Stepan Project - Progressive Folk (?) - Progressive Rock Music Forum

Moved to Eclectic.

Two members of the Eclectic Team have so far voted; one ''move'' to Folk and another ''move'' to Folk or JR/F. The Prog Folk team said they would reconsider the artist if rejected by Eclectic, so that looks likely now.

Yep, Crossover was also mentioned by the PF guys and that's another possibility. I know David has had a listen already so maybe we should try there first. I'll check with Eclectic to see if they're done.

Still awaiting Eclectic's official response to Chris's query regarding whether or not they are done with this artist, but the comment just prior to his post suggested that they thought Stepan Project seemed to linger somewhere in between Prog Folk and Crossover, and all votes cast there have been 'move' votes.

Prog Folk have said they might be able to accept if neither Eclectic or Crossover would take them, so it seems logical for Crossover to take a quick look (listen) next before they most likely end up back where they started! I thought it was worth us evaluating this artist based on the clips I saw in this thread some time ago of a TV show they did, but will wait for the official nod before proceeding any further.

Edited by yam yam - May 03 2013 at 02:45

^ Many thanks for those links.

Listening now...

Edited by yam yam - May 03 2013 at 05:25

Yes, I did enjoy it thanks...And I would echo the comment posted in Eclectic's team thread that if not seen as fit for that sub (which it seems they are not), then this artist lies somewhere between Prog Folk and Crossover, with much variation in style between tracks, and definitely belonging in the archives somewhere, I feel.

If this project does eventually get moved to Crossover then I would definitely vote 'yes' for inclusion.

yam yam wrote:

Yes, I did enjoy it thanks...And I would echo the comment posted in Eclectic's team thread that if not seen as fit for that sub (which it seems they are not), then this artist lies somewhere between Prog Folk and Crossover, with much variation in style between tracks, and definitely belonging in the archives somewhere, I feel.

If this project does eventually get moved to Crossover then I would definitely vote 'yes' for inclusion.

Now is your chance David!

Thanks! Waiting for the next vote now! Tongue

http://www.last.fm/user/amatala

Ilie Stepan was born on November 24, 1953, in Caransebes, Romania and is one of the great legends of Romanian rock. Not only a fine composer, guitarist, instrumentalist, arranger and author - he is also a radio and television producer - and producer of film and theatre music, as well as other artistic projects. Founder of the group Pro Musica, whose first performance was in January 1973 - and the author of one of the most impressive songs of the Romanian Revolution "Timisoara" - he was also an active member of the group Progress TM from 1975 to 1977, playing bass and acoustic guitar.

He reorganized Pro Musica in 1978, orientating it towards progressive rock influences and Balkan national ethos.

Stepan Project:

Ilie Stepan established the group 'Stepan Project' to work on the musical project "Trilogia Sensului Vieţii" (A trilogy called "The Meaning of Life"), which included "Sensul Vieţii" (Meaning of Life), the CD for which appeared in 1996, "Undeva în Europa…" (Somewhere in Europe …), which appeared as a double CD in 2001, and "Lumina" (Light), a lavish triple CD and DVD box set, which was finally issued in 2012.

The launch performance of the first part of the trilogy, "Sensul Vieţii", released in 1996, was attended by 24 invited musicians from folk, pop-rock, jazz-rock, classical and folklore, alongside musicians from Ilie's former band Pro Musica. In addition to the traditional rock instruments, the group used a variety of other more esoteric instruments. "Sensul Vieţii" was nominated in all Romanian rankings for 1996, and was named as the disc of the year by Panoramic TV.

The double CD "Undeva în Europa…" continued the concept behind "Sensul Vieţii". Launched on the Internet in the first second of 2001, the music video for the track "Lumina" signified the first signs of the new millennium on a planetary scale, and the album itself contains 22 tracks in total, covering 130 minutes of music. Along with Ilie Stepan himself, over 30 musicians are used. The album took three and a half years to make and a launch 'megaconcert' was held on 31 December 2006, occasioned by the accession of Romania to the European Union, and performed in front of over 100,000 spectators.

