Re: Oldfield, Ayers

[yendor!gmg@uunet.UU.NET (Gary Godfrey)]

> From: emory!colm@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Colm Mulcahy)

> Oldfield may have done some interesting things, but Tubular Balls sure
							      ^^^^^
							Interesting idea...
> wasn't one of them ....

It all depends on what you want to get out of the music.  If you're
into analyzing the themes (either consciously or unconsciously) then
most of Oldfield isn't worth listening to.  Or, if you like a story or
an emotion presented to you on a silver platter (e.g. lyric or music
with obvious associated traditional ideas), then it's not for you.  I
like Tubular Bells mainly because it is a perfect backdrop for the
construction of a set of mental images that I like to "watch."

For instance, the first part (the part used in the Exorcist) easily
lends itself to the image of some type of invasion.  Picture hoards of
creatures, armed and cruel, mustering in readyness to attack.  The
bulk of the images are fast moving, scanning over the army without
looking at the individuals.  However, at the point where the guitar (I
think) strums in, I focus briefly upon one member of the army and see
his evil, leering face.  Construct Your Own Music Video.

I'm not sure if anyone else does this; it requires a bit of time and
takes listening to the piece many times to get every detail to fit in
with the "theme" but I find it worth the work.  The mind is fun to
play with.

Screaming at the window,
Watch me dye another day.

Gary Godfrey - ACT, Reston, VA			Phone:		(703)471-9433
UUCP: ..!{mimsy,sundc}!{prometheus,hqda-ai}!yendor!gmg