The Progressive Rock Composer: Left/Right Brained?

Today I met someone that referred to Larks' Tongues In Aspic as pure left brain bliss. This brought up an interesting point. Would Fripp write Larks' Tongues for the sake of creativity or complexity?

The right brain is most often associated with art and creativity. To me, progressive rock is a term used for bands who write purely creative, ingenious music, disregarding what the public thinks.

The left brain is associated with logic and real world dealings. But many people associate prog rock with well thought out music with difficult time signatures and complex structure. To be considered a successful progressive rock composer, you would likely need a smokin hot left brain.

Do you think progressive rock composers (or composers of modern music) are more left brained or right brained? We are obviously going to encounter some that are more right brained and some that are more left brained. Are there any obvious examples? Maybe most composers have a balance. I have a growing interest in psychology and find this subject extremely fascinating. Thanks. :p

You know, I'd almost call Larks Tongues  right-brained...funny how this stuff works.

Falx wrote: I think punk rock came about because people were tired of their brains being taxed by all these complex time signatures and 20 minute epics.

That seems to be the general consensus.

Tarquin Underspoon wrote: You know, I'd almost call Larks Tongues  right-brained...funny how this stuff works.   I'd say that, ultimately, music is pointless unless it comes from the right brain. Sure, our prog heroes may weave in complex parts that require "left brain bliss", but it's all to achieve an effect that appeals to emotion. Close to the Edge is a complex structural marvel, but it's one of the most emotional works I know of.   In other words, well-composed music should utilize elements of both emotion and technicality. No musician worth his or her weight in treble clefs wants to be The Sex Pistols or Behold...the Arctopus.

Slartibartfast wrote: The brain may have two halves that work in different ways, but balance is the important thing in music and in life...

Well said, sir!

I've always thought of technicality as a way to reach emotion. I also believe basicly everybody to have some musicality, but only few have the technique to craft music that carries complex emotions.
Expressing some kind of emotion in music isn't necessarily very difficult, but if you want a dozen different shades, I'd say you already need some technical know-how in both playing and composition.

I know one thing for sure: tech-metal = left brain, jazz-fusion = right brained (usually).

Listening to and composing great music requires much use of both sides. So I'd say most prog composers just have great minds period, using both sides more than any other rock composers.

Tengent wrote: Today I met someone that referred to Larks' Tongues In Aspic as pure left brain bliss. This brought up an interesting point. Would Fripp write Larks' Tongues for the sake of creativity or complexity? The right brain is most often associated with art and creativity. To me, progressive rock is a term used for bands who write purely creative, ingenious music, disregarding what the public thinks. The left brain is associated with logic and real world dealings. But many people associate prog rock with well thought out music with difficult time signatures and complex structure. To be considered a successful progressive rock composer, you would likely need a smokin hot left brain.

Edited by moshkito - July 20 2010 at 19:12

thehallway wrote: [  And Bruford was left-brained......creating an imbalance: which is why he left the band!

 

Edited by moshkito - July 26 2010 at 21:14