A Bayou Renaissance Man Musical Interlude - Tubular Bells

From Bayou Renaissance Man: Sunday morning music

It's hard to believe that Mike Oldfield brought out his first album, "Tubular Bells", fifty-one years ago. I bought it at once, and have bought every album he's recorded ever since. He was (and still is) an iconic musician in the freewheeling rock 'n roll and disco era of the 1970's, bringing genuine instrumental music (with a capital M) and classical-style compositions to the world of electronic music. Things were never quite the same after he came along.

Last year, a Spanish ensemble calling itself Opus One, under the leadership of Xavier Alern, professor of Musicology at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, honored the 50th anniversary of "Tubular Bells" by recording the work as authentically as possible in the spirit of the original.

Most people are only familiar with the short version that was used in the original The Exorcist movie from 1973, but the full composition took up both sides of a vinyl LP. The linked video is 50 minutes and more, though there is a short intro of a minute or three.

Click thru for a modern rendition of "Tubular Bells" by Opus One.

It is worth your time.