what classical instrument do you like in Prog
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Topic: what classical instrument do you like in Prog
Posted By: Icarium
Subject: what classical instrument do you like in Prog
Date Posted: November 22 2009 at 07:09
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I think use of classical instruments in Progressive Rock is verry nice and gives the music some warmth. not just as orchesteral background arrangement but melodies made by use of a classical instrument. exemples are Obes, Flutes, Violines, Horns, Tuba, Trombone, basson, timpani, vibraphone, woodwind, hardingfiddle, cello and other solos or leadmelodies made by instruments not usually used in rock (but it apears sometimes in mainstreem rock). these instrument have a depth you don't find in electric instrument (i think), and Keybords (even they are good) can't moust of the time compete with the original sound. and Obe sample dont sound as an obe for instance. i like the mix of electric parts and aukustic, classical parts, Procul Harum - A Salty Dog is greate exemple of classical meets electronic (i just love that album) i also lice Organic soundig bands and artist like Van Morrison, with that dry sound. another master of this is Morricone to use classical instrumnts and rock instruments. I especially likes Obe, but also flutes (made of Wood), and horns. I also likes Timpanies I Hope this make sence  |
Replies:
Posted By: ExittheLemming
Date Posted: November 22 2009 at 07:34
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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) ------------- 
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Posted By: UndercoverBoy
Date Posted: November 22 2009 at 07:36
| Flute! Although it's hard to say, because most other classical instruments aren't featured as much in Progressive Rock, but I do like the violin in Quella Vecchia Locanda. |
Posted By: Moogtron III
Date Posted: November 22 2009 at 08:24
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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. |
Posted By: Xanthous
Date Posted: November 22 2009 at 10:30
| The Harpsichord or the Flute. |
Posted By: Icarium
Date Posted: November 22 2009 at 10:39
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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. |
Posted By: Icarium
Date Posted: November 22 2009 at 10:46
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(Pity the penguins playing is stiffer than a 90 year old kitten though) [/QUOTE]  I couldent help it  had to find a funny pinguin pichture |
Posted By: The Whistler
Date Posted: November 22 2009 at 10:51
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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). ------------- "There seem to be quite a large percentage of young American boys out there tonight. A long way from home, eh? Well so are we... Gotta stick together." -I. Anderson |
Posted By: Johnnytuba
Date Posted: November 22 2009 at 10:51
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I also enjoy the flute...I have heard flute in a lot of Prog, but the flute part in Asia Minor's "Nightwind" always gets me. ------------- "The things that we're concealing, will never let us grow. Time will do its healing, you've got to let it go. |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: November 22 2009 at 10:55
I like the violin. Kansas, Dixie Dregs, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Jean-Luc Ponty, etc. 
------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened... 
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Posted By: hirszu
Date Posted: November 22 2009 at 11:05
| Violin - Larks' Tongues |
Posted By: Equality 7-2521
Date Posted: November 22 2009 at 11:25
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I guess actually Baroque and not Classical, but I love the Harpsichord in general. ------------- "One had to be a Newton to notice that the moon is falling, when everyone sees that it doesn't fall. " |
Posted By: apps79
Date Posted: November 22 2009 at 14:21
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in order:
1)flutes
2)violin
3)don't really care...
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Posted By: apps79
Date Posted: November 22 2009 at 14:23
it's an excellent instrument also,love its sound!
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Equality 7-2521 wrote:Posted By: snobb
Date Posted: November 22 2009 at 14:34
| I think it is violin ( starting from early Kansas, some Billy Cobham, Mahavishnu Orchestra,etc). Sometimes flute isn't bad as well. |
Posted By: SaltyJon
Date Posted: November 22 2009 at 15:29
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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. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Salty_Jon" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: SMSM
Date Posted: November 22 2009 at 15:52
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I would like to hear more French horn, which combined with oboe and flute is quite good |
Posted By: The Whistler
Date Posted: November 22 2009 at 16:17
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High Tide, mid-70's Crimso, Curved Air...that's probably the most common. ------------- "There seem to be quite a large percentage of young American boys out there tonight. A long way from home, eh? Well so are we... Gotta stick together." -I. Anderson |
Posted By: Hercules
Date Posted: November 22 2009 at 16:24
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Flute (especially when played by Jim Lockhart of Horslips or Thijs van Leer of Focus) and violin. Gryphon also use krumhorns, bassoon and recorders brilliantly. ------------- A TVR is not a car. It's a way of life. |
Posted By: The Sleepwalker
Date Posted: November 22 2009 at 17:01
| 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. |
Posted By: Icarium
Date Posted: November 22 2009 at 17:09
Camel have some grate flute on Supertwister - Mirage and some lovly playd by Latimer. actualy many Camel songs have some wonderfull flute leads Espessially on Nimrodel/the Procession/the white rider epic  there is a lot of classical and medeval themes (to make it sound more Middelearthly they should uses this song on TLOTR movie or the new Hobbit movie  )ther is Oboe on that tune as well. Andy Macay play also some grate Woodwinds then you have Gabriels Obe by Morricone a wonderfull song, combining Oboe with rock Rythem section.. |
Posted By: valravennz
Date Posted: November 22 2009 at 18:14
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I also enjoy the violin and flute. The violin brings to mind Curved Air's "Vivaldi" and David Cross' performance in King Crimson. The flute - well Ian Anderson is the prog maestro of this instrument, imo. I too, would love to see more use of classical instruments and medieval. Blackmore's Knight use a variety of unusual classical instruments.
