Teach Me About Chamber Rock

mathman0806 wrote: If you have contributed to this thread and haven't seen the Interactive Playlist: Chamber Rock thread, I welcome any of you who had participated here to suggest music there in creating a playlist of chamber rock (and contemporary chamber music).

Bumping this. Still plenty of slots in the playlist.

I asked ChatGPT to give examples of chamber rock. Any thoughts on the response.

Chamber rock is a genre that combines elements of classical music, rock, and experimental music. It typically features classical instruments, such as strings, woodwinds, and brass, alongside electric guitars, bass, drums, and vocals. The genre often incorporates complex arrangements, rich harmonies, and unconventional song structures. Here are some examples of chamber rock artists and bands: 1. Arcade Fire - Their early albums, such as "Funeral" and "Neon Bible," incorporate elements of chamber rock with their use of orchestral instruments and grandiose arrangements. 2. The Dirty Three - An instrumental trio consisting of violin, guitar, and drums. They blend rock, folk, and classical influences, creating a unique and atmospheric sound. 3. Rachel's - A Louisville-based band that combines classical and rock instrumentation to create cinematic and emotive compositions. 4. The Tindersticks - Known for their lush arrangements and baritone vocals, The Tindersticks incorporate orchestral instruments into their indie rock sound. 5. Clogs - An instrumental chamber rock group that blends classical, post-rock, and folk influences. They often incorporate minimalist and experimental elements into their compositions. 6. The Decemberists - While primarily known as an indie folk band, The Decemberists have incorporated chamber rock elements into their music, particularly in albums like "The Hazards of Love" and "The Crane Wife." 7. Antony and the Johnsons - Led by singer Antony Hegarty, the band combines soulful vocals with chamber pop/rock arrangements, often featuring string sections and piano. 8. Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Although primarily categorized as post-rock, this Canadian collective incorporates elements of chamber music, with their use of strings, brass, and orchestral arrangements. These are just a few examples of chamber rock, and the genre itself can encompass a wide range of musical styles and approaches.

mathman0806 wrote: Jacob Schoolcraft wrote: One band in particular that combined a style of modern chamber music with Folk was Penguin Cafe Orchestra. Often described in the area of minimalist due to the repeativeness or redundancy of their notation..their first album blends a few styles not commonly found in modern chamber or chamber rock....yet creates moments of re-visting that style with odd musical characteristics. In the 80s they were pegged as New Age. It's really not New Age. The paintings of Penguins on their album covers resembling human beings had nothing to do with that...Pieces that began as instrumental Folk with violin and transformed into a section of music that was dark and quirky had nothing to do with that. Their music was used in 80s movies because of its hooky signature lines but their albums were not a product of that work. They were actually unusual in a very genuine way and they were pegged wrong. Some of their music is ethereal, ambient, bizzare and melodic and has a modern chamber vibe. Big , Beautiful, Dark And Scary by Bang On A Can All Stars is worth the price of admission. Ingram Marshall Three Penitential Visions Hidden Voices I highly recommend . David Smooke Nutshell Studies Of Unexplained Death , Birdsongs Of The Mesozoic The Iridium Controversy is great Chamber Rock and of course composer Arnold Schonberg. Karda Estra Voivode Dracula is always amazing, but one of my favorite modern Chamber Music releases is Crackpot Hymnal Dmitri Tymoczko performed by the Amernet Quartet and the Congliano Quartet which is completely amazing. Julverne are also one of my favorites. I several Bang on a Can All Star releases and all are great. Field Recordings and More Field Recordings have compositions based on and inorporating field recordings by a wide range of composers including some not typically associated with contemporary classical. The founders of Bang on a Can have a music label, Canteloupe Music, and just released is JG Thirlwell's Dystonia performed by the Mivos Quartet. Here's a track. https://jgthirlwell.bandcamp.com/album/dystonia For something prog-related, Kronos Quartet commissioned a piece by Stephan Thelen of SONAR. https://stephanthelen.bandcamp.com/track/circular-lines-performed-by-kronos-quartet On the mention of folk related chamber music, there is Tin Hat (previously Tin Hat Trio). They are on Prog Archives but I don't see much "rock" in their music. Definitely avant garde/experimental. All Music includes chamber jazz in labeling their music. In trying to understand chamber rock, I am wondering band that I had mention in the Interactive Polls on this site, Black String. I think the ethos of chamber music is there along with elements of jazz and rock. The difference is that their sound and instrumentation comes from Eastern (Korean) music instead of Western.

Really interesting ''''thank you for sharing

Negoba wrote: Thanks for the suggestions Jacob, got some new material to peruse.

Your welcome. You know there are several members on Prog Archives whose background in Modern Chamber Music is vast compared to my knowledge of it . I can't recall their screen names because it's been years and I wish they were still around. I learned a lot from them no doubt. That's how I discovered Julverne! A lot of these members were experts on the subject matter and their noodle was stored with important detailed history on that style of music. A lot of my discoveries between 2005 and the present I owe to Prog Archives

One band in particular that combined a style of modern chamber music with Folk was Penguin Cafe Orchestra. Often described in the area of minimalist due to the repeativeness or redundancy of their notation..their first album blends a few styles not commonly found in modern chamber or chamber rock....yet creates moments of re-visting that style with odd musical characteristics.

In the 80s they were pegged as New Age. It's really not New Age. The paintings of Penguins on their album covers resembling human beings had nothing to do with that...Pieces that began as instrumental Folk with violin and transformed into a section of music that was dark and quirky had nothing to do with that.

