Mike Oldfield: Incantations - Part 4

ABC (Australian Broadcasting Commission) edit recreation of excerpt from Tony Palmer's 'The Space Movie', which was produced at the request of NASA to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. Featuring the music of Mike Oldfield's Incantations. ABC broadcast date circa 1983.

[@johnkauppi7078]

It took me years to find this after hearing it as a teen.I'm 57.

[@sophievonundzu8150]

I‘m feeling the same. Just that I‘m 26 and heard this when I was a child. I’m from germany and my dad had the greatest taste in music.

[@illatease_iae]

Same here, my dad played it in the car and it took me 10 years to find it.

[@manfredheck3529]

Both of you: why didn't you buy the record? It was always available...

[@johnkauppi7078]

@@manfredheck3529 Yeah, well I had no idea who the Artist was or what the music was even called. All I knew was, it played on the ABC Australia when I was a kid in the '79-'80.

[@shanesargeson532]

Same here, played between shows before 6pm.

[@alanhealy1885]

Possibly Mike's best piece ever, timeless.

[@costaminus3549]

Yeah, really 😀😀😀

[@scotthillard3418]

Only rivalled by his Montreaux performance of North Star/ Platinum Finale.

[@javiertoribio7629]

Absolutamente de acuerdo!

[@anamariamartinez4259]

He crecido con toda su música y no sabría elegir, toda me encanta

[@wacawako6443]

Yes. But you only forgot Hiberna Culum...

[@pagonabarbata1364]

I remember watching this back in the early 80s on the ABC after school. Brings back many memories.

[@hotpotato4027]

Same here, video it from telly on VHS…🙋🏻‍♂️

[@grailchaser]

My first introduction to Mike Oldfield was this video on the ABC's Video Hits, probably just after the Goodies and before Dr Who. :)

[@plmsdevelopments]

"The Goodies and before Dr Who" Also my memories of after school nights in front of the B&W TV in the late 70's too, add Cat Weasel as well...

[@davidh7414]

@@grailchaser you forgot the Kenny Everett Video Show as well at that time in early 80's

[@flinderscat1]

Same here, great days.

[@paulsheringham9837]

Thank you to ABC TV. I remembering listening to this as a child and understanding the sadness and fragile beauty of this world.

[@Daemien65]

This and the "Butterfly ball" !

[@paulsheringham9837]

Hughes Damien And Jolanta by Earl Klugh, Voyager by Alan Parsons

[@VishusB]

I saw this just the once when I was 12, around 1982, (on ABC I think!) and I never saw it again but it stayed with me. Gives me goosebumps seeing it again.

[@davidmason7765]

@@Daemien65 yes, with the frog's vocals by ... Ronnie James Dio

[@MoonUnit640]

I rang the ABC and asked them what the song was called. I was already a MO fan. I just didn't know it. The whole Incantations LP is a classic. I still you love you dad.

[@DerekMcAllan]

The nostalgia is so so strong with this one... love Mike Oldfield, but the pairing with this film clip is just perfect and I used to be glued to the TV anytime this came on the ABC. I fell 10 years old again :D

[@Riatzi]

Wonderful, marvelous music, plus celestial vocals by Maddy Prior.

[@marcusdavis7966]

I’ve listened to mike since I was 9 years old I’m 52 now when ever I want to find myself again incantations is where I journey to. An incredible piece of imagination and sheer indulgence never to be forgotten.

[@plmsdevelopments]

I used to watch this as a kid and daydream about one day seeing the moon close up myself, never imagining that humanity would drop the ball of manned space exploration for the next four decades. Sadly it will never be possible for me and the other day dreamers of that age, we're too old now...

[@davidh7414]

You are not alone. There are plenty of Aussie Gen X kids the same. I was 8 years old in mid 80's I used to dream of flying to space as well after watching this.

[@GreatVoltairesGhost]

Maddy's voice brings tears to my eyes *every* time

[@MrSevillian]

Maddy or Sally?

[@GreatVoltairesGhost]

I believe they sang it together but all I hear is Maddy 😌

[@camugi100]

Definitely Maddy Prior, the one and only :-)

[@Belfreyite]

Maddy shared the top spot with two other fantastic female vocalists, the sadly lamented Sandy Denny and June Tabor.

[@scotthillard3418]

@@MrSevillian It's Maddy Prior on this track.

