STEWART COPELAND

AND ITS DRIVING ME NUTS

I can say as a fan of Copeland who came in from the oblique -but surprisingly not uncommon angle- of the Spyro soundtracks as a child, my interest is primarily in Copeland as a composer and the unqique tonal and rhythmic aesthetic of his music. So it may go without saying that the thought of the maestro creating world class orchestral compositions, staging them in one concert hall or another and letting them die with a couple performances is about as upsetting a prospect as anything. Indeed as much an act of sacrilege as it might be to say it, I'd rather hear one of these orchestral works than a Police reunion concert; in my case it is the truth (don't get me wrong though, I love The Police too). And well, I am kind of broke so the idea of flying to see one of these performances is remote. But I suppose ultimately what I cannot wrap my head around is why not record some of these performances? I am not even saying just put it on youtube for free or anything, as digital exclusive releases are becoming increasingly common and the brilliant thing is that you sell exactly as many copies as people want to purchase. Personally I think as a revenue stream it would probably be negligible of course but recording in a concert hall has become trivially affordable by now, so the real question is why not?

When I was 14, out of the goodness of someone on this forum (I've forgotten their name) I came in possession of HB&CM. I would like to thank them at this time, as it has since become the most personal and important music in my life (its terrible libretto notwithstanding). Later on in 2011 I heard the Gamelan D'drum performance and it was nothing short of phenomenal. And with that I can say that if there is any music I feel in desperate need to hear it is Stewart Copeland's orchestral work and it seems by the day the number of works is ramifying and I am not hearing any of it. I need another hit!

You sound like a pained Copeland fanatic...I feel for you
I'm going to assume you have already enjoyed everything available on YouTube and even hopefully recorded them for enjoyment offline.

I can point you to the hours of Orchestrelli type outtakes on Wolfgang's Vault. Also some of his performances with Pete Gabriel...

some great stuff like this:

Stewart Copeland
with the Albany Symphony Orchestra and the Dogs Of Desire
March 4th and 5th 1995
Troy, New York
Troy Savings Bank Music Hall

Perfect Soundboard

101 Noah's Ark [takes 1,2,3,4]
102 Noah's Ark [take 5,6,7,8]
103 Solcheeka [take 9]
104 Solcheeka [take 10]
105 Solcheeka [take 11,12,13,14]
105 Solcheeka [take 15,16]
106 Solcheeka [full take 17 partial 18]
107 Solcheeka [take 19,20]
108 Solcheeka [full orchestral take 21]
109 Noah's Ark [full orchestral take 22]
110 Noah's Ark [take 23]
111 Noah's Ark [take 24,25]
112 Noah's Ark [take 26,27,28]
113 Noah's Ark [take 29]
114 Noah's Ark [take 30]
115 Noah's Ark [take 31,32,33]
116 Noah's Ark [take 34,35,36,37]
117 Noah's Ark [take 38,39,40]
118 Noah's Ark [take 41,42,43,44]
119 Stalin's Sultry Serenade [full take 45]
120 Stalin's Sultry Serenade [full take 46]
121 Stalin's Sultry Serenade [partial take 47]
122 Stalin's Sultry Serenade [partial take 48]
123 Stalin's Sultry Serenade [partial take 49]
124 Stalin's Sultry Serenade [partial take 50]
125 Stalin's Sultry Serenade [partial take 51, 52, 53]
126 Baboons [take 54 and 55]
127 Baboons [orchestral take 56,57,58,59]
128 Baboons [full orchestral take 60]
129 Stars [full orchestral take 61]
130 Stars [partial brass take 62]
131 Stars [partial brass take 63]
132 Stars [partial brass take 64,65,66]
133 Stalin's Sultry Serenade [brass takes 67,68,69,70,71]
134 Stalin's Sultry Serenade [full orchestral take 72]
135 Green Fingers [take 73]
136 Green Fingers [several false starts]
137 Green Fingers [take 78]
138 Green Fingers [take 79]
139 Birds [string take 80]
140 Birds [false start and take 82]
141 Birds [several partial takes]
142 Stalin's Sultry Serenade [partial take 87]
143 Baboons [ending retake 88]
144 Baboons [ending retake 89]
145 Baboons [Stewarts full take 90]
146 Baboons [Stewart false start and partial take 91,92]
147 Baboons [Stewart redo bar 63 take 93]
148 Baboons [Stewart partial takes 94,95]
149 Baboons [Stewart partial take 96]
150 Baboons [several partial takes]
151 Baboons [stewart's drum solo take 104]
152 Stars [take 105]
153 Stars [partial take 107]
154 Stars [Stewart takes 108-113]
155 Green Fingers [Stewart take 115]
156 Green Fingers [Stewart partial takes 116,117,118]
157 Birds [Stewart take 119]
158 Birds [Stewart partial take 120,121]
159 Birds [Stewart full take 122]
160 Solcheeka [take 123]
161 Solcheeka [full take 124]
162 Solcheeka [partial take 125, 126]
163 Solcheeka [full take 127]
164 Solcheeka [full take 128]
165 Solcheeka [partial take 129,130]
166 Noah's Ark [full take 131]
167 Noah's Ark [partial 132,133]
168 Noah's Ark [full take 134]
169 Noah's Ark [full take 135]
170 Noah's Ark [partial then full take 136, 137]
171 Noah's Ark [take 138]
172 Noah's Ark [partial take 139,140]
173 Noah's Ark [nice take 141]
174 Noah's Ark [partial 142,143 full 144]
175 Noah's Ark [partial take 145,146,147]
176 Noah's Ark [partial take 148,149]
177 Noah's Ark [full take 150]
178 Noah's Ark [final takes 151, 152]

Welcome to:

– Being me. I cannot travel the globe to see concerts either.
– The 19th Century. No iTunes, no CDs' no records, no nothin'!