Is There a More “Haunting” Melody?

What would your first guess be as to what that melody is? Or, who would the artist or artists be?

Would the name James Last give you a clue? If not, how about Gheorghe Zamfir, or simply “Zamfir?”

While its original German title was Einsamer Hirte, it became known universally as “The Lonely Shepherd.”

The composer of this fantastic, ethereal tune is James Last, whose orchestra accompanies the soloist, Zamfir … who is playing an ancient Eastern European instrument known as the pan flute or panpipes, which is what I’ve always called it. The panpipes consist of a series of tubes of varying lengths — usually made of bamboo — and tied together side-by-side, as seen here in the hands of Zamfir.

Just as was the case a decade earlier when I introduced Greek folk singer Nana Mouskouri to the American music-loving masses, singing Cu-cu-ru-cu-cu Paloma  … when I first programmed “The Lonely Shepherd,” my peers questioned my sanity. However, while I am not talented in many ways, I’ve been gifted with an intuitive sense when it comes to sounds and melodies.

The negatives that came to the fore in this case are (1) it features a strange musical instrument no one’s familiar with and (2) it’s not a familiar tune! Well, the listeners weren’t a bit impacted by either factor … once it hit the airwaves, the telephones at the 100 or more stations across the nation on which our programming was airing at the time began to ring: What’s the instrument? What’s the name of the song? Who’s playing? Where can I buy the record?

If you are not familiar with the tune or are ready to hear it again, here’s the original studio recording!

I cannot think of another song that’s elicited a greater response from the hundreds of thousands of listeners who were regularly tuned in to our stations. However, there are others that became listener favorites, which I discuss in Chapter 11 of my book, “It’s All About the Melody.”

Zamfir and “The Lonely Shepherd”  were introduced to the world during the James Last Orchestra’s 1978 European tour, as seen in this video, which was recorded in London’s famed Royal Albert Hall. The entire James Last concert of that evening was released on LP later in the year. Today, it’s available on DVD and CD.

Here are a few of the comments left on the YouTube pages after folks listened to this recording:

    This is not music, this is the sound of heaven.

     One of the most amazing songs ever. Every single time takes me to other dimension. Beauty and art at it’s finest.

    This music takes me to another world I have never visited, not even in my dreams. It takes me beyond Horizons. It’s immortal.

    One of the most beautiful, timeless, ethereal, and magical pieces ever performed by an artist whose intoxicating and hypnotic style is eternal.

    This is my first time hearing this piece … it penetrates the soul in ways i could never imagine … it takes you away from this world into another place.

While the recording had been used in more than one movie or TV show, it was heard by a whole new audience — a segment of the population not likely to be devoted listeners to Easy Listening music — when, in 2003, it was played under the closing credits, as well as snippets a couple of places within the film itself, of the martial arts film, Kill Bill 1. The recording heard here is the same studio recording from 1978; however, you may wish to follow this link and see that because the movie, “The Lonely Shepherd,” has had more than eight-and-a-half million listens!

Oh yes, that other performance Joan wrote me about … Zamfir is joined by my “friend,” Greek folk singer Nana Mouskouri!

While James Last is credited as the “composer,” … it’s been said that the tune is actually a Romanian folk melody that shepherds in that land have played on their flutes for generations. Regardless, James — also known as “Hansi” — Last and Zamfir have brought this melody to us throughout the world to be enjoyed for generations to come.

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