Interesting to see 'A Symphony of Amaranths' re-released. I would link from ivorcutler.org to Dusk Fire records but they seem not to have a web site.
#11
Richard John Walker(Thursday, 27 December 2012 17:19)
Discovered Music of the Spheres in a Japanese second hand record vinyl store in Tokyo and bought it as a means of easing myself back into vinyl. I'd heard Ardley played way back on Stuart Maconie,
but I was pleasantly surprised with this beautiful slab of vinly which is by turns Krautrocky,　funky and experimental; the music is so cohesive it sounds like a aural novel more than a collection of
songs.
Presently listening in the Soft Stillness of the (present) Night. Wonderful!
Wonderful to see that Neil is now well represented on the web. An incredibly talented man, musician, author....... Sad that I was not fortunate to meet him
#9
David Frank Allen(Friday, 24 August 2012 00:02)
Thank you for providing information about a most original composer who never confused quality with quantity; Rainbows & spheres are two moving works that rate among the finest compositions of the
20 th century.
Many thanks.
How nice to see the website upgraded and with a guest book! May Neil's work be distributed wider and wider as the years go by, sending love and light to a needy world...
Neil was one of the gentle geniuses of British modern music, sitting happily in the same snug bar as Robert Wyatt and Ivor Cutler. I am a huge fan, especially of his "The Dong With The Luminous Nose"
and "Kaleidoscope of Rainbows."
I was privileged to spend a few days with him on his last holiday here in Japan with his wife Vivien. His passing was sudden and tragic, but perhaps better than a slow painful bedridden decline. He
was one of our brightest flames and sparkled till the very end. Bless him and bless you too Vivien,I hope life is again good for you now.
#7
Bob Hadley(Friday, 16 December 2011 20:20)
I discovered Harmony of the Spheres" almost by accident - and what a happy accident it was. The lyrical and haunting music was a constant companion when times were low. Kaleidescope of Rainbows was
hunted down soon after and the blend of instruments gave me new insights into Neil's massive talent. I am just getting to grips with "Greek Variations" and can only hope for a copy of "Symphony of
Amaranths". I was saddened by news of Neil's death and feel the British music has lost a guiding light.
#6
B. McLaughlin(Wednesday, 09 November 2011 05:34)
My parents had given me a copy of "How Things Work" when I was probably nine or ten years old. I had a few other books that were similar, but Neil's book was special.
There was something so attractive about the photos and projects that he constructed, and I especially fell in love with the electrical projects. It was like building with "big boy" Legos, and
although I had absolutely no concept of the theory behind the circuits, I followed the visual recipes and ended up with projects that worked.
I am now in my first few months working as an electrical engineer at one of the largest semiconductor companies in the world.
Although it took some great parents to support me, Neil lit the fire, and I wish I had the opportunity to thank him in person. I owe him greatly.
I was lucky enough to be in Neil's final lineup of Zyklus. We were due to start work on a new LP at the time of his targic death. We have a recording of the last gig, which would be great to have
made available. There's a photo at the end of this page - here http://www.nickrobinson.info/music/gallery.htm
#4
toshio sato(Friday, 20 May 2011 17:52)
I still remember when Neil invited me to his country cottage back to 36 years.
He was so warm and kind person and I love some other great artists around him like Jon Hiseman, Barbara Thompson(both visited our country 2 times), Ian Carr and so on.
Good to see Neil's memory living on in this re-vamped website. I thoroughly endorse George Foster's sentiments above on the unavailability of "Le Dejeuner Sur L'Herbe" which is by any standards one
of the best jazz albums ever recorded. But Neil Ardley's "A Symphony of Amaranths" is also an extremely important work which too should be reissued immediately.
#2
George Foster(Friday, 08 April 2011 10:05)
Neil's body of music deserves all the promotion it can get! I welcome this new website, and would love to see his recorded work more widely available. The unavailabilty of "Dejeuner sur l'Herbe",
described as one of the greatest orchestral jazz records, is a national scandal!
#1
Marija(Wednesday, 16 March 2011 19:12)
Outstanding! Thank you for organizing information about this extraordinary man.
Print Version
Peter Muir (Monday, 11 March 2013 10:49)
Hi Jeremy, here we are in virtual-land!
