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So - what's the difference between Tubular Bells, studio version and live?

People around me seem to be hearing stuff in Exposed I can't hear - and they seem to hear it effortlessly! So, even though the method I'm working by on this project might seem like hard work to some people, I simply want to know more about Exposed - hear what they hear. Starting here with the question "what is the difference between Tubular Bells 'classic' and the Exposed version?" - but in order to answer that question, I really have to answer another one - "what is Tubular Bells?" - otherwise it will be harder to find the differences and describe them.

An analysis of "Tubular Bells" by David Bedford

Thanks to Obi for supplying me with "Tubular Bells", the book. (And for originally supplying me with TB, the album!) Thanks to Goran Wallgren for making the Amarok player, and to Emmanuel Trouillet and Charles Caffrey for making tracklists, I could use in this project.

TB: ordinary Tubular Bells, studio version
OTB: Orchestral Tubular Bells
ETB: Exposed, live Tubular Bells.

Analysis by David Bedford		TB	OTB	ETB
Side One.		Total: 25:29	Total: 26:33	Total: 28:22
1	Tune A: repetitive figure, 7/8, 7/8, 7/8, 9/8 = 30 quavers.	0:00	0:00	0:00
2	Tune B: bass figure, 3/4, 4/4, 3/4, 5/4 = 15 crochets (30 quavers).	0:49	0:51	1:04
3	Tune C: A transformed into 3/4 with descending chords.	1:37	1:43	3:13
4	Tune D: A plus B plus C.	2:01	2:08	3:38
5	Tune E: A plus B plus C plus new tune...	3:39	3:57	4:15
6	Tune F: crescendo, introducing...	4:02	4:26	4:41
7	Tune G.	4:16	4:37	4:55
8	Tune A plus new tune.	4:42	5:02	5:23
9	Transition section: introduction of rhythm for...	5:54	6:12	6:28
10	Tune H on electric guitar.	6:06	6:27	6:55
11	Tune I on bass guitar (4/4).	6:57	7:23	7:49
12	Chord sequence with I superimposed (in 4/3), crescendo to...	7:42	8:17	8:41
13	Tune G repeated.	9:15	9:49	10:24
14	Tune A with G on bass guitar.	9:39	10:13	10:54
15	Tune G slowly with chords and tubular bells (and new counter melody). Coda A.	10:04	10:37	11:19
16	New 6/8 tune with version of A as accompaniment.	11:25	12:13	13:31
17	Syncopated chord sequence.	13:29	14:11	16:32
18	Development of last bass phrase.	14:08	14:52	17:14
19	Transition, with tubular bells.	15:43	16:34	20:30
20	Tune J: new melody leading to...	16:17	17:02	20:40
21	Repeated bass riff.	17:02	17:45	21:38
22	Tune K: Grand piano and announcements of instruments one by one. Climax with chimes, dying away.	19:48	20:28	24:07
23	Acoustic guitar ends with major version of Tune A.	24:04	25:00
Side Two.		Total: 23:20	Total: 24:30	Total: 9:17 + 1:48
1	Tune L: 6/8 repeated figure in four parts with different number of beats in each part so they coincide differently each time.	0:00	0:00
2	L moves from 6/8 to 3/4. Top tune of 1. continues. Piano assumes importance with Coda.	1:19	1:16
3	Tune M: solo organ, with acoustic guitar.	5:26	5:26
4	Tune N: romantic bit with mandolin and voices.	7:59	8:00
5	Tune O: timpani, 'Scottish' tune in parallel fifths, big climax.	8:48	8:56
6	Tune P: rock song with 'caveman' voice.	11:55	12:40	0:00
7	Tune Q: long repeated chord sequence with solo guitars, with ground bass. Changes from minor to major.	16:30	18:23	5:17
8	Tune R: hornpipe.	21:45	22:49	9:17

For those really interested: these are the notes corresponding to the part of the music. (Page/system/measure.) As the notes doesn't correspond too well with TB, and I don't really "read" sheet music, some of these are educated guesses... 1.1: 16/1/1 - 1.2: 17/1/1 - 1.3: 18/2/1 - 1.4: 19/1/1 - 1.6: 20/1/1 - 1.7: 20/3/1 - 1.10: 22/4/1 - 1.11: 24/3/1 - 1.12: 24/5/1 - 1.13: 26/1/1 - 1.14: 26/2/6 - 1.15: 27/1/1 - 1.16: 27/4/1 - 1.17: 29/4/3 - 1.18: 30/4/2 - 1.19: 31/5/1 - 1.20: 31/5/3 - 1.21: 32/5/1 - 1.22: 35/3/1 - 1.23: 36/3/1 - 2.1: 37/5/1 - 2.2: 38/2/3 - 2.3: 40/2/1 - 2.5: 44/4/2 - 2.6: 47/1/1 - 2.7: 49/4/2 - 2.8: 50/2/1

Description of differences between TB and ETB

In general

• I couldn't pick up a single acoustic guitar on ETB - so the electric guitar replaces the acoustic one in sections 1.14 and 1.20.
• There are more drums on ETB - specifically in sections 1.9 (the crescendo at the end) and 1.10, 1.16 (replacing the rhythmic bass?), 1.18, 1.21, 1.22 and 2.7. (The only "real" drums on TB are in section 2.6.)
• There is also a bit of a symphony orchestra on ETB - at least the violins and the trumpets. I hear violins in 1.3 (replacing the piano), 1.20, 1.22 (they have a sub-section), 2.6 and 2.8. I hear trumpets in 1.18, 1.22 and 2.6. The orchestra feeling is really big in the beginning of 2.6, where the only instruments are violins, trumpets, flute and "polite" drums.
• The tubular bells are not very prominent on ETB - they seem to be replaced by glockenspiel in 1.7, and by electric guitar in 1.19. But they still appear in 1.22!
• The electric guitar seems to be improvising in sections 1.15, 1.18, the electric guitar sub-section of 1.22, 2.6 and 2.7. The bass seems to be playing something new in 1.21.

Part 1

• 1.2: Tune B is wildly different on ETB.
• 1.11: This section is much faster on ETB.
• 1.17: The nasal choir is replaced by instruments.
• 1.22: The instruments are not announced on ETB. On TB we have these sub-sections: grand piano, reed and pipe organ, glockenspiel, bass guitar, double speed guitar, 2 slightly distorted guitars, mandolin, Spanish guitar and (introducing) acoustic guitar and tubular bells - and unannounced girl choir. On ETB we have flute, glockenspiel, electric guitars, xylophone, violins, complete orchestra with drums, tubular bells on top of that and electric guitar.
• 1.23: There is no section 1.23 on ETB.

Part 2

• 2.1-2.5: These sections are not on ETB.
• 2.6: There are no vocals in this section on ETB.
• 2.7: This bit also has a very different tune on ETB.
• 2.8: I think one of the instruments on ETB is a pair of spoons!

In conclusion

So - I hope you liked it!