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Walking In The Air
"Walking in the Air" is a song written by Howard Blake for the 1982 animated film ''The Snowman'' based on Raymond Briggs's 1978 children's book of the same name. The song forms the centrepiece of ''The Snowman'', which has become a seasonal favourite on British and Finnish television. The story relates the fleeting adventures of a young boy and a snowman who has come to life. In the second part of the story, the boy and the snowman fly to the North Pole. "Walking in the Air" is the theme for the journey. They attend a party of snowmen, at which the boy seems to be the only human until they meet Father Christmas Father Christmas is the traditional English name for the personification of Christmas. Although now known as a Christmas gift-bringer, and typically considered to be synonymous with Santa Claus, he was originally part of a much older and unrel ... with his reindeer, and the boy is given a scarf with a snowman pattern. In the film, the song was performed by St Paul's ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Howard Blake
Howard David Blake (born 28 October 1938) is an English composer, conductor, and pianist whose career has spanned more than 50 years and produced more than 650 works. Blake's most successful work is his soundtrack for Channel 4’s 1982 film ''The Snowman'', which includes the song "Walking in the Air". He is increasingly recognised for his classical works including concertos, oratorios, ballets, operas and many instrumental pieces. Early life Howard Blake was born in London and grew up in Brighton. His mother played piano and violin, and his father sang tenor in the church choir. At Brighton, Hove and Sussex Grammar School for Boys, from the age of 11 he sang lead roles in Gilbert and Sullivan operas and was recognised as a good pianist, but few were aware that he was also writing music. At the age of 18, he won the Hastings Musical Festival Scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music, where he studied piano with Harold Craxton and composition with Howard Ferguson; however, he ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Aled Jones
Aled Jones, (born 29 December 1970) is a Welsh singer and radio and television presenter. As a teenage chorister, he reached widespread fame during the mid-1980s. Since then he has worked in television with the BBC and ITV, and radio (for Classic FM). In September 2012, Jones joined ITV Breakfast where he presented '' Daybreak'' (2012–2014), alongside Lorraine Kelly and Kate Garraway. For the BBC, he has presented '' Songs of Praise'' (2004–), ''Cash in the Attic'' (2010–2012), ''Escape to the Country'' (2010–2013) and ''Going Back Giving Back'' (2016–present). Early singing career Jones was born in St. David's Hospital in Bangor, Caernarfonshire, the only child of Nest Rowlands, a teacher, and Derek John Jones, a draughtsman for a shipbuilder. He was raised in the small Welsh-speaking community of Llandegfan on Anglesey, and attended Ysgol David Hughes (a secondary school). Jones joined the choir of Bangor Cathedral at age nine and was lead soloist within two ye ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Power Ballad
A sentimental ballad is an emotional style of music that often deals with romantic and intimate relationships, and to a lesser extent, loneliness, death, war, drug abuse, politics and religion, usually in a poignant but solemn manner.J. M. Curtis, ''Rock Eras: Interpretations of Music and Society, 1954-1984'' (Popular Press, 1987), p. 236. Ballads are generally melodic enough to get the listener's attention. Sentimental ballads are found in most music genres, such as pop, R&B, soul, country, folk, rock and electronic music. Usually slow in tempo, ballads tend to have a lush musical arrangement which emphasizes the song's melody and harmonies. Characteristically, ballads use acoustic instruments such as guitars, pianos, saxophones, and sometimes an orchestral set. Many modern mainstream ballads tend to feature synthesizers, drum machines and even, to some extent, a dance rhythm. Sentimental ballads had their origins in the early Tin Pan Alley music industry of the la ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Symphonic Metal
Symphonic metal is a cross-generic style designation for the symphonic subsets of heavy metal music subgenres. It is used to denote any metal band that makes use of symphonic or orchestral elements. The style features the heavy drums and guitars of metal with different elements of orchestral classical music, such as symphonic instruments, choirs and sometimes a full orchestra, or just keyboard orchestration. Symphonic metal bands can feature classically trained vocalists, in which case they can be attributed nicknames such as opera metal or operatic metal. Perhaps the most pioneering and prominent examples of symphonic metal bands are Swedish band Therion, Finnish band Nightwish, Italian band Rhapsody of Fire and Dutch bands Within Temptation, The Gathering and Epica. All six bands place a large focus on elements prevalent in film scores in addition to the more basic classical components utilized more widely in the genre. Musical characteristics The metal subgenres most ty ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Finns
Finns or Finnish people ( fi, suomalaiset, ) are a Baltic Finnic ethnic group native to Finland. Finns are traditionally divided into smaller regional groups that span several countries adjacent to Finland, both those who are native to these countries as well as those who have resettled. Some of these may be classified as separate ethnic groups, rather than subgroups of Finns. These include the Kvens and Forest Finns in Norway, the Tornedalians in Sweden, and the Ingrian Finns in Russia. Finnish, the language spoken by Finns, is closely related to other Balto-Finnic languages, e.g. Estonian and Karelian. The Finnic languages are a subgroup of the larger Uralic family of languages, which also includes Hungarian. These languages are markedly different from most other languages spoken in Europe, which belong to the Indo-European family of languages. Native Finns can also be divided according to dialect into subgroups sometimes called ''heimo'' (lit. ''tribe''), although suc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sleeping Sun
