to Websites on Astronomy, Prehistory,
Archaeoastronomy and UFOs
Compiled by Martin J Powell
There are many thousands of web sites relating to the subject areas covered by Aenigmatis. The following sites provide good information in their respective subject areas, and most will be found to contain many links to other sites. They are listed here in alphabetical order within each category; all sites will open in a new window.
Click on the required subject to be taken directly to the relevant site links:
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Sir Arthur C Clarke, 1917 - 2008
Arthur C. Clarke's last recorded video message (posted on YouTube, December 2007) |
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Astronomy magazine was first published in 1973 and is America’s best-selling astronomy magazine. The website has the latest astronomical news, sky charts, observing tips, a multitude of astronomical site links and a discussion forum. |
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Astronomical information from a British perspective. "For more than 10 years, 'Astronomy Now' magazine has provided a monthly source of information for amateur and professional astronomers alike. It is the UK's best-selling astronomy magazine." |
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The BAA was founded in 1890, and since that time it has served to "encourage amateur astronomy through meetings, sectional groups and its publications." This page links to all of its sections, which cover specific astronomical subjects. Includes news of the latest discoveries, photographs and detailed ephemerides. |
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The ultimate resource for online information about eclipses, both solar and lunar. Detailed data and descriptions for eclipses past, present and future, plus maps showing both world and local circumstances of the eclipse shadow tracks. Espenak is based at the NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center. |
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Run by Chris Peat, the site's main attraction is its ability to predict the visibility times of bright artificial satellites (and the Space Shuttle) for any location on the globe. Simply input your latitude and longitude (or select a city from the list) and the times of visibility are calculated. Also includes star charts, current planet/comet/asteroid position charts, and more. |
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The Hubble Space Telescope was put into orbit in 1990. This page has links to some 400 beautiful images of black holes, galaxies, star clusters, nebulae and other objects taken by the telescope over the last decade. Run by the Space Telescope Science Institute. |
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"To improve life here, To extend life to there, To find life beyond." With 4 million pages to search through, this is perhaps the best page on which to begin your visit of the world's premiere space exploration agency. NASA TV broadcasts real-time programmes relating to space missions, with science briefings, news conferences, agency staff interviews etc. Options are available for Public, Media and Education Channels. |
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SETI (Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence) utilises radio telescopes in the hope of detecting intelligently-controlled signals from space. In 1999 a special project was launched that allowed home computer users to analyse actual data from the Arecibo radio telescope in Puerto Rico. Since that time, some 3.8 million people world-wide have signed up to the project. Read more about it and download the software from this site. |
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The first edition of Sky & Telescope magazine appeared in 1940. The web site has the latest astronomical news, sky charts, observing tips and a multitude of astronomical site links. It also has an online shop. |
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BBC Television's The Sky At Night programme is presented by Sir Patrick Moore and was first screened in April 1957. Since then, the programme has been broadcast every month, in which time it has covered just about every astronomical topic and has featured many of the world's leading astronomers. Recent editions of the programme can be watched online (note that these may not be viewable in some countries due to the BBC's bandwidth-cost restrictions). Patrick, a prolific writer whose own Moon maps were used in the Russian and American lunar missions, celebrated his 80th birthday in 2003. The BBC launched the monthly Sky At Night magazine in June 2005. |
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Run by Mark Garlick, a former astronomer and now a science writer and illustrator. A collection of beautiful, atmospheric art in acrylic, airbrush and digital formats. Earthscapes, starscapes, nebulous scenes and more, from an artist whose works have also appeared on the covers of Sky & Telescope and Asimov's Science Fiction magazines. Each image is accompanied by an educational caption. Also available in French. |
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A sister-site to the UK's Astronomy Now magazine. With breaking news, a worldwide launch schedule, a news archive and an online store. The 'Features' page includes a photo gallery and information on all Space Shuttle missions. |
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By astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell. The Space Report ("JSR") is an online bulletin issued about twice a month, describing all space launches of both piloted missions and automated satellites. Back issues can be read online, and a free weekly e-mail subscription service is also available. Includes a satellite catalog, a launch log and details of geostationary satellites. |
