''Symphonicities'' is the tenth studio album by English musician
Sting, released on 13 July 2010 on
Deutsche Grammophon
Deutsche Grammophon (; DGG) is a German classical music record label that was the precursor of the corporation PolyGram. Headquartered in Berlin Friedrichshain, it is now part of Universal Music Group (UMG) since its merger with the UMG family of ...
. This is his first studio album featuring new recordings of existing songs (the second one to date being the 2019 studio album ''
My Songs'').
Background
The album is a companion piece to the
tour
Tour or Tours may refer to:
Travel
* Tourism, travel for pleasure
* Tour of duty, a period of time spent in military service
* Campus tour, a journey through a college or university's campus
* Guided tour, a journey through a location, directed ...
of the same name in which Sting, performing with the
Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) is a British symphony orchestra based in London, that performs and produces primarily classic works.
The RPO was established by Thomas Beecham in 1946. In its early days, the orchestra secured profitable ...
, reinterprets some of his songs as
classical symphonic compositions. ''Symphonicities'' was recorded at
Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios (formerly EMI Recording Studios) is a recording studio at 3 Abbey Road, St John's Wood, City of Westminster, London, England. It was established in November 1931 by the Gramophone Company, a predecessor of British music c ...
,
[Sting interview for Symphonicities](_blank)
8 July 2010. and produced by
Rob Mathes
Rob or ROB may refer to:
Places
* Rob, Velike Lašče, a settlement in Slovenia
* Roberts International Airport (IATA code ROB), in Monrovia, Liberia
People
* Rob (given name), a given name or nickname, e.g., for Robert(o), Robin/Robyn
* Rob ( ...
and Sting.
Elliot Scheiner
Elliot Ray Scheiner (born 18 March 1947) is a music producer, mixer and engineer. Scheiner has received 27 Grammy Award nominations, eight of which he won, and he has been awarded four Emmy nominations, two Emmy Awards for his work with the Eagl ...
and Claudius Mittendorfer mixed the record,
and it was mastered by
Scott Hull.
As of November 2010, the album had sold over one million copies worldwide.
Track listing
All songs composed by Sting.
# "
Next to You" – 2:30 (originally from ''
Outlandos d'Amour
''Outlandos d'Amour'' is the debut studio album by English rock band the Police, released on 2 November 1978 by A&M Records. Elevated by the success of its lead single, " Roxanne", ''Outlandos d'Amour'' peaked at No. 6 on the UK Albums Chart a ...
'', 1978)
# "
Englishman in New York
"Englishman in New York" is a song by English singer-songwriter Sting, from his second studio album '' ...Nothing Like the Sun'', released in October 1987. Branford Marsalis played soprano saxophone on the track, while the drums were played by ...
" – 4:23 (originally from ''
...Nothing Like the Sun'', 1987)
# "
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
"Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" is a song by British rock group the Police from their fourth album, ''Ghost in the Machine''. The song, notable for featuring a pianist (uncommon in Police songs), dates back to a demo recorded in the house ...
" – 4:56 (originally from ''
Ghost in the Machine
The "ghost in the machine" is a term originally used to describe and critique the notion of the mind existing alongside and separate to the body. In more recent times, the term has several uses, including the concept that the intellectual part of ...
'', 1981)
# "
I Hung My Head" – 5:31 (originally from ''
Mercury Falling
''Mercury Falling'' is the fifth studio album by Sting, released in 1996. The album begins and ends with the words " mercury falling."
In 1997, the album earned Sting two Grammy nominations for Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Male Pop Vocal Pe ...
'', 1996)
# "
You Will Be My Ain True Love
"You Will Be My Ain True Love" is a song written and performed by Sting and Alison Krauss from 2003, in the film '' Cold Mountain''. The song was nominated for an Academy Award, a Grammy Award and the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song.
Th ...
" – 3:44 (originally from the ''
Cold Mountain'' soundtrack, 2003)
# "
Roxanne" – 3:37 (originally from ''Outlandos d'Amour'', 1978)
# "When We Dance" – 5:26 (originally from ''
Fields of Gold: The Best of Sting 1984–1994'', 1994)
# "The End of the Game" – 6:07 (originally a b-side to the song "Brand New Day" from ''
Brand New Day'', 1999)
# "I Burn for You" – 4:03 (originally from the ''
Brimstone & Treacle'' soundtrack, 1982)
# "We Work the Black Seam" – 7:19 (originally from ''
The Dream of the Blue Turtles
''The Dream of the Blue Turtles'' is the first solo album by English musician Sting, released in June 1985. The album reached number three on the UK Albums Chart and number two on the US ''Billboard'' 200.
