The Violin Player
Encyclopedia
The Violin Player was the first techno
/pop
album by classical and pop musician Vanessa-Mae
, released in 1995 (see 1995 in music
). It is also the first album Vanessa-Mae released on the EMI
label.
The Violin Player has a varied blend of music – covers of some classical (J.S. Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor
), remakes of old favourites (including American composer Mason Williams
' "Classical Gas
") and originals (seven tracks composed by British
musician and songwriter Mike Batt
), and one original by Vanessa-Mae herself, co-written with Ian Wherry ("Red Hot").
The Violin Player reached #11 in the UK Albums Chart
in February 1995, and was certified Gold by the BPI
in June 1995. It has sold over 8 million copies worldwide, and is still regarded by many as Vanessa-Mae's best work. The album has been reissued as a multi-channel hybrid SACD
by EMI Music Hong Kong.
Techno
Techno is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in Detroit, Michigan in the United States during the mid to late 1980s. The first recorded use of the word techno, in reference to a genre of music, was in 1988...
/pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
album by classical and pop musician Vanessa-Mae
Vanessa-Mae
Vanessa-Mae Vanakorn Nicholson , known professionally as Vanessa-Mae , is an internationally known British violinist. Her music style is self-described as "violin techno-acoustic fusion", as several of her albums prominently feature the techno style...
, released in 1995 (see 1995 in music
1995 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1995.- January–February :*January 18 – Jerry Garcia crashes his rented BMW into a guard rail near Mill Valley, California, USA, but is not injured in the accident....
). It is also the first album Vanessa-Mae released on the EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
label.
The Violin Player has a varied blend of music – covers of some classical (J.S. Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor
Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565
The Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565, is a piece of organ music attributed to Johann Sebastian Bach. It is one of the most famous works in the organ repertoire, and has been used in a variety of popular media ranging from film, video games, to rock music, and ringtones...
), remakes of old favourites (including American composer Mason Williams
Mason Williams
Mason Williams is an American guitarist and composer, best known for his guitar instrumental "Classical Gas". He is also a comedy writer, known for his writing on the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, and Saturday Night Live...
' "Classical Gas
Classical Gas
"Classical Gas" is an instrumental musical piece composed and originally performed by Mason Williams. Originally released in 1968 on the album The Mason Williams Phonograph Record, it has been re-recorded and re-released numerous times since by Williams...
") and originals (seven tracks composed by British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
musician and songwriter Mike Batt
Mike Batt
Michael Philip "Mike" Batt is a British songwriter, musician, producer and Deputy Chairman of the British Phonographic Industry...
), and one original by Vanessa-Mae herself, co-written with Ian Wherry ("Red Hot").
The Violin Player reached #11 in the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
in February 1995, and was certified Gold by the BPI
British Phonographic Industry
The British Phonographic Industry is the British record industry's trade association.-Structure:Its membership comprises hundreds of music companies including all four "major" record companies , associate members such as manufacturers and distributors, and hundreds of independent music companies...
in June 1995. It has sold over 8 million copies worldwide, and is still regarded by many as Vanessa-Mae's best work. The album has been reissued as a multi-channel hybrid SACD
Super Audio CD
Super Audio CD is a high-resolution, read-only optical disc for audio storage. Sony and Philips Electronics jointly developed the technology, and publicized it in 1999. It is designated as the Scarlet Book standard. Sony and Philips previously collaborated to define the Compact Disc standard...
by EMI Music Hong Kong.