Chariots of Fire by Vangelis

Greek composer Vangelis’ music has been described as ethereal. His finest works are, indeed, goosebumps-inducing. And the finest example of his ‘electronica classical‘ has to be his title track for the 1981 Hugh Hudson film, ‘Chariots of Fire‘. It is nothing short of a modern masterpiece.

Its synth-driven melodies were groundbreaking, fusing classical orchestration with electronic innovation. It begins with gentle, pulsing synths that gradually build into an uplifting and inspiring crescendo. Images of perseverance, unity and the sheer joy of striving against all odds – the theme of the historical sports drama – are bound to seep through while listening to the track.

Vangelis employs the Yamaha CS-80 synthesiser, known for its rich tonal quality and expressive capabilities. This instrument allowed him to blend orchestral textures with electronic timbres, creating a sound that felt both modern and timeless.

Working in his own studio allowed Vangelis freedom to experiment with different effects, reverb and mixing techniques to achieve the precise sound he envisioned.

But his genius lies in his mastery of layering. He used multi-track recording to layer different synth sounds, giving the title tune a lush, immersive quality.