- Audio CD (12 Jan 2009)
- Number of Discs: 1
- Format: CD
- Label: Wingspan
- ASIN: B001EKBE6E
- Other Editions: MP3 Download
- Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 109,372 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
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Product Description
Album Description
Ed Alleyne-Johnson's album 'Symphony' returns Ed to the classical roots that provided the basis of his amazingly successful 'Purple Electric Violin Concerto' albums.
In the 1990s Ed designed his own 5-string electric violin, and whilst busking on the streets of Europe, developed a unique style of multi-layered playing using digital delays and effects pedals. This led to the recording of the first 'Purple Electric Violin Concerto' album, and its companion 'Purple Electric Violin Concerto Volume 2', and Ed followed this with `Ultraviolet', the incredibly popular 'Echoes' featuring his versions of contemporary pop songs, and then 'Reflections' with his interpretations of classic rock songs.
Now, as a mark of celebrating his home city of Liverpool's year as the European Capital of Culture 2008, he has composed and recorded his first ever symphony, playing all the parts himself. Using his inimitable multi-layered electric violin playing, coupled with guitar, mandolin, bass, percussion and orchestral sampler and synthesizer, 'Symphony' consists of the four movements of his 'Symphony No.1 in G Minor', followed by six short pieces for electric violin, all in a modern classical style.
A thoroughly contemporary take on the symphony, 'Symphony' will surely appeal to all those who have bought Ed's 'Purple Electric Violin Concerto' albums.
In the 1990s Ed designed his own 5-string electric violin, and whilst busking on the streets of Europe, developed a unique style of multi-layered playing using digital delays and effects pedals. This led to the recording of the first 'Purple Electric Violin Concerto' album, and its companion 'Purple Electric Violin Concerto Volume 2', and Ed followed this with `Ultraviolet', the incredibly popular 'Echoes' featuring his versions of contemporary pop songs, and then 'Reflections' with his interpretations of classic rock songs.
Now, as a mark of celebrating his home city of Liverpool's year as the European Capital of Culture 2008, he has composed and recorded his first ever symphony, playing all the parts himself. Using his inimitable multi-layered electric violin playing, coupled with guitar, mandolin, bass, percussion and orchestral sampler and synthesizer, 'Symphony' consists of the four movements of his 'Symphony No.1 in G Minor', followed by six short pieces for electric violin, all in a modern classical style.
A thoroughly contemporary take on the symphony, 'Symphony' will surely appeal to all those who have bought Ed's 'Purple Electric Violin Concerto' albums.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This album is my introduction to Ed's music and, on the strength of this one CD, I will be buying many more. I saw Ed busking in York last weekend and was simply captivated by the sound that he conjures from his (blue!) electric violin. This album is serious enough to be called a symphony, although I noticed that other CDs contained interpretations of Pink Floyd and Coldplay amoungst others.
I am quite a Philip Glass fan and the opening of 'Symphony In G Minor' (Allegretto) is very Philip Glass with a simply, fast repeating theme overlaid with the melody. We soon settle down to a 'Passacaglia & Fugue' which, whilst not challenging, is very pleasant. The third movement of this, far too short, work is Adagio and is by far the most successful part of the work. Imagine Michael Nyman re-scoring 'Lawrence of Arabia' or something of equal epic-ness! In fact the whole work would make a superb film score- this is not a belittling comment- the sound is wide, sweeping and majestic. The final movement 'Gigue' starts off with the jollity of an English folk dance before re-introducing the Glass influence and coming to a very satisfying conclusion.
There then follows 6 individual tracks. The first '5 strings' is, for me, the highlight of the album. A very simple electronic theme overlaid with a soaring melody which just takes you into the sky. Brilliant!
'Last Forever' is very, for me, Tangerine Dream. As Froese has been in my top 5 for the past 25 years, this is a great compliment! 'Good Times' and 'Good Times 2' are good but not up with the other tracks. 'Dawn of a darker day' is a 9'30" opus which, for me, does not really seem to get going- always on the verge of being great but remaining merely good. The final track 'Glass Bead Game' is a fabulous bit of music! Gentle lulling you into a dream-like state before exploding into a frenzy and back into 4 minutes of beautiful 'wind-down' melody (with a short 'frenzy' repeat!). Silly, but it gets me in the same way that Pink Floyd's 'Echoes' does.
Listen to this entire album (and you get your pennies worth at 70 mins) in the dark with a few candles on. It is simply great and this guy deserves to be very famous.
I am quite a Philip Glass fan and the opening of 'Symphony In G Minor' (Allegretto) is very Philip Glass with a simply, fast repeating theme overlaid with the melody. We soon settle down to a 'Passacaglia & Fugue' which, whilst not challenging, is very pleasant. The third movement of this, far too short, work is Adagio and is by far the most successful part of the work. Imagine Michael Nyman re-scoring 'Lawrence of Arabia' or something of equal epic-ness! In fact the whole work would make a superb film score- this is not a belittling comment- the sound is wide, sweeping and majestic. The final movement 'Gigue' starts off with the jollity of an English folk dance before re-introducing the Glass influence and coming to a very satisfying conclusion.
