MIKE Oldfield has always been famed for his unconventional approach to music. Throughout his career he has consistently broken musical boundaries, and with Music of the Spheres he continues to do so.

Taking influences from Holst and Rachmaninov as much as Steve Reich or William Orbit, this piece is classical in nature, but yet is also immediately identifiable as classic Mike Oldfield.

Using a full concert orchestra and choir, and with solo parts from Mike himself on guitar, legendary soprano Hayley Westenra and renowned pianist Lang Lang, this is a work with huge emotional and musical scope.

And while the piece was entirely conceived, produced and written by Mike, in order to translate his ideas into traditional classical notation arranged for musicians to play, he turned to popular modern classical composer Karl Jenkins.

The title of the piece is a reference to something that Mike feels strongly: that all music should aim to represent the spriritual, or otherworldly elements of life: something beyond the mundane and everyday.

In this he has clearly succeeded. Music of the Spheres is by turns epic, tender, mournful and triumphant. It is the work of a composer who above all can make beautiful and substantial music, regardless of genre or instrumentation.

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WIN Music of the Spheres on CD…

To celebrate the release of Music of the Spheres, IndieLondon is offering readers the chance to win 1 of 5 copies of the CD! Simply answer the following question to be in with a chance of winning.

Q. Which leading opera soprano guests on Music of the Spheres?

Simply send the answer to Mike Oldfield competition competition and include your name, address and email.

Tracklisting:

1. Harbinger
2. Animus
3. Silhouette
4. Shabda
5. The Tempest
6. Harbinger Reprise
7. On My Heart (feat. Hayley Westenra)
8. Aurora
9. Prophecy
10. On My Heart Reprise (feat. Hayley Westenra)
11. Harmonia Mundi
12. The Other Side
13. Empyrean

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