We’ve all heard tales of soul-searching, and of the
strange and mythical happenings that come from venturing deep into the heart of
the rugged Russian wilderness. This is the story of one such adventure, and of
a man who revolutionized symphonic music...
A LONG TIME AGO, IN A COUNTRY FAR, FAR AWAY Paul O’Neill
was inspired. It was the middle of 1980, and he was fortunate enough to have
visited the Russian/Siberian countryside. He describes his experience with the
land as “incredibly beautiful but
incredibly harsh and unforgiving as well.” This description would
transcend a mere description of the landscape, as great-thinker O’Neill goes on
to say that “Life, too, can be incredibly beautiful but also incredibly harsh
and unforgiving…”
Led along this literal
and philosophical track, O’Neill fondly recalls his experience with the
Trans-Siberian Railway, the “one thing that everyone who lives there has in
common that runs across [Russia] in relative safety.” This was his moment of
truth. It was from this railway that O’Neill took the name Trans-Siberian,
which would later be applied to his progressive, symphonic rock band, the
Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO).
Since its inception,
the TSO has been making waves. The flood of its popularity came in 1999, following
the production of their album The
Christmas Attic. They have a unique sound, and “elaborate concerts, which
include a string section, a light show, lasers, ‘enough pyro to be seen from the
international space station’, moving trusses, video screens, and effects
synchronized to music.”
The Trans-Siberian
Orchestra is also known for their extensive donations to charity and
volunteerism. As O’Neill said when asked about TSO’s origins, “the one thing
that we all have in common that runs across [Life] in relative safety is music.”
Whatever they do, TSO
tries to uphold the meaning of their name.
Check out this
Christmas mix if you haven’t heard it yet!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6P9xxJ4V7no&list=PLaYPiBo1HyeUuirwVLP3UMkdcIv8ABDhb
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