Music For Long Winter Nights
On the longest night of 2019, Dutch radio station Concertzender Nederland presented an 8-hour long uninterrupted ambient music night: a collaboration of radio hosts Roel Janssen, Harrold Roeland, Bob Rusche, and myself. For those that could not stay awake the full night, the full broadcast remained available online (and it still is!).
To celebrate the longest night in this (remarkably dark) year, we decided to repeat this ‘Solstice Celebration’. But, for practical purposes, not on the longest night itself but one night earlier since that is the more convenient night from Saturday into Sunday.
This time, too, the full (7-hour) set will remain available online, but here on ambientblog I present my own contribution – the two hours that closed this special ambient night.
When compiling this set, I tried to keep in mind that this was intended to be listened to in the deepest and darkest of the night. But it is not a ‘sleep set’, due to the variety of moods and atmospheres. It’s a celebration of the dark of night that can be enjoyed at any time – every time you’re in the mood for a moment (or 2 hours) of unhurried immersiveness.
Don’t despair: the days will get longer – and 2021 will get better!
As usual, and of course exclusive to ambientblog, these 2 hours are also available in a DTS-surround version for even more enhanced immersiveness!
PART 1: 05:00-06:00: “EVER FALLING DOWN”
(Note: first time is start time, second time is fragment length)
- 00:00 4:54 Dr. Jeffrey Thompson – Rings Of Uranus
NASA Voyager I & II Space Probe Recordings, 1992, Brain/Mind Research - 02:54 2:28 Geneva Skeen – The Double Bind
Double Bind, 2020, Room40 - 04:44 3:27 Hannes Kretzer – Juno Had A Sad Dream
Ambient Layers, 2020, 7K! Records - 07:41 1:42 Zona – Silent City
Silent City, 2020, Shimmering Moods Records - 08:32 4:14 Ana Roxanne – A Study In Vastness
Because of a Flower, 2020, Kranky - 12:04 3:04 Simon Scott – Apart F
Apart, 2020, 12K - 14:20 1:50 Hildur Gudnadottir, Jóhann Jóhannsson, Rutger Hoedemaekers – The Curse
Trapped (OST), 2019, Milan Records - 16:07 3:18 Sam Rosenthal & Projekt Artists – Frail Filament Of Light
Tim, Where Are You Now?, 2020, Projekt - 19:19 3:15 Galya Bisengalieva – Kantubek
Aralkum, 2020, One Little Independent Records - 22:10 4:19 Max Richter – Murmuration (voiceless mix)
Voices, 2020, Decca - 25:57 2:47 Berangere Maximin – A Kind Of Night Ritual
Land Of Waves, 2020, Karl Records - 27:24 7:35 Sleep Research Facility – Unrest
From Here To Tranquility Vol. 12 (Horizonte Aeternitatis), 2020, Silent Records - 33:41 2:16 Ian Fleming – Approaching A Dead Planet
Necros, 2020, self-released - 35:00 2:25 Emil Friis – Home Is Where The Head Is
Songs From The Deep, 2020, self-released - 36:51 1:32 Rutger Zuydervelt – Entry Drone
Porcelain (OST), 2020, self-released - 38:00 3:09 Mathieu Karsenti – Time To Go
Bygones, 2020, Slowcraft Records - 40:42 3:08 Tapani Rinne – Polar
Foghornia, 2020, Signature Dark - 43:15 2:26 Angad Berar – Shh.. Tele’s Zzz
A Broadcast, Underwater, 2020, self-released - 44:41 3:04 Sjunde Inseglet – Satariel (Instrumental)
De Kliffotiska Ritualpoemen (Extended Instrumentals), 2020, Dragon Rouge - 46:47 2:31 Echoflex – B Phrygian
Piano Net, 2020, SeeHear - 48:26 3:01 Halvknaegten – Stumme Byger
Imens Vi Stadig Findes, 2020, Fusem - 50:00 2:38 Kamila Govorcin – Animas
Anima, 2020, Clang - 51:53 1:56 Alphaxone, Protou, Onasander – Dusk Wings
Shadows Of Forgotten Legends, 2020, Cryochamber - 53:09 2:50 Snorri Hallgrímsson – Ekkert Hefur Gerst Nem Detta
Landbrot I, 2020, Moderna Records - 54:57 4:59 Dr Jeffrey Thompson – Saturn’s Rings
NASA Voyager I & II Space Probe Recordings, 1992, Brain/Mind Research
PART 2: 06:00 – 07:00: “IMPRESSIONS FROM ANOTHER TIME”
- 59:21 7:17 Joachim Spieth – Sparsha
Ousia, 2020, Affin Records (rel 01-2021) - 1:06:12 3:24 Daina Dieva – Liūtis Remias Siena Į Virpantį Vandenį (Shortmix)
Note Lithuania, 2019, Music Information Centre Lithuania - 1:08:27 4:05 Monolake – Phaenon Ono
