Landscapes of Middle Earth
The fourth and final volume in Move’s restored reissue of John Sangster’s jazz-inspired Tolkien cycle. First a late-1970s double LP, Landscapes of Middle Earth reached CD in 2006.
Don Burrows bass flute, alto flute, c flute, school flute (fife), clarinet
Graeme Lyall soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone
Jim Kelly guitar
George Golla guitar
Greg Lyon bass
Doug Gallagher drums
Ian Bloxsom percussion
Claire Poole Singers vocals
Peader O'Carrol harp
John Lyle leader of the strings
As well as the music from the original LPs, a video shot in New Zealand offers ravishing landscapes akin to those in the film trilogy, with Sangster’s music as soundtrack.
These twelve pieces sit beside Sangster’s The Lord of the Rings, Vol. 1, Vol. 2 and Vol. 3: quieter landscapes of time and place, for woodwinds, guitars, strings, percussion and voices rather than brass.
These twelve compositions are meant as companion pieces to the musics contained in the trilogy of double albums The Lord of the Rings. Not quite so specific this time, rather a feeling of time, of place, of landscape. No brass, to begin with. More reflective. Woodwinds, guitars, strings, percussions and rhythms. A feeling of countryside. Evocations, paintings … landscapes.
Reviews
The mercurial quality shimmering around Jim Kelly’s guitar playing melds easily with Sangster’s musical vision – a vision that sounds astonishingly timeless three decades on.
Sangster’s enchantment ran deep, and it shows.
Some of this prolific composer’s most reflective writing complemented by superb solos from Don Burrows and Graeme Lyall
Artist
John Sangster
John Sangster (1928–1995) was an Australian jazz composer, arranger and multi-instrumentalist whose work stretched from traditional jazz and film scores to large-scale suites of uncommon range, humour and colour.
Audio previews
Tracks
- Green Hill Country John Sangster Arr: John Sangster 9:03
- The Lonely Mountains John Sangster Arr: John Sangster 5:49
- Summer's Solstice John Sangster Arr: John Sangster 5:29
- The Old Forest John Sangster Arr: John Sangster 6:59
- Laurelindorenan John Sangster Arr: John Sangster 8:50
- Fangorn John Sangster Arr: John Sangster 7:59
- A Dance for the New Forest John Sangster Arr: John Sangster 8:20
- Winter's Solstice John Sangster Arr: John Sangster 6:58
- Summer's Reprise John Sangster Arr: John Sangster 10:13
Disc 2
- Panorama from Tower Hills John Sangster Arr: John Sangster 10:04
- Star Opening John Sangster Arr: John Sangster 6:03
- Weathertop John Sangster Arr: John Sangster 4:52
Performers
- John Sangster · vibraphone, marimba, percussion
- Don Burrows · bass flute, alto flute, c flute, school flute (fife), clarinet
- Graeme Lyall · soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone
- Jim Kelly · guitar
- George Golla · guitar
- Greg Lyon · bass
- Doug Gallagher
- Ian Bloxsom
- Claire Poole Singers · disc 1 track 9; disc 2 track 3
- Peader O'Carrol · disc 1 tracks 1 and 4; disc 2 tracks 1 and 3
- John Lyle · leader of the strings · all except disc 1 tracks 3, 5–7 and 9; disc 2 track 2
Contributors
original session photography
Howard Hughes
front cover
John Franklin
John Franklin is a graphic designer whose cover designs, front-cover art and graphics appear on a range of Move Records releases.
booklet layout and landscape photography
Martin Wright
Recording engineer and director of Move Records, Martin Wright has well over fifty years’ experience in the industry and has been widely recognised for the calibre of his recordings.
Where to listen
Landscapes of Middle Earth is available for streaming through Spotify and Apple Music. It can also be purchased through the iTunes Music Store.
Landscapes of Middle Earth is available as a CD. It can be purchased online through Buywell Music or the Australian Music Centre which both offer online ordering.
Product details
- Catalogue number
- MD 3254
- List price
- $25.00 AUD
- Total playing time
- 90 minutes 39 seconds
- Producer
- John Sangster
Martin Wright
Vaughan McAlley - Recording Engineer
- Martin Benge
- Mixing Engineer
- Martin Benge
- Mastering Engineer
- Martin Wright
Vaughan McAlley - Venue
- EMI Studios 301
- Credit
- Howard Hughes
John Franklin
Martin Wright - Release date
- 2006
- Musical work
copyright - © 1978 John Sangster
- Sound recording
copyright - ℗ 2006 Move Records
- Categories
- Australian, Jazz
- Genre
- Jazz & Improvised
- Barcode
- EAN 9314574325423
Related recordings
The Lord of the Rings, Vol. 1
Not Howard Shore's film score, but Australian jazz and film composer John Sangster's ambitious 1970s musical portrait of Tolkien's characters and events, restored here on a double CD more than twenty-five years after the original EMI LPs.
The Lord of the Rings, Vol. 2
The second volume of John Sangster's classic jazz epic on The Lord of the Rings. First issued by EMI as a double LP more than twenty-five years earlier, this music reaches CD for the first time in this Move reissue.
The Lord of the Rings, Vol. 3
The third volume of John Sangster's classic jazz epic after J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. First issued by EMI as a double LP more than twenty-five years earlier, this ambitious Australian trilogy reaches CD for the first time here.
Jazz Music Series (set)
The five volumes of John Sangster's Jazz Music Series are available individually or together as a set at a reduced price.
Jazz Music Series, Vol. 5: Ripper
The fifth and final volume in John Sangster’s jazz series of suites, written for a lively little orchestra that gathers some of Australia’s finest jazz musicians around his vibraphone writing.
Jazz Music Series, Vol. 4: Take That
Volume four of John Sangster’s Jazz Music Series finds his “lively little orchestra” of leading Australian jazz players in a ten-movement suite of wit, swing and colour.