Renaissance-Ashes Are Burning part 1

[Martino5863]

I'm also in Canada, I have the live vinyl record and a turntable but haven't time to burn a decent mp3 and upload.

[mrtowjoe]

i was at Carnegie hall when they recorded live i am the one with the request to Annie and still have the first media version 8 track tape

[WAsophia07]

When I was in college I saw Renaissance twice.. awesome! I lived in NY at the time.. now I live in Seattle... so there is at least one other person living in Seattle who knows who they are :)

[TheViniciusjovemfla]

poooooooorrrrra essee sommmmmmm é uma sacanagemmmmmmmmm!!!!

MUIIIIIIIIIITOOOOOOOOOOOO BOMMMMMMMMMMMMM !!!!!

[mtfsant]

Oh my god! That's wonderful

[nfk55]

I saw These guys back in mid seventies in NYC Old Academy of Music and at carnegie hall,what a trip then and today...Thanks so much...

[SeattleLA]

I wish people here on the West Coast, liked Prog. No one has even heard of Renaissance, even people around 50-60 years old.

[Suspiciousbaglady]

@SeattleLA We're out here... look to the north...

[SeattleLA]

@Suspiciousbaglady Hi. Yes, that would explain it, being in Canada. In Seattle and LA, I have yet to meet one person who has heard of them (!) let alone like them. Renaissance is my second favorite of prog bands, started listening to them in 1979.

[hotajax]

One time I saw Annie do this in a concert in Philaelphia. She was wearing a long silver gown. I won't insult anyone by trying to describe it, but I will say this - probably the greatest artistic performance I have ever seen. It was a visual and auditory overload, I had a melt down. I appreciate it for what it is - a once in a lifetime gift.

[manthega2]

ASHES BURNING...ASHES BURNING...

[astronorm111]

Totally awesome...thanks for sharing.

[peacenikron69]

This brings back so many memories ! Gainesville, University of FL, underground radio station WGVL, FM when all I was used to was Top 40 AM .... to be continued

[18geoffreypedwards]

I thought I was the only one who still loved Renaissance and Annie Haslam.

Guess not! What a voice, what wonderful music.

\

[koleade]

Hello Peter, please can you upload the live version in carnegie please. especially the intro..

[PeterThenn]

I only have that on Vinyl and it is about 18 minutes long. I currently do not have a turntable.

[koleade]

arghh, thats unfortunate for me then..lol, are you getting one anytime soon?..im sixteen and just recently got into them and think they ar amazing

[PeterThenn]

I would more likely get the Album on CD.

It would cost less.

[koleade]

i was going to do that but that extended intro that was played in the live version is not on the album

[leftylefty1776]

@PeterThenn Stay way from CDs and try to find it on vinyl. Much better quality and dynamic range.

[4GreenFrog]

4GreenFrog I first saw them at Boulder, the C U campus in the mid 70's. I had two of the albums. They ended with Ashes Are Burning. They had a primitive light show. Of course, it floored me. Some great music.

[leftylefty1776]

@PeterThenn it would be worth the search and money to get a turntable.

[druidia9]

I think Lisa Gerrard is fantastic, and has a great creative vocal style. But Annie's range far exceeds hers.

[pintosfamily]

Absolutely fantastic! A voyage in time tunnel guided by angel voice of Annie Haslam. Thank you

[sha46char]

I remember my sister took a trip to California ( we are from Massachusetts) back in the late 70's. She came home and brought an album with her. It was Renaissance. The people she was visiting took her to their concert . She played it for me and we both became fans. Today I still play their Cd's and it brings a smile to my face hearing that angelic voice.

[Clothahump]

What an incredible, incredible voice Annie Haslam had. Still does, I guess, although I don't think she has quite the 5 octave spread she used to.