Archaeopteryx, 2020, Imbalance Computer Music - 1:11:51 2:09 Mary Jane Leach – Dowland’s Tears (For Solo Flute And Nine Accompanying Flutes)
(F)Lute Songs, 2018, Modern Love - 1:13:47 3:12 Fovea Hex – Trisamma
The Salt Garden III, 2019, Headphone Dust/Die Stadt - 1:16:40 1:21 Biosphere – Bjorvika
The Senja Recordings, 2019, Biophon Records - 1:16:55 2:12 Reinier van Houdt – Midnight Rohrschach
Igitur Carbon Copies, 2018, Hallow Ground - 1:18:02 3:28 Max Richter – Space 25 (Epicardium)
Sleep, 2015, Deutsche Grammophon - 1:19:24 3:05 Max Richter – Space 2 (Slow Waves)
Sleep, 2015, Deutsche Grammophon - 1:21:21 6:48 Max Richter – Path 17 (Before The Ending Of Daylight)
Sleep, 2015, Deutsche Grammophon - 1:26:04 3:34 Don Hill – Chinook Winds On Sleeping Buffalo
Sonic Journeys [Vol. 1], 2010, Music Is Medicine - 1:28:08 4:42 Stars Of The Lid – Even If You’re Awake (Deuxième)
And Their Refinement Of The Decline, 2007, Kranky - 1:31:26 4:49 Joost van Duppen – Suomenlinna
Kaamos, 2019, Self-released - 1:34:44 3:42 Jackson Greenberg – First Light
First Light, 2020, Ravello Records - 1:37:33 2:28 Joshua van Tassel – Eternal Turtle
Dance Music volume II: More Songs for Slow Motion, 2020, Backward Music - 1:39:26 2:22 Toto Tobass – Zwischen Flüsternden Wassergeistern
Communal Music Vol. 5, 2020, AEMC - 1:41:14 2:06 Coen Oscar Polack – Een Diepnoodlottig Neergelaten Wenkbrauw
Haarlemmerhout, 2020, Moving Furniture Records - 1:42:02 2:59 Andrew Sherwell – Balcony Views 3AM
Home Diaries 004, 2020, Whitelabrecs - 1:44:11 2:10 Kemper Norton – Halan 2
Brunton Calciner, 2019, Self-Released - 1:46:04 2:49 Library Tapes – It Wasn’t Always Like This
The Quiet City, 2020, 1631 Recordings - 1:48:26 2:19 Cousin Silas – Empty Coastline
Adrift Off The Islets Of Langerhans, 2010, self-released - 1:50:21 4:59 Dronny Darko – Rotten Orchestra
Spira Igneus, 2016, Cryo Chamber - 1:54:48 2:32 Alva Noto & Ryuichi Sakamoto – By This River
Summvs, 2011, Raster-Noton - 1:57:13 2:04 Brian Eno – By This River
Before & After Science, 1977, Polydor / Virgin EMI
OR: Listen on Mixcloud, Spotify or iTunes:
I think I’ve listened to all of Ambientblogs mixes now and each one was as good as the last. Thank you for the pleasant and sometimes disturbing sonic voyage on these musical collages.
Amazing layering, Peter! Another mix masterpiece..
Yes, very impressive. Listened to the whole show, but could notice where your turn-off was taken ;-))
lovely
superb mix and great choices <3
Very beautiful… Thanks! Every time I listen to your mixes, I feel grateful you present this free for all to hear… 👌🙏
Thank you Peter! I will listen while wrapping presents tomorrow morning!
“We’re halfway out of the dark” — Doctor Who
Thank you. That is an impressive tracklist that you wove together! Congratulations.
(I made my own Solstice mix but went in a different direction to accommodate those dancing outside in a field! )
why Winter solstice ? everywhere it s Know as Navidad, Noel, Christmas…. and the other hand , your mix is excellent (comme d’habitude). Gracie mille. Saludos desde España.
Hi. Glad you enjoyed the mix! Those are not the same: Christmas, Noel etc. are religious celebrations, but Winter Solstice is the exact moment when Winter begins; also the longest night. It occurs twice yearly, once in each hemisphere (Northern and Southern). So it was not my intention to create a ‘Christmas’ mix, but a mix to enjoy in long dark nights. (But of course you can play it whenever you want)
Perfect, I don’t know what is celebrated on the solstice … (A long night?) Curiously, this date is recognized for celebrating Christmas … As you say, I can listen to your mix at any time, not with Christmas music. Merry Christmas.. look at this :
Este domingo 20 de diciembre, Radio Clásica ofrecerá en directo el Día Especial Música de Navidad de la Unión Europea de Radio-Televisión. Esta programación, que ya es un clásico de Euroradio y cuya primera edición tuvo lugar en 1995, comenzará su recorrido musical a las 10 h (CET) desde la Barbican Hall de Londres y lo finalizará en el Teatro Príncipe Regente de Múnich, sobre las 00 h (CET).
thank you, Peter!