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[Snowflakes are Dancing]

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Tomita's breakthrough release outside of Japan. Originally retitled 'Clair de Lune' in the USA and Japan. One of the first of RCA Records CD releases, and as a consequence, the sound quality was not great. Released in 1991 along with four other albums in improved Dolby Surround sound.

The LP also featured the subtitle 'The Newest Sound of Debussy'. More information on Debussy may be found at the Claude Debussy website.

For reference, ARD = Quadra Disc Quadraphonic LP, ARK = Cassette, ARL = Stereo LP, ARS = Stereo 8-Track Cartridge, ART = Quadraphonic 8-Track Cartridge, ATL = Half-Speed Remastered Audiophile LP.



Album Details

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Catalogue Number
DJBO-0308 / APBO-0308 (7" Single of 'Golliwog's Cakewalk'/Clair de Lune')
PB-10083 (7" Single of 'Snowflakes are Dancing'/'Arabesque No. 1')
RVC-2251 / RVC-2072 / RCALP 3008 / PL 84229 / ATL1-4332 / ARD1-0488 / ARL1-0488 / PL 84587 (LP)
RCX-1003 / ARK1-0488 / RCAK 3008 / PK 84229 / RCAV 60579 / PJ 84587 (Cassette)
RD 84587 / RCD1-4587 / RCAV 60579 / RCA 60579 / 60579-2-RG / GD60579 / BVCC-2514 / R32C-1040 (CD)
ARS1-0488 / ART1-0488 (8-Track Cartridge)
R4C-2040 (Unknown)

Label
RCA

Date Released
1974

Total Playing Time
41:33

Tracks
    Normal
  1. Snowflakes are Dancing [Children's Corner No. 4] (2:11)
  2. Reverie (4:45)
  3. Gardens in the Rain [Estampes No. 3] (3:42)
  4. Clair de Lune [235k MP3] [Suite Bergamasque No. 3] (5:48)
  5. Arabesque No. 1 (3:58)
  6. The Engulfed Cathedral [Preludes Book 1 No. 10] (6:19)
  7. Passepied [Suite Bergamasque No. 4] (3:17)
  8. The Girl with the Flaxen Hair [Preludes Book 1 No. 8] (3:25)
  9. Golliwog's Cakewalk [Children's Corner No. 6] (2:51)
  10. Footprints in the Snow [Preludes Book 1 No. 6] (4:35)

    Alternate
  1. The Engulfed Cathedral [Preludes Book 1 No. 10] (6:18)
  2. Passepied [Suite Bergamasque No. 4] (3:17)
  3. Snowflakes are Dancing [Children's Corner No. 4] (2:10)
  4. The Girl with the Flaxen Hair [Preludes Book 1 No. 8] (3:25)
  5. Arabesque No. 1 (3:57)
  6. Gardens in the Rain [Estampes No. 3] (3:41)
  7. Reverie (4:44)
  8. Golliwog's Cakewalk [Children's Corner No. 6] (2:50)
  9. Clair de Lune [235k MP3] [Suite Bergamasque No. 3] (5:48)
  10. Footprints in the Snow [Preludes Book 1 No. 6] (4:30)




Images

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[Snowflakes are Dancing]
[Front View]
[Snowflakes are Dancing]
[Back View]
[Clair de Lune]
[Front View]
[Snowflakes are Dancing]
[Front View]
[Snowflakes are Dancing]
[Back View]
[Snowflakes are Dancing]
[Front View]




Sleeve Notes

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Virtuoso Electronic Performances of Debussy's Beautiful Tone Paintings by Tomita
Arranged and Performed by Isao Tomita
Produced by Plasma Music Inc.
Cover Art: David B. Hecht
Art Director: J.J. Stelmach
Liner Photo: Tomoki Sato

Isao Tomita was born in Tokyo in 1932. He studied art history at Keio University inTokyo and pursued his interest in music and electronics with private teachers. Whilestill a student he submitted a composition called Wind Mills to the Japan Federationof Choral Organizations to be used by contestants in a choral competition, and it wasaccepted. This led to requests for other compositions. He wrote the theme music usedby the Japanese gymnastics team in the 1956 Olympics and then turned to films andtelevision, particularly the latter. He has written the background music for such year-long NHK series as "The Life of the Flower" (1960), "The Heaven and the Earth" (1969),"The New Tale of Heike" (1972) and "Kaishu Katsu" (1974), and for his contributions tothe industry Tomita was awarded the prestigious Television Grand Prix for 1973. Hehas also composed music for TV cartoon projects, including "The King of the Jungle",which was shown on NBC under the title "White Lion"; this music was later incorporatedinto a tone poem, which was performed by the Japanese Philharmonic. For Expo '70he provided the music for the Toshiba Hall, and he has been commissioned to composethe music for the Japanese government hall at the 1975 Okinawa Marine Expo.

In 1973 Tomita established Plasma Music, which is dedicated to the creation of musicby electronic means. Other members of the group include Kinji Kitashoji, who specialiazesin rock music, and Mitsuo Miyamoto, who specializes in mood music. Among theprojects being planned are a piano-synthesizer concerto; The Prince of Stars, anoriginal piece being composed by Tomita as a fantasy based on a synthesizer, andOrchestral Prayer, for the Ohara Sanzenin Temple in Kyoto, which would utilizetraditional Japanese instruments coupled with synthesizers.



Technology

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[Tomita in Studio]
Back cover shot from the USA quadraphonic release
of the album, listing of the gear to the left.

Component Equipment Used by Tomita for This Album
Moog SynthesizerQuantity
914 Extended Range Fixed Filter Bank
125Hz - 5kHz, 12-Band Highpass/Lowpass Filter		1
904-A Voltage-Controlled Lowpass Filter
24dB per Octave Classic Moog Lowpass Filter		2
904-B Voltage-Controlled Highpass Filter
24dB per Octave Highpass Filter		1
904-C Filter Coupler1
901 Voltage-Controlled Oscillator
Used as a VCO or an LFO (Low Frequency Oscillator) as on the Minimoog		1
901-A Oscillator Controller
1 Volt per Octave		3
901-B Oscillator
The Basis of the Moog Sound		9
911 Envelope Generator
2ms - 10s Attack, Decay, Sustain and Release Configuration		4
911-A Dual Trigger Delay
2ms - 10s 2 Channel Delay Unit		1
902 Voltage-Controlled Amplifier
Linear/Exponential Amplifier with 2 Inputs, 2 Outputs, 3 Control Voltages		5
912 Envelope Follower1
984 Four-Channel Mixer1
960 Sequential Controller
8 Steps by 3 Rows Sequencer with Fully Variable Voltages		2
961 Interface
CV/Trigger to Moog S-Trig Convertor for 960 Sequencer		1
962 Sequential Switch
Configures 960 Sequencer		2
950 Keyboard Controller
49-Note Monophonic Keyboard		1
6401 Bode Ring Modulator
Combines 2 Inputs, and Outputs the Sum and Difference,
Classically Used for Metallic Sounds, Such as Bells,
Designed by Harald Bode		1
Tape RecorderQuantity
Ampex MM-1100 16 Tracks1
Ampex AG-440 4 Tracks (1/2")1
Sony TC-9040 4 Tracks (1/4")1
TEAC A-3340S 4 Tracks (1/4")1
TEAC 7030GSL 2 Tracks1
MixerQuantity
Sony MX-16 (8 Ch.)2
Sony MX-12 (6 Ch.)2
AccessoryQuantity
AKG BX20E Echo Unit1
Eventide Clockworks "Instant Phaser" 1
Binson Echorec "2"2
Fender "Dimention IV"1
Mellotron1




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