[lucadefran]

unforgettable song and group....hi from italy

[wwonka52]

i forgot all about them till today. wow. i'love them and remember them from the 70 's in massachusetts. awesome

[mothermoon55]

WNEW FM !!! now that does bring back memories LOL that was my station when i lived in NY just isnt anything to compare renaissance was one of many good things to hear

[amoom0]

Experiencing this song in concert (broadcast live on WNEW-FM) was the highlight of my first acid trip. It was the second of 8 times I saw Renaissance in concert.

[molinagrosz]

too much sublime

[Codysstar]

ths song is completely epic...

[druidia9]

My heartthrob in the 80s, and still so, Annie Haslam, I bow to your talent, madame!

[guitarplyr65]

The lady seems like she could easily be one that influences amy lee of evanessence!

[ZarathustrasCrown]

She's WAY better trained than Amy Lee is, Amy's got some killer pipes no doubt but her training seems spotty...I've seen Evanescence live and seen her sing enough you can hear her pulling sounds out her throat...Haslam's tone has almost no vibrato on it whatsoever, she almost emulates the sound of a bell with her voice. Amy Lee has the definite foundation that could lead to something that level, but I don't think she's put the time and effort into classically training to be an equal.

[bassSlouch]

yah, I'd say, the girl from Lacuna Coil is more a throwback to either of the singers from this amazing band, if only Cradle of Filth had more female lead songs, they employ a opera singer as a back up vocalist, usually to accent the demonic sounds of a microphone killing madman

[ZarathustrasCrown]

One of my personal favorites from the modern day is the brilliant Lisa Gerrard from Dead Can Dance...one of the very, very few singers I'd put right on par with Haslam

[amjan]

In all honestly, you cannot put ANYBODY on par with Lisa Gerrard. Lisa is out of this world and you know it.

There are great singers and there is Lisa Gerrard.

[ZarathustrasCrown]

@amjan Yeah, Lisa's bloody magnificent...I got the pleasure of seeing Dead Can Dance during their reunion tour about...4 years, I think, back. They do a mind-blowingly incredible show

[fluxstringer]

Chocolate?Vanilla? Why pick just one when you can appreciate both?

[CrimsonKing589051]

@amjan

I am sorry but Annie is at least every bit as unique as Lisa Gerrard and technically superior as well...this is not to put down Lisa in any way. And how exactly is Annie not out of the world, by the way? Prologue? Rockalise? Sounds of the sea? These are ordinary?

[ZarathustrasCrown]

@CrimsonKing589051 I'd put them in pretty similar categories technically...I've had the pleasure of seeing DCD live during the last tour they popped into Canada and I can say most assuredly Lisa is just ridiculously good...awe-inspiring in every literal sense of the world. they sing a little differently, Lisa tends to use her vibrato a lot more but in terms of the sheer range and POWER of their voices they're pretty level with each other. As a side, nice handle, I've seen King Crimson too :)

[CrimsonKing589051]

@ZarathustrasCrown

There is indeed no doubt that Lisa is an awesome singer but in terms of range and control, I disagree...Annie is in a different league. It has to be pointed out here that because her voice is so well honed, people don't realize precisely how low/high Annie can go (while Lisa sounds 'higher' than she's really going)...in terms of power too, the B5 on the concert DVD performance of Prologue is unmatched by just about any female singer I have heard.

[CrimsonKing589051]

@CrimsonKing589051

In terms of control too, Annie's so sure footed on complicated vocalised patterns it's hard to believe. Yes, Lisa is great with that too, but I'd sum up the difference this way: Lisa improvises like a singer, Annie like a musician. As an Indian, I say with reasonable confidence that if somebody had sent Annie over, she would have made one swell Hindustani singer. :D And in terms of virtuosity, I rate Hindustani singers as the best in general.

[ZarathustrasCrown]

I can't find definite figures for either, an uncited claim on wikipedia on Annie but nothing concrete :( still (in my minimally vocally trained view) Lisa's "Sanvean", "Cantara", or "The Unfolding" are largely diverse as to the range she uses...contrast the range from "Sanvean" to the, "Persephone (The Gathering of Flowers)" bridge/outro for example...it's too close to put either above the other definitely...I'll think of one then think of a song by the other that's equally impressive...

