Michael Whalen - Phantom of the Forest

Title: Phantom of the Forest Artist: Michael Whalen Release Date: 1994 Re-Released On: 2/15/1994 Label: Nature, Narada Duration: 48:03 UPCs: 083616600727, 083616600741, 094636579658 Genre: New Age Styles: Adult Alternative, Ethnic Fusion, Contemporary Instrumental, Nature Total Copies: 1 Number of Discs/SwapaCD Credits: 1

1. Spirits
2. Sea of Trees
3. The Hawk Appears
4. Killing to Survive
5. The Wood Cock
6. Open Spaces
7. New Forests
8. Building a Nest
9. The Feather
10. Life in the Nest
11. Cathedral of the Woods
12. Sunrise Dance
13. Night Creatures
14. The Forest Edge
15. Brink of Extinction
16. Quiet Beauty
17. Winter Rain
18. Predators of the Predators
19. Phantom of the Forest
20. Woodland Lullaby
21. Soliloquy

Year Type Label Catalog # 1994 CD Nature 66007B 1994 CD Narada

No other editions were found for this album.

Phantom of the Forest is a soundtrack from the Nature documentary series. Composer Michael Whalen can orchestrate for large ensembles, but these 21 pieces are intimate, more like chamber music snapshots than symphonic landscapes. Most pieces, in fact, are under two minutes, with some clocking in under 60 seconds. "Spirits," almost an invocation, begins the album with layers of nature sounds and plateaus of sonic textures. "Sea of Trees" features the lonely interplay of a wind ensemble. "Killing to Survive" begins as a graceful float, then segues to a hurried rush for survival. Flute and violin portray the frisky activity of "Building a Nest," while the oboe shows the delicacy of "The Feather." On the longest cut, "Cathedral of the Woods," flutes chirp rhythmically through the canopy's many branches, then rest with a passage for oboe, flute, and glockenspiel. "Sunrise Dance" features a brisk awakening from pan pipes, piano, and vocalese by Valerie Wilson. Whalen's compositions make it easy to visualize the life, time periods ("Night Creatures"), moods, and environments of the woodlands. ~ Carol Wright, All Music Guide

Name Credits Carolyn Pollak Oboe, Horn (English) Connie Gage Design Emily Mitchell Harp Eric Lindert Design Fred Kaufman Producer, Executive Producer George Page Executive Editing, Narrator Graham Creelman Producer, Executive Producer Harvey Estrin Pan Pipes, Flute, Pan Flute, Recorder Hugh Miles Producer Jerry Pilato Engineer John Chase Mastering Julie Leonard Producer, Coordination, Liner Notes, Coordinating Producer Leland Bond Preparation Marti Sweet Violin Michael Whalen Engineer, Piano, Liner Notes, Conductor, Mixing, Producer, Percussion, Synclavier, Arranger, Orchestration, Programming, Synthesizer Mitch Estrin Clarinet (Bass), Clarinet Pat Rebillot Piano Roy Hendrickson Mixing, Engineer Russ Rizner-French French Horn Tony Finno Preparation Valerie Wilson Vocals Wesley Van Linda Design