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Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 03 2013 at 20:05
I just ordered  the Aguirre CD.  I'll prolly take it slow from there.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 03 2013 at 13:51
P.S. I find CDs by Popol Vuh in one biggest music store in Moscow, but it seems strange for me that in the Web age somebody couldn't find anything in his local store. There are Amazons, Discogs, GEMM, Musicstack, eBAy etc. - and it's easy to find any official CD or LP by Popol Vuh there.
 
I wanted to ask you - may be someone here is having the information - Florian was frequently credited on the albums as piano player - even on those albums there you could hardly hear the sound of piano (City Raga/Sheperd's Symphonie).
Why? Did he compose the music on the piano, did he play keyboards and the keyboards were simply called "piano"?
What do you think about it?


Edited by Sergey Lenkov - May 03 2013 at 14:06
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 03 2013 at 13:29
Thank you Guldbamsen for reviving this topic!
It seems for me that Popol Vuh is much underrated project.
I think that there was no single album of which you could say - This is Popol Vuh's The Dark Side of the MoonSmile And there's no Greatest hits album which could plug you into the heart of PV's music.
The style and sound dramatically changed through the years, very strong compostion or song on the album could be followed by the boring one. For the listner who likes Affenstude - Das Hohelied Solomon or Shepherd's Symphonie could be the big surpriseLOL
Hosianna Mantra is very imressive and fragile but you should also listen to Aguirre or to In Den Garten Pharao to get more or less starting impression of the music by Popol Vuh.
The sad thing - there are only fansites as popolvuh.nl or eurock.com which could give additional information about PV (much thanks themSmile).
The article of Gary Bearman about Transendental music of PV is informative, but sometimes is not quite correct.
Gary labels the albums Spirit of Peace/For You and Me as New Age/ambient music - did Gary ever listened to real New Age/ambient music to understand the difference between "Spirit of Peace" by PV and Deuter/Kitaro and the relaxation music?
Gary do right in other thing - there's ritualistic element in Popol Vuh music which was much developed and much more manifested in the music by modern ambient musicians - Klaus Wiese (he tought Florian Fricke to play Oriental instrument tampura), Robert Rich (Temple of the Invisible), Oophoi or Mathias Grassow as example, but it's obviously not Spirit of Peace/For You and Me should be mentioned in this context
There are many mentions in the interviews of Florian Fricke about his work with other musicians in the 80-90s, about his last piano/ambient album, there's Kailash soundtrack, there are some bootleg concert recordings of PV - why not to publish it all officially at last?
We are buying SPV remastered editions only to find 2 different versions of the booklet with the same 2 texts in all CD digipacks.
As for me - I'm not typical PV lover.
For the first time I heard music by Florian in film Aguirre back in the 90s on TV and was much impressed, but I started to listen to PV and to buy their albums only after I had heard... The Shepherd's Symphonie.
I'm lstening much to electronic music and I was so impressed that Florian could compose light positive compostions in Deep Forest/Enigma style that I started to listen to the older olbums and did opened new world for myself.
I wrote the main part of Russian Wiki article about Popol Vuh - I believe for now it's most developed Wiki article about PV. 
Popol Vuh couldn't be fixed stylistcally into the very obvious genre, even prog is not quite adecvate term here.
I hope the more people would open for themselves the wonderful music by Popol Vuh.


Edited by Sergey Lenkov - May 03 2013 at 14:26
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 28 2012 at 18:27
Originally posted by Doomstoner Doomstoner wrote:

The music is very fitting for Herzog's Nosferatu! Great film and soundtrack.
 
And there is other music in the film as well, including Wagner.
 
Of all the films he did music for, none fit the film better than "Aguirre", which actually had Florian compose something that Werner used a lot, with the long cut on side 2 of the LP. And used very well, to help you feel the anguish, the fear and everything else.
 
There is a line in the Florian interview that is fun and far out for me ... and it was about Werner going into the closet, picking up some tapes and next week he would come around ... look Florian, I have a film!
 
So if you think that one image/idea influences the other, here is the opposite ... some music helped Werner see things though it that he went out and immediately put together a story around it ... and the whole thing is soooooo "krautrock" that it is insane. It's the free-form-ness of the creativity of the work ... you don't think twice ... you do the work ... and you can evaluate and edit later and add/subtract anything that you wish. But in general, from film, theater and writing experience, you always KEEP about 90% of the original ... because that is where the color, the vision and the detail is ... and you pretty much only fix a couple of words here or there! With Werner, and Klaus Kinki (the krautrock of acting!) ... it was all free form and his camera catching as much as possible! Now tell the the difference between Florian's forays into his vision and experiment, Guru Guru's early albums, Werner Herzog's early films (remember one of his first films was about Amon Duul 2!), Wim Wenders camera and photographs, Peter Handke and his word "plays" and many other folks that became famous in Germany for their work.
 