Their music was used in 80s movies because of its hooky signature lines but their albums were not a product of that work. They were actually unusual in a very genuine way and they were pegged wrong. Some of their music is ethereal, ambient, bizzare and melodic and has a modern chamber vibe.

Big , Beautiful, Dark And Scary by Bang On A Can All Stars is worth the price of admission. Ingram Marshall Three Penitential Visions Hidden Voices I highly recommend . David Smooke Nutshell Studies Of Unexplained Death , Birdsongs Of The Mesozoic The Iridium Controversy is great Chamber Rock and of course composer Arnold Schonberg. Karda Estra Voivode Dracula is always amazing, but one of my favorite modern Chamber Music releases is Crackpot Hymnal Dmitri Tymoczko performed by the Amernet Quartet and the Congliano Quartet which is completely amazing. Julverne are also one of my favorites.

Years ago I went to Laurel Mansion to hear a string quartet play modern chamber music. The pieces that were chosen to be played created an atmosphere of dark romanticism. Most modern chamber music includes the usage of string quartet..or harpsichord..or piano.

Bands being labeled as Chamber Rock are stylistically based off modern Chamber Music except they use synthesizer sounds, Mellotron, and usually a drummer that plays odd time signatures..therefore people associate it with Rock. Progressive Rock. That being the difference between the two and Classical snobbery does make that distinction.

The Enid have always had band members on board that are capable of playing Classical music. Sometimes The Enid emulate the sound and dynamics of an orchestra however they are clearly a Prog band playing a kind of Classical Rock and using layered keyboards, Classical Percussion, guitars and voices to produce a big sound.

I'm assuming people generally tag the term Rock to coincide with Chamber. I can't count the amount of times I've heard a load of Kronos Quartet albums where they are performing arrangements of pieces written by 20th century composers and having similarities to the composition of Univers Zero and ..of course minus drums, distorted Fripp guitar and layered keyboard work.

John Adams Chamber Symphony is a work that I can definitely hear Univers Zero playing in a Progressive Rock style. ...If it were true Univers Zero would be playing Adams' Chamber Symphony on instruments typically thought to be used in Prog...where John Adams uses a more orchestral sound of authenticity and traditionally based off standards and practices circulating in the Classical community.

Edited by Jacob Schoolcraft - May 16 2023 at 23:02

Catcher10 wrote: It's Rock played in a Chamber.....

😃 😀 😄 😁

Jacob Schoolcraft wrote: I enjoy Avant-garde in its many forms of instrumentation. George Crumb Black Angels without a label , but as a piece of music contains all or most of the elements and choice of notes have long been repeated by King Crimson, Univers Zero, Art Zoyd, Miriodor..and rather re-created in their own style. Much of the music is considered to be hellish and sinister. It is often said to be Satanic. This is speculation designed by listeners who are frightened or disturbed by the music. Is it true? I'm not J. Edgar Hoover....but I do know for a fact that a bizarre arrangement of the tri tone interval will creep people out. It's gotta be the reality difference between consonance and dissonance. They're used to hearing consonance all their life. Their hear dissonance and they immediately associate it with the underworld. I can understand the fascination, but it's vital to realize that musicians sometimes compose dark pieces because their inspiration is part of a nightmare or a real disturbing life experience where evil and sadistic people imposed on them.

I am not particularly fond of terms or sometimes sub genres because of the nature of music and the musicians who write it...crossing into other styles which have already been termed for decades and the whole thing developing into a nonsensical mess of debates and confusion. For example: "Oh..this band is a combination of Canterbury and RIO" "Okay Bob..but they're classified Canterbury " "Nah..they're too RIO to be like Gilgamesh or National Health "

This type of recurring situation seems lost and not really workable when trying to place bands in categories. Music has no barriers and you just never know what a good writer will create.

My guess is someone thought it would be a good idea to call Univers Zero Chamber Rock because it is tied into Modern Chamber Music.

For example Kronos Quartet ( for the most part), John Adams Chamber Symphony, Peteris Vasks Chamber Music, Dmitri Tymoczko Crackpot Hymnal...is modern chamber music. Certain Avant-garde composers crossed into the style of writing found in modern chamber music such as John Cage with his string quartets, Stephan Wolfe, and George Crumb Black Angels.

Modern Chamber Music doesn't contain the sound of drums playing Rock beats ...or odd time signatures played on drums in a Progressive Rock style...On Univers Zero's first album they are influenced by Bartok and generally a distinctive style of writing found in Modern Chamber Music of the 20th century. The difference being that they are a band and they put a Progressive Rock edge into it. The term Chamber Rock is triggered by that logic, but I don't know how accurate or appropriate it would be to actually label it that.

One band or ensemble categorized as RIO is Julverne. They are less dark and more hauntingly melodic. Less dissonance. Pieces like "Joyeux Noel, Captain Nemo!" are masterfully beautiful and inspirational. Le Pavillon Des Passions Humaines is outstanding from start to finish. I am intrigued by their music.

Rational Diet ...On Phenomena And Existences is essential for a fan of this so called Chamber Rock.

The first three Art Zoyd albums are considered by many to be their best more authentic era. I like Musique Pour l'odyssee. Les Espaces Inquiets, Phase IV, Le Mariage Du Ciel Et De L'enfer, Nosferatu, and Faust are all precious to me. In their later years they incorporated the usage of drum machine , electronics, and at times real Percussion...and a percentage of fans find it distasteful because it sterred away from the acoustic instrumentation usage of the first three albums.