World Premiere Arrangement
Tubular Bells by the English musician Mike Oldfield was released in 1973 when he was only 19 years old. The composition’s opening piano solo was used in the soundtrack to The Exorcist, gaining the album considerable airplay because of the film’s success. The entire work is an ambitious, almost symphonic set of variations on a theme and is replete with good cheer and a bit of droll British wit. This performance features a world premiere orchestration of the seminal work by the Wordless Music Orchestra led by guitarist and singer Grey Mcmurray. Founded in 2006, the WMO is the house band of New York City’s Wordless Music series and has worked with a long roster of acclaimed artists on a variety of “stages” including museums, churches, nightclubs, and outdoors.
Curated by John Schaefer, host and producer of WNYC Radio’s popular radio showsNew Sounds and Soundcheck.