Classical Variations and Themes

Classical Variations and Themes
Classical Variations and Themes
Studio album by Timo Tolkki
Released	1994
Recorded	July–August 1994
Studio	Soundtrack Studios, Helsinki
Genre	Instrumental rock, heavy metal, neoclassical metal, progressive metal
Length	36:33
Label	Goldenworks
Producer	Timo Tolkki
Timo Tolkki chronology

Classical Variations and Themes is the first studio album by former Stratovarius guitarist Timo Tolkki, released in 1994 through Goldenworks Ky (Europe) and Victor Entertainment (Japan);^[1] and reissued in 2004 through Irond Records.^[2]

Background[]

The album is primarily instrumental (save for two tracks, "Fire Dance Suite" and "Soldiers Prayer", on which Tolkki sings) and bears similar heavy metal and progressive metal elements to previous Stratovarius albums. Keyboard and drums are performed by Tolkki's then-Stratovarius bandmates Antti Ikonen and Tuomo Lassila, respectively. "Fire Dance Suite" was originally composed for Stratovarius in 1986,^[3] and would later be included on their 1997 compilation album The Past and Now. A music video for the song was also released.^[4]

Track listing[]

All tracks are written by Timo Tolkki, except where noted.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Lord of the Rings"	5:42
2.	"Fire Dance Suite"	4:57
3.	"Guitar Concerto" (Joaquín Rodrigo)	2:52
4.	"Northern Lights"	2:18
5.	"Capriccio in A Minor" (Niccolò Paganini)	1:09
6.	"Back to the Ice Age"	4:03
7.	"Death of a Swan" (Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky)	3:54
8.	"Soldiers Prayer"	4:04
9.	"Flying Samir"	3:02
10.	"Sunwinds"	2:40
11.	"Greensleeves" (traditional)	1:52
Total length:		36:33

South American edition bonus track
No.	Title	Length
12.	"Solitude" (performed by Stratovarius)	4:47

Personnel[]

Timo Tolkki – vocals, guitar, guitar synthesizer, bass, engineering, production^[5]
Antti Ikonen – keyboard
Tuomo Lassila – drums
Mikko Karmila – mixing

References[]

^ "Timo Tolkki – Classical Variations And Themes". Discogs. Retrieved 2014-12-04.
^ "Classical Variations and Themes". MusicBrainz. Retrieved 2014-12-04.
^ "History". stratovarius.com. Retrieved 2014-12-04.
^ "Fire Dance Suite Timo Tolkki". YouTube. Retrieved 2014-12-04.
^ "Classical Variations & Themes - Timo Tolkki | Credits". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 2014-12-04.

[1] "Timo Tolkki – Classical Variations And Themes". Discogs. Retrieved 2014-12-04.

[2] "Classical Variations and Themes". MusicBrainz. Retrieved 2014-12-04.

[history-3] "History". stratovarius.com. Retrieved 2014-12-04.

[4] "Fire Dance Suite Timo Tolkki". YouTube. Retrieved 2014-12-04.

[5] "Classical Variations & Themes - Timo Tolkki | Credits". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 2014-12-04.

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