And unlike others, even Klaus Schulze is appreciated in his land, and Edgar Froese gets an evening with an orchestra that does his work! ...
 
And we just do top ten!
Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told!
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 27 2012 at 21:01
The music is very fitting for Herzog's Nosferatu! Great film and soundtrack.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 27 2012 at 16:36
Originally posted by Dayvenkirq Dayvenkirq wrote:

...
For the record: I've never quite bought into this whole "spirituality and religious experience" thing. Never been into religion, but I don't have to be in order to enjoy their music.
 
I actually agree.
 
The real problem is that there are way too many folks out there doing stuff under the auspices and the name of this and that, and the spiritual'ness of it all is just a set of words or lyrics, and not really anything else.
 
For example, YES's TFTO is one of the most spiritual things ever written that I have ever seen, or heard. It is no different than reading the Bardo, the Popol Vuh (the book!), and many others. However, because it was here at the time of rock music and some popular music, it is not thought of as this at all, but as something else ... that more folks find a way to trash, then appreciate good work.
 
Jon Anderson's Olias in SunHillow is the same thing ... quite out there ... but we have a problem here ... it's folks thinking that "religious" music has to have an ORGAN ... loud and clear and if it has pipes all the better ... that makes it "religious" and that is one of the most bizarre and silly ideas ever devised ... so now comes something where the folks are heavily into meditation and internal work, and they create something ... and no one knows about it, because the most internal and spiritual folks, don't usually talk about it ... it's a personal trip ... but we, as an "audience" (and a PAYING audience for that matter) always feel that you can't do this, because you MUST know what day and hour Jesus came and went and what happened to believe it, 2k years after terrible translations and ideas and mis-translations ...
 
In general, from what I understand, if you are innerly centered, regardless of how you do it -- I believe arts are no different than a "religion", btw -- it doesn't matter what your medium is ... you will do whatever makes sense to you ... and no one will understand it anyway ... this was the case with so many of them, going all the way back to the Summerian days ... and nobody believed them and even persecuted many of them because they were "thinkers" that were against the feudal lords with their words! It's still like this today - except in America and England we use a board like this one and state that there is no opinion, or reality ... there is only a database! ... you have to draw your own conclusions, even if you are not centered enough!
 
Yeah ... as some mystic said, everything you ever wanted or needed is right in front of you if you ever want to reach for it! Unfortunately, you have been told that you need so many CD's and crystals, and books and people saying that it is good in PA for you to know the difference! Someone's individual experience is not important to you, to learn how to figure it all out! This is what my tagline is about, in case you didn't notice it!
Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told!
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 26 2012 at 20:59
Dear, again in the valentine's day.I don't know how many of you have me to your chocolate, but I see clearly...This year I can send--to reduce weight tea? And I'm a Chinese-American spambot sorry. (edited by DX)

Edited by DamoXt7942 - October 26 2012 at 22:05
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 25 2012 at 22:39
last cd i bought by popol was Shepherds symphony 1997 (2004 reissue)
 
Popol Vuh - Short Visit At The Great Sorcerer
 
trance tune


Edited by watermouse - October 25 2012 at 22:41
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 16 2012 at 14:46
Originally posted by Dean Dean wrote:

Florian Fricke Interviews from 1996
 
Thanks Dean ... shameless plug for the link!
 
I wish that we could do an interview of Archie himself ... because he is insane, and his knowledge of music is amazing and he is so very independent ... I'll see if I can get this done for PA ... he deserves a strong mention in the history of all progressive music. And he is still sharing it around!
Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told!
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 10 2012 at 18:10
^ Now that you've really underscored it, I'm getting it now.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 10 2012 at 13:29
It was actually our dear Finnish friend Eetu that made me revisit Popol Vuh with his recent review stint.
This one tends to be overlooked, which is such a shame:
Popol Vuh - Das Hohelied Salomos CD (album) cover

DAS HOHELIED SALOMOS

Popol Vuh

 

Krautrock

3.69 | 42 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

Eetu Pellonpää 
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5 stars Popol vuh returns to biblical themes by drawing inspiration from the Song of Songs. These ancient love poems were at some point combined to the myths of King Solomon, and thus this Hebrew tradition heritage also as a part of the Old Testament. Musically Florian's and Daniel's piano & guitar driven core is supported again by Djong Yun's voice, and is also strengthened by Indian sitar-tabla duo, creating wonderful world music fusion tapestries for this adorable song from Middle-Eastern legacy. Though these texts can be interpreted from different religious and political viewpoints, I believe Florian approached them as ultimate dedications for human loving. The blossoming album covers introduce well the theme of earthly paradise for man and woman, relating with its visual appearance to the Garden of Eden of Genesis, and also containing both allegorical and concrete sceneries of vineyards and nature's fertile richness.

