Post by jeffwaynefan on Apr 25, 2006 11:37:44 GMT
KEYBOARDS AND SYNTHESIZERS USED IN THE ALBUM
Jeff Wayne's Musical Version Of The War Of The Worlds - First released in June 1978
Many questions have been asked about the making of this now famous album. While many have been covered, one question that does get asked with very little known about is: what keyboards were used in the album. Hopefully I can shed some light on what was used and what were available at the time of the albums conceivement.
THE KEYBOARD AND THE SYNTHESIZER
Many who have listened to the album will know that a huge array of instruments were used throughout. Keyboards, synthesizers, drums, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, percussion and a large 50 piece orchestra bring together the musical format of an alien invasion during Victorian times, based on the 1898 novel The War Of The Worlds by the grandfather of science fiction; H.G. Wells. During the albums recording times of between 1975 to early 1978, during this period of the 70s, one musical instrument stood out from all the rest, and an instrument which to many was as alien as the creatures from the story - the synthesizer. The synthesizer or 'synth' is a electronic keyboard that can produce its very own sounds and replicate other instruments, unlike a keyboard which contains 'pre sets' sounds and with many models you are unable to edit these sounds.
During the early part of the 1970s, a couple of named synths were dominating the music scene, mainly MOOG and ROLAND. The most famous MOOG synthesizer was the MINIMOOG (model D which is seen below) first produced in 1971 by Dr Robert Moog. This now groundbreaking analogue synthesizer set the patern for other synths that were to follow.
In the albums artwork booklet, keyboards were credited to Jeff Wayne with additional piano during THE RED WEED credited to Paul Hart. Synthesizers were credited to Ken 'Prof' Freeman who later went on to compose and perform the music to The Tripods, Casualty and Holby City. Jeff Wayne was originally approached to score the music to The Tripods but not wanting to be tied to another science fiction tripod story, he handed the reins to Ken Freeman.
Please note that the images below are not of the actual instruments used in the album, but are shown to represent the (possible) model used
THE KEYBOARDS
And now we come to the instruments used for the album. As mentioned, Jeff Wayne performed on both the piano and the harpsicord.
The HARPSICORD sound can be heard during both The Eve Of The War and Dead London.
HARPSICORD
The hapsicord gives the album its old style musical format as this same instrument were present during Victorian times with its first appearance going back to the early 1700s. Many of the large houses at that period would have had this instrument dominating one or some of its large rooms.
As well as a piano used in the album, another noted keyboard used was the JANGLE PIANO.
JANGLE PIANO
One track that stands out featuring this instrument was Horsell Common And The Heat Ray and Dead London, performed by Jeff Wayne. The JANGLE PIANO is heard during the strings and Jo Partridge guitar solo as the deadly Heat Ray is bought to bare upon its victims on Horsell Common.
Another instrument that appears in one of the photographs taken during the making of the album is that of a CLAVINET D6 as seen below. This can be seen in the studio photograph taken with Jeff on the Jangle Piano.
CLAVINET D6
THE SYNTHESIZERS
The synthesizer played an enormous part throughout the album as many of those chilling but beautiful sounds were created by these instruments. The albums artwork booklets only indication of what was used mentions ROLAND(s), ARP(s), YAMAHA(s) and with an odd entry THUNDER CHILD(s). The THUNDER CHILD I strongly believe was Ken Freeman living up to his nickname of 'Prof' as Ken understood the basis of synthesis, the very heart of the synthesizers unique sound creations, leading him to build his very own 'string machine' another type of keyboard. This keyboard I beileve was used in The War Of The Worlds album and could be the instrument credited as the THUNDER CHILD(s).
THE YAMAHA, ROLAND AND ARP SYNTHESIZERS
YAMAHA is today as big as it was way back in the 1970s The Yamaha synths came out during the early part of the 1970s and with much competition from other names such as ROLAND.
