This song is incredible. My favorite version can be found on the 1975 Vanguard release "Oregon In Concert". It goes on for 10 minutes and gives each member a turn at improvising the melody. Colin's sitar playing is extraordinary. I was lucky enough to see Oregon in 1974 and that concert still remains a highlight.
Lucky you! Oregon in their prime had to of been incredible to experience. The footage is awesome enough. Don't forget the original version of this track is on Paul Winter's Icarus with Towner singing on it. It's a good one too, but the live one is the best! Wish Walcott was still alive. Oregon was never the same after.
One of my all-time favorite songs and the version you mention is simply CAPTIVATING and by far my fav officially-released version as well. I agree with your take on Colin's sitar absolutely. I think what absolutely SLAYS me about that version is when Glen's mastery and pace with which he enters the piece. You barely hear him at all until about halfway thru the piece and then he enters towards the end of Colin's sitar turn and from there, i just love just about everything he does for the rest of the piece. That version of this song just MIGHT be my "desert island - you can only take ONE song with you" song. Cheers!
Excellent.One of my favorite guitarist , musician, and composer, who never ceases to amaze, whether on his older compositions(like this) or on his current work, solo or with Oregon. Thanks for a life time of music. Hartley C.White
A great stilist and one of the most interesting guitarists ever. With one of the most beautiful Songs ever. I love this song! But for me it will always be associated with Colin Walcott. Some ten years ago I saw Oregon on a festival in Germany. When it came to the encore, they announced they want to dedicate the next song to Colin, and instantly I knew it would be "Silence". I couldn't hold the tears. R.I.P., Colin! (And thank you, Ralph, for this great song!)
VenusandMars, YOU are so right, the pianoversion of Towner´s "Silence of a candle" which I also heard the first time on his "Diary"-album is probably one of those pieces I would like to be played at my funeral - simple musical bliss for me!!
@skibum1981 There falls the words of fools about my ears/ To hasten by the years the journey that I make/ Through myself./ The travellers that pass by me as I wend my way/ All reaching out to say their path can find the way/ To the truth./ Answers everywhere, promising solutions to my fears/ Leading through halls with no doors in the walls/ And leave me in the darkness./ But to close my ears to all will bar the way/ For those who've travelled through./ The silence of a candle burning in my room
I wasn't familiar w/ this version of this song. It's quite lovely, I first heard on the LP Icarus by The Paul Winter Consort, which is also nice, It has vocals and a lot less virtuoso playing on it ( a lot shorter in length). I believe Ralph Towner was also in The Paul Winter Consort lineup i the early mid seventies.
@melanholicnazabica Speaks softly of a peaceful balance to be found/ Just beyond/ The road within without a right or wrong/ With lanes for only one where solely one must see/ And will know./ Stillness that resounds, singing sounds of hope to light my way/ Drawing me near to a path that is clear,/ To free myself from darkness/ And the voice within the candle whispers of a timeless peace/ That lies beyond./ And the voice within the candle whispers of a timeless peace/ That lies beyond./ :)lyric
I bought a Ralph Towner teaching manual while teaching luthiery to a large music company in Pusan..(Busan?).Souh Korea..about improvisation...and at 70 yrs old multi instrumentalist..play in a septagenarian improvisational ensemble...the traditional Ukrainians hate us..we smell like shunks..hahaha
funny, but a lot of search results for the lyrics result in the wrong ones. But, I found a version here: leakstev.blogspot.com/2008/05/oregon-silence-of-candle.html
Ralph Towner plays very well., and I ' ve really enjoyed it. But allow me to introduce to you one of the World's most famous guitarplayers ever: KAZUHITO YAMASHITA. playing < PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION> by Modest Mussorgsky 👍
Ok the guitar is nice, but enough with the Jeffrey Elliot sales pitches on these videos. The musicality of Towner, rather than the guitar, is doing the trick.
This song is incredible. My favorite version can be found on the 1975 Vanguard release "Oregon In Concert". It goes on for 10 minutes and gives each member a turn at improvising the melody. Colin's sitar playing is extraordinary. I was lucky enough to see Oregon in 1974 and that concert still remains a highlight.
Lucky you! Oregon in their prime had to of been incredible to experience. The footage is awesome enough. Don't forget the original version of this track is on Paul Winter's Icarus with Towner singing on it. It's a good one too, but the live one is the best! Wish Walcott was still alive. Oregon was never the same after.
One of my all-time favorite songs and the version you mention is simply CAPTIVATING and by far my fav officially-released version as well. I agree with your take on Colin's sitar absolutely. I think what absolutely SLAYS me about that version is when Glen's mastery and pace with which he enters the piece. You barely hear him at all until about halfway thru the piece and then he enters towards the end of Colin's sitar turn and from there, i just love just about everything he does for the rest of the piece. That version of this song just MIGHT be my "desert island - you can only take ONE song with you" song. Cheers!
GENIUS OF OUR TIMES............................................................................
Excellent.One of my favorite guitarist , musician, and composer, who never ceases to amaze, whether on his older compositions(like this) or on his current work, solo or with Oregon. Thanks for a life time of music. Hartley C.White
No one in this world moves his hands across the strings like Mr Towner does… just watch them ! The movement is as beautiful as the melody.
