The Six Wives of Henry VIII (album)
Occupation
- Rick Wakeman - Keyboards
- Guest musicians
The Six Wives of Henry VIII is the second solo album by keyboardist Rick Wakeman. It appeared in 1973, when Wakeman was known primarily for his work with the band Yes.
The album is Wakeman 's most successful solo work, and provides an instrumental concept album about the six wives of King Henry VIII (reigned 1509-1547 ) dar.
Formation
The album was recorded from February to October 1972. Since Wakeman was at this time very active with Yes, the recordings took a long time back and also required the involvement of many different musicians, so in addition to the keyboard still a total of 18 other musicians were involved in the album. Furthermore, no song was written in the same occupation. Also, the mixing process took place at various locations, where " Catherine of Aragon" was blended under the direction of Ken Scott in the London Trident Studios. " Anne Boleyn " was recorded in Morgan Studios, headed by Ken Scott and again mixed by Dave Henshall at the Trident Studios; all the other songs were recorded and mixed by Paul Tregurtha in the Morgan Studios.
The church organ, which can be heard in the song " Jane Seymour", in the church of St. Giles Cripplegate was added to.
All songs were composed by Rick Wakeman; one exception is the final part of " Anne Boleyn ," in which Wakeman has the chorale "The Day Thou Gavest Lord Hath Ended " by Clement Cotterill Scholefield adapted.
Cover
The Cover photography by Bruce Rae was born at the waxworks of Madame Tussaud's and shows Wakeman, together with the figures of all the wives of the king. The picture is framed with staves. The back of the cover lists the songs together with a biographical outline of each queen. A little faux pas is the head of Richard Nixon, which can be seen in the photo in the profile behind the queens.
The inside cover shows Wakeman amongst the many keyboard instruments used in the recordings; additional instruments that are not mapped are enumerated in a small text under the image. In addition, a comment from Wakeman is printed:
" This album is based around my interpretations of the musical characteristics of the wives of Henry VIII Although the style june not always be in keeping With Their individual history, it is my personal conception of Their characters in relation to keyboard instruments. "
"This album is based on my interpretations of musical Charakterstika the wives of Henry VIII Although the style does not always coincide exactly with their individual lives, it is my personal concept to put their characters in relation to keyboard instruments. "
Music
Wakeman is dedicated to this album every wife of the English king a song. The album is instrumental, only in some places occurs an accompanying choir. The songs, however, are not located in the historical sequence. The actual order was:
Generally the music is attributed to the progressive rock and has respect to melody, rhythm, instrumentation and structure also clearly in this direction.
" Catherine of Aragon" was originally planned as Wakeman solo contribution to the Yes album "Fragile" and was therefore included with the band, but had to be outsourced due to conflicts with the record company on the solo album. Instead, Wakeman played on the tape album an adaptation of a record from the 4th Symphony of Johannes Brahms. " Catherine of Aragon" yet found use in concerts of the band; so you hear a version of it on the live album Yessongs, also quotes from other songs of the solo album, and the " Alleluia " chorus interjected from the Messiah by George Frideric Handel in the Wakeman.
Wakeman piece is interpreted by Jörg Schumann, editor of the German progressive rock encyclopedia Baby Blue Pages, it thematizing Katherine's numerous pregnancies and as therefore " something dramatic, sometimes even hunted ( it hunts from pregnancy to pregnancy) " () on.
The second piece, dedicated to Anne of Cleves is kept relatively quickly, rhythmically complex. Schumann sees " in the light of these historical facts [ ... ] a complete misinterpretation [ ... ]. It sounds to me much more about life and passion, as it would suggest the brittle, dull Anna. " ().
The third song deals with Catherine Howard, and is characterized by alternating between anthemic quieter and faster parts.
In " Jane Seymour" the church organ is very present, which Schumann interpreted in terms of the religiosity of the queen. In addition, the piece numerous polyphonic or fugal influences has.
" Anne Boleyn " sees Schumann in relation to the political ambitions of its namesake and stresses in particular their resume in his musical implementation:
" The lovely, vibrant, sparkling piano at the beginning is here probably for the happy infatuation of the two. Then the raised choir use this ... they have. Wilde married years, followed by a sounding by intrigue and jealousy sharp - biting quakendem keyboard. Then the threatening climax as a symbol of the rise to the scaffold, the bat and the delicate Pianoausspiel. Poor Anne Boleyn. "
The last song is dedicated to Catherine Parr, here Schumann already see a musical and biographical repetition: " Somehow the story of the ladies repeated yes again and again. Religion, stillbirth and finally beheading or puerperal fever. " ()
Title list
Total playing time: 36 min 46 s
Guest musicians
- Chris Squire, Les Hurdle - Bass
- Steve Howe - Guitar
- Bill Bruford - drums
- Ray Cooper - percussion
- Judy Powell, Liza Strike, Barry St. John - choral singing
- Dave Winter - Bass
- Mike Egan - guitar
- Frank Riccotti - percussion
- Alan White - drums
- Chas Cronk - bass
- Dave Lambert - Guitar
- Dave Cousins - Banjo
- Frank Riccotti - percussion
- Barry de Souza - drums
- Alan White - drums
- Les Hurdle - Bass
- Mike Egan - guitar
- Ray Cooper - percussion
- Bill Bruford - drums
- Laura Lee, Sylvia McNeill, Liza Strike - choral singing
- Dave Winter - Bass
- Mike Egan - guitar
- Frank Riccotti - percussion
- Alan White - drums
Keyboard instruments used
- Minimoog
- Mellotron 400 -D configurations: choir, sound effects, Brass, Woodwinds, Strings
- Hammond C-3
- RMI electric piano
- RMI e- Harpsichord
- Steinway 9 ' concert grand
- Harpsichord by Thomas Goff
- ARP 2600 synthesizer
- Church Organ of St. Giles, Cripplegate
Public performance
After the work has to date never been performed publicly in its entirety, took place on 1 and 2 May 2009 on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the accession of Henry VIII at Hampton Court Palace two open-air concerts. In addition to all the original tracks were also presented new compositions with " Henry 's Fanfare ", " Tudorture '1485 ' ", " Defender Of The Faith " and " Tudorock ". In addition to Rick and his son, Oliver Wakeman The English Rock Ensemble, The English Chamber Choir, Orchestra of Europe and the actor Brian Blessed appeared as narrator. The concerts have been released by Eagle Vision on DVD and BD.