'Blade Runner' composer Vangelis dies at 79

Vangelis (Greek: Βαγγέλης, English: Vangelis), a pioneer of electronic music who used music to depict countless thrilling science fiction and space scenes. He passed away in France on May 17 at the age of 79. Vangelis was born in Greece in 1943 as Evangelos Odessey Papathanassiou. His musical career began in the mid-1960s. His greatest achievement was the pioneering integration of synthesizers with different types of music such as symphony and jazz, and successfully helped the film industry break the situation where the soundtrack was dominated by symphony or pop works.

To the general public, Vangelis is best known for his soundtracks for Blade Runner and Chariots of Fire, as well as a series of theme music for the Olympics and the World Cup. Space enthusiasts may also be familiar with the many pieces he composed for NASA missions. In fact, in 2003, Vangelis received NASA's Public Service Medal for his contributions. Vangelis has been rated by critics as one of the greatest electronic musicians. He is known as the "Tchaikovsky of electronic music."

Vangelis's passing is a huge loss to the music and film world, but the melodies he left behind will continue to linger.