Best - PETER www.duskfire.co.uk
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=dusk+fire&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a
admin (Monday, 11 March 2013 04:45)
Many thanks Jeremy! Here is the link for 'Symphony of Amaranths' : http://www.musicsogood.com/duskfire/neil_ardley3.htm
Jeremy Cutler (Monday, 11 March 2013 00:04)
Interesting to see 'A Symphony of Amaranths' re-released. I would link from ivorcutler.org to Dusk Fire records but they seem not to have a web site.
Richard John Walker (Thursday, 27 December 2012 17:19)
Discovered Music of the Spheres in a Japanese second hand record vinyl store in Tokyo and bought it as a means of easing myself back into vinyl. I'd heard Ardley played way back on Stuart Maconie, but I was pleasantly surprised with this beautiful slab of vinly which is by turns Krautrocky,　funky and experimental; the music is so cohesive it sounds like a aural novel more than a collection of songs.
Presently listening in the Soft Stillness of the (present) Night. Wonderful!
John (Monday, 17 September 2012 22:12)
Wonderful to see that Neil is now well represented on the web. An incredibly talented man, musician, author....... Sad that I was not fortunate to meet him
David Frank Allen (Friday, 24 August 2012 00:02)
Thank you for providing information about a most original composer who never confused quality with quantity; Rainbows & spheres are two moving works that rate among the finest compositions of the 20 th century.
Many thanks.
Morgan Fisher (Wednesday, 30 May 2012 15:49)
How nice to see the website upgraded and with a guest book! May Neil's work be distributed wider and wider as the years go by, sending love and light to a needy world...
Neil was one of the gentle geniuses of British modern music, sitting happily in the same snug bar as Robert Wyatt and Ivor Cutler. I am a huge fan, especially of his "The Dong With The Luminous Nose" and "Kaleidoscope of Rainbows."
I was privileged to spend a few days with him on his last holiday here in Japan with his wife Vivien. His passing was sudden and tragic, but perhaps better than a slow painful bedridden decline. He was one of our brightest flames and sparkled till the very end. Bless him and bless you too Vivien,I hope life is again good for you now.
Bob Hadley (Friday, 16 December 2011 20:20)
I discovered Harmony of the Spheres" almost by accident - and what a happy accident it was. The lyrical and haunting music was a constant companion when times were low. Kaleidescope of Rainbows was hunted down soon after and the blend of instruments gave me new insights into Neil's massive talent. I am just getting to grips with "Greek Variations" and can only hope for a copy of "Symphony of Amaranths". I was saddened by news of Neil's death and feel the British music has lost a guiding light.
B. McLaughlin (Wednesday, 09 November 2011 05:34)
My parents had given me a copy of "How Things Work" when I was probably nine or ten years old. I had a few other books that were similar, but Neil's book was special.
There was something so attractive about the photos and projects that he constructed, and I especially fell in love with the electrical projects. It was like building with "big boy" Legos, and although I had absolutely no concept of the theory behind the circuits, I followed the visual recipes and ended up with projects that worked.
I am now in my first few months working as an electrical engineer at one of the largest semiconductor companies in the world.
Although it took some great parents to support me, Neil lit the fire, and I wish I had the opportunity to thank him in person. I owe him greatly.
B. McLaughlin
Dallas, TX
USA
Nick Robinson (Thursday, 21 July 2011 18:54)
I was lucky enough to be in Neil's final lineup of Zyklus. We were due to start work on a new LP at the time of his targic death. We have a recording of the last gig, which would be great to have made available. There's a photo at the end of this page - here http://www.nickrobinson.info/music/gallery.htm
toshio sato (Friday, 20 May 2011 17:52)
I still remember when Neil invited me to his country cottage back to 36 years.
He was so warm and kind person and I love some other great artists around him like Jon Hiseman, Barbara Thompson(both visited our country 2 times), Ian Carr and so on.
Roger Farbey (Monday, 18 April 2011 10:06)
Good to see Neil's memory living on in this re-vamped website. I thoroughly endorse George Foster's sentiments above on the unavailability of "Le Dejeuner Sur L'Herbe" which is by any standards one of the best jazz albums ever recorded. But Neil Ardley's "A Symphony of Amaranths" is also an extremely important work which too should be reissued immediately.
George Foster (Friday, 08 April 2011 10:05)
Neil's body of music deserves all the promotion it can get! I welcome this new website, and would love to see his recorded work more widely available. The unavailabilty of "Dejeuner sur l'Herbe", described as one of the greatest orchestral jazz records, is a national scandal!
Marija (Wednesday, 16 March 2011 19:12)
Outstanding! Thank you for organizing information about this extraordinary man.