"Sleeping Sun" is a power ballad and the fourth single by Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish. It was released as a maxi single with three other songs on 2 August 1999 to coincide with the total solar eclipse that would occur on 11 August. Later that same year, the band's 1998 album ''Oceanborn'' was reissued with the song added to the track listing, and it has been on every edition of the album since. In 2004, it was included on Nightwish's first compilation album '' Tales from the Elvenpath'', and in 2005, a re-recorded version was released to promote '' Highest Hopes: The Best of Nightwish'', another compilation released on 27 September that same year. "Sleeping Sun" was certified with Gold Disc in Finland with more than 5.000 copies sold, and also in Germany with more than 15.000 copies. It reached the number-two spot in the Finnish charts, and was #69 in the German Official Singles Charts. Track listing Music video A music video was shot for the song, in which lead ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sacrament Of Wilderness
"Sacrament of Wilderness" is the second single by Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish, released as the first single from their album '' Oceanborn'', and a split-single with Eternal Tears of Sorrow and Darkwoods My Betrothed.''Once Upon a Nightwish'', Deggael Communications, 2007. The single's cover art features the owl with the same scroll as in the cover of ''Oceanborn'' and '' Wishmaster''.Nightwish.com – Nightmail It reached the number-one spot in the Finnish charts during several weeks, as well as the subsequent, "". Both were certified with ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Spinefarm Records
Spinefarm Records is a Finnish independent record label focusing mainly on heavy metal artists. It is a subsidiary of Universal Music Group. History Spinefarm Records was originally founded in 1990 by Riku Pääkkönen as a mail-order distribution company for rock and heavy metal albums and singles, but later became a record label for Finnish acts such as Nightwish, Children of Bodom, and Sonata Arctica. Since 2002, Spinefarm has been part of Universal Music Group, but operates as an independent business unit. In autumn 2007, Spinefarm launched in the UK, starting with re-issuing deluxe versions of the first five Nightwish albums, including the '' Over the Hills and Far Away'' EP. At the start of 2016, it was announced that Spinefarm Records had acquired Candlelight Records. On 18 August 2017, Spinefarm Records announced the global launch of sub-label Snakefarm Records. Snakefarm has since signed Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown and more. The label's focus genres are roots roc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Symphonic Metal
Symphonic metal is a cross-generic style designation for the symphonic subsets of heavy metal music subgenres. It is used to denote any metal band that makes use of symphonic or orchestral elements. The style features the heavy drums and guitars of metal with different elements of orchestral classical music, such as symphonic instruments, choirs and sometimes a full orchestra, or just keyboard orchestration. Symphonic metal bands can feature classically trained vocalists, in which case they can be attributed nicknames such as opera metal or operatic metal. Perhaps the most pioneering and prominent examples of symphonic metal bands are Swedish band Therion, Finnish band Nightwish, Italian band Rhapsody of Fire and Dutch bands Within Temptation, The Gathering and Epica. All six bands place a large focus on elements prevalent in film scores in addition to the more basic classical components utilized more widely in the genre. Musical characteristics The metal subgenres most ty ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kitee
Kitee ( sv, Kides) is a town and a municipality of Finland. It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the North Karelia region. The municipality has a population of () and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is . Neighbouring municipalities are Parikkala, Rääkkylä, Savonlinna and Tohmajärvi. The municipality is unilingually Finnish. History Kitee is known as the ''moonshine city of Finland'' due to its legal and illegal moonshine manufacturing. Villages * Haapasalo * Haarajärvi * Hammaskallio * Heinoniemi * Jaakkima * Juurikka * Kantosyrjä * Kiteenkylä * Kiteenlahti * Kontiola * Kunonniemi * Lahdenkylä * Leinovaara * Loukunvaara * Misola * Muljula * Niinikumpu * Nivunki * Närsäkkälä * Ojamäki * Piimäjärvi * Potoskavaara * Puhos * Puhossalo * Päätye * Riihijärvi * Rokkala * Ruppovaara * Satulavaara * Suoparsaari * Suorlahti * Särkijärvi * Säynejärvi * Taipale * Tasapää * Tolosenmäki * Varmoniemi * Väliv ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Oceanborn
''Oceanborn'' is the second studio album by Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish. It was released in Finland by Spinefarm Records on 7 December 1998 and in the spring of 1999 worldwide. It was released by Drakkar Entertainment in the rest of Europe, and by Toy's Factory in Japan. It is their first album with bassist Sami Vänskä. ''Oceanborn'' has sold more than 68,000 copies in Finland. The single "Sleeping Sun" was released in August 1999, and the song has been included in every reissue of the album since then. The album was released in the US by Century Media in March 2001. In 2017, '' Loudwire'' ranked it as the 10th best power metal album of all time. Background Speaking to ''Kerrang!'' in 2008, band founder Tuomas Holopainen reminisced that the band got really ambitious after the debut album "that was never meant to be released as a proper record. It happened almost by accident, so we decided to put everything into making ''Oceanborn'' great." He added: According to ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nightwish
Nightwish is a Finnish symphonic metal band from Kitee. The band was formed in 1996 by lead songwriter and keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen, guitarist Emppu Vuorinen, and former lead singer Tarja Turunen. The band soon picked up drummer Jukka Nevalainen, and then bassist Sami Vänskä after the release of their debut album, ''Angels Fall First'' (1997). In 2001, Vänskä was replaced by Marko Hietala, who also took over the male vocalist role previously filled by Holopainen or guest singers. Although Nightwish have been prominent in their home country since ''Angels Fall First'', they did not achieve wider success until the release of the albums '' Oceanborn'' (1998), '' Wishmaster'' (2000) and ''Century Child'' (2002). Their 2004 album, '' Once'', has sold more than one million copies and was the band's breakthrough in the United States. Their biggest US hit single, "Wish I Had an Angel" (2004), received MTV airplay and was included on three US film soundtracks to promote their N ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
