Vangelis, composer of Chariots of Fire and Blade Runner soundtracks, dies aged 79
Vangelis, the Greek composer and musician whose synth-driven work brought huge drama to film soundtracks including Blade Runner and Chariots of Fire, has died aged 79. His representatives said he died in hospital in France where he was being treated.
Born Evángelos Odysséas Papathanassíou in 1943, Vangelis won an Oscar for his 1981 Chariots of Fire soundtrack. Its uplifting piano motif became world-renowned, and reached No 1 in the US charts, as did the accompanying soundtrack album.
Vangelis had continued his film score work throughout the 1970s, but it was in the 1980s that this reached its commercial heights.
“My music does not try to evoke emotions like joy, love, or pain from the audience. It just goes with the image, because I work in the moment,” he later explained.
At: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/may/19/vangelis-greek-composer-chariots-of-fire-blade-runner-dies
Renowned Greek composer Vangelis at his London studio in 1980.
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RIP
I first became acquainted with his work in high school, when I had my first heartbreak.
And to this day, whenever I feel down (lately, a lot) I sometimes reach for those. Musical homeopathy, if you will.
I understand he came to resent writing movie soundtracks - much to our loss. Such is life.
Godspeed to him.
Book of Roses, Dancing with the Lion, White Winds and Down to the Moon are some of my favorites when I am in a mood for calming music. 