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This nicely-presented interactive site features recordings of radio waves (converted into sound waves) of numerous celestial bodies, as recorded by passing spacecraft and Earthbound radio telescopes. Sounds include the 'heartbeat' of the Sun, the rings of Saturn, the magnetosphere of Jupiter and its moon Ganymede, the Vela pulsar, the sound of cosmic debris and the remnants of the Big Bang. The sounds can also be downloaded from the site (as ZIP or SIT files) along with beautiful space art for your desktop by Californian artist David Palermo. Includes communication clips from the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and Shuttle missions. The sounds are enhanced by nicely-executed animations of the celestial bodies in question. Sound recordings of the stars HR3831, Xi-Hydrae and a white dwarf in Centaurus can be heard at World Science. |
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Run by Mark Hurn, this site provides an insight into the origin of star names. Also includes constellation descriptions and a history of the zodiac. |
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Prehistory |
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Run by Herbert E. Roese. Since 1976 Roese has surveyed some 2,600 prehistoric sites of various types in Wales. His site includes lists of the surveyed monuments, photographs of selected sites and descriptions of monument types. The results of his surveys can be found in his published works, which are listed. The website is also available in Welsh, German, Spanish and French. |
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Run by the Council for British Archaeology, this site provides a wealth of information for anyone wishing to know the latest archaeological news in Britain. Includes features, essays, comments, letters and book reviews. Use the search facility to find previous items on specific topics. A printed version of the monthly magazine is available on subscription. |
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Run by retired Dutchmen Jan Brouwer and Gus van Veen, the site is superbly illustrated with over 10,000 photos, book scans, rubbings and sketches of prehistoric rock art across the British Isles, conveniently listed by county. The images are contributed both by the authors and by numerous other rock art enthusiasts. The site has articles on the history and interpretation of rock art, new rock art finds and a chronology of rock art books, among other things. It is an excellent resource for anyone interested in this most enigmatic aspect of prehistory. "Our main goal is to provide good photos of the known and new found rock art sites in the British Islands ... By doing so, we try to create a visual site record ... We invite you to share this pleasure with us." |
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By Spanish artist Daniel Sanchez Verdejo. The site contains a unique and highly personalized collection of around 1,000 prehistoric cave images from all five continents, with a particular emphasis on Southern Europe and Africa. The collection includes representations of men and animals in all aspects of their daily lives: at war, hunting, erotic and religious images, and symbols of nature. Verdejo makes use of three vivid colours (red, yellow and black) to display the images - indicative, he says, of the most commonly used colours in the prehistoric world: red-ochre, yellow-ochre and coal (black). The site includes accompanying information, an extensive list of links relating to prehistoric art worldwide, and works by the artist himself. In English and Spanish. "Prehistoric art is a latent world yet to be discovered ... [This site is] dedicated to the anonymous author of Prehistory." |
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There are currently over 50 hill figures scattered across Britain, dating from prehistoric times through to the present day. Many others are now lost. Run by Mark Hows, who has been involved in the construction and restoration of several figures, this comprehensive site includes every hill figure ever known. Includes photos, location maps, figure histories, construction details, a table of hill figure dimensions and a page on their possible celestial interpretations. |
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Run by Andy Burnham, Ringmaster and creator of the popular Stone Circle Webring. The Portal is an extensive website with photographs of prehistoric sites, discussion forums, megalithic news items, books, an online shop and a chat room. Also be sure to look at The Megalithic Map, which was produced in association with archaeologist and stone circle expert Aubrey Burl. |
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By Maggie and Keith Davison. This impressive site covers sites in England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, the Channel Islands and Malta. Includes over 5,000 high-quality photographs, with VR panoramas, infra-red images and in some cases, 3-D images (parallel-view and 'wobblevision'). Each site has a detailed description, with 10-figure grid references, site dimensions, GPS measurement information and details of whether any magnetic anomalies were detected during the couple's visit to the sites. |
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MRW was founded by Jason Freeman and Nicola Hill in 2004 with the aim of producing an Internet index of the prehistoric megalithic sites in Wales. The sites are listed alphabetically; each entry includes photographs, a site description, directions to the site, accessibility information (with access rating) and a site impact rating. Wherever a legend or a folk story is attached to the site, this is detailed. Also includes a dictionary of archaeological terms, a list of recommended reading and links to other megalithic websites. "Documenting the lesser known megaliths and monoliths of Wales." |
