Archive for the ‘Music News’ Category
Canada’s Juno Awards Ceremony set for March 30, 2014. The evening ceremony honors the best Canadian artists and their albums by Canada’s most coveted music award.
Much like Canada and the U.S. share a collective international border at Niagara Falls, our two countries share similar qualities when it comes to each country’s most prestigious music award ceremonies.
Scheduled on the weekend of March 29, March 30, 2014 Canada’s most prestigious music award ceremony honoring top artists will be televised live at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Much like the United States process to determine GRAMMY® Awards, Canada’s Juno Awards are decided by either a designated selection process or selections determined by voting members of the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS).
New members are inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame during the ceremony, which will include legendary rock group Bachman-Turner Overdrive. The designated hosts for the ceremony are: Classified, Johnny Reid, and Serena Ryder.
Popular artists are scheduled to perform including ceremony hosts Classified and singer, songwriter Serena Ryder. Additional artists set to perform are as follows; Gord Bamford, Dean Brody, Brett Kissell, Matt Mays, The Sheepdogs, Tegan and Sara, Robin Thicke, Walk off the Earth.
There are 44 Juno Award Categories this year, and comparable to the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS), Juno awards are presented as primarily Album of the Year or Artist of the Year. This change in award category terminology, which took place in 2003, was previous phrased as Best Album or Best Artist of the Year.
The Juno Awards Ceremony is televised live on the CTV Television Network each year. It’s unclear if the majority of Americans will have televised access of the live broadcast.
On March 30, 2014 you can visit CTV.ca to see if a streaming broadcast video of the ceremony is shown live. In the past the American Television Network MTV2 broadcast previous Juno Awards Ceremonies so American satellite and cable viewers may be able to watch the ceremony on the MTV2 channel.
For Canadian persons familiar with the Juno Awards nominees the chances of selecting the correct lineup of winning artists are identical to their American counterpart trying to guess the outcome of the GRAMMY® Awards. But in equal terms is an evening celebration filled with anticipation and excitement of who will win Canada’s Artist of the Year or Album of the Year!
For news on Canada’s biggest night in music visit JunoAwards.ca. Big Stock Photos by Fallesenphotography & Gary718.
List of Official Olympic Songs, Artist Names and Events already released prior to the Sochi Olympic Opening Ceremony.
With the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Opening Ceremony now over, nearly a billion people will be watching the international athletic sporting events held in, and around various locations near the host city of Sochi, Russia in 2014.
News about the official announcement of the music and artists who performed during the sporting events are likewise, of special interest as the first music performance during the Olympic Opening Ceremony on February 7, 2014 highlight the historic 22nd Winter Games in Russia.
The Sochi Organizing Committee (SOC) didn’t release the official list of artists and their songs prior to the music events, which includes the Olympic Opening Ceremony, Closing Ceremony, and Medal Awards ceremonies, but the good news is that there is a list of official songs and anthems released well before the extravagant Opening Ceremony.
Hits of the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games is a song compilation album released earlier, and are likely to be performed at an official venue.
Another song already released is the anthem for the Olympic Torch Relay titled We Are All Under the Sky. The official anthem by the band Kasta was performed by two singers from Russia named Elka and Anton Mishenin.
This anthem was played during Olympic Torch Relay festivals in 2,900 Russian towns and villages. There is also the Sochi Olympic Theme Song titled Reach For The Top, sung by musicians Dima Bilan and Julia Savicheva.
In addition NBC’s coverage of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics included a song by American singer Danielle Bradbery. The song by Danielle Bradbery is titled My Day.
In addition a Russian music group named Red Rocks has been performing live during their nationwide concert tour comprised of 17 Russian cities.
Leading news publishers have implied classical music will be the theme, while another major Russian news source said we can expect a contemporary music theme.
One other news source said the music act Tatu is among the performing artists. Tatu is an international female Russian duo with a pop hit All The Things She Said.
Until the complete list of songs and artists who performed during the Olympic Opening Ceremony are known worldwide and officially announced by the SOC and IOC, here is a preview of official songs already released for the 22nd Winter Games and music to be performed at cultural events during the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi.
In an earlier article about music related to the Sochi Olympics I let visitors know there are also inspirational songs available on the Olympic YouTube Channel. Most of the music backing the videos is upbeat, electronic songs but there is a lot of inspiring instrumental music played in the videos too.
If you are one of the estimated one million persons who plan to attend the Sochi Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games there is also a list of artists who will be performing live music and cultural events in and around Sochi.
Beginning February 5, 2014 to February 22, 2014, as part of Russia’s Cultural Olympiad, instrumental soloists, vocalists, and quartets are performing.
Other cultural events already scheduled are recitals and concert performances by several symphony orchestras and Russian folk ensembles at the Zimniy Theatre in Sochi, Adler Concert Hall, Organ Hall, in addition to other venues.
For complete schedule information on these live concert performances and events visit Culture.Sochi2014.com. For music played during previous Olympic and Paralympic Games visit my category section titled Official Olympic Songs. Big Stock Photos by HelleM – Stayanov – Cobalt88.
View Inspiring Videos at YouTube Olympic Video Channel.
If you are a fan of the Olympics and Paralympics then you know there is already a lot of news and information available to everyone prior to the official start of the upcoming 22nd Olympic Winter Games on February 7, 2014.
The first worldwide music fest planned for the Opening Ceremony begins on February 7, 2014, with televised coverage up to the games end and Closing Ceremony on February 23, 2014. Until then, videos with inspiring songs as the background music are available on the official Olympic Channel at YouTube.
I listened to many upbeat songs among the videos with music I sampled. Some video categories to watch include Countdown to Sochi 2014, Olympic Records, 90 Seconds Of The Olympics, Olympic History, Higher Faster Stronger, Olympic Quizzes and Athlete Profiles. There are also past event videos with background music, sponsor and information about the IOC.
Music is an important aspect of the Olympics so watch for more news on the artists and songs selected for the 22nd Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
Visit the official Olympic Video Channel at YouTube. Big Stock Photo credit – Chrisroll.
New Age Music World is a popular music blog featuring a wide-ranging variety of publications related to many of today’s top artists and producers of the best electronic and instrumental music.