Interesting observation--and I'll bet your passion smolders long, then bursts into flame fiercely!
its the magical combo of the jazz harmonies and the classical technique. The chord voicings are amazing to behold
way above everything and at the same time so close to the soul.... all love to ralph towner!
Superb. An excellent 12 string player as well...accomplished pianist. Overall a fine musician
One of my favorites...beautiful
A great stilist and one of the most interesting guitarists ever. With one of the most beautiful Songs ever. I love this song!
But for me it will always be associated with Colin Walcott. Some ten years ago I saw Oregon on a festival in Germany. When it came to the encore, they announced they want to dedicate the next song to Colin, and instantly I knew it would be "Silence". I couldn't hold the tears. R.I.P., Colin! (And thank you, Ralph, for this great song!)
Bonedalas indeed ... miss Colin immensely, even after all those years 😔
Every time I get to see his performance, makes me sooo glad I got to see the original members perform in person. We were so lucky.
OneBikeGuy indeed ... first saw Oregon perform in 1974
Please folks, look into a candle and forget all the life arround you and listen to that
Love the vision instilled as his fingers paint an etheral feeling...........
Ralph Towner is just as good on the piano, in fact, his main instrument was piano until his early 20s
he plays incredibly on Love Theme From Spartacus. The video is on here its from the 70's. He plays piano on the tune and is amazing.
Wow I didn't know!! Thanks for mentioning it!!
I t was the late 60's that Ralph played with Paul Winter...in fact Ralph's group, Oregon, was spawned from members of the Paul Winter consort.
I love the piano version
VenusandMars, YOU are so right, the pianoversion of Towner´s "Silence of a candle" which I also heard the first time on his "Diary"-album is probably one of those pieces I would like to be played at my funeral - simple musical bliss for me!!
lekkerebek this is obviously good; but I prefer the album cut: it just seems to have more melody than this......
@skibum1981 There falls the words of fools about my ears/
To hasten by the years the journey that I make/
Through myself./
The travellers that pass by me as I wend my way/
All reaching out to say their path can find the way/
To the truth./
Answers everywhere, promising solutions to my fears/
Leading through halls with no doors in the walls/
And leave me in the darkness./
But to close my ears to all will bar the way/
For those who've travelled through./
The silence of a candle burning in my room
Okay... I need to learn this piece. I like this version especially.
Right on, brother.
Wow.
Wow.....
This is amazing!!
excellent
I wasn't familiar w/ this version of this song. It's quite lovely, I first heard on the LP Icarus by The Paul Winter Consort, which is also nice, It has vocals and a lot less virtuoso playing on it ( a lot shorter in length). I believe Ralph Towner was also in The Paul Winter Consort lineup i the early mid seventies.
@melanholicnazabica
Speaks softly of a peaceful balance to be found/
Just beyond/
The road within without a right or wrong/
With lanes for only one where solely one must see/
And will know./
Stillness that resounds, singing sounds of hope to light my way/
Drawing me near to a path that is clear,/
To free myself from darkness/
And the voice within the candle whispers of a timeless peace/
That lies beyond./
And the voice within the candle whispers of a timeless peace/
That lies beyond./ :)lyric
Fue escrito por Ralph cuando el tocaba con Paul Winter
anyone know where to find this concert in full?
If there are any metal guys here, is it just me or do you also notice that Opeth is clearly influenced by this dude?
I have known both for years, but I never thought about a common ground between the two. But you might be right, who knows, we should ask Mikael
It does sound like it may have inspired some of "Benighted" off the "Still Life" album.
I bought a Ralph Towner teaching manual while teaching luthiery to a large music company in Pusan..(Busan?).Souh Korea..about improvisation...and at 70 yrs old multi instrumentalist..play in a septagenarian improvisational ensemble...the traditional Ukrainians hate us..we smell like shunks..hahaha
Piękna kompozycja, jednak w wersji fortepianowej brzmi o wiele lepiej.Ciekawe czy była stworzona na gitarze czy na fortepianie?
Try Duncan Ryan link above if you like original solo guitar
Really? Can you post the lyrics?
funny, but a lot of search results for the lyrics result in the wrong ones. But, I found a version here: leakstev.blogspot.com/2008/05/oregon-silence-of-candle.html
then search ou the lyrics on google type on the name of the song plus lyricsand you will at lest see them
gawud you are a moron. Nope. The lyrics are nowhere online.
Ralph Towner plays very well., and I ' ve really enjoyed it.
But allow me to introduce to you one of the World's
most famous guitarplayers ever:
KAZUHITO
YAMASHITA. playing
< PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION>
by Modest Mussorgsky 👍
Ok the guitar is nice, but enough with the Jeffrey Elliot sales pitches on these videos. The musicality of Towner, rather than the guitar, is doing the trick.
there are none to this song,,,, it is known as an insturmental ????
WRONG! Google is your friend, sweetiepie. It appears on 'Icarus' WITH A VOCAL BY TOWNER!
Ralph's nice arrangments and compositions are a counterpoint to Larry Coryell horrible and ugly style.