There then follows 6 individual tracks. The first '5 strings' is, for me, the highlight of the album. A very simple electronic theme overlaid with a soaring melody which just takes you into the sky. Brilliant!
'Last Forever' is very, for me, Tangerine Dream. As Froese has been in my top 5 for the past 25 years, this is a great compliment! 'Good Times' and 'Good Times 2' are good but not up with the other tracks. 'Dawn of a darker day' is a 9'30" opus which, for me, does not really seem to get going- always on the verge of being great but remaining merely good. The final track 'Glass Bead Game' is a fabulous bit of music! Gentle lulling you into a dream-like state before exploding into a frenzy and back into 4 minutes of beautiful 'wind-down' melody (with a short 'frenzy' repeat!). Silly, but it gets me in the same way that Pink Floyd's 'Echoes' does.
Listen to this entire album (and you get your pennies worth at 70 mins) in the dark with a few candles on. It is simply great and this guy deserves to be very famous.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I was introduced to EA-J's music only two weeks ago and since have collected four of his albums. At present I have kept to his individual recordings, not those with his wife Denyse or his cover albums. Symphony comes close to his debut album as it contains plenty of interesting melodies, though it may take several more listenings before I could agree that it matches his earlier masterpiece.
In the Symphony No. 1 section of the album, I really do like his opening Allegretto/Largo combining a quick style returning to a hummable repeated melody. For me the Passacaglia & Fugue isn't as memorable, but the pleasant melodies return in the Adagio. The Gigue reminds of a Celtic country dance before alternating with the haunting melody of the opening track.
When Ed moves over to his six individual pieces the mood changes. Five Strings is a well worked catchy piece with an underlying background rhythm - something of the sensuality of Ravel's Bolero. Last Forever reminds me of his Oxford Suite pieces with the pulsating rhythms and intertwined melody. Good Times is just an ordinary background sound being inoffensive but lacking in a strong hook. It reminds me of an average Mike Oldfield track without the guitars. Dawn of a Darker Day also reminds me of his Oxford Suite without hitting the heights of PEVC1. Good Times 2 has more going for it than the longer version of Track 7. Perhaps it is now my familiarity of his earlier piece? Glass Bead Game takes time to develop though picks up with the rock style interventions. EA-J is a creative talent and Symphony definitely is good value for money.
In the Symphony No. 1 section of the album, I really do like his opening Allegretto/Largo combining a quick style returning to a hummable repeated melody. For me the Passacaglia & Fugue isn't as memorable, but the pleasant melodies return in the Adagio. The Gigue reminds of a Celtic country dance before alternating with the haunting melody of the opening track.
When Ed moves over to his six individual pieces the mood changes. Five Strings is a well worked catchy piece with an underlying background rhythm - something of the sensuality of Ravel's Bolero. Last Forever reminds me of his Oxford Suite pieces with the pulsating rhythms and intertwined melody. Good Times is just an ordinary background sound being inoffensive but lacking in a strong hook. It reminds me of an average Mike Oldfield track without the guitars. Dawn of a Darker Day also reminds me of his Oxford Suite without hitting the heights of PEVC1. Good Times 2 has more going for it than the longer version of Track 7. Perhaps it is now my familiarity of his earlier piece? Glass Bead Game takes time to develop though picks up with the rock style interventions. EA-J is a creative talent and Symphony definitely is good value for money.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I too came across EA-J busking on the streets of York this summer and was captivated by the sound he produced. 45 minutes later I was still entranced and had bought a CD from him. A few weeks later I heard his violin again in York, once more I stopped to listen, and again purchased a CD; this one. The Symphony is wonderful, with echoes of Glass, Nyman and Copland, but do not let these references put you off, Ed's musical style is open and welcoming. The remaining tracks on the disc do not disappoint either, utilising the full range of Ed's musicianship and his mastery of the technology. If you have not listened to electric violin before, or to a modern symphony, keep an open mind and try this CD it is a gem. EA-J is certainly my musical find of the year.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Brilliant!
Modern classics for rock and classical listeners alike. Don't expect the usual everyday plagiarisms. These are first class up-tempo originals. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Mr Kelvin S Taylor
Symphony - electronic violin
Ed Alleyne Johnson is a virtuoso of the electronic violin. Everything he plays has flair and originality. Read more
Published on 6 July 2009 by Mozilla
The Better For It
The great thing about performing a single track with only effects pedals, delays and loops as Ed does on his earlier solo albums is that you get exactly the kind of brilliant music... Read more
Published on 30 Jan 2009 by maumaniac
Beautiful
This is the first album I turn to when I want some lovely classical music playing to relax and soothe me. Read more
Published on 14 Dec 2008 by Fiona Mccaw
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