[CrimsonKing589051]

@ZarathustrasCrown

Annie: E3 on Bittersweet, F#3 on Midas Man, Carpet.. up to G6 on live performances of Ashes are burning at Albert Hall '77 and Park west '83. Not on wiki, but I can vouchsafe for these as I know where my keys are, if precious little else about music. :D

Lisa: Don't know her lowest, her highest I would put roughly at F5/G5. There's no way she has a whole octave below E3 (in which event her range would be comparable) because Tate's lowest SUNG note is an E2.

[CrimsonKing589051]

@CrimsonKing589051

but I will check out those and get back. :)

[ZarathustrasCrown]

@CrimsonKing589051 Yeah, see my experience vocally is limited...I've done one or two years of vocal training so I can hold myself steady, I can sing I just definitely am nowhere even in the same game let alone ballpark of these two virtuoso's. All my musical theory (or most) is built around the guitar...it's interesting people seem to usually reference one instrument they're familiar with, if I need to figure out a note I'll actually visualize a fretboard and work from there...

[CrimsonKing589051]

@ZarathustrasCrown

I can locate pitch roughly fast simply by singing along with it...when I am nowhere close to hitting it, I know it's really high. :D But to get the exact note, I need to use my keyboard because I can't place the pitch by ear, would love to be able to do that. I sing a lot better than I play, because two hand coord sucks...of course, nowhere close to this level. :D Actually I will never be that at good at anything as Annie is at singing, fact.

[ZarathustrasCrown]

@CrimsonKing589051 perfect pitch. my grandmother has that, she can play piano by ear. If I have a reference point, like a tuning fork to get my mid C I can work it out by visualizing it. All you need to do to tell how good both these women are is listen to someone else try to sing them. For example, there's a cover of Sarah Brightman's of Sanvean, she's a solid vocalist (not my style, but skilled) and right off the bat the difference is startling, any covers I've seen of Annie are the same

[CrimsonKing589051]

@ZarathustrasCrown

There's Stephanie Adlington's take on Ocean Gypsy up on youtube. That answers the question! :D Even Candice's much acclaimed take is not to my taste. Annie expresses a million things on each and every line, while seemingly giving the impression of keeping it simple...very difficult to achieve that.

[CrimsonKing589051]

@ZarathustrasCrown

Right! So I did check out those. A low of G3 on Unfolding and a high of C5 on Sanvean. Didn't measure Persephone but would put it thereabouts. I'd suggest you to play Sanvean and Carpet ("Come along with me" portions) simultaneously, it would become clear that they are in fact in the same region...Annie just sounds lighter and sweeter whereas Lisa darker and harsher because of the voice type. As I said, Annie is deceptive.

[CrimsonKing589051]

@ZarathustrasCrown

One singer I would rate technically close to Annie's level was Minnie Riperton. Wider range and nearly as much control too, but Annie scores in finer aspects like diction, effortlessness, vibrato. And I repeat, that flat out B5 is impossible!

[CrimsonKing589051]

@ZarathustrasCrown

Lastly...sorry, this is the third one :D...the problem is, Annie's live performances with Renaissance in the 70s are so badly archived and documented. It seems that even the band don't realize the full import of some of the feats she pulled off back in the day (or perhaps lack funds :( )? I stumbled upon a third rate bootleg of Touching Once the other day with more stunning vocal improv. I wonder what else is out there still that we don't know about but badly need to.

[eurabio]

if that is so, amy lee didn't learn anything

[oldedrum]

'Annie teaches angels to sing'

[mynameisyibble]

I have no idea why I love this song so much, but I do. :D

[marilena61]

sono agli sgoccioli con questo brano. meraviglioso....