Along with the presentation of interviews and album reviews, current concert tour information and music news articles, are featured at this blogspot, including a compiled selection of the best song videos produced by many of the artists I written album reviews for or interviewed over the years.
Examples of recent song videos by popular artists I have represented by written publications at this site include Alphaville, Susan Boyle, Sarah Brightman, Randy Edelman, Jan Hammer, Trevor Jones, Vangelis, Yanni and Hans Zimmer. Plus I feature a variety of artists who have produced some outstanding song videos to accompany their newest album.
YouTube song videos are an easy way to sample music produced by artists featured at this site. In addition they are an excellent way for an artist to demonstrate the cinematic aspects of their music, and in most cases, create a memorable visual impression for the viewer.
In comparison to the music I select for album reviews each year, nearly every one of the song videos posted on my main pages are music samples selected from the newest albums available at the time.
The top song videos of every artist I present to visitors can now be found at the YouTube social media channel for this site. In addition to the song videos posted on my social media channel, select videos and the written content of the artist’s I represent can be found throughout my main pages, top video tab and YouTube song video category.
View the top videos at New Age Music World at my YouTube Video Section. Big Stock Photo – SSilver & Scanrail.
Electronic Dance Music innovators (We Are) Nexus heralded as one of the hottest new EDM groups by top news organizations.
If you are into the sounds of Electronic Dance Music (EDM) and are already informed about one of the finest new EDM groups in recent times, then you know the outstanding new group called (We Are) Nexus is beginning to acquire a sizeable fan following for their ingenious original club mixes.
Composer and producer Nick Gunn and vocalist Carmen Rainier are the names behind the (We Are) Nexus team, both of which are professional artists famous for their albums in the instrumental and world music genres.
(We Are) Nexus is quickly gaining speed in the EDM market by their innovative sound, plus numerous press articles by respected news outlets are publicizing more than positive reviews of the group including articles by CBS News, NBC News, Boston Globe and Miami Herald. These reliable news sources have made a unanimous assessment to the effect that (We Are) Nexus is one of the hottest new groups in Electronic Dance Music.
The first single by the team titled Broken and newest song single named Sound of the Beat features an exciting mix of trendy vocals by Carmen Rainier set to a blend of tech house and engaging world music rhythms. Having produced 14 albums and sales of over 2 million, multi-platinum artist Nicholas Gunn brings a new level of expertise to the EDM market.
While (We Are) Nexus is no way connected to a state-of-the-art smartphone or the newest electronic technology product there is a solid connection, defined by the innovative principles of the artists involved, and the high quality of EDM they produce. Their expertise and success as instrumental artists is clearly reflected in the cleverly arranged songs.
Visit the professional team Nick Gunn and Carmen Rainier at WeAreNexusEDM.com and sample new EDM songs in their music section. Photos courtesy wearenexusedm.com.
Music News: Official Music played during Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games forthcoming.
With the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games less than one year away speculation has already begun on the choice of music selections for the historic athletic games to be held in, and various locations around the host city of Sochi, Russia in 2014.
An important aspect of the Olympic Games themselves is the official music performed during the Opening Ceremony, Closing Ceremony and all events like the Medal Award Ceremony. Interest in the music performed at venues from start to finish is equally popular.
At this point neither the International Olympic Committee (IOC) nor the Sochi Organizing Committee (SOC) has released the Official Music to be played during the games, but there is news of a song compilation album likely to be music played during the Olympics.
The first album titled Hits of the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games is 10 song compilation album release based on the Olympic theme. The artists performing the 10 songs were musicians selected during a music competition open to Russian citizens. The songs are being played on radio stations in Russia, but Hits of the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games is not yet available.
During the London 2012 Olympic Games the music of new age electronic instrumental artist Vangelis made a grand impression with his famed Chariots Of Fire song, which is a song selected from the motion picture soundtrack score on the Academy Award-Winning movie of the same title.
The song Chariots Of Fire by Vangelis was an official theme song played extensively during the Medal Award Ceremonies and other venues. It’s hard to imagine a song better suited to the Olympic Games than Chariots Of Fire, but it will be interesting to see if music by Vangelis will be included in the 2014 Sochi Winter Games. I will present special music news coverage and updates for the Sochi Winter Olympics so check back for complete information about Official Olympic Music when made available.
The 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics will begin on February 7, 2014 with the Opening Ceremony and conclude on February 23, 2014 with the Closing Ceremony. The following Paralympic Games is set to begin March 7, 2014 and conclude on March 16, 2014. The Olympic Torch Relay begins in Moscow, Russia on October 7, 2013. The song video below is by an artist performing an electronic music composition while the video portion details plans and events for the Sochi 2014 Olympic Project.
To read more about the Hits of the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games compilation album by artists in Russia visit Sochi2014.com. For music played during previous Olympic and Paralympic Games visit my category section named Official Olympic Songs. Big Stock Photos – Jimbarber & Eskay Lim.
Sarah Brightman News: Listen to 45 second song samples from Dreamchaser at Amazon store in Japan.
Dreamchaser is Sarah Brightman’s newest album nearing official release worldwide in April 2013. There are several official release dates given for various countries around the world for Sarah’ twelfth studio album with 10 vocal and instrumental songs that are going to be available in either format of audio CD or digital downloads.
Sarah Brightman fans who are member of her community fan club may already be privy to this news, but for all other persons the Amazon and iTunes music stores in Japan are two online stores where you can listen to pre-release 45 second song samples of Dreamchaser. In fact persons may also purchase Dreamchaser in either format, but with the April 2013 release coming up, the wait for this exceptional album won’t be much longer.
Angel & One Day Like This are two full length videos and song singles released to the public with resounding admiration for this exceptional release. Today I would like to pass along this news update of this opportunity to listen to 45 second samples of all songs on her newest album prior to the official release date for the majority of countries worldwide.
Dreamchaser has been available for sample or purchase in Japan since January 16, 2013. Like many other online music outlets in various countries, Amazon is accepting pre-orders prior to the April release date, but Japan is one country to offer early samples for you to listen to all songs and to purchase.
Dreamchaser has 10 songs but the Japanese Amazon and iTunes music retailer offers an opportunity to sample all 10 songs plus the bonus song and purchase at the Amazon and iTunes online music stores in Japan. After listening to all 11 songs, the beauty of Sarah’s vocals with contemporary lyrics and instrumental backing makes it easy to see why this vocal instrumental release is sure to be a popular, best-selling album. Check back if you would like to read a pre-release album review for Dreamchaser prior to the worldwide release date.