"Lumina" itself contains three CDs and a booklet of 80 pages, and took 11 years to complete, finally closing the trilogy. It is indeed a great epic fusion, with 33 tracks on three CDs, 3 bonus tracks, 7 slideshows, 3 videos, 2 concert recordings on landscape DVD, with 5.1 Surround Sound (the first Romanian DVD to feature this). In total it contains five and a half hours music. Dozens of instruments were used once again, from the archaic (leaf, bagpipes, dulcimer, cobza, violin trumpet, chop, taragot, pipe) to the more typical modern rock instruments. Not only musicians, but painters, photographers, graphic artists, filmmakers and writers were employed. This final part of the project also included Bards, religious choirs, opera singers, musicians from the world of folk, pop, rock and jazz, as well as specialists in electronic and computer music. The official release concert took place in Timisoara in the Great Hall of the Council of CJTimis, on 20th November 2012, under the title "Extraordinary Concert Ilie Stepan, Dietrich Krauser, Horia Crisovan and their guests." At one point of the concert members of Ilie's former group group Pro Musica were on stage together for the first time in 18 years.

Stepan Project – Sensul Vietii / The Sense Of Life (1996) (http://www.discogs.com/Stepan-Project-Sensul-Vietii-The-Sense-Of-Life/release/2985319)
(Radio Vest – 513 113-2)

1. Genesis (1:53)
2. The First Light-lullaby (1:31)
3. The Child Flight (6:33)
4. Sense Of Life (3:55)
5. Corinda (5:44)
6. Ancestors (6:42)
7. The Day Before (1:27)
8. Revelation (6:12)
9. So Many Times (5:24)
10. Alone, We Are (5:45)
11. The Light Again - La Steaua (4:43)
12. Cosmogony (6:59)
13. Adieu (2:00)
14. The Journey (6:35)
15. Balcanian Road, My Love (5:15)
16. The Last Night - The Day After (5:38)

Phonographic Copyright (p)– Radio Vest
Copyright (c)– Radio Vest
Copyright (c)– Ilie Stepan
Manufactured By– Sony DADC Austria

Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar– Ilie Stepan
Artwork [Sculture Art]– Ştefan Călărăşanu
Bagpipes [Cimpoi]– Grigore Merceanu
Bass Guitar– Dixi Krauser, Mihai Breazu
Choir– "Anastasis" Choir*
Cimbalom [Ţambal]– Mircea Ardeleanu
Composed By, Arranged By– Carol Bleich (tracks: 10, 14), Eli Patisen (tracks: 10, 14), Ilie Stepan (tracks: 1 to 9, 11 to 13, 15, 16)
Conductor [Choir]– Dan Milan Mengeşi
Design [Graphics]– Victor Rudan
Directed By– Andrei Burduşa, George Schinteie
Drum Programming, Keyboards [Add.]– Carol "Țucu" Bleich*
Electric Guitar– Horea Crișovan
Guitar [Additional], Performer [Eggs], Percussion, Mixed By, Mastered By– Alex "Boița" Perin*
Keyboards, Piano– Mircea Stratan
Lead Vocals– Marius Baţu
Lyrics By– Gabriela Savisky (tracks: 5, 7, 15), Mihai Eminescu (tracks: 9, 11, 13), Șerban Foarță (tracks: 5, 7, 15)
Other [Psychological Consultant]– Dr. Ioan Olteanu
Percussion [Toacă]– Ioan Brânzei
Performer [Zbici]– Florin Sârbescu
Photography By [Photos]– Stelian Acea
Piano [Add.]– Dinel Tolea
Producer– Alex "Boița" Perin*, Ilie Stepan
Programmed By [Bass], Keyboards [Add.]– Eli Patisen
Recorder [Blockflöte], Voice Actor– Eugen Iosif
Saxophone [All Saxophones], Flute– Liviu Butoi
Violin– Luminiţa Burcă
Violin [Ethno Violins, Higheghe]– Radu Vincu
Violin [Ethno Violins]– Ilie Vincu
Voice [Additional High]– Anca Indreica
Voice [Athmo]– Sergio Simionese
Voice [Space]– Daniel Petre*
Voice Actor– Eugen Moţăţeanu

Recorded and mixed in Timisoara, September 1995-May 1996
℗ 1996 Radio Vest, Timisoara, Romania
© 1996 Ilie Stepan & Radio Vest

Stepan Project– Undeva În Europa... (2001) (http://www.discogs.com/Stepan-Project-Undeva-%C3%8En-Europa/release/2987980)

Label: Show Factory – SF CD 001

Tracklist + Credits:

1-1. Anul 1001 D. Hr. (8:08)
1-2. Calauza (4:37)
1-3. Chira Chiralina (6:14)
1-4. Cei Care Sfideaza Moartea (5:39) Lyrics By [Versuri Populare] – Traditional
1-5. Replici (6:23) Lyrics By – Mihai Eminescu
1-6. Daliana-i Fata Dalba (7:28) Lyrics By [Versuri Populare] – Traditional
1-7. Legenda Mânzului Cu Stea În Frunte (4:03)
1-8. Pasarea Maiastra (5:50) Lyrics By [Versuri Populare] – Traditional
1-9. Mașina Timpului (8:49)
1-10. Generatia De Sacrificiu (3:29) Lyrics By – Horea Crișovan
1-11. Câmpul Cu Maci (6:12)