[kansasdrive]

How could such a beautiful song be born?

[stiegy97291]

kansasdrive very simple.... michael dunford and betty thatcher.... with annie haslam as the lead vocalist. and ofcourse camp tout and sullivan rounded out the group

[syr1811]

Great song, and if ever there were an Angels voice come to Earth in Rock music, it was Annie. Still remember the first time I heard her/them - Amazing.

[bassSlouch]

shoot this song is older then I am and its touching to me...and the bass solo is fun to play =D

[cavalier080854]

Good news, Renaissance have released a DVD for a concert from 1976, check out Annie Haslams' website fot details.

[rickyxa]

Fantastic

[nikolaus120]

In the beginning lies inocence. Were will we awake ?

[nikolaus120]

Im Anfang liegt die Unschuld........wo wird man erwachen ?

[reliablebow]

Haven't heard this song for 30 years. It is still wonderful! Thanks for posting...

[leonardoboy2]

I call this music clean, pure and uplifting to my spirit.

[stresslie58]

Can one of you fellow fans tell me where this

Wonderful and sadly underrated band is from?

[borgduck]

They are of ye olde England.

[stiegy97291]

Great Britain: they were very popular after the release of Ahes Are Burning and probably played mid sized arenas 2-3 times a year.

Ashes Are Burning, Turn of the Cards, Scherazade and other Storys, Live @ Carnegie Hall, Song for All Seasons, and Novella are all part of their discography..One of the few bands that are better live, than the studio versions. Annie also has a 5 octave range...

[stresslie58]

Very cool, Thanks for sharing!

Shalom.

[bloofan06]

What a beautiful song! It would be great in concert! Thanks for posting this; I love how the tree in the video is continuously changing colors!

[kellingc]

If you can, check out "Tale of 1001 Nights Vol II" (I know you can get it from Barnes & Noble). The last track is an 18 minutes live version of "Ashes Are Burning".

[PeterThenn]

I believe it is the version from 'Live at Carnegie Hall' which I have on vinyl.

[stiegy97291]

Ashes are burning was their swan song (encore) most shows....sometimes the song could drag on a bit, other times ie: Bostons Orpheum Theater, it was magic!

[cadin2020]

This is another great song of renaissance..they are a true wonder!!!

[eightycargo100]

Great Song.Thanks for posting !

[stiegy97291]

as Annie would say many a time...the song that brought us back to America over and over again!

[milesfromkansas]

Love the 'carnegie hall' version. More organ, more languid, I dunno... the studio version is a bit sterile.

[milesfromkansas]

Love the 'carnegie hall' version. More organ, more languid, I dunno... the studio version is a bit sterile.

[regitex]

eu adoro renaissance! i live in brasil and i love renaissance.

[ZarathustrasCrown]

This song is friggin' GREAT fun to play...somewhere around 20 distinct sections and a few wacky sharp diminished chords, but damn...Renaissance rules...

[Hyardacil]

@ZarathustrasCrown Erm... ahem.

Sheet's? 

[ZarathustrasCrown]

@Hyardacil It's not really "sheet music" in the traditional sense of the word, I'll send a link to you since I don't think I can post a link on the comment section.

[marizalinda]

Maravihosa esta canção!

[PeterThenn]

It seems about half of the viewer's who watched this video did not check out the second part. I just want people to know that it is available if they want to watch it.

[Dupes78]

I wouldn't have missed the second part of this classic song, it's when Annie's vocal range is put to the test. She is awesome.

Thanks for posting.

[VenusMonkey]

lol..uh huh...her voice in that second part is astounding!

[Orangelazaruspete]

Thanks so much I love this song and it's been decades since I have heard it !!! Annie rules !

[Aslanspal]

Thankyou for this and blending the lyrics in...great job.

[rnrhc10]

Peter, a great way of presenting the song this way. Thanks for putting this on the Tube.

Greetingzzz

Rob

The Netherlands