What is Prog?

Joren wrote: dude wrote: i thought we pretty well settled this one,there is a pretty good definition accessible from the home page I entirely agree with that!

Well I think the definition is not as good as it could be - and the attempts to sub-categorise get confused and overlap each other. While it is a fair point that there is a degree of overlap, and the definition of prog is by nature a fuzzy one, I'd like to try to get to something relatively short and pithy. We can also agree on definitions of the sub-categories - or rather distinctions between them, I feel!

If the definition on the main page was good enough, we wouldn't have so many debates within the forum. I don't think they would stop - due to the nature of prog, but it would be much easier to just say "look at the front page then start from there", and if any FAQs came up, that could be taken into account when the definition was updated.

danbo wrote: Okay, let's look at the word first: Pro-gress-ive. Hhhmmh, maybe it's Prog-res-sive? No, no, it's Progre -ssive. Wait, no, it's Progress - ive. Root word; PROGRESS. Not in political terms, that would be a misnomer. How about a general forward movement, learning as we go, taking something that already exists and building, adding new ideas and properties, and creating something different. Not exactly new, but improved. Revolutionary, like the Porsche to the Edsel. SO, simplistically........ Progressive Music is the melding of different genre's to create a revolutionary art form.    Nah.....

It is a difficult task I have set, no? - It is difficult to see how the Beatles do not fit the description you have given!  Nice try, though - I prefer it to the boring responses that say "We've already decided this"; but don't say what has been decided.

My go

Maybe a catch-all definition could be; PROGRESSIVE ROCK: An evolutionary style of music. The term is a bit of a misnomer, as the style finds its roots where it will; in Rock, Jazz, Folk, Classical, World - even Popular music.

The music is evolutionary in that, typically, a strong melody line is initially used, married to conventional harmonies to strongly resemble conventional music of a particular form. What makes it progressive is that, like classical music, the form may evolve through a series of movements bearing some resemblance to sonata form. Some form of development of material almost always takes place.

However there will normally be an improvisational element to break down that form so that the music takes unexpected turns into harmonic, rythmic and textural structures which may bear little resemblance to the opening material. Like jazz, this may become so deeply improvisational that all feeling of form is broken down completely.

Progressive Rock almost always gives itself the freedom to develop in any direction it chooses, and borrows freely from the various trends in other more defined forms of music in order to widen its musical vocabulary. It is this freedom of expression that is the most striking feature of this form of music.

(I think it may be a good idea to address the lyrical content here as well - my thinking cap is still on...)

...and then we can go on to define "Art Music", "Canterbury", Symphonic" or whatever.

As a first draft - any opinions?