The New World Orchestra – Adventures

This page about music played and/or composed by The New World Orchestra is here, because I, Michael Strand (Micky), am one of the founding members of the group. (I changed my surname to Strand in 1996.)

The start of the group The New World Orchestra was in the Munich walking street, with me – Michael Strand (Micky) – and Terry McCullough. I had been playing on the street on and off for about a year, when I heard Terry singing by himself. He had been touring Europe with some American group, and decided to stay behind, looking for adventure. I asked him if he would like to play together with me, which he did.
This was some time in August 1980, as far as I recall.

Already during the autumn of 1980 Terry and I had teamed up with Niccolo Casewit from Denver (Bolder?), Colorado, who was studying architecture and is playing the violin (nowadays with the Denver Philharmonic Orchestra), and my good friend Dieter Lich on bass. We started writing original material as a group.

In the spring and summer of '81 Simone Eichmeier was singing and playing with us from time to time. When I first met Terry, he was playing a guitar with just five strings put on. Later I put on a 6th string and taught him how to play the guitar with all strings on, which he did successfully - until we met hard-hitting Simone, who got rid of the E1^st (thickest string!) easily.

Also in spring 1981 we were joined by Alex Schriefer on guitar, a friend of Niccolo, who also wrote his own music.
The five of us, Terry McCullough, Michael Strand (Micky), Niccolo Casewit, Dieter Lich and Alex Schriefer, recorded the basics of what was supposed to be our first album on June 26.-27. 1981 at Cosmic City Studio, Lohhof (near Munich), but the album was never finished. I still got some great demos, though, e.g. "Sunrise" and "Dream" – written by Niccolo and me, and "Where Have I Known You Before", which I wrote to lyrics of Neville Potter already back in 1979.

Miro Benon from Israel joined during the summer of 81, singing and playing the guitar, and by then we were singing 3 to 4 piece harmony.

Jim Lampi was travelling Europe in an old VW Beetle, playing the Chapman Stick and singing on the street. He played with us in Munich for some days, before travelling on, and joined the New World Orchestra again in 1982 in Norway.
Joanne Barr from Scotland gave a helping hand, and "bottled" for us (meaning she went around in the audience, handed out smiles to go to our music, and collected money for our street performance).

On Miro's web site, which I found in 2012, he claims he conquered Scandinavia with his band "The New World Orchestra".
I have to put things straight: Although everybody involved felt a strong connection with The New World Orchestra, Miro neither was a founding member of the group, nor was it HIS group. He only was with the group for a brief period from June 1981 to about March 1982, but it is quite right that we did always "conquer" our audience wherever we played.

The New World Orchestra – Adventures

This is the first and only completed studio album of The New World Orchestra, recorded after an extensive summertour in Norway during August/September 1982 at Ny York Studio, Oslo, Norway. Engineer: Haakon Manheim. All arrangements by The New World Orchestra: Terry McCullough, Michael Strand, Irene Tømta, Jim Lampi, Bruce Ferdinando, Tore Haraldsen, Nils Økland.

Dream Opus No. 2 Written and orchestrated by Michael Strand Michael Strand – Guitar Jim Lampi – Chapman Stick Tore Haraldsen – Bass Nils Økland – Violin Jon Ola Sand – Percussion
Song of Joy Written by Irene Tømta, M. Johannessen Irene Tømta – Lead Vocals Michael Strand – Guitar Bruce Ferdinando – Guitar Jim Lampi – Chapman Stick Tore Haraldsen – Bass Ida Heidel – Flute Jon Ola Sand – Percussion Chorus: Terry McCullough, Michael Strand, Tore Haraldsen, Derek Harbour, Bruce Ferdinando, Simone Eichmeier
Adventure Theme Written by Bruce Ferdinando and Terry McCullough Terry McCullough – Lead vocals Bruce Ferdinando – Guitar Michael Strand – Guitar Jim Lampi – Chapman Stick Nils Økland – Violin
Let it Rain Written by Michael Strand and Terry McCullough Terry McCullough – Lead vocals Michael Strand – Guitar Bruce Ferdinando – Guitar Jim Lampi – Chapman Stick Tore Haraldsen – Bass Chorus: Irene Tømta, Michael Strand, Tore Haraldsen, Derek Harbour, Bruce Ferdinando
Once in A Dream Written by Terry McCullough Norwegian translation by Irene Tømta Terry McCullough, Irene Tømta – Lead Vocals Michael Strand – Guitar Tore Haraldsen – Bass/Dbl. bass Nils Økland – Violins
Dew on the Morning Grass Written by Simone Eichmeier / P. Troost Simone Eichmeier – Lead vocals Michael Strand – Guitar Jim Lampi – Chapman Stick George Coleman – drums Tore Haraldsen – Flute Terry McCullough – Vocals
Like the Wind / Tomorrow’s Dream Written by Bruce Ferdinando, Terry McCullough, Derek Harbour Terry McCullough, Derek Harbour – Lead Vocals Michael Strand – Guitar Jim Lampi – Chapman Stick Tore Haraldsen – Whistle Bruce Ferdinando – Guitar
Love the One You’re With Written by Stephen Stills Terry McCullough – Lead vocals Michael Strand – Guitar Bruce Ferdinando – Guitar Jim Lampi – Chapman Stick Tore Haraldsen – Bass Chorus: Irene Tømta, Michael Strand, Tore Haraldsen, Derek Harbour, Bruce Ferdinando; Jim Lampi, Lise Knudsen