30/40 The Cricket
Hopping in from the trees surrounding Chip’s Raven Oaks home, a cricket had gotten itself trapped beneath a wicker plant stand. The rhythmically even sound it produced inspired Chip to…
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30/40 Dancin’ in the Stars
Did you know that Johannes Keppler’s observations of the moon and sky inspired the creation of “Dancing in the Stars” on Fresh Aire V? Listen to Chip describe his love…
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30/40 Velvet Tear
Originally found on Fresh Aire II, “Velvet Tear” is an expression of sorrow over the loss of someone close. Watch Chip explain the backstory behind this moving song.
30/40 Nepenthe
Watch Chip describe the origins of the beautiful ending he wrote to Fresh Aire VI. That album, which is dedicated to Greek mythology, concludes with the song “Nepenthe” which was…
Details30/40 Sunday The 7th Day
A fox hunt on Sunday is an ancient tradition that still finds expression in Nebraska where Chip Davis lives. As Chip explains in this clip, participants donned in ‘pinks’ and…
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Alchemy Music Video
Want to take a step back in time? Watch this music video created for “The 7 Metals of Alchemy” on Fresh Aire 7. See synthesizers move independently and children transform…
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30/40 Alchemy
It’s reported that there were seven metals used by warlocks and wizards to try to make gold. That art became known as alchemy. See why Chip wanted to make a…
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30/40 Fresh Aire
Mannheim Steamroller’s spectacular Fresh Aire album series started with this song – Fresh Aire, or “Fresh Song.” See Chip describe the inspiration and meaning behind it in this short clip.
30/40 Sonata
Fresh Aire I, the first in Mannheim Steamroller’s series of 8 groundbreaking albums, starts with a sonata. Listen to Chip describe the basic form of a sonata and discover how…
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30/40 Chip Prelude & Chocolate Fudge
Fresh Aire I debuted in 1974. That album opens with a Prelude followed by a song called Chocolate Fudge. See Chip explain the meaning behind these songs and their significance…
Details30/40 Seven Colors of the Rainbow
Just as there are seven colors in the rainbow, there are seven notes assigned to each color of the rainbow in this song for Fresh Aire VII. Watch Chip describe…
Details30/40 Pass the Keg
As Chip describes in this short clip, the title of this song belies its true origin. Contrary to what you might think, “Pass the Keg” is not a drinking song.…
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30/40 Toccata
Toccatas, which mean “quickly moving fingers on the keyboard” are usually played on an organ. Listen to Chip describe how he wrote a toccata on a sequencer with a synthesizer…
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God Rest Video from Christmas Live
See the original music video for God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen and discover what Chip had in mind when he ‘mannheimed’ this old Welch Christmas carol. Watch a rousing horseback…
Details30/40 “God Rest”
In old English, this popular carol expresses a sentiment of happiness as in “God rest ye merry, gentlemen.” Today, the refrain has lost its pause but not its fervor in…
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“We Three Kings” Video
Journey back to the time when wise kings traversed deserts vast and empty to see the Christ child. Get swept away in the sounds and sights of the time with…
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30/40 “We Three Kings”
In 1852, John Hopkins Jr. wrote a carol that described the journey of three kings to take gifts to the Christ child. Chip explains his desire to recreate the feeling…
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Deck the Halls Original Music Video
Travel back in time to 1984 to see the original music video for the Christmas carol that started it all – Deck the Halls. Enjoy Chip’s rocked out version of…
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30/40 “Deck the Halls”
Back in 1984, “Deck the Halls” was the very first existing Christmas carol that Mannheim Steamroller reimagined. Listen to Chip explain how it paved the way for an entire album…
DetailsChip on Mannheim Steamroller 30/40
Chip Davis understands that “30/40” may sound a little strange, so he took a few seconds to explain the thought behind it. Discover the significance of “30/40” in this short…
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