------------- 
"Music is the Wine that fills the cup of Silence" - Robert Fripp |
Posted By: progmatic
Date Posted: November 22 2009 at 18:38
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I love almost any woodwind but have a special fondness for harpsichords ------------- PROGMATIC |
Posted By: The Quiet One
Date Posted: November 22 2009 at 18:51
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The oboe, Karl Jenkins plays greatly that instrument with Soft Machine and Nucleus if I'm not mistaken. |
Posted By: The Pessimist
Date Posted: November 22 2009 at 20:03
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It HAS to be piano
------------- "Market value is irrelevant to intrinsic value." Arnold Schoenberg |
Posted By: theBox
Date Posted: November 23 2009 at 01:40
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well, apart from the piano, which is a standard in the keyboards setup, you can't go wrong with the flute and harpsicord (siberian khatru, anyone?). I don't really care for bowed instruments though (violin, cello etc)
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Posted By: aspinosa
Date Posted: November 23 2009 at 18:19
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1 Piano 2 Violin and cellos 3 Flute 4 Others
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Posted By: splyu
Date Posted: November 23 2009 at 18:29
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All of the above. Which classical instrument would not fit into prog? I can't imagine. What I'd personally like to hear more, though, would be mallet instruments: xylophone, marimba, and vibraphone, which I only really remember hearing in Pierre Moerlen's Gong and in Mike Oldfield, where it's also Pierre Moerlen playing them. |
Posted By: The Quiet One
Date Posted: November 23 2009 at 18:33
 Have you listened to Jean-Luc Ponty? Mahavishnu Orchestra? The Dixie Dregs? |
Posted By: Soul Dreamer
Date Posted: November 23 2009 at 18:34
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Violin, cello, soprano sax (if it counts here...), clarinet, and ofcourse piano and other more vintage keyboards...and some great tunes have used accordeon, which I like a lot.
------------- To be the one who seeks so I may find .. (Metallica) |
Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: November 23 2009 at 20:28
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Hi,
This must be the day for silly questions ...
What does an instrument have to do with "progressive music" ?
Are you trying to corner a definition of prog music to sound just like Genesis?
If you want to check out some really progressive stuff (show your ability to listen to music!!! -- instead of a style!!!) ... put on some of the early stuff by Edgerto Gismonti ... btw, he builds his own 8 and 10 string guitars and he can do things with harmonics that you don't even dream about ... you might call that folk, jazz, or anything else ... but in the end ... it's the music that counts ... and compared to everything you or I might listen to ... it's way more progressive and intelligent music than 3/4's of the stuff that we discuss here.
There are all kinds of music and many of them have a progressive bunch of folks ... all that means is that those folks want to do more with that traditional this and that than what most people do ... and what you are saying (in the end) is that a piano or keyboard must be present for it to be progressive?
That's just sad ...
What's next .. ? Women can't be prog?
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Posted By: WalterDigsTunes
Date Posted: November 23 2009 at 20:51
Methinks someone needs some Zappa. |
Posted By: splyu
Date Posted: November 24 2009 at 13:29
Quite possibly! Any albums in particular? |
Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: November 24 2009 at 14:59
Hi,
To get a really good feel ... go get the DVD Zappa plays Zappa ... which is his son playing the lead ... all in all the material appears to have "smoothed" out over time, and it sounds better than ever ... after that you can get an idea what Zappa was about ...
Very modern by compositional standards, almost adding classical concepts into rock music and mixing the two en force. And also using quite a few modern concepts that were kinda studied in musical departments everywhere ...
The nice part is that he helped develop a lot of rock music, and specially soaring solos and the concept of longer cuts for rock music ... in other words, treating rock as classical music and ... above all ... doing it!
Considering when he started doing this, it is easy to see that the lyrics are done for fun, since if they were "serious" no one would ever give a damn about the music ... and the music business tried hard ... really hard to get this stuff not released or ignored ... totally ignored. Frank was probably one of the very first independent labels ... eventually he sold enough that the distribution conglomerates could not stay away ... but in general they did not support him very well either ... and he didn't care ... he knew that if they were going to support him he would not be able to be "free" as he wanted to be and do ...
And that's the difference between a Metalica (commercial music) or a Zappa ... now you decide if someone like that is worth listening to or not. Regardless of the fact that it may be prog or bullpucky.