The 10 songs samples are: Angel, One Day Like This, Glosoli, Lento E Largo, B612, Breathe Me, Ave Maria, Eperdu, A Song of India & Venus & Mars. Also available at iTunes is an accompanying digital booklet.
Pre-order Dreamchaser and find concert tour information at SarahBrightman.com. The release date in Germany is April 5, 2013 and worldwide on April 8, 2013. The release date for Canada and United States is April 16, 2013. Listen to 45 second song samples for all 10 songs before April release date worldwide. Listen to samples for Dreamchaser at Amazon in Japan. Artwork is courtesy sarahbrightman.com.
Malta Music Awards 2013: International world music band Tribali wins Best Album honors for two consecutive years at the Malta Music Awards with The Traveller album.
It’s been another successful year for the Maltese band Tribali by their first place win for Best Album at the Malta Music Awards taking place at the Malta Fairs and Conventions Centre on February 3, 2013.
The Malta Music Awards, held the day after the Malta Eurovision Song Festival, presented Tribali a Best Album Award for their 2012 release The Traveller, which made the second consecutive year in a row Tribali claimed the victory.
The Traveller is a vocal instrumental album with 13 songs in the world music category, which highlights the band’s unique range of traditional and ethnic influences. The band incorporates a variety of instruments including ethnic instruments like didgeridoo, electric sitar, murchunga, guimbri, cahon, hang and tabla, with traditional guitars, keyboards, vocals, violin, trumpet, drums and percussion.
The compilation album Festa is another Tribali release from 2012 featuring a 13 song collection of classic songs from Tribali’s earlier releases. During earlier years their music was available to local music stores in Malta. Now it appears the two most recent albums by Tribali have largely contributed to the introduction of the band’s unique blend of new age, world and traditional Maltase Folk music to the world.
Likewise the two most recent albums by Tribali have transitioned the group from the status of a favorite local band into the international spotlight as serious contenders in the world music scene.
The leading daily newspaper in Malta named The Times, formerly The Times of Malta, ran a news article about the band Tribali and their recent music award. I was pleased to read The Times has quoted me in several paragraphs and made reference to this site in their February 8, 2013 newspaper publication stating; “Tribali’s album Festa has been rated the seventh best instrumental new age and world music album of the year by a top website specializing in the genre.”
It’s always an honor to be quoted by a respected news source like The Times in Malta, but the real honors do go to Tribali for their second Malta Music Awards victory in a row. Given the brazenly unique music of the Maltese band Tribali, clearly they deserve an encore for the second time.
To find concert information and sample or purchase albums visit TribaliMusic.com. If you would like to read The Times newspaper article of the recent win for the Maltese band Tribali visit TimesOfMalta.com. Cover and photos are courtesy tribalimusic.com and timesofmalta.com.
Alphaville News 2013: Newest Alphaville album with working title of Strange Attractor scheduled for release in 2013.
For fans of the synthpop group Alphaville this year is one of anticipation by the news of a brand new CD album by the international electronic music sensation. For nearly 30 years the Germany based group Alphaville has endured as a favorite band for millions of electronic music fans worldwide.
Alphaville songs like Forever Young, Big in Japan & Sounds Like a Melody brought them prominence early on, but even today they continue to produce new hit songs that quickly become fan favorites. Their most recent album Catching Rays on Giant from 2010 is a good example. It’s an impressive studio release with 16 of the best Alphaville songs on a single album.
Strange Attractor is the production or working title for Alphaville’s new album for 2013, revealed during an interview with founding vocalist Marian Gold. The release date is unknown at this time but we may be hearing more soon.
Marion Gold also said Strange Attractor, being recorded in Sweden, is unlike any other album Alphaville has ever produced. I couldn’t help but think it may be unlike any album the electronic megastars have released, but one thing we can count on is the Strange Attractor project turning out to be another exceptional album by a fascinating band that gets better with each passing year. Current band member lineup is Marian Gold, Martin Lister, David Goodes and Jakob Kiersch.
For more information and future concert tour announcements visit Alphaville.info. Photo is courtesy alphaville.de.
Sarah Brightman – One Day Like This & Angel song downloads. News update for Dreamchaser and concert tour for 2013.
Sarah Brightman fans have surely heard the news her new Dreamchaser studio album and North America Concert Tour for 2013 have been rescheduled, but fans and people new to the classical crossover music superstar are able to sample and purchase two early single song downloads, and now pre-order Dreamchaser.
The song One Day Like This is the second song single, and first song download Angel are available at iTunes, Amazon and at the SarahBrightman.com website. You can also find current concert schedule information, which begins September 13, 2013 in the Canadian province of Hamilton, Ontario.
The top-selling soprano’s Dreamchaser album is now scheduled for release on April 16, 2013 so we won’t have to wait much longer. Judging from the first two song singles One Day Like This & Angel, it will definitely be worth the wait!
Visit SarahBrightman.com for news updates, concert info, merchandise, and purchase singles One Day Like This & Angel. When you join her free forum and community, members get privileged access to exclusive news updates, videos, and newest music samples. For people new to the superstar, here is the official introduction page video for SarahBrightman.com.
The date of January 1, 2013 began a brand new year on our annual calendars naturally, but as the website host of a popular music blog, January 1st begins the period in time when independent artists, promoters and producers begin sending me their newest albums for review each year.
In 2012 I received nearly 200 CDs for review consideration, so from my point of view I really can say it was an outstanding year with some of the best music available at the time. I wrote 45 reviews but would like to have written more.
If 2013 is anything like last year there will be hundreds of brand new albums to sample and review in the categories of electronic, instrumental, new age, progressive rock, and world music. Plus there are many subcategories I review over the course of a year too like contemporary instrumental, neo-classical, ambient, piano, relaxation, chill out, groove and vocal albums.
The album cover artwork shown below is a sample of the newest music CDs sent to me for review consideration so far in 2013. More will be added to the list, but from the albums below I select new music for my pre-release album reviews and news articles, along with several best album publications in various categories at the end of the year.
