Planetary Unfolding
Encyclopedia
Planetary Unfolding is an album of electronic
ambient music
by U.S.
musician Michael Stearns
. It is considered a classic of ambient music.
and various electro-acoustic instruments. In 1979, he was introduced to the Serge modular synthesizer by Kevin Braheny, who owned a 15-panels system (dubbed "The Mighty Serge"), which he used on Morning Jewel. He then built his own 12-panels Serge. On this one, as he already did with Braheny's system, he performed electronic music with a strong feeling of space.
Planetary Unfolding was recorded around 1981, when Michael left Conrad's Continuum Studio. Musical ideas that Michael performed on the Serge the previous years were put together and developed and gave birth to this 52 minute piece of music, with two parts each cut in three tracks.
The album was given a first release under Michael Stearns' own label, Continuum Montage, in 1981. It was reissued on CD from 1985 to 1991 by Sonic Atmospheres and is since unavailable: , it hasn't been reissued on Stearns's 2000-launched label Earth Turtle.
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
ambient music
Ambient music
Ambient music is a musical genre that focuses largely on the timbral characteristics of sounds, often organized or performed to evoke an "atmospheric", "visual" or "unobtrusive" quality.- History :...
by U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician Michael Stearns
Michael Stearns
Michael Stearns is a United States musician and composer of ambient music. He is also known as a film composer, sound designer and soundtrack producer for large format films, theatrical films, documentaries, commercials, and themed attractions....
. It is considered a classic of ambient music.
Overview
Michael Stearns became a resident composer musician at Emily Conrad's meditation classes in 1975. He composed and performed at first on a MinimoogMinimoog
The Minimoog is a monophonic analog synthesizer, invented by Bill Hemsath and Robert Moog. It was released in 1970 by R.A. Moog Inc. , and production was stopped in 1981. It was re-designed by Robert Moog in 2002 and released as Minimoog Voyager.The Minimoog was designed in response to the use of...
and various electro-acoustic instruments. In 1979, he was introduced to the Serge modular synthesizer by Kevin Braheny, who owned a 15-panels system (dubbed "The Mighty Serge"), which he used on Morning Jewel. He then built his own 12-panels Serge. On this one, as he already did with Braheny's system, he performed electronic music with a strong feeling of space.
Planetary Unfolding was recorded around 1981, when Michael left Conrad's Continuum Studio. Musical ideas that Michael performed on the Serge the previous years were put together and developed and gave birth to this 52 minute piece of music, with two parts each cut in three tracks.
The album was given a first release under Michael Stearns' own label, Continuum Montage, in 1981. It was reissued on CD from 1985 to 1991 by Sonic Atmospheres and is since unavailable: , it hasn't been reissued on Stearns's 2000-launched label Earth Turtle.
Track listing
- "In the Beginning..." – 8:00
- "Toto, I've a Feeling We're Not in Kansas Anymore!" – 6:20
- "Wherever Two or More Are Gathered" – 9:19
- "Life in the Gravity Well" – 6:55
- "As the Earth Kissed the Moon" – 9:55
- "Something's Moving" – 5:19