As the brand of the synthesizers were never mentioned, all I can do here was to find what instruments were around/available at the time between 1975 to 1978, and with the strong possibility that they were used in the albums production. In most cases no other instruments could be found and so are the likely contender as being those that were used.
ARP
The ARP OYDESSEY (c/a 1972) as seen below is the MK1 version in white. This very instrument is seen in a couple of photographs taken in the studio while the album was being made. Ken Freeman's use of this instrument allowed him to create many of those unique sounds you hear including what I believe is the electronic "weeoown, weeoown, weeoown" heard throughout the album.
ARP ODYSSEY
This instrument also has some fantastic synth lead sounds which could have been used for the solo synths throughout the album including the attacking Fighting Machines during The Artilleryman And The Fighting Machine.
ARP 2500
This monster of a synth is best loved today. Now something of a rarity with prices going into thousands of pounds. This was another of the classic synths used by Ken for the album.
ARP 2500 (c/a 1970)
YAMAHA
This was a difficult one to search. The only YAMAHA synthsizer which I belive could have been used at that time was the now famous and very sought after YAMAHA CS80 (c/a 1977) as seen below.
YAMAHA CS80
This stunning sounding synth creates many warm and rich string sounds, ideal for use with the large 50 piece orchestra used in the album.
ROLAND
From 1975 to 1978, there were many ROLAND synthesizers available that could have been used in the album such as the SH range and SYSTEM range. Below is a small selection of some that were on the market in that time period. Like the ARP ODYSSEY, these synths also were capable of producing warm string sounds and lead sounds.
ROLAND SYSTEM 100 (c/a 1975)
ROLAND JUPITER 4 (c/a 1978)
ROLAND SH-1 (c/a 1978)
ROLAND SH-7 (c/a 1978)
MOOG
Though this instrument was around at the time of the album, and not being mentioned in the albums credits, I have learnt that the MOOG MODEL D was used at some stage during the making of the album.
MOOG MODEL D (c/a 1974)
I hope this guide has been helpfull and to give a better understanding of what was used and available at the time of production.
Any further information I find or receive will be added at a later date.
Jeff Wayne's Musical Version Of The War Of The Worlds - First released in June 1978
Many questions have been asked about the making of this now famous album. While many have been covered, one question that does get asked with very little known about is: what keyboards were used in the album. Hopefully I can shed some light on what was used and what were available at the time of the albums conceivement.
THE KEYBOARD AND THE SYNTHESIZER
Many who have listened to the album will know that a huge array of instruments were used throughout. Keyboards, synthesizers, drums, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, percussion and a large 50 piece orchestra bring together the musical format of an alien invasion during Victorian times, based on the 1898 novel The War Of The Worlds by the grandfather of science fiction; H.G. Wells. During the albums recording times of between 1975 to early 1978, during this period of the 70s, one musical instrument stood out from all the rest, and an instrument which to many was as alien as the creatures from the story - the synthesizer. The synthesizer or 'synth' is a electronic keyboard that can produce its very own sounds and replicate other instruments, unlike a keyboard which contains 'pre sets' sounds and with many models you are unable to edit these sounds.
During the early part of the 1970s, a couple of named synths were dominating the music scene, mainly MOOG and ROLAND. The most famous MOOG synthesizer was the MINIMOOG (model D which is seen below) first produced in 1971 by Dr Robert Moog. This now groundbreaking analogue synthesizer set the patern for other synths that were to follow.
In the albums artwork booklet, keyboards were credited to Jeff Wayne with additional piano during THE RED WEED credited to Paul Hart. Synthesizers were credited to Ken 'Prof' Freeman who later went on to compose and perform the music to The Tripods, Casualty and Holby City. Jeff Wayne was originally approached to score the music to The Tripods but not wanting to be tied to another science fiction tripod story, he handed the reins to Ken Freeman.
Please note that the images below are not of the actual instruments used in the album, but are shown to represent the (possible) model used
THE KEYBOARDS
And now we come to the instruments used for the album. As mentioned, Jeff Wayne performed on both the piano and the harpsicord.
