Isao Tomita Gardens--------------

[Ampvega]

I first heard "Snowflakes are Dancing" on a progressive FM station back in the 70s' and bought the album post haste. What a sad state of affairs we live in now with so many stations that are dedicated to segregating our society. Radio was so adventerous then now...I just don't know, but...it hasn't stopped my desire to hear everything: Hip-Hop, Rap, Classical, Electronica, et. al...recently I've take up Celtic music on NPR. Never stop exploring no matter what your friends say.

[WolfgangAmadeusF]

My fave Japanese Composer is Motoi Sakuraba (i highly recomoend him)and composer for FINAL FANTASY series(forgot his name)and fave band is YMO.But Isao Tomita makes also beutifull music.

[Dicknose88]

I love all of Tomita's albums but a few of them are getting quite hard to find. Very expensive too, and you have to have them shipped from Japan... but definitely worth every penny.

[WolfgangAmadeusF]

5 *****

[vincentjacque]

At 1'40", there's a quoting of the French nursery rhyme "Nous n'irons plus au bois"...

[SCOTCHSOLACE]

TOMITA = BLISS

[Tiberius1919]

Tomita is wonderful

[dorksighted]

This one still gives me chills even after almost 30 years. CLASSIC.

[tangramten24]

Just the right piece of music if you're suffering the current "Summer" deluge. From the maestro of 'electro-classical' music.

[brumbaughh1]

there was a 8track in the late 70's by Tomita. most of it was Bach. anyone know where i could find this music?

[Audinos]

I grew up listening to this album and finally bought the CD of it. Some of Tomita's arrangements I prefer to the orchestral originals (i.e. Honegger's "Pacific 231"). I imagine that if Debussy had the technology available in his day, he might have done something similar.

[yourforte]

This is wonderful. I don't like Debussy very much but I love this interpretation of it.

[jazzmunky]

don't like debussy???!!! Why on earth?

[yourforte]

@jazzmunky - sorry, is it against the law?

[jazzmunky]

no, of course, just odd considering how interesting his orchestration is. No prob though, I'm not too keen on beethoven.

[yourforte]

@jazzmunky I think the most interesting thing about Debussy is his harmonic palette (although I don't like it). This piece is really for piano only and I think Tomita has done a great job with his 'orchestration' of it. Although, I do agree that Debussy's orchestrations are interesting. I don't like Beethoven either, btw. I could live on Bach alone.

[jazzmunky]

Ok, but it's still an alien notions to me that you don't like Debussy's harmony. I just met a guy tonight who doesn't like him either. Jeez. Those beautiful shifting tonalities in the Prelude, paralellism, those nauseating convultions in la Mer. Le parfum de la nuit, Prelude, come on! I mean, it is DELICIOUS, YUMMY music of the highest tastiness. Jeez, With a buch of violins and winds I could not evoke such feelings. Debussy is like oisters. I love Bach too btw, but Bach was a different YUM.

[yourforte]

Your words have almost converted me...

[jazzmunky]

lol, was quite drunk at the time...:/

[ktm64]

YOU CAN'T JUST SAY YOU DON'T LIKE DEBUSSY WITHOUT GIVING A REASON....JESUS CHRIST, MAN. Debussy's like, my idol....more than my idol, like my inspiration.

[yourforte]

@ktm64 Oo, sorry. I do wish I liked Debussy's music more. I certainly wouldn't want to diminish your love of it. I just enjoy functional harmony more and I don't like Debussy's plethora of notes. Well I suppose it's Impressionism in general that I'm not too keen on. I've got to say that I do like Tomita's version of this very much. I'm happy for you that you like Debussy so much.

[yourforte]

@ktm64 I guess it's just like trying to say why I don't like olives. To say I don't like the taste adds nothing new.

[tango990830]

es increible lo que puede hacer Isao con eso sintetizadores la raja

[Max1baL]

Otra muy buena adaptación visual a otra gran interpretación de Tomita de la maravillosa música de Debussy...

Another very good visual adaptation 4 another great Tomita's performance of the wonderful Debussy's music...

[amantedejanis]

Debussy was of the earth and Tomita rise him beyond the space...

[rubfer]

Snowflakes are Dancing rules...the best album

[archimech1138]

Snowflakes are Dancing is the best album to ski to, try it.

[Goth108]

according to this times... incredible!

[silverstartrucker]

Snowflakes are dancing, was the first TOMITA album I bought, and it was totally original. Have always loved it.

[A440Hzzz]

I'm right there with you, roncstelep! Some may not realize the painstaking steps necessary to create such sound-works in this manner. No push-button patches in those days! A true virtuoso and expert of synthesis.

[myleftnutts]

are U telling me this guy,did this without a computer??. get out!

