SONG OF THE MARCHING CHILDREN

In 1967 the twins Chris (guitar) and Gerard (keyboards) and bass player Hans Ziech founded the formation Opus Gainfull, one year drummer Cees Kalis joined the band. The name was changed into Earth & Fire, because astrologically Chris and Gerard are 'Earth', and Hans and Cees 'Fire'. The female singer Manuela "Lisette" Berloth completed Earth & Fire, but due to a severe eye disease she had to leave. "Lisette" was replaced by Jerney Kaagman, a discovery from Golden Earring singer Barry Hay. In 1969 and 1970 Earth & Fire had huge success with the singles Seasons, Ruby Is The One and Wild And Exciting, a blend of rock, pop and psychedelica, all reached the Dutch Single Top 5. In 1970 Ton van der Kleij replaced drummer Cees Kalis, and in 1971 Earth & Fire decided to turn into professionals, and keyboard player Gerard bought a Mellotron. This unsurpassed 'prehistoric sampler' became a pivotal part of the legendary early Seventies Earth & Fire sound, inspired by the fact that the band attended gigs from The Moody Blues and King Crimson in London.

Shortly after Gerard purchased the Mellotron M400 Earth & Fire released the album Song Of The Marching Children (1971), nowadays considered as one of the highlights in Dutch symphonic rock, but also highly praised worldwide, from Germany and the UK to the USA and Japan. The combination of Jerney her angel-like voice and the majestic sound of the Mellotron are an important part of the appreciation. I only know a few bands that also blend a female voice and the Mellotron, these are Julian's Treatment (a project by SF writer Julian Jay Savarin) from the UK, the Norwegian White Willow and the French Sandrose.

Side 1 opens with the track Carnival Of The Animals, it contains a captivating contrast between the sumptuous Hammond organ and the wonderful, at some moments high pitched voice of Jerney. Then the dreamy song Ebbtide, tastefully coloured with sparkling flute and delicate guitar work. And now my favourite Earth & Fire composition, Storm And Thunder. The intro features awesome vintage keyboards, soaring Mellotron violins and Hammond organ arpeggios, then Jerney joins with a dreamy voice, slightly melancholical. The band had done a great job to translate the ominous storm and thunder atmosphere into music, what a tension! Halfway a bombastic eruption, Jerney and the Mellotron carry the music, topped with howling guitar runs and propulsive drum beats. Finally the storm and thunder disappear, musically translated with soaring Hammond and Mellotron that slowly fade away, wow, what a song! Side 1 ends with the instrumental track In The Mountains: Chris shines with a varied guitar sound, using several effect pedals, and Gerard is Hammond adds a warm flavour.

Side 2 is filled with the epic titletrack, my highlight in Dutch symphonic rock history, how beautiful and compelling. Around 18 minutes we can enjoy those distinctive 24-carat symphonic rock shifting moods, accelarations, slowdowns, eruptions, and lush instrumentation: from dreamy to mid-tempo and bombastic, and from mellow Hammond and intense classical guitar to an interlude with Mellotron violins and in the end militairy drums, blended with ?. Mellotron violins. You almost see the marching children, impressive! Jerney succeeds to meander wonderfully between all those changing atmospheres, it was a splendid idea to replace "Lisette' by another female singer. That decision is an important part of the worldwide appreciation for Song Of The Marching Children, still a Dutch masterpiece after 50 years.

After this album Earth & Fire released a few other fine albums, but not at the level of this one. In 1979 the band even topped the charts with the poppy hit single Weekend, far away from the wonderful symphonic rock sound on Song Of The Marching Children.

By the way, for the vinyl freaks: the Dutch label Bennies Fifties has released a 12-inch limited edition golden vinyl version of Song Of The Marching Children.

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