JulianLloydWebberEncoreFrontIntroduction

Julian Lloyd Webber (14th of April 1951) is an accomplished British cellist, the younger brother of composer Andrew Lloyd Webber. Throughout his career Julian Lloyd Webber performed and recorded many classical works, and collaborated with an extraordinary array of musicians, conductors and composers, including Vangelis.

Julian and Vangelis met in 1984 at a party, possibly through their mutual friends Peter Skellern and Mary Hopkin, with whom Julian founded the group “Oasis” that year, and who had recorded songs with Vangelis for his score for “Blade Runner” (1982). Julian recalled: ‘Ever since my chance meeting two years ago with synthesizer-king Vangelis, I have been reminding him of his remark that the cello was the only instrument he could not reproduce convincingly on his synthesizers. I suggested that the only solution to his problem would be to write a piece specially for synthesizers - with cello. ‘Un Après-midi’ is the result’. 

In 1986 the composition ‘Un Après-midi’ was released on Julian Lloyd Webber's album "Encore! Travels With My Cello Volume 2". The piece is a composition by Vangelis, performed by Julian on cello and Vangelis on synthesizer. Completists will recognise the composition as an unreleased cue from Vangelis’ score for the Frédéric Rossif wildlife film “Sauvage Et Beau” (1984). The track ‘Un Après-midi" would later also be re-issued on several compilation albums of Julian Lloyd Webber. 

On the news of Vangelis passing in 2022 Julian wrote: ‘Much saddened by the death of Vangelis. He had a unique (to me) way of composing. He would improvise on his keyboard for hours on end, recording everything and when he remembered he had hit on a good idea he would revisit the recording and start working on a new piece. We spent several lazy afternoons together before he came up with Un Après-midi’.

 

JulianLloydWebberCollectionTracklist and credits

  1. Un Après-midi
  • Composed by Vangelis
  • Cello by Julian Lloyd Webber
  • Synthesizer by Vangelis

 

Discography

CD

  • 1986 Encore! (Travels With My Cello Volume 2) Philips 416 698-2 Germany
  • 1993 Encore! (Travels With My Cello Volume 2) Philips DP 0747 South Korea

Compilation album CD’s that include ‘Un Après-midi’:

JulianLloydWebberHarmonieFrontLP

 

Recording studio

Though not mentioned on the album it is likely that ‘Un Après-midi’ was recorded in Vangelis’ Nemo Studios in London.

 

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