It’s already shaping up to be another excellent year for some of the best new music produced by some of today’s top electronic and instrumental artists. In the months ahead some albums below will make the top 10 radio charts, top 100 radio charts, and other honorable mentions at various music blogs.
Some new albums shown below will be nominated for an award or prove to be award-winning albums as the year progresses. I will also review many before they are released in music stores, by a pre-release review if an artist sends to me early so check back as the year progresses to sample the newest songs. For now find reviews for new albums in 2013 available on my main pages if you would like, and find new music releases at Amazon.com. Big Stock Photo –Rkasprzak.
New Album Releases in 2013:
With the close of the calendar year nearly upon us, time passes with the rhythm and tempo of a metronome in the days prior to the final countdown to New Year’s Day 2013.
Hello everyone, my name is John P. Olsen. In my role as interview host and review publicist at New Age Music World, I was given the opportunity to sample or review many of the best electronic albums and songs electronic music artists worldwide produced and sent to me during 2012.
Resembling the cadence of a metronome as well were the new albums arriving at nearly the same pace and frequency. The high volume of albums made me even more determined to present to you the finest electronic albums from 2012.
Like previous years, I wrote album review publications or sampled a respectable number of albums released in 2012, of the nearly 200 releases in all music categories sent to me for album review consideration this year.
For the artist specializing in electronic music high-tech synthesizers and equipment are the instruments used to create an extraordinary orchestra of sound. The latest technological innovations have enabled creators of electronic music to design ingenious compositions using computers, keyboards and the latest music software programing.
Even to the music purists who favor live instrumentals, artists who compose and record electronic music are likewise identified for their talent. Clearly their artistry is equal to the artist who plays a real orchestral instrument. Another undeniable element is the select number of top quality albums produced by today’s best artists in the Electronic music genre.
The year 2012 was an exceptional year for some of the finest new songs and albums in the categories of instrumental, new age, soundtrack and world music, and I can tell you electronic music is not the exception. Today I am pleased to present my yearly award recommendation for the best electronica releases I sampled or reviewed in 2012.
The 12 Best Electronic Music Albums are listed in alphabetical order by the artist’s name. Direct links are included so you may visit each artist to sample or purchase songs and albums direct from the artist or select from their online stores. Big Stock Photos by Binkski – Lijuan – Method3.
Best Electronic Albums & Songs in 2012.
1. Oceans by 7and5.
First on the list of best electronic albums in 2012 is the Oceans album with 10 vibrant songs by 7and5. The artist title 7and5 is the name independent artist John H. Nixon creates inspiring electronic music. Earlier 7and5 albums In A Moment’s Time, Trading Stories & Hope, Destiny, & Choice, are some of my personal favorites. If you are like me, dynamic energy and upbeat rhythms are the qualities I admire most about 7and5 music.
The Weather Channel, with millions of U.S. television viewers nationwide, is one source where songs by 7and5 are often heard during TWC’s Local on the 8’s weather radar. Known for its cinematic qualities, music by 7and5 often makes TWC’s popular playlists, and was also selected for The Weather Channel’s Top 10 Viewer’s Best Music of 2011 list. The 10 vibrant songs on Oceans easily made my favorite album list in the new age electronic, chill out, techno category. Sample or purchase Oceans at 7and5Music.com.
2. Windows by Bryan Carrigan.
The ambient electronic album Windows is one of the most exclusive music releases in this Best Electronic Albums publication. This is due to the experience of the Los Angeles, California based artist Bryan Carrigan, a multiple award-winning producer and owner of Precision Sonic Studio. It was only recently he began producing music in his own name. After Passing Lights & Focus in 2011 is third electronica album Windows, with 10 songs.
The 10 songs on Windows are designed and professionally layered with elegant precision. Windows is an intriguing album and one of the best in the ambient new age music style. Bryan Carrigan is famous for his work in the Hollywood film industry and recording studios by his role of producer, engineer, synth programmer, and sound designer for superstars like Aerosmith, Alanis Morissette, Barry Manilow, Frank Sinatra, No Doubt, Quincy Jones and Vanessa Williams. You may sample or purchase Windows at BryanCarrigan.com.
3. Liquid Mind X: Meditation by Chuck Wild.
Liquid Mind albums, including this newest release with 6 songs by Emmy® Nominated songwriter and recording artist Chuck Wild are already a chosen winner in many respects by consistently making popular best album lists and chart topping positions. Case in point is the most recent chart success for Liquid Mind X: Meditation by acquiring the #1 position on the iTunes USA Top 10 New Age Chart in September of 2012.
Chuck Wild has acquired prestigious awards and recognition for his music, but let’s not overlook the fact Liquid Mind albums and songs are simply some of the best music made for relaxation, sleep, and mediation. Chuck Wild is a master at producing calming music, and never has it shone more clearly than the elegant ballet of ambient sound you will hear on his newest album Liquid Mind X: Mediation. Find more great albums by Chuck Wild and sample or purchase Liquid Mind X Meditation at LiquidMindMusic.com.
4. Family Values by Craig Karolus.
The new album Family Values with 8 songs is an admirable electronic music release by independent artist Craig Karolus. Family Values is a tribute album dedicated to celebrate the lives of living family members, and of four beloved family members of Craig Karolus who passed away in 2011. Although the circumstance of this tribute album is deeply personal, Craig has openly expressed each song by a magnificent illustration, expertly adapted to thoughtfully reflect his family member’s personal character in song.
Craig Karolus has only recently begun to market his music, but I also thought Craig is one of the best new artists. His debut album Standing On Top from 2011 is another fine album I believe is of the highest quality like Craig’s 2012 release Family Values. The significance and depth of his tribute music to family members is inspiring, clearly reflected in his graceful and elegant new album. Find Family Values at CraigKarolus.com.
5. Connected by David Wright.
Connected is an electronic instrumental album with fine vocal overlays by leading UK artist and producer David Wright. The 14 songs on his twenty-fourth release Connected are masterfully created in David Wright’s signature style, which as a whole is comprised of nearly the entire range of musical tastes. It’s David’s expertise in an all-inclusive style, and sense of adventure that decisively makes Connected his best album to date.
