Snowflakes are Dancing



Tomita's breakthrough release outside of Japan. Originally retitled 'Clair de Lune' in the USA and Japan. One of the first of RCA Records CD releases, and as a consequence, the sound quality was not great. Released in 1991 along with four other albums in improved Dolby Surround sound.

The LP also featured the subtitle 'The Newest Sound of Debussy'. More information on Debussy may be found at the Claude Debussy website.

For reference, ARD = Quadra Disc Quadraphonic LP, ARK = Cassette, ARL = Stereo LP, ARS = Stereo 8-Track Cartridge, ART = Quadraphonic 8-Track Cartridge, ATL = Half-Speed Remastered Audiophile LP.

Album Details
PB-10083 (7" Single of 'Snowflakes are Dancing'/'Arabesque No. 1') RVC-2251 / RVC-2072 / RCALP 3008 / PL 84229 / ATL1-4332 / ARD1-0488 / ARL1-0488 / PL 84587 (LP) RCX-1003 / ARK1-0488 / RCAK 3008 / PK 84229 / RCAV 60579 / PJ 84587 (Cassette) RD 84587 / RCD1-4587 / RCAV 60579 / RCA 60579 / 60579-2-RG / GD60579 / BVCC-2514 / R32C-1040 (CD) ARS1-0488 / ART1-0488 (8-Track Cartridge) R4C-2040 (Unknown)
 * Catalogue Number
 * DJBO-0308 / APBO-0308 (7" Single of 'Golliwog's Cakewalk'/Clair de Lune')


 * Label
 * RCA


 * Date Released
 * 1974


 * Total Playing Time
 * 41:33

Normal Alternate
 * Tracks
 * 1) Snowflakes are Dancing [Children's Corner No. 4] (2:11)
 * 2) Reverie (4:45)
 * 3) Gardens in the Rain [Estampes No. 3] (3:42)
 * 4) Clair de Lune [Suite Bergamasque No. 3] (5:48) [[File:Clair.ogg]] [235k OGG]
 * 5) Arabesque No. 1 (3:58)
 * 6) The Engulfed Cathedral [Preludes Book 1 No. 10] (6:19)
 * 7) Passepied [Suite Bergamasque No. 4] (3:17)
 * 8) The Girl with the Flaxen Hair [Preludes Book 1 No. 8] (3:25)
 * 9) Golliwog's Cakewalk [Children's Corner No. 6] (2:51)
 * 10) Footprints in the Snow [Preludes Book 1 No. 6] (4:35)
 * 1) The Engulfed Cathedral [Preludes Book 1 No. 10] (6:18)
 * 2) Passepied [Suite Bergamasque No. 4] (3:17)
 * 3) Snowflakes are Dancing [Children's Corner No. 4] (2:10)
 * 4) The Girl with the Flaxen Hair [Preludes Book 1 No. 8] (3:25)
 * 5) Arabesque No. 1 (3:57)
 * 6) Gardens in the Rain [Estampes No. 3] (3:41)
 * 7) Reverie (4:44)
 * 8) Golliwog's Cakewalk [Children's Corner No. 6] (2:50)
 * 9) Clair de Lune [Suite Bergamasque No. 3] (5:48) [[File:Clair.ogg]] [235k OGG]
 * 10) Footprints in the Snow [Preludes Book 1 No. 6] (4:30)

Sleeve Notes
Virtuoso Electronic Performances of Debussy's Beautiful Tone Paintings by Tomita Arranged and Performed by Isao Tomita Produced by Plasma Music Inc. Cover Art: David B. Hecht Art Director: J.J. Stelmach Liner Photo: Tomoki Sato

Isao Tomita was born in Tokyo in 1932. He studied art history at Keio University in Tokyo and pursued his interest in music and electronics with private teachers. While still a student he submitted a composition called Wind Mills to the Japan Federation of Choral Organizations to be used by contestants in a choral competition, and it was accepted. This led to requests for other compositions.

He wrote the theme music used by the Japanese gymnastics team in the 1956 Olympics and then turned to films and television, particularly the latter. He has written the background music for such year-long NHK series as "The Life of the Flower" (1960), "The Heaven and the Earth" (1969), "The New Tale of Heike" (1972) and "Kaishu Katsu" (1974), and for his contribution to the industry Tomita was awarded the prestigious Television Grand Prix for 1973.

He has also composed music for TV cartoon projects, including "The King of the Jungle", which was shown on NBC under the title "White Lion"; this music was later incorporated into a tone poem, which was performed by the Japanese Philharmonic. For Expo '70 he provided the music for the Toshiba Hall, and he has been commissioned to compose the music for the Japanese government hall at the 1975 Okinawa Marine Expo.

In 1973 Tomita established Plasma Music, which is dedicated to the creation of music by electronic means. Other members of the group include Kinji Kitashoji, who specializes in rock music, and Mitsuo Miyamoto, who specializes in mood music. Among the projects being planned are a piano-synthesizer concerto; The Prince of Stars, an original piece being composed by Tomita as a fantasy based on a synthesizer, and Orchestral Prayer, for the Ohara Sanzenin Temple in Kyoto, which would utilize traditional Japanese instruments coupled with synthesizers.

Technology
Back cover shot from the USA quadraphonic release of the album, listing of the gear to the left.