Editing Vangelis (section)

==Musical style and sensibility==

The musical style of Vangelis is diverse; although he primarily used [[electronic music instrument]]s, which characterize [[electronic music]], his music has been described as a mixture of [[electronica]],<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.udiscovermusic.com.au/rediscover-vangelis-see-you-later |title=Rediscover Vangelis' 'See You Later' |newspaper=Udiscover Australia |date=29 February 2016 |publisher=uDiscover |access-date=20 August 2016 |archive-date=27 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160827054113/http://www.udiscovermusic.com.au/rediscover-vangelis-see-you-later |url-status=live }}</ref> classical (his music was often [[symphony|symphonic]]), [[progressive rock]],<ref name="AMG">{{cite web |url=http://ambientmusicguide.com/a-z-essential-albums/vangelis/ |title=Vangelis |author=Mike G |work=Ambient Music Guide |publisher=Mike Watson aka Mike G |access-date=20 August 2016 |archive-date=7 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220507012659/http://ambientmusicguide.com/a-z-essential-albums/vangelis/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> jazz (improvisations),<ref name="Spin"/> [[ambient music|ambient]],<ref name="AMG"/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.udiscovermusic.com.au/ambient-in-20-songs |title=Ambient In 20 Songs |newspaper=Udiscover Australia |date=5 May 2016 |publisher=uDiscover |access-date=20 August 2016 |archive-date=27 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160827021443/http://www.udiscovermusic.com.au/ambient-in-20-songs |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Avant-garde music|avant-garde]]/[[experimental music|experimental]],<ref name="AMG"/><ref name="Pitchfork">{{cite web |url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/11110-blade-runner-trilogy-25th-anniversary/ |title=Blade Runner Trilogy: 25th Anniversary |author=Mike Orme |date=7 February 2008 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |access-date=20 August 2016 |archive-date=29 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029200702/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/11110-blade-runner-trilogy-25th-anniversary/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[World music|world]].<ref name="Spin"/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.udiscovermusic.com.au/rediscover-china |title=Rediscover China |newspaper=Udiscover Australia |date=30 September 2014 |publisher=uDiscover |access-date=20 August 2016 |archive-date=27 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160827054117/http://www.udiscovermusic.com.au/rediscover-china |url-status=live }}</ref> Vangelis is sometimes categorized as a [[New-age music|new-age]] composer,<ref name="Pitchfork"/> a classification others have disputed. Vangelis himself called New-age music a style which "gave the opportunity for untalented people to make very boring music".<ref name="Telegraph UK"/>

''Synthtopia'', an electronic music review website, stated that Vangelis's music could be referred to as "symphonic electronica"<ref name="Hischak" /> because of his use of synthesizers in an orchestral fashion. The site went on to describe his music as [[melodic]]: "drawing on the melodies of [[folk music]], especially the Greek music of his homeland".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2004/01/17/vangelis/ |title=Review of Vangelis |date=17 January 2004 |website=Synthtopia.com |access-date=6 October 2008 |archive-date=1 December 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091201063919/http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2004/01/17/vangelis/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Vangelis's music and compositions have also been described as "a distinctive sound with simple, repetitive yet memorable tunes against evocative rhythms and [[chord progression]]s".<ref>[http://www.mfiles.co.uk/composers/Vangelis.htm Mfiles biog]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090102020244/http://www.mfiles.co.uk/composers/Vangelis.htm |date=2 January 2009 }}. Retrieved 6 October 2008.</ref> 

In an interview with ''Soundtrack'', a music and film website, Vangelis talked about his compositional processes. For films, Vangelis stated that he would begin composing a [[Film score|score]] for a feature as soon as he had seen a rough cut of the footage.<ref>[http://www.soundtrack.net/features/article/?id=134 Soundtrack Interview]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060912203648/http://www.soundtrack.net/features/article/?id=134 |date=12 September 2006 }}. Soundtrack.net. Retrieved 6 October 2008.</ref> In addition to working with synthesizers and other electronic instruments, Vangelis also worked with and conducted orchestras. For example, in the [[Oliver Stone]] film ''[[Alexander (2004 film)|Alexander]]'', Vangelis conducted an orchestra that consisted of various [[Orchestra#Instrumentation|classical instruments]] including [[sitar]]s, percussion, [[finger cymbals]], harps, and [[duduk]]s.<ref>[http://www.musicfromthemovies.com/review.asp?ID=4610 MFTM review of Alexander]. Retrieved 6 October 2008. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080419030600/http://www.musicfromthemovies.com/review.asp?ID=4610 |date=19 April 2008 }}.</ref>

{{Blockquote|He explains his customary method of approach. As soon as the musical idea is there, as many keyboards as possible are connected to the control-desk, which in turn are directly connected to the applicable tracks of the multi-track machine. The idea now is to play as many keyboards as possible at the same time. That way, as broad a basis as possible develops, which only needs fine-tuning. After that it's a question of adding things or leaving out things.<ref>[http://www.elsew.com/data/sumpts.htm Vangelis interview to ''Music Maker'' magazine, September 1982] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060918202119/http://elsew.com/data/sumpts.htm |date=18 September 2006 }} Retrieved 20 August 2008</ref>}}

While acknowledging that computers are "extremely helpful and amazing for a multitude of scientific areas", he described them as "insufficient and slow" for the immediate and spontaneous creation and, in terms of communication, "the worst thing that has happened for the performing musician".<ref name="TheGuardian2012"/><ref name="Goldstein"/> He considered that contemporary civilization is living in a cultural "dark age" of "musical pollution". He considered musical composing a science rather than an art, similar to [[Pythagoreanism#Music and harmony|Pythagoreanism]].<ref name="Telegraph UK"/> He had a mystical viewpoint on music as "one of the greatest forces in the universe",<ref name="TheGuardian2012"/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2001/TECH/space/07/03/space.vangelis.reut/ |title=Greek composer Vangelis says music shaped space |date=4 July 2001 |publisher=CNN |access-date=20 August 2016 |archive-date=28 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160828060128/http://edition.cnn.com/2001/TECH/space/07/03/space.vangelis.reut/ |url-status=live }}</ref> that the "music exists before we exist".<ref name="Telegraph UK"/> His experience of music is a kind of [[synaesthesia]].<ref name="Telegraph UK"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Ewing |first=Jerry |date=2 May 2021 |title=Vangelis discusses the impact of synaesthesia in his music |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/vangelis-discusses-the-impact-of-synaesthesia-in-his-music |work=[[Prog (magazine)|Prog]] |access-date=24 May 2022 |archive-date=27 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220527134632/https://www.loudersound.com/news/vangelis-discusses-the-impact-of-synaesthesia-in-his-music |url-status=live }}</ref>