Chariots of Fire

The worlds of music and movies are in mourning following the death of composer Vangelis has died aged 79. The Greek musician - who was born Evangelos ...

A master of the synthesizer, he won an Oscar for that film's score, and his memorable theme song became a No. 1 pop hit.

“I made up the name Mythodea from the words myth and ode,” Vangelis said in an interview for NASA’s website in 2001. “And I felt in it a kind of shared or common path with NASA’s current exploration of the planet. “I try to put myself in the situation and feel it,” he told The Washington Post in 1981. In the 1970s he began composing music for television shows like the French documentary series “L’Apocalypse des Animaux” (1973), as well as working on solo albums and film projects. For “Blade Runner,” a science-fiction film noir set in a futuristic Los Angeles, Vangelis created a score to match the director Ridley Scott’s dystopian vision. The “Blade Runner” soundtrack album was not released until 1994, but it was well received.

Former St Andrews Provost Callum MacLeod performed a stirring rendition of the iconic tune on the 27 bells of Holy Trinity Church. Callum played the Chariots of ...

You will receive your first newsletter soon.Email address Sign upThe Oscar-winning Chariots of Fire theme rang out across St Andrews on Friday in tribute to its composer Vangelis.Former St Andrews Provost Callum MacLeod performed a stirring rendition of the iconic tune on the 27 bells of Holy Trinity Church.Callum performing the Chariots of Fire theme on the carillon bells at Holy Trinity Church. Picture Kim Cessford/DCTMedia.He wanted to honour the Greek composer, who died earlier this week, by playing what has become a St Andrews anthem.Callum says people in St Andrews are proud of their link to the 1981 David Puttnam film, set before the 1924 Olympics.The opening scene includes a shot of young men running along the town’s West Sands, accompanied by the Chariots of Fire theme.Vangelis is also well known for Ridley Scott’s science fiction thriller Blade Runner and the Bafta-nominated Missing.And his death has prompted tributes from across the world.Chariots of Fire theme is ‘one of St Andrews anthems’Holy Trinity Church, on South Street, includes a rare set of carillon bells.Rather than pulling on a rope, players sit at a keyboard, which is connected by wires to the clappers above.Callum began his rendition just after the clock struck four, to the delight of shoppers in the street below.He says he often plays the theme from the tower, which dates from 1410.“It’s one of St Andrews’ anthems due to the film’s connection with the town,” he said.“I was a student in St Andrews when it was being filmed and an acquaintance of mine was one of the runners.“They rounded up a lot of student-age men to run along the beach as part of that famous scene.“They were all told to turn up the next day with a haircut.“And they were given vests and baggy shorts and were paid quite well for it.”Cheering in the cinema during the opening sceneCallum said there were emotional scenes in St Andrews’ cinema when the movie made its debut.“They were filmed running up the beach a few times, thinking ‘we’ll never hear about this again’.“But it became one of the most famous movies of all time.“We all went to see it at the cinema and there was a huge cheer when the West Sands appeared.“It was quite emotional and it took us all a bit by surprise.”The Hamilton Grand was used as the Carlton Hotel in Chariots of Fire.Despite the emotion, the students all laughed when the camera panned to what was then the students’ halls of residents, Hamilton Hall – now the privately-owned Hamilton Grand.“It’s next to the Old Course and is one of the most famous views in the world,” said Callum.“But in the film St Andrews is masquerading as Broadstairs in Kent, and there was a sign on the building saying Carlton Hotel.”The Chariots of Fire theme was hailed as innovative and inspirational.It went to number one in the US after its release.And it topped the UK charts in 2012 when Mr Bean performed it at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.Chariots of Fire at 40: St Andrews beach reshoot changed movie historyMore from The CourierChariots Of Fire composer Vangelis dies aged 79Avengers director Joe Russo to speak at Sands International Film Festival of St AndrewsOvernight fire in busy St Andrews street causes rush-hour disruptionPhotographer’s childhood memories of St Andrews inspire new book.widget{margin:0 auto 20px auto}.widget:last-child{margin-bottom:0}.widget-title{padding-bottom:10px;border-bottom:2px solid #e5e5e5;line-height:100%;font-weight:400;font-size:125%}.widget-posts{list-style:none}.widget-posts .post--list{padding-left:90px;min-height:48px}.widget-posts.no-thumbs>.post--list{padding-left:0;min-height:0}.widget-posts .thumbnail{width:80px;height:48px}.widget-posts .title--caps{display:none}.widget-posts .title--sm{font-size:87.5%;font-weight:400}.widget_sp_image .widget-title{margin-bottom:10px}.widget_sp_image img{display:block}.widget_sp_image-description{position:relative;padding:10px 10px 10px 40px;background-color:#fafafa}.widget_sp_image-description:before{content:'\f102';position:absolute;top:10px;left:10px;display:block;font-size:20px}.widget_sp_image-description>p{font-size:75%}.widget_text .textwidget{margin-top:10px}.textwidget>p{margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:1em;line-height:160%;font-size:85%;font-weight:300}.post-widgets{margin-bottom:20px} Please try again.Thanks for signing up to The Courier newsletter.