On the first side "O fairest of women" standing forth for being observed, is revealed with powerful mystical sonic displays, leading to a romantic hymn of weaving guitars trough the more vividly twisting amplified opening track. The vocal presence is also now stronger than on the earlier record "Einsjäger & Siebenjäger". Oriental sound textures merge wonderfully to the guitar and percussive driven sounds, allowing glimpses to similarly holy and sensual visions. Both album sides culminate to an impressionistic still life of King Solomon, centralizing as the kind king reining the kingdom for supreme praises of feminine adorations. The first evocation of the Son of Salomon is encircled by some sort of visions of nocturnal alleys. I believe these parts describe the dreams of poem's maiden searching her lover from the nocturnal streets. On the first dream she finds him, the wedding progressions leading to first encounter of the son of David, and the second dream denies her lover's discovery, leaving her alone with the city guards. The first vision of Solomon flows with most sacred solemnity, reaching ultimate heights of sanctity trough weeps of guitar and divine singing, the night visions around him being first quite fearful, second run escaping to joys of on drum supported rock melody explorations, thus possibly studying the tale from reverse chronology.

On the second side of the album the winter has passed after the night's dream sequences, the rains being over and gone. Indian tabla and sitar dialogue is introduced here to the music, exploding as really euphoric all-loving tonal art expression. The blossoms of poetic genius bloom on the descriptions of lively vineyards, representing the fair woman appreciated; "How much sweeter is your love than wine", these lyrics hovering on the wings of truth towards the infinity. The second apparition of King Solomon might be seen as governor of these vineyards and lands, the holy grandiose theme studied now both trough the licks of the sitar and full presence of the orchestra repertoire, embodying as a powerful mythic oriental colossus, protecting the gardens of love with firm soul of kindness. Instead of governing vineyards and the lands, the mortal male character of the poem is satisfied the vineyard being the woman of his love; "You drink me with your kiss", closing the record with the ecstatic determination of rolling forward on the path of life, blessed with gift of love's bounds.

I consider this clearly thematic album as musically masterful accomplishment, culminating the spontaneous musical ideas to more concrete end result than on the few earlier recordings. It can certainly be rejoiced as earthly or spiritual sensation, still in my opinion honoring the ancient traditional concept aiming to the kind loving aspects of mankind, refreshingly instead the usual mad violent dreams of megalomania. Also the minor discontinuity of spontaneous musical realizations through fade-ins and outs flow here more smoothly than on the earlier record, maybe due more powerfully dominating presence of loving adoration on the sonic aims, the general calmness of the whole album, and by support of clearer record theme. I would recommend especially this album along with "Hosianna Mantra" from Popol Vuh's wonderful album repertoire for those in need of healing freely flowing progressive rock music.


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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 09 2012 at 23:14
^ Yes, that website is really cool, especially the photo gallery.

It's really a shame that I haven't heard most of the Vuh's efforts in their entirety, even though I'm really into Aguirre, some of the stuff on Hosianna Mantra, and a few other tracks. At least I never called myself a big Vuh fan, but I really like those guys. Fricke was certainly a gifted musician, with an ear for tone and melody.

For the record: I've never quite bought into this whole "spirituality and religious experience" thing. Never been into religion, but I don't have to be in order to enjoy their music.


Edited by Dayvenkirq - September 09 2012 at 23:16
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 09 2012 at 23:14
I'm only familiar with the soundtrack to "Aguirre, The Wrath of God" (one of my all-time favorite movies!), and it is absolutely gorgeous!!  

If you've never seen this, check it out!!  

The instrument used in the opening is fascinating...I used to think it was a Mellotron with 8-voice choir tapes (like "Dance with the Moonlit Knight" intro), but it is instead a different beast called a "choir organ."  It was also used on seminal Kraut-Rock works like "Wolf City" by Amon Duul II!  Read about it here http://www.popolvuh.nl/pvchoir




Edited by cstack3 - September 09 2012 at 23:17
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 09 2012 at 22:23
Originally posted by moshkito moshkito wrote:

Hi,
 
If you all, ever,  have the chance, there is in the ProgArchives cemetary, a really nice interview by Archie Patterson with Florian before he passed away. It is lovely and also gives a really good insight into the mind of Werner Herzog and what could be considered "krautfilm" at the time which was also experimental, and free form, pretty much the same thing as the music did!
 