The HARPSICORD sound can be heard during both The Eve Of The War and Dead London.
HARPSICORD
The hapsicord gives the album its old style musical format as this same instrument were present during Victorian times with its first appearance going back to the early 1700s. Many of the large houses at that period would have had this instrument dominating one or some of its large rooms.
As well as a piano used in the album, another noted keyboard used was the JANGLE PIANO.
JANGLE PIANO
One track that stands out featuring this instrument was Horsell Common And The Heat Ray and Dead London, performed by Jeff Wayne. The JANGLE PIANO is heard during the strings and Jo Partridge guitar solo as the deadly Heat Ray is bought to bare upon its victims on Horsell Common.
Another instrument that appears in one of the photographs taken during the making of the album is that of a CLAVINET D6 as seen below. This can be seen in the studio photograph taken with Jeff on the Jangle Piano.
CLAVINET D6
THE SYNTHESIZERS
The synthesizer played an enormous part throughout the album as many of those chilling but beautiful sounds were created by these instruments. The albums artwork booklets only indication of what was used mentions ROLAND(s), ARP(s), YAMAHA(s) and with an odd entry THUNDER CHILD(s). The THUNDER CHILD I strongly believe was Ken Freeman living up to his nickname of 'Prof' as Ken understood the basis of synthesis, the very heart of the synthesizers unique sound creations, leading him to build his very own 'string machine' another type of keyboard. This keyboard I beileve was used in The War Of The Worlds album and could be the instrument credited as the THUNDER CHILD(s).
THE YAMAHA, ROLAND AND ARP SYNTHESIZERS
YAMAHA is today as big as it was way back in the 1970s The Yamaha synths came out during the early part of the 1970s and with much competition from other names such as ROLAND.
As the brand of the synthesizers were never mentioned, all I can do here was to find what instruments were around/available at the time between 1975 to 1978, and with the strong possibility that they were used in the albums production. In most cases no other instruments could be found and so are the likely contender as being those that were used.
ARP
The ARP OYDESSEY (c/a 1972) as seen below is the MK1 version in white. This very instrument is seen in a couple of photographs taken in the studio while the album was being made. Ken Freeman's use of this instrument allowed him to create many of those unique sounds you hear including what I believe is the electronic "weeoown, weeoown, weeoown" heard throughout the album.
ARP ODYSSEY
This instrument also has some fantastic synth lead sounds which could have been used for the solo synths throughout the album including the attacking Fighting Machines during The Artilleryman And The Fighting Machine.
ARP 2500
This monster of a synth is best loved today. Now something of a rarity with prices going into thousands of pounds. This was another of the classic synths used by Ken for the album.
ARP 2500 (c/a 1970)
YAMAHA
This was a difficult one to search. The only YAMAHA synthsizer which I belive could have been used at that time was the now famous and very sought after YAMAHA CS80 (c/a 1977) as seen below.
YAMAHA CS80
This stunning sounding synth creates many warm and rich string sounds, ideal for use with the large 50 piece orchestra used in the album.
ROLAND
From 1975 to 1978, there were many ROLAND synthesizers available that could have been used in the album such as the SH range and SYSTEM range. Below is a small selection of some that were on the market in that time period. Like the ARP ODYSSEY, these synths also were capable of producing warm string sounds and lead sounds.
ROLAND SYSTEM 100 (c/a 1975)
ROLAND JUPITER 4 (c/a 1978)
ROLAND SH-1 (c/a 1978)
ROLAND SH-7 (c/a 1978)
MOOG
Though this instrument was around at the time of the album, and not being mentioned in the albums credits, I have learnt that the MOOG MODEL D was used at some stage during the making of the album.
MOOG MODEL D (c/a 1974)
I hope this guide has been helpfull and to give a better understanding of what was used and available at the time of production.
Any further information I find or receive will be added at a later date.
