1492: Conquest of Paradise (album)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| 1492: Conquest of Paradise | ||
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| Studio album by Vangelis | ||
| Released | 1992 | |
| Recorded | 1992 | |
| Genre | Film score | |
| Length | 54:47 | |
| Label | Atlantic/WEA | |
| Producer(s) | Vangelis | |
| Professional reviews | ||
|---|---|---|
| Vangelis chronology | ||
| The City (1990) |
1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992) |
Blade Runner (1994) |
1492: Conquest of Paradise is a 1992 music score by Greek electronic composer and artist Vangelis. The film, a recount of the voyage to America in 1492 by Christopher Columbus, was directed by Ridley Scott, for whom Vangelis had previously composed the music score for Blade Runner, in 1982. The album enjoyed a revival in 1995 for various reasons and became the best selling record in the history of Germany.[citation needed]
[edit] Track listing
- Opening – 1:20
- Conquest of Paradise – 4:47
- Monastery of La Rabida – 3:37
- City of Isabel – 2:16
- Light and Shadow – 3:46
- Deliverance – 3:28
- West Across the Ocean Sea – 2:52
- Eternity – 1:59
- Hispañola – 4:56
- Moxica and the Horse – 7:06
- Twenty Eighth Parallel – 5:14
- Niña, Pinta, Santa Maria (into Eternity) – 13:20
A number of pieces can be identified in the film, but it is clear that Scott preferred the haunting "Hispañola" (track 9) to set the tone of the film, rather than the heroic and more upbeat theme "Conquest of Paradise" (track 2).
The CD was released in each market with one of two different covers.
An EP was released with four tracks, two of which not included in the album:
- Conquest of Paradise
- Moxica and The Horse
- Line Open
- Landscape
[edit] Instrumentation
On this soundtrack, Vangelis plays together with a number of performers, including two Flamenco guitarists and vocalists, violin, mandolin and flutes. As on a number of previous albums by Vangelis, the English Chamber Choir, directed by Guy Protheroe, performs the choral parts.
Vangelis plays all synthesizers, using mainly string patches but also several ethnic ones, to reflect the character of the film, and electric piano and harp patches. Some calmer, atmospheric pieces (tracks 3, 7, 11 and 12) are entirely performed by Vangelis, using pianos, strings and harp.
For the ethnic music, Vangelis consulted with French specialist Xavier Belanger, who has advised other artists on similar issues, including Jean Michel Jarre.
A video clip was shot in Paris with Vangelis in his Epsilon Studios (since dismantled), with the choir performing.
[edit] Revival and popular culture
Both the album and the EP had poor sales upon their release in 1992, but success came three years later, in 1995, for disparate reasons: In Germany, local boxer Henry Maske used "Conquest of Paradise" as his introduction theme during boxing bouts. When he became national champion, the piece received wide coverage and a single was hastily released. In Portugal, the local Socialist Party also used "Conquest of Paradise" as its theme for the general election campaign (it won).
The album went on climb to #1 on the sales charts of several countries. It was certified gold and platinum in over 17 countries, including Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Austria, Switzerland, the UK and Canada. The album became the biggest selling record in Germany’s chart history with Vangelis winning that country's Echo Award for International Artist of the Year 1995, as well as the Golden Lion for Best Film Soundtrack.
The single Conquest of paradise sold 1.6 million copies in Germany, becoming the biggest selling single in chart history of this country. Worldwide sales of the single - an estimate 3 million copies.
In New Zealand, "Conquest of Paradise" is played at Jade Stadium in Christchurch for all rugby matches of the Crusaders in Super 14 and some of Canterbury in the Air New Zealand Cup. It is regarded as the Crusaders' anthem and is played when the team enters the field.
