what classical instrument do you like in Prog

Yep, I agree that keyboards and/or samplers cannot seem to yet replicate the infinite variety of tonal colours and timbres that acoustic instruments contain. There have been many attempts to fuse electronic rock instruments with orchestral sources but very few have worked satisfactorily for me. I think the problem is that when acoustic instruments are amplified sufficiently to be heard along with electric guitars, organs, synths, drums etc much of the tonal palette is lost or coloured detrimentally by the artificial volume ?

Chris Squire's solo album Fish Out of Water is one of the better examples of such a fusion i.e. the orchestral arrangements are kept very sparse in the background until such time as they are given the full sound picture (but only when the electronic band is faded out so they don't collide/interfere with each other)

Even here alas, on the closing track Safe (Canon Song) the band and the orchestra play in unison and the competing frequency bands, counterpoint and timbres just make the whole she-boodle collapse under its own weight.

Some of Crimson's attempts at splicing electronic/acoustic materials together have been very effective e.g. Side One of Lizard which contains a lovely blend of horns, woodwinds and Fripp's habitual electric mayhem.

I like much of the music on Deep Purple's Concerto for Group and Orchestra but the balance sucks and the orchestra sounds shrilly unrealistic in places.

Five Bridges by the Nice has a much better balance and the Orchestra sounds more natural (but Emerson, unlike Lord, knew to write the suite sequentially and not have band/orchestra playing in unison)

ELP's Works Live is decent and has perhaps the least 'tarnished by amplification' orchestral sound I've heard to date (Pity the penguins playing is stiffer than a 90 year old kitten though)

The piano and the acoustic guitar probably don't count?

Then flute for me as well. Quella Vecchia Locanda, Jethro Tull, Focus, Traffic...

I also like the vibes, for instance in "The River" on Gentle Giant's Octopus.

It's cool that Gryphon used some unusual old instruments like the krummhorn.

i think piano as grand piano can alos be mentiond and aukustic guitar (ballalaika, ukulele, sitar, dobro, banjo and other guitarlike instruments can be mentiond as well)

i will certanly get som Gryphon albums, and yes Gentle Giant have som gorgeus vibe some of there songs.
 

Gryphon are all over less traditional "classical" instruments...or more traditional, if you're thinking in a folk kinda way. 

Anyway, Jethro Tull are pretty much all over this in the seventies. Yes, the frontman played a play, but the band also had a penchant for bringing orchestrations of some form, be it a full orchestra (Too Old to Rock 'n Roll, Warchild) or just a string quartet (Minstrel in the Gallery, Heavy Horses). Additionally, Ian had a fondness for the violin, and as such was always bringing in guest violinists (Heavy Horses again...er, A). 

I like the violin. Kansas, Dixie Dregs, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Jean-Luc Ponty, etc. 

I guess actually Baroque and not Classical, but I love the Harpsichord in general.

Equality 7-2521 wrote: I guess actually Baroque and not Classical, but I love the Harpsichord in general.

ooh...forgot about it!

Stringed instruments (cello, violin, and upright bass specifically).

I also enjoy the addition of brass/woodwind instruments in bands like Henry Cow/Univers Zero/Art Zoyd.


Edited by SaltyJon - November 22 2009 at 15:30

Slartibartfast wrote: I like the violin. Kansas, Dixie Dregs, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Jean-Luc Ponty, etc.

High Tide, mid-70's Crimso, Curved Air...that's probably the most common. 

I really enjoy the violin and flute, though there are many other less often used instruments that I like too. I wish the vibraphone was used more in prog, I love the sound of it.