The very first time I heard any part of Incantations was the ending of Part 4 – The Ode to Cynthia – from “The Complete” compilation album. I think I got it for Christmas in 1985.
The opening marimba, the percussion combination of sleigh-bells, vibraslap and clapping, the bass guitar melody, Sally Oldfield’s voice layering out this strange chord of 4ths, the Solina string synthesizer tune, the change of key and guitar solo and then, incredibly, Maddy Prior’s voice!! I was hooked. It was a couple of years before I would hear the entire album but this section has always been a magical favourite.
So I was apprehensive about recording it…
I borrowed Andrew’s marimba a couple of months back and so had already recorded the main marimba parts for this section (as well as for Hiawatha and a first go at the ostinato in the big guitar solo in Part 3). Then I recorded the percussion and played the bassline with a sampled pizzicato double-bass.
For the Solina tune, I used a plugin that recreates the sound quite well. Would love to get hold of a real one…
Played the guitar parts on a piano – it sounds ok but I will try some other things.
And the vocal melody – for now that’s an orchestral oboe sound.
I really wanted to put something “out there” for Christmas time and so have posted this to Soundcloud!
Also here: