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artguyken View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Topic: Prog with Unusual Instruments (such as bassoon)
    Posted: July 30 2008 at 19:59
Originally posted by YesFan72 YesFan72 wrote:

Do you think unusual instruments add to prog? I personally love the bassoon and Krumhörns in Gryphon.


Absolutely! When I saw this thread, the very first band I thought of was Gryphon --- "Red Queen to Gryphon Three" is an absolute masterpiece in my book. They did a fantastic job of weaving woodwinds of modern and ancient types into a very contemporary music. The other albums by Gryphon pale by comparison, but yes, I would say that bringing unusual elements to the music is part of what sets it apart from mainstream stuff.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 30 2008 at 18:54
Yes, I LOVE unusual instruments. They are one of the things that drew me to prog originally. Robby Steinhardt's violin and Ian Anderson's flute were two huge influences that inspired my love of prog. While those two instruments are pretty common in prog (especially flute) they are very rare for rock. Most people would never think have having flute in a rock band, or even having a flute/electric guitar solo like early in TAAB.

Speaking of examples of unusual instruments, I don't think anyone has mentioned Gentle Giant's Acquiring The Taste. There are something like 46 different instruments on that album (only three of which are played by guest musicians, incredibly).
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 23 2008 at 07:33
Have to say that I enjoy the celeste on ELP's Tarkus, and the Tunisian zourka on their Trilogy album.

Is recorder considered unusual in Prog? If so, another vote for GRYPHON: Richard Harvey's recorder playing is the business.

And what about the bagpipes used by Fernando of those Spanish rockers MAGO DE OZ, the Ondes Martinet on HARMONIUM's Si On Avait Besoin D'Une Cinquième Saison, the spinet used by Vittorio De Scalzi of NEW TROLLS ATOMIC SYSTEM, or the dulcimer, virginal and hurdy gurdy used by Marie Yacoub of MALICORNE?

Edited by Fitzcarraldo - July 23 2008 at 07:34
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 22 2008 at 12:23
Originally posted by ProgmetalMark ProgmetalMark wrote:

When the time comes, I wanna start a progressive folk metal with melodeath influences, and have a bagpiper. And a violinist.


That sounds like Eluveitie... only they're not progressive.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 21 2008 at 18:40
I'm a big fan of bassoon in just about anything.

For great bassoon in prog, you can't go wrong with Von Zamla.  I especially like the way the bassoon compliments Lars Hollmer's accordian.  Michel Berckmans also played bassoon in Art Zoyd.

I'm also a big fan of Roy Wood's various reed work on The Move's album "Message from the Country", ELO's first album,  and his solo albums (especially "Mustard").  While many criticize his skill and proficency, I personally find his multi-intrumentalist performances to be quite enjoyable.  He also throws in some banjo to sweeten the pot.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 21 2008 at 18:16
A Barca do Sol (Brazil) had a viola and cello player
Let the sunshine in
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 20 2008 at 19:04
Some bands I can think of with interesting "other" sounding musical instrumentation outside of the standard rock band flair off the top of my head:

The Grand Silent System (clarinetist I believe...more for fans of dredg-esque bands)
Lazuli (although not too different these guys sound exotic and sapidly strange to me)
SGM (already mentioned; self-made instruments)
Jaga Jazzist (kind of electronic, again, like Lazuli, I find the music to be new enough to me)
The Residents
Dengue Fever (Indonesia - I believe...if someone can clarify? - pop music, like it, relatively different sounding...)
Alamaailman Vasarat (already mentioned)
Naftule's Dream (from the little I've heard relatively intense Klezmer music)
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 20 2008 at 17:46
Originally posted by ProgmetalMark ProgmetalMark wrote:

When the time comes, I wanna start a progressive folk metal with melodeath influences, and have a bagpiper. And a violinist.


Any space for a Dulcimer player? Wink
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 20 2008 at 17:40
Originally posted by tszirmay tszirmay wrote:

YAYE, Gryphon fans unite ! New album scheduled soon, allegedly !
Not to many bands out there with lead bassoon! Brian Gulland rules!  Amazing Blondel was cool but no bassoon in sight.
 
I can recommend Gian Castello's Taliesin if you like medieval dulcimer, flute, guitar with gorgeous melodies (see my review in PA) Thumbs%20Up


The dulcimer has been used in prog? I play the Hammered Dulcimer! How fantastic :D I will check this out. Thank you
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 20 2008 at 11:40

Got a song I did earlier this year using an instrument called a Mbira.
People ask, "What the heck is THAT ?"
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 19 2008 at 17:15
to reroute this thread from the bassoon (Gryphon) appreciation thread....  and go from some instruments that are  unusual.. and quite prog...  lets go with the calimba used by a musical genius to far too few of you know.  Franco Battaito..  used to perfection on Sequenze e Frequenze.  The church organ.. not for one  frickin solo.. but the basis of an album on M.elle Le Gladiator (also note Jacula if you dig the church organ).

though I must say.. one of my favorite uses of an 'unusual' instrument was the vibraphone solo on GG's Schooldays... fantastic.....
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 19 2008 at 17:01
Originally posted by Syzygy Syzygy wrote:

Originally posted by MovingPictures07 MovingPictures07 wrote:

[QUOTE=YesFan72] [QUOTE=MovingPictures07]
[QUOTE=YesFan72]http://rapidshare.com/files/130241973/Dying_Bassoon

Haha, the only better thing than a bassoon ruling the world would be a drumkit, but I may be biased. LOLWink

Clap
 
David Thomas (Pere Ubu frontman) toured in the 80s backed by Chris Cutler on drums and Lindsay Cooper on bassoon (and other wind instruments). There was a live album called Winter Comes Home, but it has never been reissued on CD - I think I still have a vinyl copy in storage somewhere, and a few are still floating around but probably very over priced. An expanded version of the line up (with Tony Maimone on bass) made the studio album More Places Forever, and that's currently available as part of the excellent Monster box set. The sound is post punk meets RIO, and if you've ever wondered what a band comprising bassoon, drums and bizarre vocaks would sound like your curiosity will be well and truly satisfied.
 
 


Ooooh!! Shocked

That sounds really interesting! I just might have to somehow acquire that.... Big%20smile
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 19 2008 at 15:34
When the time comes, I wanna start a progressive folk metal with melodeath influences, and have a bagpiper. And a violinist.
A windstorm dropped a bird from the sky
It fell to the ground and it's wings broke and died
But when the time got by, back to sky it flied cause the wings healed in time and the bird was I-Wintersun
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 17 2008 at 19:49
Yes, unusual instruments add to prog. I love to hear a dobro (S. Wilson et al.) or banjo (Hackett et al.) or tuba (Nina Hagen Band et al.) or accordian (Harmonium et al.) or saw or Chapman Stick (Tony L. et al.) or dulcimer or pan flute (Los Jaivas et al.) or mandolin (Mike Oldfield et al.) or lute (Jan Akkerman et al.) or recorder or cello or oboe (Gabe et al.) or yodel (Thijs v.L.et al.) or bass pedal (Mike R. et al.) or church organ (Wakeman et al.) or harp (Jon Anderson et al.) or toy piano (Robert Smith et al.) or ... or ... or ... "enossifications" (Brian Eno et al.) or ....   
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 17 2008 at 18:23
Ween have composed a song for triangle. they've also used the mandolin, theremin, and scotchguard in their recordings. And i don't even know what sort of instruments they assembled on "Mourning Glory".

Yet they still won't add them to the archives. :(


Edited by Harry Hood - July 17 2008 at 18:28
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 17 2008 at 16:37
Originally posted by MovingPictures07 MovingPictures07 wrote:

[QUOTE=YesFan72] [QUOTE=MovingPictures07]
[QUOTE=YesFan72]http://rapidshare.com/files/130241973/Dying_Bassoon

Haha, the only better thing than a bassoon ruling the world would be a drumkit, but I may be biased. LOLWink

Clap
 
David Thomas (Pere Ubu frontman) toured in the 80s backed by Chris Cutler on drums and Lindsay Cooper on bassoon (and other wind instruments). There was a live album called Winter Comes Home, but it has never been reissued on CD - I think I still have a vinyl copy in storage somewhere, and a few are still floating around but probably very over priced. An expanded version of the line up (with Tony Maimone on bass) made the studio album More Places Forever, and that's currently available as part of the excellent Monster box set. The sound is post punk meets RIO, and if you've ever wondered what a band comprising bassoon, drums and bizarre vocaks would sound like your curiosity will be well and truly satisfied.
 
 
'Like so many of you
I've got my doubts about how much to contribute
to the already rich among us...'

Robert Wyatt, Gloria Gloom


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Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 17 2008 at 14:57
To reiterate what I wrote on a similar thread earlier this year, checkout the jazz rock fusion of bassoonist Paul Hanson on his first album released earlier this year, Frolic In The Land Of Plenty (Abstract Logix Records) - Paul Hanson has done plenty of sessions for other fusionists:
http://www.jazzbassoon.com/discography.php
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 16 2008 at 22:08
Originally posted by YesFan72 YesFan72 wrote:

Originally posted by YesFan72 YesFan72 wrote:

Originally posted by MovingPictures07 MovingPictures07 wrote:


Originally posted by YesFan72 YesFan72 wrote:

Originally posted by MovingPictures07 MovingPictures07 wrote:


Originally posted by YesFan72 YesFan72 wrote:

I guess I could figure out anything from Gryphon with a little bit of time and "interpreting."

Since it's the summer, I believe I have a lot of time, aside from college.
Awesome! Big%20smileIn my "dreaming" I've always wanted to learn the bassoon parts from Gryphon, I always thought it'd be cool. However, I'm realistically a drummer, keyboardist, band founder/leader, and composer who wants to learn other instruments but hasn't started learning others yet. Tongue

I'm realistically a bassoon player who has too much time. I have yet to buy a Krumhorn though.
Nothing wrong with that. Big%20smileWinkAnd you need to buy a Krumhorn. I would love to see one of those in person. LOLI know, I'm a music extremist/nerd, but that's why I'm on this site, isn't it? Tongue

Krumhorns cost over $1500. Hmmm... I don't exactly have that much to spend right now.

And of course I'd need to buy a lute first.


Haha, of course. LOL

ClapClapClapClap
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 16 2008 at 22:01
Originally posted by YesFan72 YesFan72 wrote:

Originally posted by MovingPictures07 MovingPictures07 wrote:


Originally posted by YesFan72 YesFan72 wrote:

Originally posted by MovingPictures07 MovingPictures07 wrote:


Originally posted by YesFan72 YesFan72 wrote:

I guess I could figure out anything from Gryphon with a little bit of time and "interpreting."

Since it's the summer, I believe I have a lot of time, aside from college.
Awesome! Big%20smileIn my "dreaming" I've always wanted to learn the bassoon parts from Gryphon, I always thought it'd be cool. However, I'm realistically a drummer, keyboardist, band founder/leader, and composer who wants to learn other instruments but hasn't started learning others yet. Tongue

I'm realistically a bassoon player who has too much time. I have yet to buy a Krumhorn though.
Nothing wrong with that. Big%20smileWinkAnd you need to buy a Krumhorn. I would love to see one of those in person. LOLI know, I'm a music extremist/nerd, but that's why I'm on this site, isn't it? Tongue

Krumhorns cost over $1500. Hmmm... I don't exactly have that much to spend right now.

And of course I'd need to buy a lute first.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 16 2008 at 21:34
Originally posted by MovingPictures07 MovingPictures07 wrote:


Originally posted by YesFan72 YesFan72 wrote:

Originally posted by MovingPictures07 MovingPictures07 wrote:


Originally posted by YesFan72 YesFan72 wrote:

I guess I could figure out anything from Gryphon with a little bit of time and "interpreting."

Since it's the summer, I believe I have a lot of time, aside from college.
Awesome! Big%20smileIn my "dreaming" I've always wanted to learn the bassoon parts from Gryphon, I always thought it'd be cool. However, I'm realistically a drummer, keyboardist, band founder/leader, and composer who wants to learn other instruments but hasn't started learning others yet. Tongue

I'm realistically a bassoon player who has too much time. I have yet to buy a Krumhorn though.
Nothing wrong with that. Big%20smileWinkAnd you need to buy a Krumhorn. I would love to see one of those in person. LOLI know, I'm a music extremist/nerd, but that's why I'm on this site, isn't it? Tongue

Krumhorns cost over $1500. Hmmm... I don't exactly have that much to spend right now.
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