Prog with Unusual Instruments (such as bassoon)

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.....

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)

The dulcimer has been used in prog? I play the Hammered Dulcimer! How fantastic :D I will check this out. Thank you

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)

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.

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

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.