[@garrypower5956]

This music restores my faith in humanity.

[@henrywhittaker2519]

The Incantations album represents a rare high point in contemporary music, most likely never to be surpassed or equaled.

[@sneeuwgetsie]

MO has composed so much beautiful music. He must be in contact with another dimension 🪐

[@christod1]

Amazing. I have been looking for this for more than 20 years. I also remeber as a child watching it on ABC. The video and music still move me. Thank you so much...

[@waefelectricflyer3163]

Me too, remember it from my childhood.

[@SeanWhite-by8uj]

Getting ready for Doctor Who, in pyjamas

[@apost8ofoz378]

I remember watching this as a fill in between programs on the ABC. Decades passed and this song had haunted me that i could never remember it or who composed it until a brief off chance on radio i heard the end of it and Mike Oldfield mentioned. Looked it up and here it is. A most beloved piece of music i will enjoy for as long as i'm able.

[@DavidPablo29-s5c]

IMPRESIONANTE. Una de las mejores canciones de New Age de todos los tiempos.

[@tech9803]

A masterpiece. The combination of beautiful music and complimenting video.

[@mckeevertom1927]

The Space Movie was in theatres in the US in 1979. I missed that but in 1981 whwn I purchased my first VHS player/recorder it was the first video I purchased about the space program. Many more were to follow.

[@Ensign_Cthulhu]

I was a Mike Oldfield fan before I realised this was one of his works, and when I finally listened to Incantations I was shocked and amazed. I'd sort of wondered, but it was such a joyous surprise to have it confirmed.

[@squizznut]

This piece of music seems to touch so many people...I close my eyes and feel the powers of the universe reach in lift me up whenever I hear this.

[@Rockgi59]

Masterpiece.

[@misty_miss]

I watched this on the ABC as a kid and now my own children get to enjoy it on here. This song is the queen of all music.

[@yvonneoblein6333]

Love this from the first time I saw it on ABC back in late 70s

[@stuartshone1740]

such a long time, I had forgotten this. so wonderful

[@fabriziocoppola9014]

Absolutely wonderful !!

[@LitShaeffer]

Thanks echelon for solving a puzzle that has bugged me for so long. What an amazing piece of music from an astounding musician.

[@UteAlbers-yd1se]

Wonderful Song 👍🎶🙂

[@bradleyfrost6455]

Hauntingly beautiful!

[@メイスン-s3n]

翻訳字幕付けてくれた方、お疲れ様です ありがとう

[@peterszabo1734]

Ni Hao Ma

[@TheFinalMinutes]

Thank you for posting this. Its been haunting me for years, so glad I found this!

[@darcy_taylor3103]

Genius ! Poland Love Michael Gordon Oldfield ;-)

[@Yeromos100]

The most wounderful voice of a woman that I ever heard! Great Performance!

[@jerryausten3931]

She was the lead singer in a band called Steeleye Span, in case you hadn't found that out in the last 7 years since your comment. Hope you discovered more of her incredible voice in the interim !

[@grahamboyce1719]

Maddie Prior

[@kerrydwyer4993]

2019 Still perfection, Mike. Thank you

[@fabriziomarchese9828]

Absolutely stunning, images and music that produce thick emotions

[@keironsummers8629]

Only ever saw this in the early 80's on the ABC between episodes of Monkey Magic and Tom Baker 'Dr Who'. Can't find it on either Spotify or Apple Music. Thank you KZbin.

[@germain772]

splendid music, marvellous voice.

[@martinwitchard8260]

Thank you. My earworm is completely satisfied.

[@bdeesch]

Mesmerizing! Beautiful! ❤️

[@mariastella6805]

ADORE THIS SONG !!!

[@iommiwasaboilermaker868]

I love this as much today as I did when I first saw it on ABC when I was a kid...The penny dropped when I became a fan of Oldfield,this filler was in my head,I realised it was Oldfield and youtubed to i found the song.This was a fair few years ago when you tube had not long started

[@Ensign_Cthulhu]

I loved this from long before I knew who Mike Oldfield was, but I had the sneaking suspicion after I became a fan that this might have been his doing. The first time I listened to the whole album and this tune came in at the end, I had that same "I knew it!" feeling that you see Thor have when Captain America lifts his hammer in Avengers: Endgame.