Producer of award-winning music like the epic album Connected, David Wright is founder of the popular UK Based AD Music Label, and co-founded the electronic rock group Code Indigo. Other ventures are an electronic music project with David Massey named Callisto, and new age group named Trinity. David Wright is also the owner of Planet Recording Studio, which provides the audio mastering services for many AD Music label albums. Sample or purchase Connected at ADMusicOnline.com and DavidWrightMusic.com.
6. Exogenesis by Eloy Fritsch.
For Brazilian electronic music composer Eloy Fritsch, his fascination with synthesizer music has transitioned into an equally fascinating discography of synthesizer based electronic albums over the years. When sampling songs from his albums, I discovered the award-winning composer’s new 2012 album Exogenesis a progressive stride beyond the majority of electronic releases from 2012, easily making the best electronic albums list.
Eloy Fritsch has a diverse repertoire while composing electronic symphonies, exploring the categories of synth pop, new age and space music, along with founding the Brazilian progressive rock band Apocalypse. The 13 songs on Exogenesis are extraordinary, finding inspiration in the arrangements of Jean Michel Jarre, Vangelis, Klaus Schulze, Rick Wakeman, Keith Emerson and Kraftwork. However it’s clear Eloy Fritsch invents original compositions in his own masterful style. Sample or purchase Exogenesis at Ef.Mus.br.
7. Mysterious Garden by Julian Ray.
For Canadian recording artist Julian Ray producing electronic music on today’s technologically advanced equipment is more than an excellent way to express the unlimited boundaries of one’s creativity and imagination. For Julian keyboards and synthesizers are essential instruments used to create sonic harmonies like heard on his newest album in 2012 titled Mysterious Garden. The 10 original songs are arranged in his signature style, which is remarkably unique and far from commonplace.
Mysterious Garden is a new recording showing an array of Julian’s unique style as a producer of ambient space music. Decisively dissimilar all from other electronic music composers, Julian Ray is a member of the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada, (SOCAN), and is actively working on his newest project for 2013. Visit Julian Ray to sample or purchase Mysterious Gardens at JulianRayMusic.com.
8. Alive by Mark Barnes.
Multiple award winning composer and producer Mark Barnes has another hit album by the 2012 release Alive, which features 20 brilliant electronic, instrumental songs. Alive is comprised of dramatic instrumental music set to cutting edge electronics. Every single song on Alive is animated with a cinematic atmosphere that can only be described as beautiful. The Awakening & Temporal Infinity are earlier releases you are sure to love.
Mark Barnes has the honor and distinction of producing award-winning music, including a prestigious Hollywood F.A.M.E. Award for Music & Cinema. Mark Barnes won the Best Original Song composition at the 2011 TCI Film Festival, with co-writer and two-times Academy Award Nominee Carol Connors, for a documentary-drama film score song titled A City Within A Dream. Mark Barnes has a flair for producing award-winning music, and this is true for 2012 release Alive. Sample or purchase Alive at MarkBarnesMusic.com.
9. In Mutatio Tempora by Matzumi.
The album In Mutatio Tempora with 10 songs is a brilliant electronic music release sent to me by an artist who lives in Germany. Some of the information about her was in German so I can’t tell you as much about her except Kathrin Manz is the artist who goes by Matzumi. Kathrin Manz performs live concerts in Europe, and in my eyes, qualifies as one of the very best albums I have listened to this year in the Electronic, Ambient genre.
One interesting aspect of Kathrin Manz is her style, which conveys an elegant synthesis of ambient, techno, house music, and electronic dance in the fashion of Tangerine Dream, yet shows her gifted ability as composer of original music. Like Tangerine Dream, songs by Matzumi are cinematic, and a precise fit for the Film Score and Soundtrack genres. In Mutatio Tempora, on the Wolf Entertainment Label is an electronic album fans of Tangerine Dream would love. Sample or purchase In Mutatio Tempora at Matzumi.de.
10. Drifting In Dreams by Michele Ippolito.
For classical trained pianist Michele Ippolito, the 11 songs on Drifting In Dreams is the perfect way to share the joyful expression of her uplifting ambient song melodies to others. Performing on a Roland 90EX keyboard, Michele Ippolito is joined with co-producer of Drifting In Dreams, Vince Ippolito. So you know, Vince Ippolito is a performing artist and leading producer working with countless celebrity names in the music industry.
Michele Ippolito’s music is a calming wave of ambience, showing her skill as a composer at the professional level. Michele’s first album Mystic Moods is airing at Music Choice Soundscape Channel, and made radio charts and Best Album Nominations at ZMR, like second album In The Clouds. They also own a professional recording studio in Dixon, Illinois named Ippolito Recording/Production Company. Visit the professional team of Michele and Vince and sample or purchase Drifting In Dreams at Vippolito.com.
11. Kailasa by Mingo.
Mingo is an outstanding electronic music composer with an interesting history, even more so by his 2012 album titled Kailasa, with 10 songs superbly acclimated to the variety of ambient new age music. Mingo made his mark by emerging into the techno scene of the early 1990′s, exploring an ecosphere of electronica styles ranging from ambient, new age, space music, synthpop, and into the realm of experimental, futuristic avant-garde.
Early success resulted in worldwide recognition and airtime on online radio stations like National Public Radio (NPR) program Hearts of Space, and one of the longest airing ambient, space music radio programs named Stars End. Mingo’s inventive persona is unmistakable in Kailasa, an outstanding song collection aimed towards the ambient new age domain. Find more electronica albums by Mingo like Relaxation Series: Zen Ultra, The Light That Bends, Narcosys, and sample or purchase Kailasa at MingoSphere.com.
12. Deep Alpha by Steven Halpern.
Deep Alpha has a unique distinction in this best electronic album awards publication by Steven Halpern’s Nomination for Best Album in the 55th GRAMMY® Awards set for February 10, 2013. With 14 songs at over an hour in length, Deep Alpha is an exceptional blend of electronic instrumental music from esteemed artist Steven Halpern. Nearing a 40 year milestone in his career his albums frequently make the Top 10 Charts at Billboard.
The best-selling recording artist Steven Halpern is accepted as one of the earliest originators of healing music. With over 6 million albums sold, accolades for his music are just as numerous. Credited for his early music and scientific studies of therapeutic music, his leading role has resulted in many of the best albums for relaxation, yoga and stress relief. For esteemed recording artist Steven Halpern, 2013 could yield a long overdue GRAMMY® Award. Sample or purchase Deep Alpha at InnerPeaceMusic.com.
