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This album was the group's magnum opus in the perception of many onlookers and fans, and it still plays well, though its flaws are more evident than they were at the time. The "Song of Scheherazade," really a suite for the group supported by the London Symphony Orchestra and a chorus, started with guitarist-composer Michael Dunford, who had a personal fascination with the medieval literary work Tales of 1,001 Arabian Nights, and was realized by Dunford and his composing partner Betty Thatcher, with bassist Jon Camp and pianist John Tout. The piece, really nine sections assembled together, was one of the more ambitious works to come out of the progressive rock boom -- it fits together nicely and does have some gorgeous passages and many lyrical, powerful sections, although it also seems slightly repetitive, overstaying its welcome somewhat; additionally, it never uses the orchestra quite as effectively as one senses it might have, for anything except embellishment. Less ambitious and more completely successful are "Ocean Gypsy," "The Vultures Fly High," and "Trip to the Fair" on side one, all relatively unpretentious pieces which feature extraordinary singing by Annie Haslam.
© Bruce Eder /TiVo
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John Tout, Composer - Renaissance, Instruments, MainArtist - Michael Dunford, Composer - Campbell Connelly and Co Ltd, MusicPublisher - Betty Thatcher, Composer
(C) 2021 Cherry Red America (P) 2021 Cherry Red America
Renaissance, Instruments, MainArtist - Michael Dunford, Composer - Campbell Connelly and Co Ltd, MusicPublisher - Betty Thatcher, Composer
(C) 2021 Cherry Red America (P) 2021 Cherry Red America
Renaissance, Instruments, MainArtist - Michael Dunford, Composer - Campbell Connelly and Co Ltd, MusicPublisher - Betty Thatcher, Composer
(C) 2021 Cherry Red America (P) 2021 Cherry Red America
John Tout, Composer - Renaissance, Instruments, MainArtist - Michael Dunford, Composer - Campbell Connelly and Co Ltd, MusicPublisher - Jon Camp, Composer - Betty Thatcher, Composer
(C) 2021 Cherry Red America (P) 2021 Cherry Red America
Renaissance, Instruments, MainArtist - Michael Dunford, Composer - Campbell Connelly and Co Ltd, MusicPublisher - Betty Thatcher, Composer
(C) 2021 Cherry Red America (P) 2021 Cherry Red America
DISC 2
Renaissance, Instruments, MainArtist - Michael Dunford, Composer - Betty Thatcher, Composer - Pytheon Music, MusicPublisher
(C) 2021 Cherry Red America (P) 2021 Cherry Red America
Renaissance, Instruments, MainArtist - Michael Dunford, Composer - Campbell Connelly and Co Ltd, MusicPublisher - Betty Thatcher, Composer
(C) 2021 Cherry Red America (P) 2021 Cherry Red America
Renaissance, Instruments, MainArtist - Michael Dunford, Composer - Campbell Connelly and Co Ltd, MusicPublisher - Betty Thatcher, Composer
(C) 2021 Cherry Red America (P) 2021 Cherry Red America
Renaissance, Instruments, MainArtist - Michael Dunford, Composer - Pytheon Music, MusicPublisher
(C) 2021 Cherry Red America (P) 2021 Cherry Red America
John Tout, Composer - Renaissance, Instruments, MainArtist - Michael Dunford, Composer - Campbell Connelly and Co Ltd, MusicPublisher - Jon Camp, Composer - Betty Thatcher, Composer
(C) 2021 Cherry Red America (P) 2021 Cherry Red America
Renaissance, Instruments, MainArtist - Michael Dunford, Composer - Betty Thatcher, Composer - Pytheon Music, MusicPublisher
(C) 2021 Cherry Red America (P) 2021 Cherry Red America
Album review
This album was the group's magnum opus in the perception of many onlookers and fans, and it still plays well, though its flaws are more evident than they were at the time. The "Song of Scheherazade," really a suite for the group supported by the London Symphony Orchestra and a chorus, started with guitarist-composer Michael Dunford, who had a personal fascination with the medieval literary work Tales of 1,001 Arabian Nights, and was realized by Dunford and his composing partner Betty Thatcher, with bassist Jon Camp and pianist John Tout. The piece, really nine sections assembled together, was one of the more ambitious works to come out of the progressive rock boom -- it fits together nicely and does have some gorgeous passages and many lyrical, powerful sections, although it also seems slightly repetitive, overstaying its welcome somewhat; additionally, it never uses the orchestra quite as effectively as one senses it might have, for anything except embellishment. Less ambitious and more completely successful are "Ocean Gypsy," "The Vultures Fly High," and "Trip to the Fair" on side one, all relatively unpretentious pieces which feature extraordinary singing by Annie Haslam.
© Bruce Eder /TiVo
About the album
- 2 disc(s) - 11 track(s)
- Total length: 02:08:25
- Main artists: Renaissance
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Esoteric Recordings
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock
(C) 2021 Cherry Red America (P) 2021 Cherry Red America
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