[A440Hzzz]

For the most part, yes, Myleft!. Not many PC's around in those days. On The Bermuda Triangle he did use a Roland MC-8, a sequencing device which played the notes back to you, but it had to be programmed. So yeah, that's him playing all of those notes, layering them track by track.

[capybaracapy]

haha, you are too young. This was recorded in 1973, 4 years before Apple II and Roland MC-8 came out.

[menzel290563]

Yes he did, playing "by hand each part"

recording to a tape machine................a true artist !!

[leaflessbranch33]

beautiful!!!

[roncstelep]

I'm an absolute synth expert and into such old modulars and I have to tell, what he has done is unparalelled, not mentioning the music which is always superb, incredibly well-played, romantic and nostalgic from the ancient times, grandioso, progressive. Tomita is one of the greatest ever in every aspect: as a synthesisit, as a player and as a pioneer also. Thanks.

[sbringe]

It's nice to know that this music has transcended time and is still alive in the world, both Debussy's and Tomita's.

I don't think I said that correctly but I hope you can understand what I mean.

If you're like me you've probably heard everything Tomita ever did, if you're searching for more, check out Morton Subotnick's stuff. Subotnick is not like Tomita because he writes original works but the sounds and textures he creates are very interesting.

[trichoone]

Tomita was the first music to open my eyes to the classical world thanks to my cousin for lending me snowflakes are Dancing and i will certianly check out Morton subotnick thankyou .

[sbringe]

I would look for Morton Subotnick's 'Key to Songs' or 'Until Spring'.

[trichoone]

thanks i will .

[jonestheminer]

@sbringe There is also a guy called Paul Shillito here on youtube, he does similar sounding classical electronic music may be worth checking him out

[ymo1965]

Lovely music and great video, thanks. Also love firebird, pictures at an exhibition and bermuda triangle (just got that on cd from u.s/different cover to uk LP)

[ymo1965]

. Incidentally, they reissued daphnis et chloe on cd in japan in 2007 for about £8 (cdjapan). Thats the only cd i'm missing at the moment. Loved tomita's music since late 70s. Keep up the good work mate

[Diegospyro]

Ke viaaaaaje maestro....

[bazzabiker]

been waiting since the 70s to hear this again. a mate had the album,blew my mind then. been try to find for years,thanks

[trichoone]

thankyou makes it all worth while putting these up .

[jiggybilly]

@bazzabiker Are you from Manchester ?

[MuggleSnuggles]

@bazzabiker Some things are definitely worth waiting for.

[usb6060]

i cant stand clasic music but Tomita brill

[trichoone]

I used to think that way but Tomita opened my mind to it years ago .

[zoltai9]

debussy's music is so powerful/ moving/ haunting that it translates surprizingly well to the synthesizer

[Starfires]

Love this, I use Tomita for slideshow videos. His music brings out our creative side and got me into classical music generally. Thanks for posting.

[trichoone]

He also opened my eyes to classical music - trichoone .

[concrete619]

Trichoone, do you make these videos ? Where can I get tomita and Debussy music or videos? They are so what life should be, peaceful, imaginative,dreamy, yet powerful.

[trichoone]

yes i put these vids together with pieces I come across in one place or another , glad you like them , as for finding them well that could be hard a lot of record shops dont seem to carry this sort of music any more without ordering them .

[mjt60a]

excellent, the video fits well with the music!

Most (all?) the Debussy tracks are on the album 'Snowflakes are Dancing' the CD has the number 09026 63588 2 on if that's any help. I got it from HMV in oxford street, London

[camiloquai74]

I love this record since I was like 10. Thanks for posting. Greetings and blessings from Cancún.

[trichoone]

you are welcome and thanks for your comment .-trichoone .

[wlaohu]

I think you could use every word in any language to describe Tomitas music !

[wlaohu]

I really like his clever usage of voices and sounds. It doesn't matter how many times I listen to it, it's never dull or boring. Each time I seem to discover new sounds Einstein eat your heart out !

[wlaohu]

I have been listening to Tomita for years. He's so creative. Get a chance to listen to the planets. Turn off the light and prepare for a ear tingling experience. My home has 10 homemade speakers and a big subwoofer. Absolutely mindblowing yeah !

[trichoone]

sounds good to me - trichoone .

[Joshmcfee]

very relaxing.Thanks

[trichoone]

thats ok

[FoxtronInk]

If Tomita is loved all over the world, why doesn't he play in Washington State USA?, Perhaps am I the only one in WA. that really knows about him? I hope not!

[billroy123]

Hi Fox..I became aware of him in the 70's. Scotland :)

[FoxtronInk]

Hey Bill, How about The Bermuda triangle or Bolero, Perhaps Planets?

[spinozacelt]

excellent.

[trichoone]

Thanks .

[flashbackfoley]

sweet..tomita is so out there..luv it....