Have fond teenage memories of Neil performing Harmony of the Spheres live at Abbotsholme. If memory serves me right wasn't the piece commissioned by Gordon Clarke of the Abbotsholme Arts Society? Any
way I loved it and bought it. I still play it occasionally. Fair Mirage is my favourite track
#20
John Carter(Sunday, 08 March 2015 11:23)
My father, Nigel Carter (Trumpet - BBC Radio Big Band) ret. has just told me of his work with Neil on the 'Camden ' 70' recording / gig.
Just bought a copy - Wonderful.
As a long standing admirer of Neil Ardley's music, I have been trying to make use of a recording I hold of his extraordinary work "The Time Flowers". The music was played on Jazz in Britain on Radio
3 sometime in 1971. The programme was presented by Brian Priestley, who explains the context of the music at the start and end of the recording. The music is based on The Garden of Time, a short
story by J.G.Ballard. In 1971 I made a recording of this when it was played on the Jazz in Britain radio programme. My recording was on a low quality reel-to-reel tape. When I unearthed this
recording some 35 years (or so) later, I was working for a Community Radio Station, and I managed to digitally remaster it to remove the hiss and clicks.
I don't know if the BBC still retain a copy of the original, but my attempts to offer it to them and find out have been fruitless. The same with other sources - no-one seems interested and no-one has
replied to me! It seems a pity as this wonderful piece of music is not available on CD or download anywhere. Of course there might be copyright issues, but it would be wonderful to hear from anyone
who would be interested in helping me to start in motion some way of making this recording available to the public. Any ideas?
#18
mario g(Thursday, 08 May 2014 02:46)
I have very fond memories of "The World of Tomorrow" series. Those were the first nooks Id look for during library time in elementary. I am now 35 and have found them again. Thank you so much for the
fond memories!!!!
Have finally posted the NJO 50th anniversary blog. Hope you all enjoy reading it. It's a bit later than I originallly planned (the first rehearsal was early November 1963) as it took quite a bit
longer than I thought it would.
CR Link: www.colinrichardsonjazz.typepad.com
Have recently rediscovered my vinyl copy of Kaleidoscope and realised how often I used to listen to it with my children. Looking forward to a renewed voyage of discovery, not least Neil's books with
my grandchildren. So sorry to now know of his death. But also thankful for the Internet and my new record deck.
Morris
#15
Dan(Saturday, 06 July 2013 01:31)
Currently listening to a nice near mint vinyl copy of "Harmony Of Spheres" absolutely brilliant! :)
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.
Ian Stevenson (Thursday, 29 October 2015 15:36)
Have fond teenage memories of Neil performing Harmony of the Spheres live at Abbotsholme. If memory serves me right wasn't the piece commissioned by Gordon Clarke of the Abbotsholme Arts Society? Any way I loved it and bought it. I still play it occasionally. Fair Mirage is my favourite track
John Carter (Sunday, 08 March 2015 11:23)
My father, Nigel Carter (Trumpet - BBC Radio Big Band) ret. has just told me of his work with Neil on the 'Camden ' 70' recording / gig.
Just bought a copy - Wonderful.
artist.management@hotmail.co.uk
Clint Mann (Wednesday, 18 June 2014 00:00)
As a long standing admirer of Neil Ardley's music, I have been trying to make use of a recording I hold of his extraordinary work "The Time Flowers". The music was played on Jazz in Britain on Radio 3 sometime in 1971. The programme was presented by Brian Priestley, who explains the context of the music at the start and end of the recording. The music is based on The Garden of Time, a short story by J.G.Ballard. In 1971 I made a recording of this when it was played on the Jazz in Britain radio programme. My recording was on a low quality reel-to-reel tape. When I unearthed this recording some 35 years (or so) later, I was working for a Community Radio Station, and I managed to digitally remaster it to remove the hiss and clicks.
I don't know if the BBC still retain a copy of the original, but my attempts to offer it to them and find out have been fruitless. The same with other sources - no-one seems interested and no-one has replied to me! It seems a pity as this wonderful piece of music is not available on CD or download anywhere. Of course there might be copyright issues, but it would be wonderful to hear from anyone who would be interested in helping me to start in motion some way of making this recording available to the public. Any ideas?
mario g (Thursday, 08 May 2014 02:46)
I have very fond memories of "The World of Tomorrow" series. Those were the first nooks Id look for during library time in elementary. I am now 35 and have found them again. Thank you so much for the fond memories!!!!
Colin Richardson (Sunday, 08 December 2013 17:59)
Have finally posted the NJO 50th anniversary blog. Hope you all enjoy reading it. It's a bit later than I originallly planned (the first rehearsal was early November 1963) as it took quite a bit longer than I thought it would.
CR Link: www.colinrichardsonjazz.typepad.com
Morris Baker (Tuesday, 08 October 2013 10:50)
Have recently rediscovered my vinyl copy of Kaleidoscope and realised how often I used to listen to it with my children. Looking forward to a renewed voyage of discovery, not least Neil's books with my grandchildren. So sorry to now know of his death. But also thankful for the Internet and my new record deck.
Morris
Dan (Saturday, 06 July 2013 01:31)
Currently listening to a nice near mint vinyl copy of "Harmony Of Spheres" absolutely brilliant! :)
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.