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Run by Julian Cope, a former member of the rock band The Teardrop Explodes and a solo artist since 1983. With contributions from hundreds of megalithic explorers, the site has photographs of prehistoric sites, fieldnotes, a "Technicolour Map Browser", a discussion forum and a page of recommended links to web sites with prehistoric content. |
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Founded as the Prehistoric Society of East Anglia in 1908, its current name was adopted in 1935. The society publishes annual Proceedings and has a topical newsletter called PAST. The website includes previous issues of the newsletter, plus news of upcoming lectures, tours and events. |
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Run by Italian journalists Paola Arosio and Diego Meozzi, this impressive site contains descriptions and photographs of prehistoric sites in Britain, Ireland, France and Italy. Includes QuickTime panoramic videos of selected sites, news, a glossary of archaeological terms, a discussion forum and an online shop. |
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Archaeoastronomy |
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Produced by high school students in the US, Singapore and Hong Kong, this informative site aims to provide an unbiased assessment of archaeoastronomy worldwide. With photographs, maps, a discussion forum and a quiz. A ThinkQuest Internet Challenge site. |
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Founded in 1978 at the University of Maryland to advance the research, education and public awareness of archaeoastronomy. The Center publishes a journal Archaeoastronomy: The Journal of Astronomy in Culture. The site includes an introduction to the subject and a page of links to archaeoastronomy sites worldwide. |
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Details the prehistoric passage-tombs of Newgrange, Knowth, Dowth, Tara, Fourknocks, Loughcrew and other sites in the County of Meath in Eastern Ireland. A particular emphasis is made on the astronomical alignments contained within these monuments. Includes articles and tourist information links, a page on artwork inspired by megalithic sites and details of books on prehistoric Ireland. Run by Michael Fox. |
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With detailed, illustrated pages covering Horizon Astronomy, the Megalithic Calendar, Megalithic Mensuration and Megalithic Mathematics. The site considers astronomical alignments towards hill foresights from various prehistoric sites in Mid and North Wales. The alignment claims are supported by sunrise/sunset photographs and video recordings taken by the authors. Although several of these pictures are mocked up, they do provide compelling illustrations of how the sites may have functioned in prehistoric times. Also features some sites in England, Scotland and India. By Tony Ropper, Logan Crerar et al. |
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Established in 1971, Science History Publications specialises in publishing journals on the history of science and astronomy. From 1979 to 2002, the journal Archaeoastronomy was published annually as a supplement to the Journal for The History of Astronomy, which is available on subscription. Contents of all issues since 1979 are listed (title and author) and a sample journal can be downloaded, in PDF format. |
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By Robert Pollock. A comprehensive guide to prehistoric sites and archaeoastronomy in Scotland, with surveys undertaken by Pollock himself. With diagrams and descriptions showing the proposed alignments. |
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UFOs |
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Founded in the 1960s, BUFORA describes its main aim as being "to encourage, promote and conduct unbiased scientific research of UFO phenomena throughout the UK." The site includes articles, events, details of its publications and a downloadable UFO sighting report form. |
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CUFOS comprises "an international group of scientists, academics, investigators and volunteers dedicated to examining the UFO phenomenon." It was set up in 1973 by professor of astronomy Dr J Allen Hynek, who also served as a consultant to the US Air Force's Project Blue Book investigation into UFOs in the 1950s and 60s. The site has articles, FAQs, selected UFO reports, historical reviews and a downloadable UFO sighting report form. |
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By Matthew Hurley. An interesting compilation of around 60 paintings and sculptures, from prehistoric to medieval times, which could be interpreted as depicting UFO and spacemen-type images. The site also includes UFO photographs from before 1947 (when the UFO phenomenon is often described as having begun) and some demonstrably hoaxed and misunderstood images. A discussion forum was added in March 2003. |
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Diego Cuoghi takes a skeptical view on the interpretation of 'UFO-like' images in ancient works of art. The site is not anti-UFOlogy, but is a response to those websites which publish ancient art reproductions without a full understanding of their meaning and their historical context. The site is extensively illustrated with similar contemporary paintings, which point to the most likely explanations of the 'UFO-like' images. Also available in Italian, French and Portuguese. "ART and UFOs? No thanks, only Art ..." |
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A site which will intrigue science-fiction fans, researchers into popular culture and anyone interested in the history of UFO publications through the decades, this site includes many books and other items that display images of flying saucers and/or extraterrestrial aliens on the cover. Publications are listed in chronological order by category (book/magazine/comic, etc). Readers can submit their own UFO-related images via e-mail to the website's authors (Jim Klotz and Les Treece-Sinclair) for possible inclusion in the collection. The site also has a section on the history of UFO Merchandising and a section on historical UFO Toys is currently under construction. |