This concludes my Best Electronic Albums – 2012 recommendations. For more exceptional new releases this year, check back soon when I present the Best Instrumental Albums – 2012 on New Year’s Day 2013.
55th GRAMMY® Awards – Program Schedule and Event Information for the 55th GRAMMY® Awards & Nomination Shows Honoring the Best Artists & Best Albums in 2013.
News and schedule information for the 55th GRAMMYS® has been announced giving the date, time and location for the most prestigious music awards honoring the best artists and best albums in 2013.
Complete details for the 55th Music Awards Ceremony specified at the Grammy.com website announce the upcoming date as February 10, 2013, held at the previous location as last year’s ceremony, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.
The CBS Television Network will broadcast the live event in 2013 at 8:00 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. ET/PT. Prior to the Live Awards Ceremony, select GRAMMY® Nominees will be announced in another live concert event on December 5, 2012 in Nashville Tennessee.
The ceremony this year is publicized as “The GRAMMY Nomination Concert Live!! – Countdown To Music’s Biggest Night.” The CBS Television Network will air the live televised show featuring music performances by past winners and nominees on December 5, 2012 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT and 9:00 p.m. CT.
The Annual GRAMMY® Awards is ranked in viewership popularity as one of the highest rated television special programs. Last year’s televised live 54th Annual Awards program reported 39.9 million viewers worldwide. This year’s primetime live awards presentation is expected to be another record breaking year for TV viewership.
Artists within the New Age, Instrumental, Americana, World, and every other music genre have been submitting their music and ballot information pertaining to their newest release in 2012 in hopes they too will be nominated and eventually selected for a best album award during the televised awards presentation ceremony.
Like previous years I have written articles or interviewed GRAMMY® Award/Nominated artists, so visitors new to this music blog can read more about artists in this year’s and past years award competition in the New Age, Instrumental, Americana, and World music genres.
Visit Grammy.com for complete news, information updates and read the 55th Grammy Awards 2013 page for more details. Big Stock Photos – Pcummings & Eskay Lim.
Michael Cretu – Making Enigma MMX The Social Song.
The fan friendly musical project Enigma is well known for offering fans trendsetting new projects. The Social Song is but one example of the total Enigma experience. The Top 10 Player is a new feature for fans to share the masterful projects by Enigma founder Michael Cretu.
Enigma’s Top Ten Player is another new interactive way to enhance the overall experience by enabling visitors to rate their favorite Enigma songs and videos, which results in a Top 10 Audio and Top 10 Video hit list selection for visitors to listen or watch full length streams.
Enigma MMX (The Social Song) designed by founder Michael Cretu was a unique way to generate new excitement by allowing fans to participate during the entire collaboration process over a 3 month period. The Top 10 Player is another fan friendly new project.
While the worldwide media event for Enigma MMX (The Social Song) is now a reality, visitors can now sign up for free membership to Enigma’s Top 10 Player that gives members exclusive access to a full length, top hit list of songs, videos and more.
Visit EnigmaSpace.com for the latest news, new music and to watch the official YouTube video of Enigma’s MMX The Social Song. Shown below is an official YouTube video around 30 minutes long with Michael Cretu, during which he and others describe Making of Enigma MMX (The Social Song).
Sarah Brightman News – Dreamchaser World Concert Tour, Dreamchaser Album & Upcoming Spaceflight to ISS in 2013 Announced.
When describing the life and career of international celebrity Sarah Brightman, one can describe her amazing career of singer, actress, songwriter and dancer as an out of this world superstar in every respect. We now have another reason to place Sarah Brightman in the star celebrity category. Already an interstellar idol for many persons, she is about to embark on the intrepid journey of a lifetime.
Days ago on October 10, 2012 Sarah Brightman released a press announcement about her upcoming spaceflight to the International Space Station (ISS) for a 10 day interstellar excursion. After having passed evaluation tests she is now approved by the ISS to begin training for her Russian Space Federation flight aboard a Soyuz Space Rocket.
The exact spaceflight schedule date after her aeronautical training is completed will be determined by the International Space Station team partners at a forthcoming date. During the news statement video Sarah Brightman told of her current flight status, and also gave details about her newest album entitled Dreamchaser, which has a release date of April 16, 2013.
Concert information for the Sarah Brightman World Concert Tour in 2013 was also provided during the live news conference. Her 2013 World Tour, with over 100 concert dates originates in the North American continent on September 13, 2013 in the Canadian province of Hamilton, Ontario, covering 5 continents with concert tickets and VIP packages taking place.
During the course of her professional career, Sarah Brightman has acquired 180 Gold and Platinum awards in over 40 countries worldwide, and reached over 30 million in album sales.
Already a brilliant star in every sense by the accomplishment of many firsts during her career, her ambitious intercontinental World Concert Tour in 2013, and upcoming travel destination of the International Space Station will give new meaning to the expression superstar!
Visit the new SarahBrightman.com website for more news and for World Concert Tour 2013 ticket information. Below is the official YouTube video of the live news broadcast she provided in Moscow, Russia. Space Shuttle photo courtesy NASA – Big Stock Photo Rkasprzak.
Sarah Brightman News – Dreamchaser Album Release in 2013 and Spaceflight to the International Space Station aboard Soyuz Rocket.
For international music celebrity Sarah Brightman the year 2013 will surely be one of the most memorable years of her esteemed career of professional vocalist, actress, songwriter and dancer. With 2013 arriving before long, look for her next starring role as a space cosmonaut included in her incredible list of lifetime achievements.
In a live news broadcast Sarah Brightman provided details of her upcoming flight to the International Space Station in 2013 during a press release in Moscow, Russia. There will be more about this special announcement soon, but I can tell you Sarah Brightman will begin cosmonaut training, after getting word she passed preliminary evaluation tests. You may watch the official news release at her newly designed website where she describes this extraordinary aerospace voyage as a dream come true.
Dreamchaser is the new album by classical crossover superstar Sarah Brightman, set to be released on April 16, 2013. The first song titled Angel and second song One Day Like This are two exclusive song singles you can sample from her highly anticipated new album.
The entire list and title of all songs is not given at this time from what I can tell, but first song Angel is as exquisitely performed as you might expect. The first single song Angel is a sensational melody that is wholeheartedly captivating by the contemporary vocal and lyrical propensity for which Sarah Brightman is famous.
