Classical Variations and Themes
| Classical Variations and Themes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Timo Tolkki | ||||
| Released | 1994 | |||
| Recorded | July–August 1994 at Soundtrack Studios in Helsinki | |||
| Genre | Instrumental rock, heavy metal, neoclassical metal, progressive metal | |||
| Length | 36:33[1] | |||
| Label | Goldenworks | |||
| Producer | Timo Tolkki | |||
| Timo Tolkki chronology | ||||
| ||||
Classical Variations and Themes is the first studio album by former Stratovarius guitarist Timo Tolkki, released in 1994 through Goldenworks Ky (Europe) and Victor Entertainment (Japan);[2] and reissued in 2004 through Irond Records.[3]
Background
The album is primarily instrumental (save for two tracks on which Tolkki performs vocals) and bears similar heavy metal and progressive metal elements to previous Stratovarius albums. Keyboard and drums are provided by Tolkki's then-Stratovarius bandmates Antti Ikonen and Tuomo Lassila, respectively. The second track, "Fire Dance Suite", was originally composed for Stratovarius in 1986,[4] and would later be included on their 1997 compilation album The Past and Now. A music video for the song was also released.[5]
Track listing
All tracks written by Timo Tolkki, except where noted.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Lord of the Rings" | 5:42 |
| 2. | "Fire Dance Suite" | 4:57 |
| 3. | "Guitar Concerto" (Joaquín Rodrigo) | 2:52 |
| 4. | "Northern Lights" | 2:18 |
| 5. | "Capriccio in A Minor" (Niccolò Paganini) | 1:09 |
| 6. | "Back to the Ice Age" | 4:03 |
| 7. | "Death of a Swan" (Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky) | 3:54 |
| 8. | "Soldiers Prayer" | 4:04 |
| 9. | "Flying Samir" | 3:02 |
| 10. | "Sunwinds" | 2:40 |
| 11. | "Greensleeves" (traditional) | 1:52 |
Total length: |
36:33 | |
| South American edition bonus track | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
| 12. | "Solitude" (performed by Stratovarius) | 4:47 | |
Personnel
- Timo Tolkki – vocals, guitar, guitar synthesizer, bass, engineering, production[6]
- Antti Ikonen – keyboard
- Tuomo Lassila – drums
- Mikko Karmila – mixing
References
- ↑ Classical Variations and Themes (CD release "Irond CD 04-736").
- ↑ "Timo Tolkki – Classical Variations And Themes". Discogs. Retrieved 2014-12-04.
- ↑ "Classical Variations and Themes". MusicBrainz. Retrieved 2014-12-04.
- ↑ "History". stratovarius.com. Retrieved 2014-12-04.
- ↑ "Fire Dance Suite Timo Tolkki". YouTube. Retrieved 2014-12-04.
- ↑ "Classical Variations & Themes - Timo Tolkki | Credits". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 2014-12-04.