[@bobbavet]

When I was a kid this filler amazed me both musically and visually. Laying on the carpet, on a hot afternoon with fan on. Waiting for Countdown or Doctor Who to come on. Thinking WOW, amazing and dreaming how we are goin to travel so far in the future. Now it's the future and the missions at best an epic waste of time, money and effort, at worst fake. Though the music remains constant and still lifts me with my dreams.

[@tassiedave3227]

+Dedley Tedley And the same for me. Late seventies, played on the ABC in Tasmania as a fill in before other programs every now and then. I was transfixed. I never knew what and who it was, until a mate was over and his dad was into this stuff. Pretty out there for a 10 year old. I still play it regularly, thanks to KZbin and my Cd copies.

[@JohnKuridala]

+bobbavet you nailed it man.. I still listen to this track 3-4 times a week.. obsessed with it. And it all started being a completely mesmerised kid.

[@StupidLittleNobody]

Countdown or Doctor Who... or The Goodies.

[@rienneant3095]

And yet, Bob, this is the beginning of the Ascend of Man. We shall pursue that endeavour, we shall run that gauntlet and we shall complete that journey. We shall harvest stars and mold distant worlds and some day look back at these feeble attempts and frail ships and wonder how we could cross that threshold. But watching this, I just know we shall.

[@Jayar74]

Fake? The missions have all been widely useful - even if not appearing to brazenly 'explore' - they've now been experimenting with fundamental stuff of the local solar system; creating returnable spacecraft, putting up telescopes that can nearly see to the edge of the observable universe, discovering habitable planets, landing on moving comets, sending more and more to Mars, flybys of Pluto...

[@leonstuij9540]

I have no words for this.

[@patriciaannetaylor1679]

A tremendous track..👌

[@nikostavalion]

My favourite track of Mike Oldfield!!

[@anamariamartinez4259]

Esta pieza me vuelve loca, tiene así un ritmo de no se que lugar, una mezcla, que incita a bailar por lo menos a mí, extrañamente bella❤❤❤🦋

[@jonray4690]

Thank you so much - I remember this from the ABC and it's been with me for so many years - Thank you again Cheers

[@MrNympholover]

Remember seeing this on an Old Grey Whistle Test circa 1978/1979 some years back.

[@wimkippers7085]

The live performance in 1981 is also Great with an extra guitar solo in part 4

[@simonreed731]

Top marks to who ever posted this. As a kid no matter how many times I watch this clip it just filled me with Aw and wonderment.

[@Etswe]

I listened to this first time while reading an article about Carole Landis. I thought it was very suiting; Beautiful music to a beautiful woman.

[@David64T]

How nice would it be if the ABC could slip some of these into their Rage Retro nights, during the Summer?

[@feverpitchtv]

Tonight's "rage" is a Space Special. Sadly this is nowhere in it.

[@seedubyu]

ALLWAYS remember getting Incantations and listening to this for the first time. The feeling that I had.....it was like knowing something that I had no experience of, something ancient. It was mesmerising and it still is. I dont know what it is but I feel something on a really deep level when I listen to this music, it is brilliant.

[@alekkacosmos9807]

Absolutamente hermoso ¿qué más podría pedir? El cosmos y Mike Oldfield.

[@Graham-ce2yk]

It is one of those pieces that contrives an 'epic' feel without 'epic' forces. I also remember the ABC fillers, but I'm pretty sure that the version of this one most often shown didn't include the Apollo footage, but footage from other NASA documentaries from the 1970s covering missions like Viking, Pioneer Venus, Pioneer 10/11. May someone one day upload that as well.

[@mathieuperroud2612]

Masterpiece !.

[@nodlon20]

I LOVED this movie! Please re-release it!

[@nodlon20]

Mike Higashi Hey Mike! Fine! Did you post that Mike Oldfield?? I wish they would release that movie here in the United States. I LOVED it, would love to get it on DVD

[@digitalramyun]

Absolutely spine-tingling piece, especially with Sally Oldfield and Maddy Prior's singing of Ben Jonson's "Ode To Cynthia". I've often imagined this sequence as the "soundtrack" to the closing section (Aslan's country) of "The Last Battle" by CS Lewis... not quite sure why!

[@Jordi_SP]

For me, this song is de MAIN THEME of mike oldfield. personally

[@marcosdef239]

Magical and splendid song

[@MrSevillian]

This music leaves me transfixed. While I do not always fall in love with the totality of his albums, there is usually some excerpt in them that I find mesmerizing.