Five singles were released from the ...
'', 1985)
# "She's Too Good for Me" – 3:03 (originally from ''
Ten Summoner's Tales
''Ten Summoner's Tales'' is the fourth solo studio album by English rock musician Sting. The title is a combined pun of his family name, Sumner, and a character in Geoffrey Chaucer's '' The Canterbury Tales'', the summoner. Released in 1993, ...
'', 1993)
# "The Pirate's Bride" – 5:02 (feat. Jo Lawry - originally a b-side to the song "I Was Brought to My Senses" from ''Mercury Falling'', 1996)
Bonus tracks
* "Straight to My Heart" (
Best Buy,
Napster,
EU iTunes
iTunes () is a software program that acts as a media player, media library, mobile device management utility, and the client app for the iTunes Store. Developed by Apple Inc., it is used to purchase, play, download, and organize digital mul ...
and Japanese bonus track) (originally from ''...Nothing Like the Sun'', 1987)
* "Why Should I Cry for You?" (
iTunes
iTunes () is a software program that acts as a media player, media library, mobile device management utility, and the client app for the iTunes Store. Developed by Apple Inc., it is used to purchase, play, download, and organize digital mul ...
and Japanese bonus track) (originally from ''
The Soul Cages
''The Soul Cages'' is the third full-length studio album released by English musician Sting. Released on 21 January 1991 it became Sting's second No. 1 album in the United Kingdom. This was Sting's first album to feature guitarist Dominic Mille ...
'', 1991)
* "
Whenever I Say Your Name
"Whenever I Say Your Name" is a duet by English musician Sting and American singer Mary J. Blige. It serves as the second single from Sting's seventh studio album ''Sacred Love'' (2003). It was not originally included on Blige's sixth studio alb ...
" (
Amazon
Amazon most often refers to:
* Amazons, a tribe of female warriors in Greek mythology
* Amazon rainforest, a rainforest covering most of the Amazon basin
* Amazon River, in South America
* Amazon (company), an American multinational technology c ...
and Japanese bonus track) (originally from ''
Sacred Love
''Sacred Love'' is the seventh studio album by Sting. The album was released on 29 September 2003. The album featured smoother, R&B-style beats and experiments collaborating with hip-hop artist Mary J. Blige and sitar player Anoushka Shanka ...
'', 2003)
* "
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
"Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" is a song by British rock group the Police from their fourth album, ''Ghost in the Machine''. The song, notable for featuring a pianist (uncommon in Police songs), dates back to a demo recorded in the house ...
" (Bronx Street Fair Mix) (''Symphonicities'' vinyl LP bonus track)
Personnel
*
Sting – vocals, acoustic guitar (tracks 9 and 11), harmonica (track 4), rabble rousers (track 11)
* The New York Chamber Consort – orchestra (tracks 1, 2, 9, 11 and 12)
* The London Players – orchestra (tracks 3 and 6)
* The
Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) is a British symphony orchestra based in London, that performs and produces primarily classic works.
The RPO was established by Thomas Beecham in 1946. In its early days, the orchestra secured profitable ...
– orchestra (tracks 4, 5, 7 and 8)
* Lisa Kim – concertmaster (tracks 1, 2, 9 and 12)
* Jackie Shave – concertmaster (tracks 3 and 6)
* Gerald Gregory – concertmaster (tracks 4, 7 and 8)
*
Rob Mathes
Rob or ROB may refer to:
Places
* Rob, Velike Lašče, a settlement in Slovenia
* Roberts International Airport (IATA code ROB), in Monrovia, Liberia
People
* Rob (given name), a given name or nickname, e.g., for Robert(o), Robin/Robyn
* Rob ( ...
– arrangements (all tracks except 4, 5 and 7), conducting (tracks 1–3, 6, 9, 10 and 12)
*
Steven Mercurio
Steven Mercurio (born 1956, Bardonia, New York (state), New York) is an American conductor and composer.
Early life and education
Mercurio was raised in New York and is of Italian descent. For most of his adolescence, he gravitated towards rock an ...
