Vegan Wednesdays: Music of the Spheres

If you were on the outside of veganism, you wouldn’t realise it.  But to a very large degree, there are a great many subtle pleasures of veganism.  The mixture and array of cultures that are inherently mixed in with veganism makes it more than just an eating habit.  Though, it can be that if you should so wish.

I’m the type of person who experiences the world through the ears.  And the nose, too.  But for the sake of this review, the ears.  I’m sure you can imagine my delight, therefore, when several days ago I stumbled upon the album, ‘Music of the Spheres’ by Mike Oldfield.

“But Matt, how does this relate to veganism?” I hear you asking.

Well, in truth, the link is actually quite tiny.  In fact, so tiny, that the only way it relates to veganism is that I’m a veganism and I’ve rapidly come to adore this album.

Originally, I was somewhat skittish about the whole affair.  Before even clicking the ‘play’ button, the album name ‘Music of the Spheres’ conjures up Jewish Mysticism (I’m sure Kabbalah is that one with the spheres of existence) and Holst’s Planet Suite.

Hence, I assumed that it was going to be either some crazy new-age funk.  Admittedly, I am the type of person to like new-age funk, but I was still a touch skittish.  Something with such an ostentatious, determined title like ‘Music of the Spheres’ was going to have to wow me to be decent.  Can you guess what I’m about to say?

In a very, very stilling way, the music is divine.  No doubt, the reason why the word ‘Sphere’ is used.  There is a certain sense of perfection sweeping through the entire ensemble.

When I first went about investigating the music, I decided on the obviously most logical action and started playing number 6.  I then promptly flicked my attention off to something else as it wafted over my ears.  I then checked Windows Media Player to find that I was on the last song.

It was in that moment that I fell in love with Mike Oldfield’s creation.

Each piece is woven into the next and previous track.  They each carry their own character, yet just like a family, they each contain a part of the other. Unlike so many albums today, the entire feature consists of a story-like progression, each new song adding an extra layer to the entire feel of the music.  Yet this is easily only one of the minor reasons why I’ve become totally enamored with his work.

Most important to me is that ‘Music of the Spheres’ is progressive classical music.  To me, it feels more like had Jazz and Classical music joined together.  Yet, altogether, the music contains a distinctly Holiday Season theme; the track ‘Aurora’ featuring sporadic chimes for a female choir.

Interestingly, without doubt each piece could be taken from the album and placed within a moviefilm production without any hiccups.  Indeed, each piece has a distinct fine-tuned feel to it, adding to the restrained-yet-dynamic ambiance of the album.

The songs themselves brush from Latin names (‘Animus’) to Grecian titles (for example, ‘Emperyean’) and into more English titles (‘Prophecy’).

Overall, the atmosphere of ‘Music of the Spheres’ is macro-cosmic.  That is to say, the songs seem to inflect a poised feeling of universal harmony and peace.

Likewise, ultimately my favourite track from the entire set would have to be, surprising to me, the opening song ‘Harbinger’.   Frequently, I find the opening song of an album to be the most dry and difficult to enjoy.  Harbinger, contrastingly, captivated my hearing and, as I listen to it again now, I can’t help but have images conjure in my mind.  Of Arabian deserts, solar systems and equally sweeping views.

I did some research on this album and found that ‘Music of the Spheres’ is actually a philosophical concept credited to have been created by Socrates as the idea that applying mathematics to the movement of the planets in the solar system could match up to music.

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