PF "Atom Heart Mother" cellist

[calyx]

The other day I was browsing through Ron Geesin's book on "Atom Heart Mother". I didn't buy it, but I may do at one point as it's quite thorough and includes great previously unseen photographs. Interestingly, Geesin also names a number of the individual participants - the John Alldis choir etc. - including the cellist who, as far as I know, had never been named before. I remember the name was Scandinavian-sounding but I didn't write it down. I see none of the Wiki entries on the album have the name. Does anybody have Geesin's book and can give me the name ? I think the man deserves a proper credit after all this time !

[Trane]

I wish I could help you, but I didn't know Geesin had a book out... (I take/suppose it that it's not all that good, if you didn't buy it)


I did see (two or three years back) the rockumentary where he speaks of AHM and plays piano with a symphonic orchestra of the piece, though.

[Shadow]

Would this be the same cellist:

The number was performed live without the involvement of any members of Pink Floyd for the first time in 36 years on 14 and 15 June 2008 by The Canticum Choir,[8] with the Royal College of Music on brass, Caroline Dale on cello, Ron Geesin on piano, Andrea Beghi on drums, Nadir Morelli on bass, Federico Maremmi on guitar and Emanuele Borgi on the Hammond organ. David Gilmour joined the gig on the second night at Cadogan Hall playing his black Stratocaster for most of the track and lap steel guitar for the slide parts. It had been previously performed by a number of ensembles including the Conservatoire national supérieur de musique et de danse de Paris (CNSMDP) in March 2003[9] and the Seamus Band on 14 October 2005

[calyx]

No, not Caroline Dale, she was about 5 when "AHM" was recorded, and I specifically said that the guy (I assume it's a man) had a typically Scandinavian name.

The book actually looks good, but on that particular visit to London I came across quite a few books equally worthy of purchase, so this one will have to wait until I really want to read it - which may well happen. Actually my few comments above were rather complimentary.

[Trane]

No, not Caroline Dale, she was about 5 when "AHM" was recorded, and I specifically said that the guy (I assume it's a man) had a typically Scandinavian name.

The book actually looks good, but on that particular visit to London I came across quite a few books equally worthy of purchase, so this one will have to wait until I really want to read it - which may well happen. Actually my few comments above were rather complimentary.

Ah, I see...
Yup, life's difficult choices

[Casey]

Have you tried to write a letter to Mr. Geesin?

Years ago when a was a rapid PF fanboy, I wrote to him and asked if he would relate his experiences recording with PF. Much to my delight, he wrote back. He didn't reveal much but he did say that Roger Waters was an "interesting" fellow with a creative imagination and many ideas.

[calyx]

Well, I wouldn't want to bother Mr. Geesin with this - he'd probably reply "I wrote a whole book about it, just buy it !"

I was just thinking someone, just one person, on this board is enough of a PF fan to have bought this book and could name that cellist. That's all.

[Shadow]

I'll look in the Goodwill next time I am there.

[flytomars]

Would this be the same cellist:

The number was performed live without the involvement of any members of Pink Floyd for the first time in 36 years on 14 and 15 June 2008 by The Canticum Choir,[8] with the Royal College of Music on brass, Caroline Dale on cello, Ron Geesin on piano, Andrea Beghi on drums, Nadir Morelli on bass, Federico Maremmi on guitar and Emanuele Borgi on the Hammond organ. David Gilmour joined the gig on the second night at Cadogan Hall playing his black Stratocaster for most of the track and lap steel guitar for the slide parts. It had been previously performed by a number of ensembles including the Conservatoire national supérieur de musique et de danse de Paris (CNSMDP) in March 2003[9] and the Seamus Band on 14 October 2005

Ha, had no idea Manu played in this live rendition...
Still kicking myself for not flying to see it (didnt know it was supposed to happen, only found out after the fact)

[Trane]

Well, I wouldn't want to bother Mr. Geesin with this - he'd probably reply "I wrote a whole book about it, just buy it !"

I was just thinking someone, just one person, on this board is enough of a PF fan to have bought this book and could name that cellist. That's all.

Now that I know it exist, I might be tempted to buy it in London third week of November (provided I still have money after visitng the stands at the LC/HC festival)

But by then, no doubt that you'll have surrendered to temptation and bought it the day before I will...

[A. Scherze]

You could try email:

ron@rongeesin.com

[calyx]

Ha, had no idea Manu played in this live rendition...

Of course you realise that neither his first name nor his surname are spellt the same as the former Magma pianist?

[Watanabe]

I've always thought this album really should have been called Atom Heart Manbear....with a hideous amalgamation of man and bear on the cover instead of a cow.

[trurl]

[spacefreak]

Haflidi Hallgrimsson from Iceland.

http://www.hallgrimsson.org.uk

[calyx]

Thanks !

I have just added his name to the "AHM" Wikipedia page.

(Note: If you google his name and "Atom Heart Mother" you can access parts of Geesin's book courtesy of Google Books - at least I can)

[Conti]

By the way, what bookshop(s) would you recommend for music books in London?

[calyx]

By the way, what bookshop(s) would you recommend for music books in London?

Well, my favourites are Foyles (newly re-opened just next to its former location), which also hosts a jazz record shop (Ray's Jazz Shop), on Charing Cross Road, and Waterstone's Gower Street, which also has a selection of second hand books - I bought an really brilliant one by Richard Williams (a Melody Maker music writer in the 1970s, nowadays at the Guardian mostly writing about sports) on "Kind Of Blue", which goes on to cover a whole lot of later music which he feels is indebted to that album, ranging from the American "school" of Glass/Reich/Riley etc. to the Soft Machine, the Velvet Underground, and current bands like The Necks, Nik Bärtsch's Ronin etc. Came out in 2009 for the 50th anniversary of "Kind Of Blue", but I'd somehow missed it. Highly recommended !