– arrangements (tracks 5 and 7), conducting (tracks 4, 7 and 8)
*
David Hartley – arrangements (track 4)
*
Jo Lawry – backing vocals (all tracks except 10), duet vocals (tracks 5 and 12)
*
David Finck
David E. Finck (born August 26, 1958) is an American jazz bassist. He plays both bass guitar and double bass.
Finck was born in Rochester, New York. He studied under Sam Goradetzer and Michael Shahan of the Philadelphia Orchestra, and graduate ...
– double bass (tracks 1–3 and 6)
*
Ira Coleman
Ira Coleman (born April 29, 1956) is a French-American jazz bassist.
Educated at the Berklee College of Music, he appears on four albums by Paris-based pianist Laurent de Wilde Carr, Ian; Fairweather, Digby and Priestley, Brian''Rough Guid ...
– double bass (tracks 4, 5, 7, 8 and 11)
*
Dominic Miller
Dominic James Miller (born 21 March 1960) is an Argentine-born guitarist. With much of his career as a sideman and guitarist for singer Sting, he has also released several solo albums.
Career
Miller was born in Hurlingham, Argentina to an Iris ...
– acoustic guitar (tracks 4, 5, 7, 8 and 12), electric guitar (track 11)
*
Rob Mathes
Rob or ROB may refer to:
Places
* Rob, Velike Lašče, a settlement in Slovenia
* Roberts International Airport (IATA code ROB), in Monrovia, Liberia
People
* Rob (given name), a given name or nickname, e.g., for Robert(o), Robin/Robyn
* Rob ( ...
– piano (tracks 1–3, 6 and 12), acoustic guitar (tracks 3, 6 and 11), rabble rousers (track 11)
* David Cossin – percussion (tracks 1–9)
* Joe Bonadio – percussion (tracks 1, 2, 9–12 and "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" (Bronx Street Fair Mix))
* Ben Wittman – programming (track 9)
*
Aaron Heick
Aaron Heick is an American saxophonist and woodwind player, born September 13, 1961 in Seattle, currently living in New York.
He is best known for his work on the CBS Orchestra for the '' Late Show with David Letterman''.
He has worked with Ch ...
– clarinet solo (track 2)
*
Anthony Pleeth
Anthony Pleeth, born in 1948 in London, is an English cellist, specialising in the historically informed performance of music of the 18th and 19th centuries on period instruments.
Biography and career
He studied cello with his father, renowned ...
– cello (track 6)
* Shelley Woodworth – oboe (track 12)
* Barbara Allen – harp (track 12)
* Jeff Kievit – trumpet (track 10)
* Jim Hynes – trumpet (track 10)
* James Delagarza – trumpet (track 10)
* Dylan Schwab – trumpet (track 10)
* Larry DiBello – horn (track 10)
* Chad Yarborough – horn (track 10)
* David Peel – horn (track 10)
* Theo Primus – horn (track 10)
*
Birch Johnson
Birch "Crimson Slide" Johnson (born 1953 in Dublin, Georgia) is an American trombonist. He is a first call studio trombonist, Emmy-nominated composer, producer and songwriter based in New York City. He graduated from the University of Alabama, rec ...
– trombone (track 10)
* Dick Clark – trombone (track 10)
* Jeff Nelson – bass trombone (track 10)
*
Marcus Rojas
Marcus Rojas (born February 23, 1963) is an American Tuba, tubist from New York City.
Early life
Rojas was born in New York City on February 23, 1963, and grew up in Red Hook, Brooklyn. His early influences included Eddie Palmieri, Willie Coló ...
– tuba (track 10)
*
Chris Botti
Christopher Stephen Botti ( ; born October 12, 1962) is an award-winning American trumpeter and composer.
In 2013, Botti won the Grammy Award in the Best Pop Instrumental Album category, for the album ''Impressions''.
He was also nominated in ...
– rabble rousers (track 11)
* Ed Cherner – rabble rousers (track 11)
* Tracy Bufferd – rabble rousers (track 11)
* Kathryn Schenker – rabble rousers (track 11)
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
References
External links
Official siteFansite*
{{Authority control
Sting (musician) albums
2010 albums
2010 classical albums
Albums produced by Rob Mathes
Classical albums by English artists
Deutsche Grammophon albums