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  4. SPACE 1999 : Breakaway - Tribute to Barry Gray

  • SPACE 1999 : Breakaway - Tribute to Barry Gray

    P
    P
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    Hi,

    When i was a child, i was a big fan of a british sci-fi serie : "SPACE : 1999" (i speak about season one - the second was a big disappointment ...).

    The score of season one was written by an amazing composer named Barry Gray. His name is forever attached to the Anderson's TV series from the 60's and 70's (Supercar, Captain Scarlet, Thunderbirds ...).

    The music of SPACE 1999 is, imo, one of his best, both melancholic and powerfull.

    Here is a reconstruction of the first part of the first episode : Breakaway.

    Enjoy !

    SPACE 1999 : Breakaway

    Best.

    Philippe
  • W
    W

    Wow, I love it.  My entire brain was formed by the music from Stingray - pounding drums,  blasting brass,  chorus belting out "Stingray, Stingray!" while battlestations were called, ultramodern control buildings retracted under protective covers, and we were warned to standby for action!  Powerful brass and jazzy rhyhms, and the song at the end of each episode, "Marina, Aqua-Marina, what are these strange enchantments that start, whenever you're near..."  Troy Tempest the hero, was after her.   Also, Thunderbirds - classic!   Fireball XL5, Supercar with Mike Mercury -  Supercar, the Wonder of the Age.   "It travels in space, and under the sea, it can journey anywhere... "  I used to watch those series with unending devotion,  and now have them all on DVD sets.  Barry Gray's music is fantastic in all of them.   
  • J
    J

    Wonderful! I love Space 1999, and I love Barry Gray. I think he was one of the greatest screen composers. His music for UFO was fantastic as well. I was probably about ten years old when Space 1999 came out, and I remember being spellbound by the music. I think such wonderfully evocative music can have a profound and lasting effect on children -I've certainly never forgotten it.

    This rendition is fantastic, and captures the majestic eeriness of the score. It's sad to think that the days of such wonderful TV music are long gone.
  • M
    M

    Hi Philippe,

    I think this sounds great. The clarity of your mix is superb and I can't help but wonder if there's something about science fiction as a genre that makes it easier for the mind to be open to new things - in particular music. I remember these programmes too and at the time I took the music very much for granted for most films/TV shows etc and it is only now that I can really start to appreciate how great they were/are.

    Congratulations on a great job!

    Regards,

          Tom
  • P
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    Thanks William, Johnstaf and Tom for listening, and thanks for Barry Gray's memory !!!

    I'm very happy to see that i am not the only one to have kept his child soul ... 😳😛

    This music is in my head since 40 years. I waited 30 years before finally does come out the original soundtrack under Silva screen records label. They made a very good job on the old tapes - but it's old, very old tapes ... You can't  imagine the excitment and pleasure it was for me to make this rendition and finally listen this music in optimal sound quality with VSL... My childhood dream would be to record the complete music of SPACE 1999 but for that, I would really need to have the scores (this piece is just a reconstruction). I know where to find them (i have the name of a contact), but I'm not sure that this guy, who is  keeping the archives of Gray's music, will accept to provide some copies for private purposes, even 😢 ...

    @William and Johnstaf : i have made some small improvements since you listen to it, some articulations and especially trills in violins and woodwinds parts at the end of the piece. The link is the same.

    Best

    Phil
  • T
    T

    Thank you very much!
  • J
    J

    Hello Philippe,

     

     

    I was so surprised to hear that piece performed by you. The baroque master in a film score... And what's even more surprising in a very pleasant way, you did again a fantastic job with this large orchestra. Very convincing and appealing. I like it a lot. The acoustic is a lot larger here and yet not overdone; it sounds like we listeners are in the front row. A can't but agree with all the commenters: it sounds great!

    Max
  • P
    P
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    Hello Max,

    thanks for listening. Yes, i have decided to diversify a little my repertoire ... 😃

    Playing baroque music doesn't change the fact i was a kid in the 70's 😛. And all those series are not something you can forget : it is in our memory and in our heart forever.

    In fact, i am preparing other great hits of Barry Gray 🎉😃. To be continued !!!

    Best.

    Philippe.
  • J
    J

    Looking forward to it.

    Max
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