Vangelis has died

Imo, Vangelis brought the synthesizer from an experimental novelty to an instrument for composition. The two sounds I associate with him are the long brassy triangle with a steep envelope that we know from both Blade Runner and the accompaniment to the piano in the Chariots of Fire theme, and his effective use of chimes.

I have tickets for Olafur Arnalds next week, and there is a younger generation of composers like Arnalds, Frahm, Richter, Tiersen, Aphex/James, and even Reznor/Ross, who could not have avoided Vangelis' influence marrying the synth with classical techniques. He was a big part of what inspired me to start making synth music and more than a few of my tracks have homages to his work, and this note triggered a memory of playing the Chariots theme on piano as a really young child and it seemed to be everywhere at the time. A loss, but hard to mourn such an exceptional contribution as well.

the four horsemen ?

For those that want to know more, this is referencing the album 666 by Aphrodite's Child.

Got a copy from Germany sometime between '00 and '03.

Amazing album, especially for someone that had only known him for Blade Runner at the time.

His stuff with Jon Anderson is also fairly good. The Friends of Mr. Cairo is one of my favorites.

I’ve been listening mostly to his 70s proggish stuff lately, but the opening of Blade Runner still gives me goosebumps. It wouldn’t have been half the film it was without his music.

https://youtu.be/P1jXmJmmj3o

I recently found out about the work he did with the (also) inimitable Irene Papas:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aq1hodbSDkg