What is so special about Tubular Bells?

An instrumental work, Tubular Bells is 49 minutes and 16 seconds long presented in two parts, each taking up one side of the original vinyl release. The album was pioneering in many ways, from its use of bells to electric guitars recorded at half speed, and has been credited as an early example of new age music.

What are the tubes on Tubular Bells hit with?

tubular bells, also called orchestral bells or orchestral chimes, series of tuned brass (originally bronze) tubes of graded length, struck with wooden hammers to produce a sound.

Are chimes the same as tubular bells?

Tubular bells (also known as chimes) are musical instruments in the percussion family.

How long does Tubular Bells last?

“Tubular Bells (Part 2)” makes up Side 2 and is around 23 minutes long. Side 2 was recorded over about 4 months when Oldfield and his producers used studio time between sessions for other bands.

How many copies did Tubular Bells sell?

To date, Tubular Bells is thought to have sold 16 million copies around the world. And it is still selling, ticking over at 100,000 per year.

What movies used Tubular Bells?

Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells is best known as the theme music from the film The Exorcist.

Is Tubular Bells a transposing instrument?

As a rule the strike note is notated. It is one octave higher and the bell’s actual pitch. The sound is therefore as written, without transposition.

Do chimes sound as written?

Chimes do not have the capability to extend this range. Step 3 Remember that chimes are hit with hammers and shouldn’t play melodies that are too fast. A single percussionist can play two pitches simultaneously. If you want more than two pitches to sound, it will require the use of two percussionists.

What is sometimes used to stop the sound of Tubular Bells?

Chime cords are made of string covered in plastic. Damper Box. This stops the tubes from ringing.

How good is Tubular Bells?

Tubular Bells is one of the most experimental progressive rock albums in history and one of the best too. The fact that at his youth, Oldfield managed to create such an incredible piece of music using a vast range of instruments that he had managed to learn, is one of the most inspiring concepts if there ever was one.

Who owns Tubular Bells rights?

Mike Oldfield
In 1971, Oldfield started work on Tubular Bells which caught the attention of Richard Branson, who agreed to release it on his new label, Virgin Records. Its opening was used in the horror film The Exorcist and the album went on to sell over 2.7 million copies in the UK….