(by 13 people)
The Penguin Cafe Way
The Penguin Cafe Orchestra's music is beautiful, humorous and unique. It will sound familiar to anybody, anywhere in the world, and that's why it will make you smile.
To others, its musical style can be loosely defined as a blend of chamber music, ambient and folk with strong harmonic elements. Lots of strings, piano, harmonium, bass, cuatro and ukuleles are the main instruments.
Watch and Listen to The Penguin Cafe Orchestra
You might have listened to their music already!
PCO - Prelude and Yodel
and tell me what you think?
"The Penguin Cafe is an imaginary and kind of introverted place which did not exist in the real world."
Simon Jeffes
PCO's Founder, Sole Composer and Spiritual Proprietor
He always considered he didn't have enough musical training to be a classical musician and no intimacy with pop to be a popular musician. And although he lived in many countries and was crazy about music from many cultures he never wanted to do "world music".
In this clip, Simon explains why he used Penguin for the name of the band.
What's Your Favorite Album?
Perhaps PCO's Most Popular Piece of Music
"The music loves to be played."
Aquatic Penguins
PCO - Heartwind
PCO - Lie Back and Think of England
PCO - Lifeboat (Lovers' Rock)
Still Life At The Penguin Cafe
The PCO Alumni Went Back For 3 Concerts on December 2007
The shows were timed to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the death of the PCO's founder, Simon Jeffes.
John Bungey wrote a nice review on TimesOnline: "Under the auspices of Jeffes's son Arthur, the ten-piece ensemble revived greatest hits that varied from the melodic minimalism of Numbers 1-4 to the joyous bustle of Music for a Found Harmonium and the Latin lilt of Lifeboat (Lovers Rock)."
From left to right: Peter McGowan, Barbara Bolte, Helen Liebmann, Arthur Jeffes, Geoffrey Richardson, Stephen Fletcher, Annie Whitehead, Jennifer Maidman and Neil Rennie.Concert Prgram
1. Air a Danser
2. White Mischief
3. Organum
4. Southern Jukebox Music
5. Number 1-4
6. Air
7. Perpetuum Mobile
8. Nothing Really Blue
9. Telephone and Rubber Band
Intermission
10. Beanfields
11. Prelude and Yodel
12. Surface Tension
13. Oscar Tango
14. Music for a Found Harmonium
15. Lifeboat (Lovers Rock)
16. Steady State
17. Scherzo and Trio
18. Paul's Dance
19. Giles Farnaby's Dream
20. Salty Bean Fumble
21. Red Shorts
At the Union Chapel in Islington, England. 11th Dec 2007
So How Was The Show?
It's been a few years since I have been so captivated by a performance. An eclectic mix of supreme musicians who were obviously having fun and enjoying every moment of the performance. I didn't want the night to end.
Thank you for such a wonderful evening.
Graham
Three Reasons to Love Penguin Cafe Orchestra
2. Its Weird Name
3. Its Album Covers
Shout Out For Penguin Cafe Orchestra!
Share your stories, thoughts, raves...
Music that never dies
Posted June 29, 2008
I love PCO - saw them on telly loads in the 80's and 90's and being a brighton resident, they were never to far away.....sadly sadly missed,Losing Simon Jeffes,for me,was like when we lost Pete MCarthy..
Posted May 03, 2008
|
CherylK
I loved the YouTube clips. The Prelude and Yodel clip has such beautiful music and a beautiful dancer. Almost meditative. Five stars, no question. Posted April 26, 2008 |
Giles Farnaby's Dream
BBC TV Old Grey Whistle Test
Giles Farnaby was a 16th century early-music composer.
The Music of The Penguin Cafe Orchestra
Perhaps Its Best Albums. Get One You Won't Be Dissapointed!
Who's Behind The Album Covers?
Artwork for the album: Union Cafe
PCO Live!
More Outstanding Videos
Music For A Found Harmonium
Air á Danser
Perpetuum Mobile
PCO - Numbers 1-4
PCO - Oscar Tango
PCO - Southern Jukebox Music
"Come to the Penguin Cafe where things are just not like that!"
Broadcasting From Home
A Fan's Perspective
"First, I choose a piece of music that I like and then I experience it with videos or drawings I've made. With the right atmosphere in place, I just follow the feelings I get while listening to the music. I try to translate it into movements, colors, figures, etc. Sometimes I get surprised about the outcome while I'm using my design or video-editing program; sometimes I don't know how I create things and if I like them I quickly rush to save the edited video. I just couldn't reproduce the same thing all over again."
