Gheorghe Zamfir - A Theme From Picnic At Hanging Rock FLAC download

Zamfir is a master of the expanded model of the Nai, a Romanian pan flute with up to 30 pipes to increase the range. The instrument makes a wistful and ethereal sound especially at the mouth of Zamfir who produces as many as eight overtones from each pipe by changing the ‘embouchure’ which is a technique of tone creation that refers to intricate muscle movements around the lips. Containing various pieces used in the enchanting Australian film, this other-worldly music of Zamfir’s pipes and Marcel Cellier’ organ consists of traditional Romanian melodies from the Banat, Montenia, Oltenia and Transylvania. The album opens with the slow, somber Theme From Picnic At Hanging Rock (Doina: Lui Petru Unc) where the organ drone serves as counterpoint to the melancholy meandering pan flute melody. Mood & tempo changes drastically with the buoyant Jocuri Din Banat, a vivacious tune with the feel of a joyful folk dance; the pan pipe sounds do pirouettes while the organ anchors the lovely piece in slower rhythmic movements. As if to spoil the party, the mood turns solemn on the third track Doina: Riului Olt, a majestic downtempo dirge with a classical structure. Another drastic moodswing occurs as the needle moves to Ciocirlia which seems to imitate various types of delightful birdsong: whistling, tweeting, twittering, calling and chirping of many hues, over uptempo organ. Side One concludes with Balada Sarpelui in which the organ plays a major role; this track, like Riului Olt, appears to be a classical rather than a traditional composition. The haunting Miranda’s Theme (Doina: Sus Pe Culmea Dealului) with its fragile and hesitant quality opens Side Two. The sequence of tracks seems to have been organized so that the melancholic alternates with the uplifting, as the brief Sorocul Mare opens with a rhythmic organ pattern and resembles the aforementioned Jocuri Din Banat, being a hypnotic uptempo number. Doina: Gheorghe Mină Boii Bine reverts to the solemn side of the spectrum and Cintec Din Ardeal keeps it right there. Doina Din Bocsa’s quivering pipes makes the spooky atmosphere even more intense. This sublime album concludes with Nani, Nani, Puisor, a slow number with a complex arrangement where about halfway through the organ falls silent and the flutes dance alone. This spiritually charged music contributed a great deal to making Picnic At Hanging Rock such an unusual and memorable movie. On its own, it appears even more magical and other-worldly.