Gandalf

Artist: Gandalf
P: 2011
In the end the whole universe consists of pure energy, it vibrates. After Platon and Newton it was nature philosopher, mathematician, astronomer and theologian Johannes Kepler, who in the early 17th century discovered that the basic principles of music apply to the whole cosmic hustle and bustle – and vice versa, that the whole plan of the world is mirrored in the essence of music. He called it the “harmony of the world”. Gandalf follows these thoughts in a new orchestral composition, which he created for his 30th stage anniversary. This unique “Symphony Of The Third Millenium” marks a new peak in his rich oeuvre. The piece is a tribute to the wonderful variety and beauty of the universe, to the miracle of all life and being. For the choir passages Gandalf used a selection of verses from the Bhagavat Gita in its original language, Sanskrit, which is said to be one of the oldest languages of mankind.

Artist: Gandalf
P: 1995
Here the Sattva Label version.
Renowned Austrian new age multi-instrumentalist Gandalf has issued a variety of fine, internationally acclaimed albums on a steady basis since 1980. Taking his name from the good-hearted wizard in J.R.R. Tolkien’s trilogy “Lord Of the Rings”, Gandalf’s work reflects his love of nature and his commitment to preserving the environment. Over the years Gandalf has won several prominent friends to guest on his recordings (including Tracy Hitchings, Steve Hackett, Emily Burridge, Dhafer Youssef and Peter Aschenbrenner, while he himself has been favourably compared to such notable artists as William Ackermann, Rick Wakeman, Shadowfax, Enya and Mike Oldfield.
Gandalf is a real painter of sonic landscapes, his music is mainly inspired by the beauty of nature and by the art and myths of various cultures. He blends a variety of acoustic instruments (guitars, sitar, saz, charango, bouzuki, piano, balaphon, bells & percussion) with spherical keyboard-sounds and weaves folky tunes into powerful symphonic arrangements.
 

Artist: Gandalf
P: 1987
One of his early works with a lot of emotional melodies and deep synthesizer atmospheres.

Here the last copy.

Artist: Gandalf
P: 1988 / 2013
This is the new re-release.
The album is all about the journey of water from the source until it joins the ocean. The inspiration originated from a visit of the lakes and waterfalls at Plitvice-Nationalpark in Croatia. Gandalf builds the music upon hypnotic minimalistic, sometimes Far-Eastern-sounding basic structures, spanning wide symphonic melodies over the top that eventually develop into large orchestral crescendos. Powerful electric guitar- and synthesizer solos remind that Gandalf's roots are definitely based in Rock´n Roll.

Artist: Gandalf
P: 1988
The album is all about the journey of water from the source until it joins the ocean. The inspiration originated from a visit of the lakes and waterfalls at Plitvice-Nationalpark in Croatia. Gandalf builds the music upon hypnotic minimalistic, sometimes Far-Eastern-sounding basic structures, spanning wide symphonic melodies over the top that eventually develop into large orchestral crescendos. Powerful electric guitar- and synthesizer solos remind that Gandalf's roots are definitely based in Rock´n Roll.

Here the last copy of the original CBS Version!

Artist: Gandalf
P: 1992
Full of epic grandeur and romanticism, GANDALF's "Gallery Of Dreams" is a masterpiece. From the first few bars of music, you will be moved in ways that can only be described by simply listening. What clearly makes this a special album is the joint collaboration with Steve HACKETT. "Gallery of Dreams" contains lots of "HACKETT'isms" and works unbelievably well with the symphonic touches that typifies GANDALF's work. With accents of flutes, woodwinds and wind chimes, GANDALF creates a very medieval/Renaissance era'ish atmospheres and emotions. This album has been on my desert island list for some time now. Although almost entirely instrumental, a young Tracy Hitchings also is featured on the title track which tastefully accents the album.

Here the last copy!

Artist: Gandalf
P: 1996 / 2010
On a concert tour through Brazil in 1995 Gandalf had met the English cellist and vocalist Emily Burridge, who had been living with a tribe of Brazilian Indians several times and working with Roger Daltrey, George Michael, Chrissie Hind, Jools Holland, Zero 7, Stereophonics and Hans Zimmer. During a couple of live-shows together with Gandalfs group she proved to be the perfect creative partner for “Gates To A Secret Reality”. Her melodious cello-lines, gently woven into Gandalfs multi-coloured textures of sound and rhythms, and her vocals on three of the tracks give the music a very special note. Peter Aschenbrenner, long-time member of Gandalfs live-band on flute and saxophone, and Gandalf himself on a variety of electric and acoustic guitars, Charango, Saz, Piano, electronic keyboards and percussions also turned “Gates To A Secret Reality” into a unique listening experience in 1996. Today it is as fascinating as it was then.

Artist: Gandalf
P: 1996
On a concert tour through Brazil in 1995 Gandalf had met the English cellist and vocalist Emily Burridge, who had been living with a tribe of Brazilian Indians several times and working with Roger Daltrey, George Michael, Chrissie Hind, Jools Holland, Zero 7, Stereophonics and Hans Zimmer. During a couple of live-shows together with Gandalfs group she proved to be the perfect creative partner for “Gates To A Secret Reality”. Her melodious cello-lines, gently woven into Gandalfs multi-coloured textures of sound and rhythms, and her vocals on three of the tracks give the music a very special note. Peter Aschenbrenner, long-time member of Gandalfs live-band on flute and saxophone, and Gandalf himself on a variety of electric and acoustic guitars, Charango, Saz, Piano, electronic keyboards and percussions also turned “Gates To A Secret Reality” into a unique listening experience in 1996. Today it is as fascinating as it was then.

This is the original first version!

Artist: Gandalf
P: 1999 / 2005
This time it's the group 4XANG who sings on the opener "Titaptawa". Gandalf's old friend Peter Aschenbrenner plays flute and soprano sax on this piece. The rest of the album is filled with solo music which combines electronic music, New Age and World music. It is all very typical Gandalf with beautiful synthsounds, calm rhythms and the stereotype guitar solos. In a personal style that enters both New Instrumental Music and World Music, Gandalf takes us through a voyage to faraway lands, full of emotions and adventures. Gandalf builds melodic themes of a great beauty, and some even turn out to be highly mysterious. Several pieces are dominated by a majestic, epic character, with the orchestrations typical of Classical Music and Celtic elements.
The piece "Shining Light part 1", is a cosmic-symphonic theme of an unusual grandeur. In a few words, a pleasant, melodic and very warm album, where the keyboards and the fine arrangements have a fundamental presence.

Artist: Gandalf
P: 1999
Here the original first edition from the Sattva label.
This time it's the group 4XANG who sings on the opener "Titaptawa". Gandalf's old friend Peter Aschenbrenner plays flute and soprano sax on this piece. The rest of the album is filled with solo music which combines electronic music, New Age and World music. It is all very typical Gandalf with beautiful synthsounds, calm rhythms and the stereotype guitar solos. In a personal style that enters both New Instrumental Music and World Music, Gandalf takes us through a voyage to faraway lands, full of emotions and adventures. Gandalf builds melodic themes of a great beauty, and some even turn out to be highly mysterious. Several pieces are dominated by a majestic, epic character, with the orchestrations typical of Classical Music and Celtic elements.
The piece "Shining Light part 1", is a cosmic-symphonic theme of an unusual grandeur. In a few words, a pleasant, melodic and very warm album, where the keyboards and the fine arrangements have a fundamental presence.