Girish Mahajan (Editor)

Standing Stone (album)

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Recorded
  
30 April – 2 May 1997

Producer
  
John Fraser

Artist
  
Paul McCartney

Label
  
MPL Communications

Length
  
74:46

Standing Stone (1997)
  
Rushes (1998)

Release date
  
29 September 1997

Genre
  
Classical music

Standing Stone (album) httpsimgdiscogscomqt8p1akSVAdVfPFmLN8K2DmRT

Released
  
25 September 1997 (US) 29 September 1997 (UK)

Standing Stone (1997)
  
Working Classical (1999)

Similar
  
Paul McCartney albums, Classical music albums

Standing Stone is Paul McCartney's second full-length release of original classical music (coming after 1991's Liverpool Oratorio) and was issued shortly after Flaming Pie's release in 1997. The world premiere performance was held at The Royal Albert Hall on 14 October 1997.

Contents

History

Following up on 1991's Paul McCartney's Liverpool Oratorio, the Standing Stone project was composed out of a long poem McCartney authored and was performed by the London Symphony Orchestra and conducted by Lawrence Foster at EMI's Abbey Road Studios. Unlike Liverpool Oratorio, this new project is not an operatic performance of a story, but an instrumental one, though it employs the use of a choir.

The cover for the album is actually one of the many photos taken by Linda McCartney during late 1969/early 1970 that would initially be seen on the inside gatefold cover of Paul's first album McCartney. This project was her husband's last release before Linda died of breast cancer on 17 April 1998, having been diagnosed almost three years earlier.

Release

Released on 25 September 1997 in the US, and 29th in the UK, Paul McCartney's Standing Stone topped the classical music charts, and managed a one-week stand at number 194 on the US pop album listings.

Track listing

All pieces by Paul McCartney.

Movement I – After heavy light years
  1. "Fire/Rain" Allegro energico – 4:30
  2. "Cell Growth" Semplice – 8:30
  3. "'Human' Theme" Maestoso – 3:36
Movement II – He awoke startled
  1. "Meditation" Contemplativo – 3:57
  2. "Crystal Ship" Con moto scherzando – 2:02
  3. "Sea Voyage" Pulsating, with cool jazz feel – 3:39
  4. "Lost at Sea" Sognando – 4:37
  5. "Release" Allegro con spirito – 1:54
Movement III – Subtle colours merged soft contours
  1. "Safe Haven/Standing Stone" Pastorale con moto – 4:11
  2. "Peaceful Moment" Andante tranquillo – 2:09
  3. "Messenger" Energico – 3:35
  4. "Lament" Lamentoso – 2:26
  5. "Trance" Misterioso – 5:32
  6. "Eclipse" Eroico – 4:57
Movement IV – Strings pluck, horns blow, drums beat
  1. "Glory Tales" Trionfale – 2:40
  2. "Fugal Celebration" L'istesso tempo. Fresco – 4:25
  3. "Rustic Dance" Rustico – 2:00
  4. "Love Duet" Andante intimo – 3:43
  5. "Celebration" Andante – 6:15

Songs

1After Heavy Light Years: Fire/Rain (Allegro energico)London Symphony Orchestra - Lawrence Foster4:29
2Cell Growth (Semplice)London Symphony Orchestra - Lawrence Foster8:31
3'Human' Theme (Maestoso)London Symphony Orchestra - Lawrence Foster3:36

References

Standing Stone (album) Wikipedia
(Text) CC BY-SA