Assimilation of local music in prog and rock...

mono wrote: In Lebanon, you can find for example composers who made classical arabic music in the seventies that are now playing jazz with a big folk influence (I'm thinking of Ziad Rahbani an essential Lebanese pianist). You can also find "oriental" rock and metal, but they quickly sound cliché, as the incorporation of folk music is a bit "forced".

Let's not forget Rabih Abouh-Khalil, who also originally is from Lebanon. He plays oud and flute (though lately only oud). He spends his time in Germany and France these days though (he speaks perfect German, without any accent).


Edited by BaldFriede - January 09 2009 at 12:49

Cabezas de Cera has some very interesting ethnic influences, you can find them here on PA.

Dean wrote: The only band in my country to do it with any finesse was Gryphon, who incorporated traditional instruments and musical style.

I was thinking Gryphon too - however, surely Blackmores Night would qualify, given their fusion of proggish folk with traditional instrumentation & styles

[edit]

Or is the caveat here your use of the phrase "with any finesse"?

Edited by Jim Garten - January 09 2009 at 11:28

I come from Lebanon, and I live in France, and I think this subject is a bit delicate.

Incorporating local folk into your music can quickly become cliché if you haven't really absorbed the folk music in its sounds and rythms. You can't just say, "I'm from France, I should put in some accordeon in my songs...".

I think the best way to incorporate folk music in your composition, is to be able not to think you really are!
The fact that you WANT to incorporate traditionnal elements into your music can make it artificial. You have to compose with the folk music as an inspiration just like others.

Moreover, it won't be the same if you're playing jazz for example or prog. In prog in particular, this issue is more delicate (as is every note...). You have to work with precision and be able to chose the right moment and the right mood, with the right orchestration.

In jazz, your choices are more varied. You can have a theme that's close to your folk music, and put in a local instrument for an improv or to play a theme. That's how you can easily have guest musicians come in, do their thing without any preparation.

In France, people don't tend to mix, because french music has a very different state of mind compared to UK/US culture. Songs are moslty based on the lyrics, and musically there has never been something really "French" if not some french rock or old songs with some accordeon.

In Lebanon, you can find for example composers who made classical arabic music in the seventies that are now playing jazz with a big folk influence (I'm thinking of Ziad Rahbani an essential Lebanese pianist).
You can also find "oriental" rock and metal, but they quickly sound cliché, as the incorporation of folk music is a bit "forced".

Swan Song wrote: Mexican stuff (especially the track "Maria"): LA PURA REALIDAD

"That's an interresting topic.  But I might add an interresting twist to it.  What about the reverse ?  What about having a band that plays folk or traditionnal music and add a prog element to it ?."

Edited by Trademark - January 08 2009 at 16:22

victor77 wrote: In Spain, it has been quite usual the inclusion of folk elements, mainly by the flamenco tradition (TRIANA is perhaps the best example, but there are others, including the great flamenco singer CAMARON or guitarist PACO DE LUCIA), but also other instruments like bagpipes in Galicia (from Celthic origins) and also folk woodwinds in Catalonia (best example in this jazz-folk fussion is COMPANYIA ELECTRICA DHARMA)

Well , there are examples of prog bands from my country including local folclore in their music. If anyone is interested , may check Arco Iris's " Sudamerica ( O el Regreso a la Aurora) It's a masterpiece the site has yet to discover.

The T wrote: My country (Ecuador) has a kind-of emerging metal scene and somewhat of a rock-scene (both kind of suck in quality but at least they exist now) but I've yet to hear ONE single band that incorporates any kind of traditional element in their music. Not in instrumentation (nobody that I know has dared to incorporate a rondador, a wooden wind instrument), not in actual rhythm or stylistic assimilation (nobody has made a fussion with genres like pasillo - a depressive thing that actually sucks but it's loved in the country, especially to drink to it - or dances like san juanito ). It's like the closest they go is by adding instruments from other places!!! Showing complete lack of identity, they copy other countries' styles and can't create something assimilating their own... Even in metal, not even the best bands (prog ones too) decide to do that extra thing....

I'm from Panama, and it's pretty much how you describe.  But recently there has been more interest in incorporating those elements into rock.  In a few years it could get really interesting if more ppl follow that trend.

I think it's only natural that relatively young scenes, like those in our respective countries, are still finding their way.  For example in Chile I think there is a stronger connection with folk music from back in the 70's with bands like Los Jaivas and Congreso.  The panamanian rock scene was still in diapers back then.

Of course, there's also a stronger American influence than in most south american countries, but that's a whole other bag of beans...

That's an interresting topic.  But I might add an interresting twist to it.  What about the reverse ?  What about having a band that plays folk or traditionnal music and add a prog element to it ?. In the 80's, there was such a band for the French Canadian culture called  Garolou, and it was very good. Hearing those traditionnal/folk french song in a prog style was really cool !