[Enid]

Ron Geesin is very kind-hearted. He has sent me autographed cd's and letters of great interest over the years. He appreciates when people have questions and especially when they love his music. He is a great innovator who has been emulated for decades. I've been collecting his music for 42 years. He was a major influence to Progressive Rock artists in the early 70's. Some of his most fond ideas for composition and sound effects have practically been stolen. He is very original.

[Conti]

Well, my favourites are Foyles (newly re-opened just next to its former location), which also hosts a jazz record shop (Ray's Jazz Shop), on Charing Cross Road, and Waterstone's Gower Street, which also has a selection of second hand books - I bought an really brilliant one by Richard Williams (a Melody Maker music writer in the 1970s, nowadays at the Guardian mostly writing about sports) on "Kind Of Blue", which goes on to cover a whole lot of later music which he feels is indebted to that album, ranging from the American "school" of Glass/Reich/Riley etc. to the Soft Machine, the Velvet Underground, and current bands like The Necks, Nik Bärtsch's Ronin etc. Came out in 2009 for the 50th anniversary of "Kind Of Blue", but I'd somehow missed it. Highly recommended !

Thank you very, very much, both for the bookshop and the book recommendation! Incidentally, the book shop is not far from the place I am going to stay in London for the Henry Cow gig. Nice coincidence!

By the way, is there a region where one can find a good amount of cd stores in London, or even a big cd shop like Gibert Joseph of FNAC? Any favorite place of yours there? thanks again!

[olivetti]

No, not Caroline Dale, she was about 5 when "AHM" was recorded, and I specifically said that the guy (I assume it's a man) had a typically Scandinavian name.

The book actually looks good, but on that particular visit to London I came across quite a few books equally worthy of purchase, so this one will have to wait until I really want to read it - which may well happen. Actually my few comments above were rather complimentary.

The strange thing is that she is mentioned in this issue of UNCUT - The Ultimate Music Guide - Pink Floyd. (hope the pics are not to big)

this is about the original recording.
Really strange, as she would be 5, as you said!

[calyx]

Well, I'd rather trust Geesin's book in this case.

Caroline Dale was born in 1965. A precocious talent, really, if she played on "AHM" aged just 5 !

Note the article also misspells John Alldis (as the album credits do, iirc).

As for record shops in London... Well, that's really a thing of the past. I used to spend entire afternoons visiting the various record shops around Oxford Street (HMV, Virgin Megastore) and Piccadilly Circus (Tower Records, more HMV). These have nearly all disappeared, which is totally depressing - I mean that literally, it's almost like walking into a parallel dimension where record stores never existed.

I was almost surprised that one HMV store remains, the Bond Street one.

I didn't have the time or inclination to check if the Notting Hill Record & Tape Exchange stores (not sure I remember the name right) still exist, or if there's still any store worth checking out in Camden Town. I've never been too keen on vinyl, although I did buy a lot of those few vinyls I own at these stores - but that was 20/25 years ago (ouch !).

[soundsweird]

I'm also a big Geesin fan, he was very cordial when I emailed him to ask about his involvement in that "Making of Atom Heart Mother DVD" that came out about ten or fifteen years ago. It was worth buying for all of his interview footage. The most recent Geesin purchase I have is a 2-CD BBC recordings compilation. There's quite a bit of an admiring John Peel introducing songs, plus an interview. It's called "Biting the Hand", and it's quite good. I bought "Roncycle1", his most recent album, but I can't recommend it.

[Trane]

Well, I'd rather trust Geesin's book in this case.

especially that that Floyd special is from Uncut >> I've seen/read more reliable sources.

As for record shops in London... Well, that's really a thing of the past. I used to spend entire afternoons visiting the various record shops around Oxford Street (HMV, Virgin Megastore) and Piccadilly Circus (Tower Records, more HMV). These have nearly all disappeared, which is totally depressing - I mean that literally, it's almost like walking into a parallel dimension where record stores never existed.

I was almost surprised that one HMV store remains, the Bond Street one.

I didn't have the time or inclination to check if the Notting Hill Record & Tape Exchange stores (not sure I remember the name right) still exist, or if there's still any store worth checking out in Camden Town. I've never been too keen on vinyl, although I did buy a lot of those few vinyls I own at these stores - but that was 20/25 years ago (ouch !).

In Soho, Sister Ray on Berwick Stret (one block south from Oxford St) should still exist.
There are (were?) a couple more down that street (like Reckless >> punkish by name, but some jazz stuff)...
and more of them around the bends rather up close (Phonica) , but often not in our area of interest (World, dubstep etc...).

Interesting prices at Sister Ray (at least last time I went - roughly 5 years ago), especially on those older version CDs

[Sunlight Caller]

Sister Ray in Berwick Street still exists, it has now given the basement over to vinyl, new and second hand, but is a good place to stop off.

Reckless a few doors along Berwick Street is also a good place to browse second hand. They used to have a better outlet in Islington but that has long since vanished.

Fopp Records at the Covent Garden end of Shaftesbury Avenue (actually on Earlham St) is a pretty good shop for CD's and DVD's but all new, and usually some really good bargains to be found.

HMV as stated by Calyx has reopened near Bond St tube, which is frankly a relief as there was nothing much left at all in that area, it has quite a good new vinyl section. HMV since going through restructuring and near bankruptcy is making a resurgence, so there is hope yet!

The Music & Video Exchange shops at Notting Hill still exist, but I haven't ventured there for years. However I am taking my daughter on a pre-University trip on Friday week, as she's getting into vinyl and we are off to see Anathema that evening (she leaves home for Uni the next day...scary times for a Dad!), so are having a London musical discovery day to celebrate. I will report back.