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The world's largest civilian UFO research organisation, MUFON describes its mission as "the systematic collection and analysis of UFO data, with the ultimate goal of learning the origin and nature of the UFO phenomenon." With news, weekly database reports (giving comparative tables of UFO reports), links to MUFON's regional sites, and a UFO Investigator's Manual. |
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Following the death of UFO Magazine (UK)'s editor Graham Birdsall and the magazine's subsequent demise in 2004, UFO Data magazine picks up from where its predecessor left off. The magazine is produced by Russel Callaghan (founding editor of UFO Magazine (UK)), Michael Buckley and Philip Mantle. At the present time, UFO Data magazine is published six times a year and is only available on subscription. It includes a cover CD or DVD. The website includes a news roundup, a forum, reviews of recent UFO-related TV programmes, archived articles and an online store. The internal pages of the site are in pdf format, which preserves the layout of the original articles and makes them easy to download and print out where required. A free sample of the magazine is available from the site, in pdf format. "Our aim is simple. To promote the UFO subject to the world at large." |
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The site has news, recent worldwide UFO sighting reports, a news archive and book reviews. |
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Google's own visual representation of recent UFO sightings (predominantly in the USA) draws its data from the National UFO Reporting Center and from UFO Evidence. As well as the standard (labelled) map, it includes a 3-D globe version which can be rotated by dragging the mouse. Click on the displayed UFO icon to call up information on the sighting (the records presently appear to go back to about 1999). UFO Maps can also be embedded into your own website by copying and pasting the supplied HTML code (see under 'Google Gadgets'). Google UFO Maps is a mapping project produced by Poly9 Group Inc., based in Quebec City, Canada. "Sighting reports, as they happen." |
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UFO RoundUp is "a weekly compilation of UFO related events and stories." Stories can be listed by country or by date. Sighting reports can also be submitted directly to the site. Includes a host of UFO related web site links. |
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Part of the giant UFOs at Close Sight web site run by Patrick Gross, President of the French Federation for Ufology. Although access to the videos has been suspended (due to excessive bandwidth usage) each video entry nonetheless contains a significant amount of background information. The videos are listed by category, eg. military, amateur, airmiss, NASA footage, international UFO videos (including the Belgian 'flying triangles' of 1989-90) and cases from Project Blue Book (including the famous Tremonton, Utah and Great Falls, Montana footage). |
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The Paranormal and UFO Search Engine. Listings by category to over 57,000 web sites relating to unknown phenomena. |
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Part of the Virtually Strange Network of sites run by Errol Bruce-Knapp, this is a mailing list for the study of UFO-related phenomena. The latest UFO news, theories and websites are discussed and debated here. Many well-known international UFO researchers contribute to the list, which is moderated and updated daily. For those passionate about the subject of UFOs, this site is well worth a daily visit. The list became a subscription-only service in late 2007. |
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Aviation |
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"The ultimate source for defence. aerospace and transportation information." Includes the latest defence news and developments, plus links to all their various publications and international sites. |
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Perhaps the ultimate resource for pilots and aviation enthusiasts. The site has hundreds of links, sorted by category. Links to aviation news, weather, pilot jobs, flight planning tools, airport and airline information, aircraft information and image archives, aviation organisations worldwide, registration listings and much more! |
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For fans of Microsoft's Flight Simulator and its variants, both of these sites provide free downloads of quality aircraft, panels, scenery and resource tools. They also include installation and flying tutorials, hints and tips, software reviews, multi-player flightboards, virtual airline links and discussion forums. |
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A useful resource for information on music of all types and of all cultures. Search for information on musicians, composers, bands, songs or albums. The site gives historical details, biographies, discographies and selected album reviews. |
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In the following section, the dates shown in brackets for the YouTube videos are those of the original composition and/or release of the LP/CD and not necessarily the date of the actual video performance |
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A German avant-garde rock band in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s, their music has subsequently influenced many artists in the rock music world. The band split in 1978 and the three remaining members continue with solo projects (lead guitarist Michael Karoli died in 2001). The site has news of solo projects, a discography, a history of the band, photos, concert dates and sample audio and video (RealPlayer required). |
