I'm more into Prog/Rock/Hard Rock/Metal normally but I really have a mania for Vangelis...not that he is unknown but I feel that there are a lot o of people who don't know him, and probably would like his music. Vangelis is a Greek composer, he started his career in a greek prog band called "Aphrodites Child"later, in 70s he started working on its own, soon he composed a lot of scores for documentaries, including Opéra Sauvage and L'apocalypse Des Animaux, from late 70s he also started to produce some movie scores, like the memorable "Chariots Of Fire" theme, and Ridley Scott's Blade Runner score.
He has an almost unparraled ability, imo, to create simple yet memorable melodies, and to enirich them whith great sounds and texture, his composition is also very varied from eletronic to ambient (he was a pioneer in the use of syntethizers), from classical to opera, and also some prog and jazz.
This is one of his most famous themes, from "Opera Sauvage"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yN75-FL-BJo
A more orchestral track, from 1492: Conquest Of Paradise, score.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FijB4Yu-h1o&feature=related
On his arragments for chours and soprano. From "Heaven and Hell" (the title may be misleading but there is no referrement to the jesus in the opera I choose this video only because of the audio quality)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4R4PVEwX5U&feature=related
One of my favourite tracks ever, a melanchonic and hypnotic mix of electronical ambient and jazz music, form Blade Runner
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SJVP4YAybs
The Blade Runner Theme, an example of "orchestrated" electronica
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAwo7DPUFUM
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There are a lot more tracks I would like to post but it is already quite long to listen to all of these.
