Just not the same Although I enjoy piano versions of music, this album was just not the same for me as the original new age concept music. Oldfield has commented in his autobiography that the insight which gave him his first two albums seems in some ways to have been lost forever, and for me there is simply nothing like the original versions of Tubular Bells and Hergest Ridge.
Beautiful music I am struck by the absolute timelessness of this music. We have loved it for 30 years, and now our children all love it too. This version is beautifully played, and having the two versions on the same CD is very interesting. I prefer the total piano version. Its a great record. Greg Yates in Adelaide, Australia.
nice to see others "like mike" too! .....a golden & good interpretation...good show! bravo!...goes right along with the other 'tubulars'....they need a box set of all the tubular bells with the live DVD versions!...there already is a Tubular Bells IV(4)..it is my understnding it is the Millenium Bell..& the live DVD from Berlin....ENJOY!
Piano Ensemble version of Mike Oldfield classic First, be warned that despite the cover with the big 4 on it this is NOT tubular bells 4. This album consists of two tracks each of which is an arrangement of the first half of the classic Tubular Bells (I). The first arrangement is for two pianos, and two synths; while the second is for four pianos. Both pieces are performed by "Piano Ensemble" which consists of two couples. I've never heard of any of them before, though that doesn't really mean much. All said, the album is decent, the arrangements are interesting and played well. It is obvious that a lot of work went into producing this album, along with a lot of love for Oldfield. All in all a decent album for the Mike Oldfield collector (which I am one), but don't be fooled, it's not Mike's latest and greatest version of Bells (which he has claimed he is never going to do).