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YouTube Videos: From 'Tago Mago' (1971): Paperhouse - Mushroom - Oh Yeah - Halleluwah - Bring Me Coffee or Tea / From 'Ege Bamyasi' (1972): Vitamin C - I'm So Green - Spoon / Live in Paris 1 - 2 (1973) / From 'Unlimited Edition' (1976): I'm Too Liese / I Want More - Live on German TV (1976) / From 'Saw Delight' (1977): Don't Say No / Can-Can (1977) |
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Official site of the internationally-renowned musician, who became famous following the release of his album Tubular Bells in 1973. The site has news, a biography, discography, tourography, FAQs and a downloadable copy of his fanzine, Dark Star, in PDF format. |
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YouTube Videos: Tubular Bells 1 - 2 - 3 (1973) / Ommadawn 1 - 2 - 3 (1975) / In Dulci Jubilo (1975) / Portsmouth (1976) / Platinum (1979) / Incantations (1978) / From 'Exposed' (1979): Guilty / From 'Five Miles Out' (1982): Taurus II - Five Miles Out / From 'Crises' (1983): Moonlight Shadow / From 'Discovery' (1984): To France - Tricks of the Light / From 'Islands' (1987): Flying Start - North Point - The Time Has Come / From 'Tubular Bells II' (Premiere, 1992): Sentinel / From 'The Songs of Distant Earth' (1994): Hibernaculum |
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Official web site of the prolific modern composer of the so-called 'minimalist' genre. The site has a biography, discography, interviews and a photo gallery. Be sure to take a look at the Glass Engine, produced by IBM, which plays clips of over 60 Glass works using a unique interface. |
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YouTube Videos: Einstein on the Beach 1 - 2 (1976) / From 'Glassworks' (1981): Rubric / From 'The Photographer' (1982): A Gentleman's Honor / From 'Koyaanisqatsi' (film score, 1981): Opening Sequence - Cloudscape - Resource - Vessels - Pruit Igoe - The Grid - Closing Sequence / Mishima (film score, 1985) / Powaqqatsi (film score, 1987) / Anima Mundi (1992) / Naqoyqatsi (film score, 2002) / Performed by Branka Parlic: Opening (from 'Glassworks') / Mad Rush Pt 1 (1979) / Metamorphosis Pt 1 (1988) / The Hours (film score, 2002) |
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A member of the Japanese techno-pop band Yellow Magic Orchestra in the late 1970s/early 80s and then a solo musician, composer and actor. The site has a biography, discography, filmography and a chronology of his work. |
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YMO YouTube Videos: From 'Yellow Magic Orchestra' (1978): Firecracker - Cosmic Surfin' - La Femme Chinoise / From 'Solid State Survivor' (1979): Technopolis - Rydeen - Day Tripper / From 'BGM' (1981): Cue - Camouflage / From 'Naughty Boys' (1983): Kimi ni mune kyun / Human Audio Sponge (YMO reunited, 2007) Ryuichi Sakamoto YouTube Videos: Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence (film score, 1983) / From 'The Last Emperor' (film score, 1987): First Coronation - Rain (I Want a Divorce) / Behind The Mask (1987) / From 'Smoochy' (1987): Bibo No Aozora - Aishiteru, Aishitenai - Tango - Rio / Neo Geo (1991) |
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One of the archetypal composers of the 'minimalist' genre to emerge in the 1960s, Steve Reich has been touring extensively with his ensemble since that time. His web site has news, a biography, discography, concert information and articles. The first part of his classic piece Music for 18 Musicians can be downloaded from the site, in MP3 format. |
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YouTube Videos: Come Out (1966) / Piano Phase (1967) / Pendulum Music (1968) / Drumming Pt 1 (1971) / Clapping Music (1972) / Music for 18 Musicians (rehearsal) (1976) / Eight Lines (1979) / New York Counterpoint (1985) / Electric Counterpoint (1987) / Different Trains (1988) / Nagoya Marimbas (rehearsal) (1994) / Three Tales (digital documentary operas, 2003): Hindenburg 1 - 2 - 3 - Bikini 1 - 2 - 3 - Dolly 1 - 2 - 3 |
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Official web site of the German electronic group, who have influenced the international electronic music scene since their formation in 1967. The site has news, a discography of their many dozens of albums (where clips of selected tracks can be heard), pictures, Q&As, tour information and interviews. |
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YouTube Videos: Ossiach Lake (1971) / Ricochet 1 - 2 (Coventry Cathedral, 1975) / Rubycon 1 - 2 (1975) / Sorcerer (film score, 1977) / From 'Exit' (1981): Kiew Mission / From 'Risky Business' (film score, 1983): Love On a Real Train / From 'Underwater Sunlight' (1986): Ride On The Ray / From 'Legend' (film score, 1986): Loved By the Sun / From 'Melrose' (1990): Melrose - Dolls In the Shadows / Linda Spa & TD 1 - 2 / From '220 Volt Live' (1993): Purple Haze (Hendrix cover, live) / From 'Tyranny of Beauty' (1995): Stratosfear 1995 (remix of 1976 original) / Oriental Haze (Live in London, 2005) / Jeanne D'Arc (2006) / Live in Berlin (2006) / Madcap's Flaming Duty (excerpt, live in London, 2007) |
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A big thanks to all the folks at YouTube who took the time and trouble to upload these videos! |
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Credits
I would like to express my gratitude to the following people who have helped me during the creation of this web site:
This website was created using Namo WebEditor 5. Images on the site were enhanced and/or edited with Ulead's iPhoto Express software and animations were created using Microsoft's GIF Animator.
Martin J Powell, Aug 2003, revised Jul 2007