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Topic: Opinions on a possible MO project I may do.

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ThisName

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Posts: 307
Joined: July 2005

Posted: Dec. 04 2005, 07:30

Hi all I am a composition student in sunny wales at the music conservatoire here. Next year is my final year and I will have to write my dissertation. We get free choice as to what we choose to write about and at the moment I am considering writing a detailed essay on the seminal works of Mike Oldfield and the relationship between what I consider the 'banale' and the overwhelming emotional rawness in his major works. In particular I was probably going to look just at Ommadawn, Hergest Ridge and Amarok as the key works that feature in my opinion, music of the genius comparable to nything written by anyone else (yes I really mean that!

I think MO is a fascinating composer who uses very banale ideas like a jaunty hoedown within the conext of music that is so full of intense pain that there is a real sense of drama. In this sense I would compare him with Mahler who also had this quality in his music.

So what do you all think about this? I have a pretty good knowledge of mik and his music but am no expert and would welcome advice from those who have a geater knowledge. Are tere any other albums you would consider worth putting in my seminal list?

Of course, getting my lecturers to see my way f thinking will be hard because of Mike's noteriety as a 'popular' music composer and whose work can be boiled down as 'the gy who did tubular bells' (of course people think this who don't know mike's other music but of course there is so much more!

So anyways, please do espond with your thoughts. If i did do it, It wouldn't be for a while but i would certainly make it available here at tubular.net.

Also, I'm after bioraphies, books, scores etc that i can soure from.

Thanks everyone!

Ryan

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www.ryanyardmusic.com

ThisName

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Joined: July 2005

Posted: Dec. 04 2005, 07:33

Sorry for the typos in that post, I have a wireless keyboard and the batteries are on their way out lol!

Hope the post is clear enough, email me if you wanna ask more!

Ryan

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www.ryanyardmusic.com

Holger

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Posted: Dec. 04 2005, 08:28

Hi Ryan,

I agree with you that the relationship between the very ordinary and the highly unusual elements of Mike's work are a key to understanding this man's music. I can definitely see where you're coming from with the Mahler comparison as well.

Since, as you said, you'll probably face some difficulties bringing the idea of Mike as a "serious" composer across to people who - possibly - have a somewhat snobbish attitude towards pop and rock music, I think your choice of albums is well thought out, however I'd say you can do no wrong adding Incantations to this list as well.

There are a few books about Mike Oldfield, off the top of my head I can think of "A Man and his Music", and "The Making of Tubular Bells". I don't remember who wrote them, but you should be able to find this information somewhere right here on tubular.net, which in itself is an excellent source of information.

I think it's a great idea, and I'd like to encourage you to go ahead with it. I think you will find the people on this forum very helpful if you happen to have any questions or problems.

TubularBelle Offline

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Posted: Dec. 04 2005, 20:48

Welcome This Name,

As Holger has said you could find anything you needed right here, just read through the threads and gather as you go. Esp the threads devoted to the albums that you have listed. I would have to add Incantations to that list. Obviously HR, Omm and Incan share something important, if not just the fact that they were recorded consecutively and Amarok while being regarded as a 'sister' album to Omm because of the use of African drums primarilly I believe, most certainly stands on it's own. I also believe SODE would be worth delving into because of it's uniqueness and to prove that Mike can make good albums with machinery, and TB2 and TB3 are also worth mentioning.

Another book I can suggest is written by Peter Evans who is a member of this forum and also the ex-editor of the Dark Star magazine. It is called 'Music from the Darkness. Mike Oldfield, 1953 - 1993'. The 'Making of Tubular Bells' was written by Richard Newman and is also available from Dark Star.

There are many people in this forum I'm sure who would be happy to help you and have far more information than I do but as I am not working atm I have some free time so please send me a pm if I can be of assistance and we can exchange emails. Also the entire catalogue of Dark Star magazines is now available on the internet and is an excellent source of information.

Good Luck, excellent topic and I am very excited for you.

Tracy.

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I hate getting up early. I didn't even realise there were two 6 o'clocks in one day!

3 replies since Dec. 04 2005, 07:30

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