanakorn Nicholson , known professionally as Vanessa-Mae , is an internationally known British violinist. Her music style is self-described as "violin techno-acoustic fusion", as several of her albums prominently feature the techno style...
, Sony Classical RecordsSony Classical RecordsSony Classical Records was started in 1927 as Columbia Masterworks Records, a subsidiary of the American Columbia Records. In 1948, it issued the first commercially successful long-playing 12" record...
, 2004); - Variations (producer and arranger, artist: Maksim MrvicaMaksim MrvicaMaksim Mrvica is a Croatian pianist. He plays classical crossover music.- History :Mrvica was born in Šibenik, Croatia. He took up piano lessons from the age of nine from Marija Sekso and gave his first public performance in the same year. Just three years later he gave his first concert...
, EMIEMIThe EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
, 2004); - Best Days (conductor, artist: Amy Nuttall, performed by London Metropolitan OrchestraLondon Metropolitan OrchestraLondon Metropolitan Orchestra , founded in 1994, is a London-based studio orchestra whose primary function is to record music for film, television, and other multimedia projects...
, EMI ClassicsEMI ClassicsEMI Classics is a record label of EMI, formed in 1990 in order to reduce the need to create country-specific packaging and catalogs for internationally distributed classical music releases....
, 2005) - The Great 2008 Seotaiji Symphony with Tolga Kashif and Royal Philharmonic (Music Director, Conductor, Arranged[for live], artist: Seotaiji, Natalia Lomeiko, Royal Philharmonic OrchestraRoyal Philharmonic OrchestraThe Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is a British orchestra based in London. It tours widely, and is sometimes referred to as "Britain's national orchestra"...
, Seotaiji Company, 2009);