Among its many distinctions, EPCOT Center’s oceanographic pavilion, The Living Seas was easily the most relaxing environment ever created for a theme park. From its minimalistic architecture to the subtle treatment of its subject matter, every aspect of the experience was crafted to evoke the timelessness and tranquility of the seas.

One of the most important facets of The Living Seas was its dreamlike soundscape. Categorically Ambient in nature, one could argue that The Living Seas was the public’s first exposure to the musical genre that would not come to mainstream fruition until nearly decade after the creation of Sea Base Alpha.

Although Russell Brower, and Richard Bellis’ variation on George Wilkins main theme would dominate the pavilion’s atmosphere, the dramatic centerpiece and tone-setter of The Living Seas rests within Patrick Gleason’s underscore for Paul Gerber’s seven-minute masterpiece “The Sea”. A film that treats its subject matter with an almost Val Lewton-style sensibility of somber suspense as it depicts the development and dynamics of our oceans. Described in press releases as “otherworldly”, Gleason’s remarkably understated score for the film works on an almost entirely subconscious level and continues to haunt the recollections of its viewers. If there were any compliant to be made with “The Sea” it would certainly be its abbreviated length.

TRY TO IMAGINE | A Tribute to “The Sea” is an experimental composition inspired by the film, expanded and reinterpreted in a style similar to the relaxation/mediation albums created in the wake of pavilion’s debut. This new arrangement is constructed using sounds and music designed to replicate the tonality, structure and tempo of the original 1986 presentation.

“The Sea”Written by

Paul Gerber & Patrick GleasonPerformed by

Hope Alexander-Willis,The San Francisco Boy’s Chorus &

Members of the San Francisco Symphony Chorus

Music Program on Page 2

TRY TO IMAGINEA TRIBUTE TO “THE SEA”

Program Notes

THE COLDNESS OF SPACE

“Stored Memories”A. I. - Artificial Intelligence

Written by

John Williams

COUNTLESS VOLCANOES

“Prometeo - The Fire Spirit”BraviSEAmo!

Written by

Alan Silvestri

CLOUD COVERED PLANET

“Stormy Winds”Sounds of the Earth - Storm

Recorded by

David Sun

THE DELUGE

“Dynamic Thunder”Sounds of the Earth – Storm

Recorded by

David Sun

THE SEAS

“Island of Stars” Star Windows

Written by

David Arkenstone

PHYTOPLANKTON

“Stalactite Gallery”Planet Earth

Written by

George Fenton

THE WORLD’S WEATHER

“Small Moves”ContactWritten by

Alan Silvestri

AN AMAZING WORLD

“50,000 Light Years from Home”Star Windows

Written by David Arkenstone

CHEMOSYNTHESIS

“Defusing the Bomb” The Abyss

Written by

Alan Silvestri

“The Pseudopod”The Abyss

Written by

Alan Silvestri

SEA BASE ALPHA

“Life Could Be Simple”~flOw~Written by

Austin Wintory

“Earth”Prometheus

Written by

Marc Streitenfeld

TRY TO IMAGINEA TRIBUTE TO “THE SEA”

Music Program