Sarah Brightman’s new album Dreamchaser is surely destined to be one of the hottest new releases in 2013! With 180 Gold and Platinum awards in over 40 countries worldwide, including her #1 Chart topping hit in the UK titled I Lost My Heart to a Starship Trooper, Dreamchaser could be her newest album to rocket into the stratosphere!
Discover the new SarahBrightman.com website to download the first song titled Angel and share your thoughts on the news in the fan community forum upon membership. After you sign up, fans may also access exclusive news, photos, videos and new music samples. Below is the official music video for first song Angel, from her upcoming 2013 album Dreamchaser. Space Shuttle photo courtesy NASA – Big Stock Photo Rkasprzak.
Thirty-One Nights by Nicholas Gunn in Billboard’s Top 10 Chart.
The newest album by Nicholas Gunn has apparently been a popular new hit album at Billboard for the week of September 29, 2012.This week Nicholas Gunn’s new instrumental album titled Thirty-One Nights, made its debut at #8 in the Top 10 New Age Charts at Billboard.
Thirty-One Nights is the 14th album by Nicholas Gunn after an interval of 5 years. On this newest release he, Dana Kemmerle and Chris Fossek communicate the splendor of the natural world and beauty of its environment. Earlier this week in my album review, I spoke of the uncompromising instrumental qualities, intensity and passion in which flutist Nicholas Gunn and team dedicated to this release.
For the acclaimed flutist Nicholas Gunn, making the Billboard Top 10 Charts is more the rule and not the exception, having spent a total of 55 consecutive weeks overall on the Billboard New Age Charts.
With over two million in album sales, Nicholas Gunn has consistently shown he is a dominate force at producing beautiful instrumental music. Congratulations go to flutist Nicholas Gunn, vocalist Dana Kemmerle and guitarist Chris Fossek.
Sample and purchase Thirty-One Nights at NicholasGunn.com.
Pamela and Randy Copus of the popular music group 2002 have an interview conversation with New Age Music World host John Olsen about 2002’s newest album titled Believe.
The newest album by 2002 titled Believe is scheduled to be released on October 15, 2012. Believe will be the 14th album by Pamela and Randy Copus since they released their first album as the duo “2002” in 1992.
This year marks the 20th anniversary for the award-winning group 2002. During this interview taking place during September 2012, Pamela and Randy Copus each give individual responses about their newest release and what the future holds for the popular music group 2002.
John Olsen: Thank you both for giving me and your fans a moment of your time. I enjoyed getting to know you over the past few years, and more recently by our earlier interview in 2011.
Let me begin the conversation by saying your newest album Believe, due to be released on October 15th, is said to be unlike any of your previous albums. Knowing beforehand this release is more progressive from your earlier releases, what are some of the ways Believe is alike, and can you give some examples where Believe differs from your earlier releases?
Randy Copus: Believe is different from past albums in that we freely explored the use of lead vocals as a major component of the album. Over half the songs have lyrics. This is a normal evolution for us, I think, since we began our professional careers playing and singing in bands. Progressive rock influences are going to be easy to spot by listeners familiar with the genre. Having said that, there are elements and songs on this album that are quintessential 2002, our signature sound. It’s as though we took the last 20 years of our musical explorations and glued them together into one idea, yet no matter what direction the music takes, we still sound like “us.”
John: In comparison to earlier 2002 albums, was Believe a comparatively easy album for you to produce?
Pamela Copus: Actually none of them have been what I would call “easy to produce.” Some are more complicated and so have taken longer than others to complete. The fun thing about Believe is that each song seemed to really have a perfect spot as far as song order goes. It was magical!
Randy Copus: I think it was one of the harder ones to produce, mainly because of the addition of so many vocals and lyrics. But, all our albums have been more or less hard to create; we set a very high bar for ourselves.
John: Is this a one of a kind album or do you plan to produce more music arrangements that more or less contrast your earlier albums?
Pamela Copus: The “new age” genre contains dozens of sub-genres. There are so many more paths to explore. Who knows where we will go next? We don’t feel pressured to fit into a particular mold. I personally enjoy a great variety of musical styles. As long as a song is good, it doesn’t really matter to me what category it is placed in. Believe was a lot of fun to create because we got to return to the roots of the music we considered good when we were growing up. Isn’t it amazing how certain songs never seem to grow old – even after decades?
Randy Copus: I think we will do more albums that contrast with our earlier works. At this point, our body of work is large enough to be able to explore new directions without alienating existing fans. If an album is a bit too progressive for them, for example, they have lots of the older, more “classic” 2002 available. As artists we have to keep moving forward, evolving, or the music will stagnate.
John: You mentioned that your earlier musical influences are noticeable on this album. What were some of your favorite bands growing up that may have influenced this album’s sound?
Pamela Copus: Some of my favorite bands growing up were Kansas, Genesis, Boston, Heart, and ELO. I also enjoyed listening to Vangelis, Chuck Mangione, and Andreas Vollenweider. Of course I love most classical music as well and I enjoyed playing in the school symphony.
Randy Copus: In the early days as a singer, I was influenced by all the great rock and progressive rock singers- Steve Walsh, Steve Perry, Getty Lee, Jon Anderson, Lou Graham to name a few. You will definitely hear those colors in my voice. Also, we grew up with a lot of great pop music, and there are elements of those influences in Believe as well.
John: The popular bands and artists you named are nearly identical to my favorites, even today. More importantly the artists and bands you named are beloved favorites for millions of people worldwide. New Age music is like all genres by the continual changes from year to year. In your opinion, do you believe new age music will turn out to be more popular or mainstream than its present day standing?
Pamela Copus: The lines separating the musical genres seem to be getting fuzzier. I think with the demise of “brick and mortar” music stores, there is no longer a finite amount of shelf space with a finite number of genres being represented. This is both good and bad. It’s bad in that it’s harder to just pull up a category and do any casual shopping. For example, I see things all the time on the iTunes new age chart that make me scratch my head wondering how that is called “new age” by any definition. At the same time, it’s good because people that would normally not discover some fabulous bit of music now do so quite by happy accident.
