Product Description Taking full advantage of his 30 years experience crafting music in harmony with the rhythm of nature, Gandalf presents with Earthsong and Stardance a grand celebration in tribute "to the wonderful variety and beauty of the universe." Masterfully blending his customary sounds with the Corso Wien Orchestra and a Sanskrit choir, the whole truly blurs the boundaries between Earth and the Stars. Review You have got to give this new ager credit for thinking big. To celebrate his 30 years as a muso, he has written an orchestral tribute to the universe and all its splendors. Fusing new age and world beat into the cosmos, this is grand work that could only come from the heart. Not for the casual listener because you have to be prepared to really be pulled into this work, this is the real deal along these lines. Heady stuff that gets you to stop a second and reflect. --Chris Spector - Midwest Record RecapGandalf is a true veteran of new age music with a career that spans 30 years and 32 albums so he definitely has something to say to us through his music as he has honed his art to a fine point with the release of each new album. In March 2011 Gandalf released his latest effort called Earthsong & Stardance which he recorded with the Corso Wien Orchestra. As you might suspect from the title this album has a sweeping scope that covers not only the earth but reaches out to capture the universe itself in the music that he chose to include on this album. The Corso Wien Orchestra and the Sansrkit Choir helps the album to reach these lofty heights that Gandalf has set as goals for the compositions that are a part of this offering. The music is broken up into five main movements with the overall themes of The Unfolding of Worlds, About the Miracle of Life, About the Beauty of Being, The Paths of Man and The Great Ceremony. Each movement has several individual parts that capture the flow and the emotions that Gandalf wishes to convey to his listener. All the music was composed, orchestrated and produced by Gandalf so there is no doubt as to who is in control of the music that found its way onto this album. The orchestra, the choir and the solos played by Gandalf on this project are top notch and show forth the care that was given the arrangements by Gandalf when he orchestrated and produced the flow of this album. One word of caution as you listen to the five major movements on this release, the individual parts of the movements are mixed so as to be a continuous mix so that part 1 continues into part 2 and into part 3 without a break. For that reason if you are listening to MP3 files you might want to make sure that you have chosen all of the parts under each major movement so that the song does not abruptly stop in the middle of the piece. The overall feeling of the album is one of awe and reverence which you can feel in the way that the orchestra pieces were arranged. The album exudes a peacefulness and tranquility as it explores the stars above us and then comes back down to wander the beauty that we find in our existence right here on earth. Gandalf has created emotional music with this release that is both introspective in that it asks the listener to look within themselves to find that which connects each one of us to the stars and the earth while at the same time asking that we look beyond ourselves at the majesty of nature and the universe that surrounds us. To see ourselves as part of the whole of the universe while still being individual in nature is something that Gandalf manages to capture in his compositions quite well. ... All in all Earthsong & Stardance delivers on its promise to take us on a journey of celebration and exploration of this universe that we live in and the planet that we occupy. Gandalf has always had an abiding love of nature in his personal life and that kind of devotion is sure to come out in the music that he composes. The album is a wonderful mixture of music that has a definite classical feel to it but with new age sensitivity that will appeal to all of Gandalf's fans who have followed his career these last 30 years. The music is thoughtful and will resonate with the listener if they give it a chance to move beyond the mind and into the heart. Gandalf once again shows that he understands both himself and nature with this release and shares his heart with those who are willing to look beneath the surface of these compositions. Recommended by Ambient Visions. --Michael Foster - Editor, Ambient VisionEarthsong & Stardance is an amazing 'Symphony Of The Third Millenium' created to celebrate composer/multi-instrumentalist Gandalf's 30th anniversary as a performing artist. It is also 'a tribute to the wonderful variety and beauty of the universe, to the miracle of all life and being' (quoted from the liner notes). Gandalf appears on acoustic and electric guitars, saz, electric sitar, piano, organ, keyboards, mallets, and orchestral percussion; he is also half of the Sanskrit choir. He performs with several other artists in addition to the Corso Wien Orchestra and the previously-mentioned Sanskrit choir that sings selections from the Bhagavat Gita in its original language. The music ranges from big cinematic orchestral works to more delicate solos and small ensembles to chants. The work is divided into five movements that are further divided into two to five smaller sections, but the pieces flow together as a seamless whole. It's impossible to put this album into a categorial box, but there are definite classical, world, rock, film soundtrack, and new age influences on this most impressive album.The first movement is called 'The Unfolding of the Worlds.' It begins with atmospheric sounds and a single note setting a simple rhythm on the piano. The two deep male voices of the choir chant in Sanskrit as a variety of instruments begin to paint the colors of the gentle and magical landscape. Part 2 continues as a tranquil instrumental that features piano, cello, oboe, and guitars along with the Corso Wien Orchestra. The second movement is 'About the Miracle of Life.' Full of wonder and beauty, it features a poignant acoustic guitar passage that is a highlight of the album. The third movement, 'About the Beauty of Being,' features Merike Hilmar on cello and Gandalf on piano. Uplifting and optimistic, some parts are intimate while others have a cinematic sweep. 'The Paths of Man' begins with a repeated single note on the piano that continues as other instruments join in to add to the color palette. The Paths are varied, but all are sunny and very pleasant; some are solitary while others are full and vibrant. 'The Great Ceremony' is the fifth movement and contains a wonderful variety of musical styles and world instruments that create a celebratory and joyous mood. Strongly rhythmic yet gentle and warm, you may find yourself dancing to this one as this most-enjoyable album comes to a close!Earthsongs & Stardance is my favorite (so far) of Gandalf s many albums, and I strongly recommend it. --Kathy Parsons - MainlyPiano.com
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