Oldfield Incantations Views

• Music

Incantations was recorded at Througham, Mike Oldfield's home after he completed Ommadawn. It was his desire to create an album that would make use of a small orchestra, and some of his own statements indicate that he may have moved into his new house simply because it had room for one. He had used extra-instrumental ensembles previously, such as the brass ensemble on Ommadawn and the string/choir group on Hergest Ridge before that, but they form a major part of Incantations.

It was during the creation of Incantations that Mike Oldfield underwent the assertiveness training course Exegesis, and between the earlier parts and the later parts of the album there is a definite difference in style, possibly due to the course. The course may have had added effects to bolster his confidence, as it was almost immediately thereafter that Oldfield went on his first solo live tour around Europe with Incantations.

Like Tubular Bells, Hergest Ridge is a two-movement instrumental piece, this time evoking scenes from Oldfield's Herefordshire country retreat. It was followed in 1975 by the pioneering world music piece Ommadawn, and 1978's Incantations which introduced more diverse choral performances from Sally Oldfield, Maddy Prior, and the Queen's College Girls Choir. In 1975 Oldfield recorded a version of the Christmas piece In Dulci Jubilo which charted at number four in the UK. Oldfield's 1976 rendition of Portsmouth remains his highest charting single on the UK Singles Chart, reaching number three.[5]

Around the time of Incantations, Oldfield underwent a controversial self-assertiveness therapy course known as Exegesis.[7] Possibly as a result, the formerly reclusive musician staged a major European tour to promote the album, chronicled in his live album Exposed, much of which was recorded at the National Exhibition Centre near Birmingham, the first-ever concert there.[citation needed]