Listening through the Top 100

I have mainly been into classical music for a long time (largely 20th century, although I like all periods). A friend challenged me to have a go at listening to progressive rock seriously, so I found the list on this site and have since been working my way through it. I've now listened to the first 75 or so albums. 

I too come from a classical background, though not so much modern classical; the Greatest Of All Time for me is Bach by a considerable margin, other favourites of mine include choral music of the Renaissance (Palestrina, Monteverdi etc.), Mozart, Schubert's songs and recently Beethoven's sonatas, and I do like me some modern classical now and then. Regarding prog, your sentence "Classical (...) is probably more difficult to listen to (...) and usually (though not always) has greater depth. But prog rock is more immediate and exciting" pretty much sums it up for me.

As for tips: King Crimson is definitely one of the most interesting bands of the genre, bandleader Robert Fripp even mentioned Bartok as a major influence. Although about everything they have released is brillant (apart from a few pop tunes like "Sleepless" and "Heartbeat" from the 80s, but don't be deceived - the majority of their 80s stuff is pop only on the surface), their 90s work is probably the most challenging. I particularly recommend the studio album "The ConstruKCtion of Light" (unpopular in the prog community, but of stunning complexity, especially rhythmically) and the live improvisation album "THRaKaTTaK" that even some KC fans consider unlistenable.
Both Magma and Van der Graaf Generator have some kind of "classical" feel to me; the great Magma albums are continuous compositions where the track timestamps are of little importance. Since they are both present in the Top 75, I'm surprised you haven't mentioned them; if you nevertheless liked their albums, they're worth checking out further (though the VdGG albums in the list are the best ones).
Talk Talk is a 80s band that made syth pop at first, but gradually developed a very individual aesthetic closer in spirit to classical music. Some people regard them as post-rock pioneers, some pigeon-hole them as prog, but they stand on their own really. The two albums made in this style are "Spirit of Eden" and "Laughing Stock". Later their frontman, Mark Hollis, released a self-titled solo album that is even more similar to the softer side of modern classical (e. g. Philip Glass, but then again it sounds nothing like Glass). Someone with experience in this kind of music maybe should start here with Talk Talk.

Edited by austrianprogfan - August 02 2018 at 17:07

Hi. Thanks for the suggestions. I will have a listen to Art Zoyd and Univers Zero. I found Henry Cow (I jumped ahead to listen to Western Culture, when I saw people were saying it was 'difficult' music) quite interesting - so would like to try a bit more RIO. Thanks also for the King Crimson suggestions. I will check those out too. Magma was new to me and certainly not quite what I was expecting to hear on a prog rock list. I quite liked their music. They remind me of Stravinsky's Les Noces more than Carl Orff, I think, because they don't seem to have any of Orff's minimalist tendencies (that become more overt in his later operas). I guess with Magma, it just doesn't seem quite as original, when your reference point is 20th cent classical. Quite a few modern classical composers have done unusual things with choirs and instrumentation (Schnittke with his clusters and electric guitars springs to mind, but Ligeti too). I like Van der Graaf Generator, especially Pawn Hearts, but at times I find Peter Hammill's vocals a bit OTT. Tried Liquid Tension Experiment. They seem like a cross between Dream Theater and Mahavishnu Orchestra. Quite fun, but I'm not quite sure how much substance their compositions really have (this problem for me probably extends to DT too).

Androcleas wrote: I must try Talk Talk too. I guess the thing I am a little wary of is when Rock groups try to rip off classical tunes (Bach, Tchaikovsky or whatever) with electric guitars and drums. That always sounds pretty naff to me... ELP worst offender so far.

Androcleas wrote: Hi. Thanks for the suggestions. I will have a listen to Art Zoyd and Univers Zero. I found Henry Cow (I jumped ahead to listen to Western Culture, when I saw people were saying it was 'difficult' music) quite interesting - so would like to try a bit more RIO.

All good picks Lewian

SonomaComa1999 wrote: I really want to move into classical, but I have no idea where to start. I've listened to Stravinsky's Firebird and Mussorgsky's Pictures, but I'm really just confused of how to listen effectively and critically. Good thing with prog is you have specific sub-genres where you can move to and fro. I wonder if there's a Classical Archives lol

Logan wrote: My first love was classical. I find that the "chamber Prog" of RIO (Rock in Opposition) type bands often appeal to me. Classics such as Art Zoyd...

Logan wrote: and if you're adventurous, try Igor Wakhevitch.

I'd say outside of the chamber-format Dr. Faust is one of perhaps only a handful of actually successful fusings of classical/avantgarde and genuine rock ever composed. Perhaps because Igor was an actual composer with an interest in dark, experimental rock and electronic music rather than a some guy in a rockband that had fond memories of his parents Bach & Vivaldi-records.   

Androcleas wrote: ... First impressions - there is a lot of very interesting stuff here. Classical - Bartok, Shostakovich, Stravinsky, but also Messiaen, Ligeti and certain other more recent composers - is probably more difficult to listen to (modernist classical is probably more challenging even than Henry Cow) and usually (though not always) has greater depth. But prog rock is more immediate and exciting. Has anyone else here moved from classical to prog rock? Any tips? ...