[@uwhsimon3]

I remember watching this when I was 14-15, and being totally amazed at how incredibly insignificant people were, compared to the universe. The music was perfect for the video.

[@catarinasilva594]

My music ♥️

[@davidmason7765]

Oh my god. Maddy Prior and Apollo/Soyuz missions in the same vision. Best memory from 50 years ago

[@mathieuperroud2612]

one of my favourite piece of music.. un de mes morceaux préférés..

[@robcheerful]

When I heard this in the background while I was playing with matchbox cars I used to go out to the lounge room and watch the tv.

[@nelsonpinto968]

Uma das musicas instrumentais mais belas e profundas de sempre. Adoro

[@ozegirl44]

When the ABC had a spot to fill between programs back in the day, they would quite often play this piece by Mike Oldfield. It took me ages to find out what it was called and who the artist was. Then I tried to buy the album but it wasn't in Australia and had to be imported!

[@helencarter693]

Just beautiful.

[@unprof1615]

2'45" parte il Chorus of Angels....pelle d'oca

[@riverelbe3122]

This is my driving Force!! Lordy Life..Here Goes another adventure...This music is inspirational :)

[@thomfmify]

Touching sense, hearts, then in 1978. Great Mike, always worshipping you and your art!!! Amities du Allemagne!!!!! Never forget his sister Sally Oldfield, appearance on this album, now the lyrics: The Song of Hiawatha: . By the shore of gitche gumee By the shining big-sea-water At the doorway of the wigwam In the early summer morning Hiawatha stood and waited All the air was full of freshness All the earth was bright and joyous And before him through the sunshine Westward toward the neighbouring forest Passed in golden swams, the ahmo Passed the bees, the honey-makers Burning, singing in the sunshine Bright above him shone the heavens Level spread the lake before him; From it's bosom leaped the sturgeon Sparkling, flashing in the sunshine On it's margin the great forest Stood reflected in the water Every tree-top had it's shadow Motionless beneath the water From the bow of hiawatha Gone was every trace of sorrow As the fog from off the water As the mist of the meadow With a smile of joy and gladness With a look of exultation As of one who in a vision Sees what is to be, but is not Stood and waited hiawatha Toward the sun his hands were lifted Both the palms spread out towards it And between the parted fingers Feel the sunshine on his features Flecked with light his naked shoulders As it falls and flecks an oak-tree Through the rifted leaves and branches O'er the water floating, flying Something in the hazy distance Something in the mist of morning Loomed and lifted from the water Now seemed floating, now seemed flying Coming nearer, nearer, nearer Was it shingebis, the diver? Or the pelican, the shada? Or the heron, the shuh-shuh-gah? Or the white goose, waw-be-wawa, With the water dripping, flashing From it's glossy neck and feathers? It was neither goose or diver Neither pelican nor heron O'er the water floating, flying Through the shining mist of morning But a birch canoe with paddles Rising, sinking in the sunshine Dripping, flashing in the sunshine And within it came a people Can it be the sun descending O'er the level plain of water Or the red swan floatin, flying Wounded by the magic arrow Staining all the waves with crimson With the crimson of it's lifeblood Filling all the air with splendour Filling all the air with plumage Yes, it is the sun descending Sinking down into the water All the sky is stained with purple All the water flushed with crimson! No, it is the red swan floating Diving down beneath the water To the sky it's wings are lifted With it's blood the waves are reddened! Over it the star of evening Melts and trembles through the purple Hangs suspended in the twilight Walks in silence through the heavens!

[@benchampion3768]

That’s the lyrics for Incantations part 2 I do believe

[@fabiobaglioni5852]

Molto forte!!!!!!

[@francisleal6502]

Simply amazing

[@blackletter2591]

Our fledgling wings. We were never better.

[@garysiddons2157]

2024 still perfect. 😊

[@shopgirl2099]

I would love if it this was updated with the amazing images from Hubble and the JWT... but these images are so beautiful, they show bravery and hope and wonder. It's a history that so many today will never know of.

[@sergio_el_requete.]