2-1. Sfârșit De Secol (4:55) Lyrics By – Marian Odangiu
2-2. Undeva În Europa (7:00)
2-3. Lumina (7:18) Lyrics By [Versuri Bisericesti Traditionale] – Traditional Music By [Intro "veniti De Luati Lumina"] – Anonim*
2-4. Atmo (4:05)
2-5. Femeia În Roșu (6:48)
2-6. ... De Toamna (2:21)
2-7. Drumul Banatului (6:35) Lyrics By [Versuri Populare] – Traditional
2-8. Piatra Scrisa (7:48) Lyrics By [Versuri Bisericesti Traditionale] – Traditional Music By [Intro "troparul Nasterii"] – Anonim*
2-9. Sus În Deal La Viflaiem (4:12) Arranged By [Prelucrat De] – Ilie Stepan Music By [Colind Popular], Lyrics By [Versuri Populare] – Traditional Other [Cules De] – George Popovici
2-10. Warning (4:25) Lyrics By – Eugen Iosif
2-11. Binecuvântați Animalele Și Copiii (Binecuvântați Și Epilog) (9:47) Lyrics By – Marian Odangiu

Recorded At– Radio Vest
Recorded At– Show Factory
Mixed At– Show Factory
Mastered At– Show Factory
Designed At– Show Factory

Choir– Corul "Anastasis"*, Corul Psaltic "Sf. Iosif de la Paltoș"
Composed By– Adrian Popovici (tracks: 1-4), Horea Crișovan (tracks: 1-10, 2-4), Ilie Stepan (tracks: 1-1 to 1-9, 1-11 to 2-3, 2-5 to 2-8, 2-10, 2-11)
Conductor [Dirijor Corul "anastasis"]– Dan Milan Mengeși
Conductor [Dirijor Corul Psaltic "sf. Iosif De La Paltoş"], Soloist– Ciprian Zeno Popescu
Liner Notes– Doru Ionescu, Dr. Ioan Olteanu
Performer [Invitaţi]– Adrian Popovici, Alex "Boița" Perin*, Alexandra Guțu, Claudia Ieremia, Constantin Grangure, Cristian Bălteanu, Dixi Krauser, Doru Apreotesei, Eugen Iosif, Florin Barbu, Florin Sârbescu, George Popovici (2), Goran Luchin, Ioan Eleodor, Iosif Babescu, Laura Modi, Laurențiu Cazan, Liviu Butoi, Luminița Burcă, Mariana Toderoni, Marius Mihai, Mircea Baniciu, Mircea Toderoni, Petrică Drăgan, Petrică Ionuțescu, Ronald Stockinger, Sebastian Ciocan, Victor Oancea, Vlady Cnejevici
Performer [Sepan Project]– Horea Crișovan, Ilie Stepan, Mircea Stratan
Photography By [Fotografia Copertei]– Gheorghe Șfaițer
Photography By [Fotografii]– Eli Patisen, Gheorghe Șfaițer
Producer– Ilie Stepan, Sebastian Ciocan
Programmed By [Radio Vest Studios], Edited By [Radio Vest Studios]– Mircea Stratan
Programmed By [Show Factory Studios], Edited By [Show Factory Studios]– Ioan Eleodor, Sebastian Ciocan
Vocals– Bocitoarele din Săpânța

Notes:

Programare midi - Radio Vest - Noiembrie 1996 - Decembrie 1997
Înregistrări - Radio Vest - Ianuarie 1998 - Octombrie 1999
Înregistrăre și mixaj - Show Factory - Noiembrie 1999 - August 2000
Masterizare - Show Factory - Septembrie - Octombrie 2000
Programare și montaj multimedia - Show Factory - Septembrie 2000 - Ianuarie 2001
Prezentare grafică - Show Factory - Februarie - Aprilie 2001

The Third album in the trilogy: "Lumina", has such an immense list of credits (different for each track, and numerous contributors to every one) that it wouldn't all fit on one forum page!!! I've sent it in a pm for you to edit as you feel is best!

I also haven't found the track timings for "Lumina" as yet.

Edited by yam yam - May 31 2013 at 23:53

Great news! Thanks to all, especially Yam Yam for providing the biography :)

http://www.last.fm/group/Progressive+Folk