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Tubular Bells – 50th anniversary
May 17, 2023 at 19:30 - 21:30
Mike Oldfield’s groundbreaking album Tubular Bells was released on 25th May 1973 and to celebrate its 50th Anniversary – almost to the day – Bristol Ensemble performs a stirring chamber orchestral arrangement of the album, fleshing out the now iconic melodies with a bank of strings.
The record has sold over 15 million copies worldwide and is written into music folklore: a 19-year old Oldfield, searching in vain for a record label to back his experimental demos, was introduced to the boss of Virgin, aka Richard Branson, who gave him a week in the studio to do something. Oldfield plays almost all the many instruments on the record and his expansive musical vision, encompassing classical, jazz, rock and electronica, blazed a trail for hundreds of heavyweight artists since. It is a highly original work – famously used as the Exorcist soundtrack – perfect for orchestral treatment.
Approximately 1 hour, without interval.