Mike Oldfield proved to be The Alchemist of music. In spite of all the unsuccessful efforts to turn an ordinary metal into gold, or any ordinary substance into medicine back in the Middle Ages, this Maestro was able to turn ordinary sound waves into the most precious gems, and the Ben Johnson's lyrics taken to exaltation. AS a catholic, it is not my intention to sympathize with any pagan expressions, but I understand this lyrics as a hymn to Our Lord, The Only God. Morning and night are nothing but part of His Creation. And Mike Oldfield was able to express this wonderfully. Greetings from Chile.

[@makiseythimopoulos3470]

fantastic music, best wishes from athens greece

[@nevrs]

Used to see this all the time growing up on ABC in between the kids shows

[@MrWindowman1]

the bell was a total tune for me with his genius adding of more instruments which he played individually to add together love mike

[@totoroboy1236]

I love this song so much!!!!!

[@nickshipway8199]

The ABC used this and many other short films to fill in around kids shows. I'd love to see more of them. Other clips I can remember were: Rainbow Connection with Kermit, Love Is All (Butterfly Ball) by Roger Glover & guests, Portsmouth by Mike Oldfield. Clips I can't name but would like to track down: A short film with a woman painting garden gnomes, a film of a model railway backed by (I think) fairground organ music, scenes from a steam railway and a film of two kids playing with toy soldiers seen from the soldiers point of view (I seem to remember the boy and girl running of hand in hand leaving all the soldiers behind). Does anyone know what any of these were called?

[@David64T]

Nick Shipway Was it Villa-Lobos 'Little Train of the Caipira'? I'm glad I'm not the only person who remembers these clips on ABC TV! I remember the film clip for Kevin Peek's "Sailplane" had some airplay too (a paper plane drifting down a stream)

[@resolutehamster]

+Nick Shipway I remember them all, Nick. Sigh ... I have such fond memories of childhood afternoons spent watching ABC afternoon TV, with shows like The Goodies, Dr Who etc. Thanks to the comment from David64T, I also found out about Kevin Peek's "Sailplane" which I have been carrying around in my head for about 30 years wondering if I'd ever find out what that piece of music was that I loved as a kid. The sense of nostalgia is so strong it brings me to tears. I had a similar experience with another piece of music from ABC TV at the time - it turned out to be the theme tune to "Chocky's Children" - an experimental synth piece called "Red Kite". You can view that here on KZbin as well.

[@tassiedave3227]

+resolutehamster Don't forget Catweasel, I still "tear up" in the final scene.....and I'm nearly 50!

[@JohnKuridala]

+Nick Shipway I remember Fleetwood Mac's Tusk was regularly used as a time filler as well

[@bedraggled1]

Thanks - I've been wanting the name of artist of Sailplane for 30+ years. The images of the plane coming off the waterfall have stuck in my head since childhood.

[@sudocarbon]

I concur with "MoonUnit640,AlBoerik and OzNormandy' I also have been waiting 30 years to find this gem. You gotta love UTube !!!

[@grahamboyce1719]

Totally love Maddie Prior. Immortal voice.

[@frankg3222]

Eines der besten Lieder vom Meister

[@anamariamartinez4259]

🌹❤🎸 From Spain.

[@JeanDelvaux-h7x]

Tout simplement grandiose🦸🦸🦸🦸🦸

[@bernardw4842]

I'm another one with memories of this clip from the ABC, for years they played this and another clip. Never knew what it was until tonight it occurred to me the guitar and overall arrangement sounded like Mike Oldfield (isn't it structured a lot like Tubular Bells?) so I googled "Mike Oldfield video with moon landing" and lo and behold. The other one they played all the time was by Yellow Magic Orchestra and it took me almost as long to find out what it was, it's called Firecracker, with all the computer vector graphics and analogue video processing on it. If you remember this from the ABC look up that one too, you'll remember it (also posted incorrectly as Rydeen but skip about the first 2 minutes of that one)

[@andypitchless]

What a pretty little Melody.

[@andrealocci8098]

Wonderful

[@iommiwasaboilermaker868]

I just came back here after watching "The Dish"....A great movie that has A kind of magic

[@mariastella6805]

DIVINE

[@Green-bj1zx]

Es un genio

[@jerzinho92]

More meanfull than ever. Peace

[@curtisedwardson7758]

Yeah baby...we did it!

[@plmsdevelopments]

Time for a remake using HD video of the many Spacex flights and booster recoveries... (and one day the moon again).