Randy Copus: I don’t know about the genre per se, but I do believe “that sound” will become more mainstream, because more people nowadays are looking for popular music that touches them on a spiritual level. It’s interesting- so many of the great new pop songs we hear lately are incorporating that ethereal, “new age” flavor, along with everything else. The Green Children, my current favorite pop group, comes to mind.
John: The year 2012 is your 20th year as the group 2002. You are a popular, award-winning music group whose hit music made the Billboard New Age Charts 9 times. Looking ahead, what’s next for 2002?
Pamela Copus: I’d love to go even farther into musical exploration – maybe a Celtic harp album with 2002 icing on top – or perhaps even a 2002 chill release. I see Sarah becoming more involved too. She inherited perfect pitch from Randy. In fact, she composed the main melody for the second song on Believe using a set of toy water flutes.
Randy Copus: We are really in such a wonderful place, artistically speaking. We don’t have label executives telling us what kind of albums to make, or what degree of risk we’re allowed to take, so we’re free to engage in any musical adventure that inspires us, as it should be. This is where the best music is going to come from, because it is truly the journey we’re on.
John: Thanks again for giving everyone another opportunity to find out more about you, and your newest project. Is there anything you would like to express to the people who have supported you over the years?
Pamela Copus: We have made such amazing friends in the world. They inspire us to continue, ever onward. Releasing a new album is never the end of the road – It’s just one more milestone on the journey. I hope our friends and fans will continue to enjoy the trip as much as we do.
Randy Copus: We will always be grateful to our friends and fans for the encouragement and support they have given us over the years. It’s been an amazing ride so far, and I believe the best is yet to come.
Find more news and information at 2002Music.com and pre-order Believe. In September you can pre-order the newest release Believe and find 2002 albums at Amazon.com. Cover artwork and all interview photos courtesy 2002music.com.
Mickey Hart Interview in 2012 – New Youtube Video Interview with Grateful Dead Rock and Roll Hall of Fame drummer.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame drummer Mickey Hart has released a new interview at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum in Cleveland, Ohio. Mickey Hart made this appearance at the museum for a performance and to open a new exhibit named Grateful Dead: The Long, Strange Trip.
It’s a short interview at a little over one minute in length, but the new 2012 YouTube video interview with Mickey Hart does answer the question about his earliest experiences of watching the group Grateful Dead perform prior to joining, and events leading up to founding drummer Bill Kreutzmann asking Mickey Hart to jam with the band during a practice session.
Its history from this point on knowing after his long career with the group, Mickey Hart has carried on the tradition of the Grateful Dead, and with his own album recordings and leadership of music group the Mickey Hart Band. The band’s newest release is named Mysterium Tremendum.
I was asked to interview Mickey Hart early this year, but negotiations with the PR firm handling my interview simply couldn’t make it happen. I spent a lot of time on an in-depth interview with many personalized questions for Mickey, so let’s see if there is one more chance to bring worldwide visitors an exclusive 2012 Mickey Hart interview publication like no other. Find Mickey Hart Band tour information and album review of Mysterium Tremendum, in my section for Mickey Hart Band.
Official Albums & Songs – London Paralympics 2012. Sample or Purchase Paralympic Theme Music of the Opening Ceremony, Closing Ceremony and Official London Philharmonic Orchestra Soundtrack.
If you are one of the projected billion people watching the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, you were surely impressed by the manner in which London represented athletes of many nations in the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Like the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Olympics, the London Paralympic Opening Ceremony was equally grand. With the Paralympic Closing Ceremony scheduled to begin on September 9, 2012, the artists and music is sure to be a hit with television viewers and those in attendance. Even after the final close of the games on September 9th, the official music is going to be a winning collection of hit songs and albums.
Speculation has already begun for the official Closing Ceremony Music for the London 2012 Paralympic Games. During the Closing Ceremony there will be a parade of athletes and a long standing tradition when London hands over the Olympic Torch to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in preparation for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The London Closing Ceremony called Festival of Flame is expected to include a cast of thousands, with the British group Coldplay being the headlining act, along with performers Jay-Z and Rihanna. Other performers are said to be Jamiroquai, Bruno Mars, Jay Sean, and a orchestra of musicians with disabilities.
If you wish to sample or purchase the Official Paralympic Music and London Philharmonic Orchestra Soundtrack, here are the albums currently available. The 3 disc collection of National Anthems by the London Philharmonic Orchestra is of particular interest since there hasn’t been a lot written about this official collection of music for the London 2012 Paralympics.
Enlightenment – Music for the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games is the first album. This is the title given to the 18 songs total by Various Artists. Celebrating the spirit of the Olympic Games, the 18 songs on Enlightenment were made available at iTunes on August 20, 2012.
The 18 songs available as a complete album or individuals downloads are primarily numbers from the London Symphony Orchestra including Entry of the Flame, with other songs by Barts Choir, The London C, Orbital & Graeae Theatre, Beverley Knight, and Rihanna. There is also a Digital Booklet available at iTunes.
National Anthems – The Official Recordings of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games is the fore mentioned 3 Disc album of Official Olympic Music having a total running time of over 4 hours 30 minutes. The 3 Disc collection performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra is comprised of 207 songs total. Each of the 207 songs is titled and listed alphabetically by countries participating in the Paralympic Games.
The two song videos below are the popular hit songs Clocks, and Viva La Vida by the pop British group Coldplay, who have sold over 55 million albums and won countless music awards worldwide. The video for the theme song Viva La Vida by Coldplay is shown directly below the Clocks song video.
Although Coldplay’s hit single Viva La Vida, with over 108,000,000 views at Youtube is going to be the Bandstand Festival of Flame Theme Song for the London Paralympic Closing Ceremony, Clocks with over 11,000,000 views is another great way to salute the UK and England, the official site of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
As the site host for New Age Music World I can say its been a privilege to be part of the music news coverage for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. See you in 2014-2016!
Sample or purchase London Philharmonic Orchestra’s 3 disc collection of Paralympic National Anthems at Amazon.co.uk. Sample or purchase the Official Paralympic Opening Ceremony album by visiting iTunes to buy Enlightenment – Music for the Opening Ceremony. For people asking about the London 2012 Paralympic Closing Ceremony Album – Music for the Closing Ceremony has not been made available for purchase. Big Stock Photo credits – Jimbarber & Pcummings.