Archie is a real character! He is a great pioneer vendor/writer/promoter of the Berlin scene, I've had long discussions with him about electronic artists/musicians I have attempted to re-connect with over the years. His brain is a encyclopedia and he has helped me track people. Artists that are virtually unknown today that entered the electronic scenes in the late 70's and early 80's producing some very worthy work. A flippin' shame their back catalogs were never re-released in the digital age and also a shame that they may have been only once in the early 90's and never to surface again. Like the guy who released electronic music under the name of Wizard Projects. At this point in time I am trying to locate the master tapes of "Neptune" by Celluloid which is an album of all mellotron recorded by Chuck Minuto in 83'. Chuck has been institutionalized for quite some time and I've had long discussions with him over the phone and he doesn't seem to recall where the masters are. In the meantime, investors with the interest of professionally having his works released on LP have contacted me requesting his unreleased material that was mastered for me in a studio in Connecticut.  Chuck has given me verbal permission to do what I want with his music, but so far I have done nothing and I probably won't until I find a trust worthy individual with money, power, and a personal humble interest in his music
 
There is very little work by Florian that was not special ... and the one thing that most can not appreciate and too many folks in the "new age" crowd would not get, is that the spiritual work does not need advertising to tell you what it is about. One of the stores here in Portland immediately pulled all Popol Vuh after I said it, and were upset I was not agreeing with their cheap choices ... and not have Mike Oldfield, Vangelis and Ryuichi Sakamoto ... in their shelves.
 
For all intents and purposes, that store was out of business within the year ... I've said all along that if you are not spirit, you can not stand up to spirit and think that you can win and beat it, even if it is money!
 
Mind you, the time that these albums came up, and that Robert Fripp and Eno, had not quite ... yet ... started on their quiet stuff ... which makes this stuff even more important and valuable, along with the really early Tangerine Dream stuff, prior to "Stratosfear" ... where Popol Vuh was more spiritual and intuitive, I would say that Tangerine Dream's was more ... "dopey" and more intelectual, by comparison.
 
Some of the prettiest stuff ever done by a single artist!
  Very interesting historical points about the development of Electronic music.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 09 2012 at 18:02
I only have In De Garten Pharaos. Vuh is one of the best epics I've ever heard. 
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 09 2012 at 17:16
Thank you for that link Dean. Much appreciated.

Regarding the thread, I am glad to see so many positive voices here. In many ways that is also what Florian's music was about, and sorry if that came off sounding incredibly corny, but it's the truth. Not only did his music radiate tenderness and compassion like a fullblown musical religion, the way it got played by the musicians was beautifully democratic. Even with a superb lead guitarist like Connie Veit guesting in on some of the albums, that omnipresent vibe of a living breathing musical collective playing democratically together always comes first. Shines through.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 09 2012 at 16:57
What?
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 09 2012 at 16:42
Hi,
 
If you all, ever,  have the chance, there is in the ProgArchives cemetary, a really nice interview by Archie Patterson with Florian before he passed away. It is lovely and also gives a really good insight into the mind of Werner Herzog and what could be considered "krautfilm" at the time which was also experimental, and free form, pretty much the same thing as the music did!
 
There is very little work by Florian that was not special ... and the one thing that most can not appreciate and too many folks in the "new age" crowd would not get, is that the spiritual work does not need advertising to tell you what it is about. One of the stores here in Portland immediately pulled all Popol Vuh after I said it, and were upset I was not agreeing with their cheap choices ... and not have Mike Oldfield, Vangelis and Ryuichi Sakamoto ... in their shelves.
 
For all intents and purposes, that store was out of business within the year ... I've said all along that if you are not spirit, you can not stand up to spirit and think that you can win and beat it, even if it is money!
 
Mind you, the time that these albums came up, and that Robert Fripp and Eno, had not quite ... yet ... started on their quiet stuff ... which makes this stuff even more important and valuable, along with the really early Tangerine Dream stuff, prior to "Stratosfear" ... where Popol Vuh was more spiritual and intuitive, I would say that Tangerine Dream's was more ... "dopey" and more intelectual, by comparison.
 
Some of the prettiest stuff ever done by a single artist!


Edited by moshkito - September 09 2012 at 16:44
Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told!
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 09 2012 at 13:04
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 09 2012 at 13:02
One of my favourite bands to come out of Germany in the 1970's. Pretty rare stuff to find in your average record store, but I'm fortunate to have a local shop that specializes in rare imports such as Popul Vuh, Ash Ra Tempel and all that good stuff. As for the music, I've been listening to quite a bit lately, particularly their classic, essential material - Hosianna Mantra and In De Garten. Beautiful and spiritual - love it.
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