Dancing with the Lion

7 March 1988

„The first of my three children was born - a key experience for a dreamer like me! It was like gently becoming grounded, which spawned the theme of this album: ‚Dancing with the Lion’. The lion stands for concrete, rational and physical reality. In that sense, it is vital to dance with the lion, without stepping on its feet, because you would surely be mauled. At the same time, you shouldn't let the lion step on your feet either, because that would definitely hurt too. For the first time, I opened up our project for numerous guests from different musical worlds; an enriching experience which resulted in many new personal and musical perspectives.”

Buy / Download

New release 2005

re-mastered, re.engineered sound, bonus songs, bonus videos

1. Unto the Burning Circle 3:48
2. Dancing with the Lion 4:00
3. Hippolyte 1:11
4. Dance of the Masks 5:51
5. Pearls & Tears 5:02
6. Garden of my Childhood 1:47
7. Still Life 5:40
8. And the Long Shadows 3:37
9. See, my Love... 3:03
10. Silver Dew, Golden Grass 0:59
11. Ascent from the Circle 4:01

Credits

Andreas Vollenweider: electroacoustic harp, cheng, voice, guitars, winds, keys and more...
Walter Keiser: drums & percussion
Christoph Stiefel: piano, keys
Pedro Haldemann: percussion
Matthias Ziegler: flutes

guest instrumentalists

Hans Bergström: french horn
Beat Briner: bassoon
Fernando Fantini: accordion
Charly Fässler: french horn
Steve Gorn: bansuri bamboo flutes
Hanspeter Haas: bass trombone
Peter Keiser: bass
Max Lässer: acoustic guitar
David Lindley: lap steel guitar
Marilyn Mazur: percussion
Mark O’Connor: violin & mandolin
Burhan Oeçal: darabuka
Christian Ostermeier: tenor saxophone
Luis Perez: mesoamerican wind & percussion
Daniel Pezzotti: cello
Badal Roy: tabla
Janne Schaffer: electric guitar & guitarsitar
Roman Schmid: english horn, oboe
The Zurich Mandolin Orchestra, conducted by Horst Hagemann

guest vocalists

Anthony Crivello
Nina Hennessey
Dodo Hug
Misty Jervis
Lucy Novotny
Natasha Otrinowa
Margarita Zorbala

female chorus:

Patti Austin
Diva Gray
Lani Groves
Vaneese Thomas

men’s chorus:

Bernhard Banse
Barry Brandes
Hans-Jürgen Frank
Eric Johnson
Kartmut Kriszun
James Moellenhoff
John Ousley
Wilber Pauley

children’s choir Kaltbrunn conducted by Daniel Winiger

All music written, arranged and produced by Andreas Vollenweider for AVAF MUSIC Publishing, Switzerland
Andreas Vollenweider is a member of SUISA and GEMA
Worldwide subpublishing (excl. Switzerland) by EMI-Music-Publishing, New York

Co-produced by Eric Merz & Darryl Pitt

Executive producers: Hanswalter Huggler & Hugo Faas

Recorded and mixed at Lakeside Recording Studio, Zurich – Switzerland
April – October 1988

Eric Merz: recording & mixing engineer
Hanspeter Ehrsam: studio engineer

additional recordings
The Hit Factory, New York City
Tim Leitner: recording engineer
Paul Logus: assistant

Mad Hatter Studios, Los Angeles
Ira “Cord” Rubnitz: recordning engineer
Darren Mora: Assitant

Ebony Recording Studio, Wohlen – Switzerland
Bernie Staub: recording engineer

Production coordination for Lakeside sessions: Sylvie Rossi
Production coordination for the Hit Factory and Mad Hatter sessions: Karen Kramer for Depth of Field Management Inc.

Ambient recordings by Johannes Vollenweider

Andreas Vollenweider: cover art & calligraphy
Düde Dürst: design

I wish to express my deepest thanks to Beata, Jonathan, and to the many who supported this adventurous voyage with their openness, patience, smiles & tears, hearts & thoughts, courage, loyalty, confidence, and friendship...

This music is dedicated to my son.

Patty Austin appears courtesy of Qwest / Warner Bros. Records
David Lindley appears courtesy of Elektra Records
Mark O’Connor appears courtesy of Warner Bros. Records