"The important thing is that I always try to create a balance between the music and the video. They have to become one."
Connections
Sliding Colours
Arc of a Circle
A Must Have
Broadcasting from Home
Amazon Price: $11.98 (as of 07/26/2008)
This album can be enjoyed in a different way. Whereas the first album is more consistent, Broadcasting is more challenging to listen to; the songs are more subtle, more sombre. My favorite is White Mischief, a song that spares repetition, yet it has beautiful nuances that is haunting. In short, this is music to sit back and slide yourself into the quaint soundscapes of a reality beyond.
Film Score
Oskar Und Leni
Amazon Price: (as of 07/26/2008)
Used Price: $4.91
"Simon Jeffes' music always lent itself to the visual medium of film, and his compositions have been featured in many movies. While many of the tunes here have been featured on earlier albums, they are given new performances, rendered with more relaxed grace and aural breadth than heard before. It's a lovely, playful, sometimes melancholy record."
- Tim Sheridan, All Music Guide
Simon Said
"I am the spiritual proprietor of the Penguin Cafe, I will tell you things in a random way." Simon's Solo Work
Piano Music
Amazon Price: (as of 07/26/2008)
Used Price: $49.99
Most of the pieces on this record are unreleased material found on Simon's tapes after his death. With the exceptions of Piano Music, Kora Kora and Silver Star. Lullaby is a new piece completed by Simon but recorded after his death by friends and members of PCO.
A Japanese Tribute Album
Penguin Cafe Orchestra -tribute-
Amazon Price: $52.99 (as of 07/26/2008)
Used Price:
Produced by Goro Ito
Art Direction by Ed Tsuwaki
1. Penguin Cafe Single - Shieomi Hasumi
2. Air a Danser - The Other Four
3. Telephone And Rubber Band - Takako Minekawa
4. Pythagoras's Trousers - Yukihiro Takahashi
5. Paul's Dance - Ryuichi Sakamoto + Ren Takada
6. Simon's Dream - Anonymass
7. Music For A Found Harmonium - Moose Hill
8. Isle Of View - Steve Jansen
9. Southern Jukebox Music - Hiroshi Takano
10. Sketch - Kama Aina
11. Perpetuum Mobile - Takagi Masakatsu
12. Vega - Koki Mishina
Connect With The Penguins!
- The Penguin Cafe Orchestra Website
- The official site for PCO. Read about its origin & history, Simon Jeffes and its band members.
- The Unofficial Penguin Cafe Orchestra Site
- Neil Leacy created this website in 1994. Lots of useful information, from PCO Genesis to Other Tales.
- Perfect Sound Forever: Imaginary Folklore
- Nice article written by Craig Breaden. Through his own views, he comments chronologically on all PCO albums.
- We Were The Medium for His Wildness
- The Penguins simply stopped playing after Simon's death, though in recent years there have been private meetings, just for fun. They played in public again because Simon's son Arthur wwanted to honor the 10th anniversary of his father's death.
- Penguin Cafe on My Space
- Join the hundreds of fans who are part of this wonderful place. Check out few music samples of this amazing band.
- Sheet Music for The Penguin Cafe
- The Penguin Café Orchestra's music has been widely used in film, advertising, television and radio, where its eclectic appeal is ideally suited to a wide audience.
Fans Play PCO
Music for a Found Harmonium
Cover of Penguin Cafe Orchestra
The Dortchen Wild - Music for a Found Harmonium
Music for a Found Harmonium
TURDION - MUSIC FOR A FOUND HARMONIUM
Ｌｅａｄ Ｔｈｅ Ｋｎａｖｅ～Ｍｕｓｉｃ Ｆｏｒ Ａ Ｆｏｕｎｄ Ｈａｒｍｏｎｉｕｍ
"Music from a found harmonium" (Celta, versión Jorge)
Where Have All The Fuzzy Penguins Gone?
A Fan Writes a Song Inspired by PCO
Looking For a Rare PCO Record?
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PCO Music and Eroticsm
Penguin Cafe Orchestra - Dirt (Ancient Erotic Art)
...ancient civilizations have always celebrated fertility and sex... All of these erotic items seem almost comical, certainly not sexually stimulating. Poor Antiquity just never had a chance to hide the PLAYBOYS. :) ...exuberant music !!!...British minimal folk...admirable !!! I dont know why but this song makes me feel POSITIVE. Try it!!
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