It all has nothing to do with the instruments ... it has to do with the person behind them ... and that is the secret that is missing here ... some folks would rather try and see/locate an idea for their minds, than accept what is out there in front of them ... it's music ... that simple.
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Posted By: zachfive
Date Posted: November 24 2009 at 15:21
| Perhaps not considered a "classical" instrument, but the Lute played by Jan Akkerman on Tabernakel and Alex Lifeson's use of the Bouzouki on S&A is a nice use of old world instruments. |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: November 24 2009 at 15:38
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Pan flute.
------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: Icarium
Date Posted: November 24 2009 at 15:47
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^ i think (again) Ennio Morricone have a song featuring Pan flute - i dont know what its called but it is a nice song. it can be a Fistfull of dollars |
Posted By: Bitterblogger
Date Posted: November 24 2009 at 22:03
Patrick Moraz and Syrinx did a whole album together. A panflute panoply!
For my money, I'll nominate the mandolin.
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Posted By: cyclysm748
Date Posted: November 25 2009 at 00:26
| Triangle, you can't get that sound out of a keyboard. |
Posted By: SaltyJon
Date Posted: November 25 2009 at 00:33
I'd suggest checking out maybe One Size Fits All or Roxy & Elsewhere. Both of them have some great playing by Ruth Underwood. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Salty_Jon" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: ele03piano
Date Posted: November 25 2009 at 21:54
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.., piano and flute would be great..
------------- http://www.electronicpianosforyou.com - electronic pianos http://www.electronicpianosforyou.com - electronic piano |
Posted By: prog4evr
Date Posted: November 26 2009 at 05:40
| The church organ that Rick Wakeman plays both on Yes, GFTO, and his solo Criminal Record.... |
Posted By: RoeDent
Date Posted: November 26 2009 at 07:03
| Love the flute solos in The Court of the Crimson King (King Crimson) and Octavarium (Dream Theater). |
Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: November 27 2009 at 15:44
Piano, cello, mello... ------------- https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ipg=50&_sop=1&_rdc=1&_ssn=musicosm" rel="nofollow - eBay |
Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: November 27 2009 at 16:00
Yeah you can ...
Vangelis even uses teaspoons in everyone of his albums ... true story!
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Posted By: Diego I
Date Posted: November 28 2009 at 14:09
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Classic Guitar... of course the Piano! ------------- It´s dark, too dark to see... |
Posted By: Kazza3
Date Posted: November 29 2009 at 04:27
| Does anyone know some prog with clarinet? |
Posted By: The Whistler
Date Posted: November 29 2009 at 22:38
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I'd be interested to hear this; seems like there should be a Decemberists song or two with a clarinet in it. Them lads love to play anything pre-trad jazz. ------------- "There seem to be quite a large percentage of young American boys out there tonight. A long way from home, eh? Well so are we... Gotta stick together." -I. Anderson |
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: November 29 2009 at 23:31
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cello is nice, and I especially like the concertina
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Posted By: Roj
Date Posted: November 30 2009 at 07:11
I agree. I absolutely love church organ, the sheer power and emotion of this instrument is unrivalled for me.
The example you gave, GFTO, is a perfect example. Wakeman's use of the church organ throughout that stunning album is simply majestic.
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Posted By: M27Barney
Date Posted: November 30 2009 at 07:58
Good Call - Church Organ is KING, then Grand Piano of course........... ------------- Play me my song.....Here it comes again....... |
Posted By: harmonium.ro
Date Posted: November 30 2009 at 08:14
I didn't have the chance to get a good listen at Kayo Dot's albums, but they did have a clarinet player at the concert I've been. |
Posted By: esky
Date Posted: December 01 2009 at 09:20
| There's plenty of 'em. Maxophone's french horn. King Crimson's Red's cello break. All of Chris Squire's Fish Out of Water. Then there's Jimmy Hasting's flute solo from "Fish... ." Last but not least are the delightful tones of Mr. Anderson's soprano and "sopranino" saxes from Tull's masterpiece, "Passion Play." |
Posted By: Ultime
Date Posted: December 02 2009 at 15:12
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I've heard (sometimes) clarinet in Banco's music Personaly, the more prog has different instruments, better it is (usually) to choose somes, I will say Oboe and Cello ------------- Ultime tentative |
Posted By: Soul Dreamer
Date Posted: December 02 2009 at 20:17
The Indonesian (!) band Discus use a lot of clarinet. see http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=922 - http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=922 ------------- To be the one who seeks so I may find .. (Metallica) |
Posted By: The Block
Date Posted: December 03 2009 at 19:26
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Sax is awesome probably just because I play it. I also like flute and keys. -------------  |
Posted By: J-Man
Date Posted: December 03 2009 at 19:28
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Piano, Flute, and Acoustic Guitar. Sometimes oboe when it's used correctly, and saxophone is excellent in jazz rock music. ------------- 
Check out my YouTube channel! http://www.youtube.com/user/demiseoftime" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/user/demiseoftime |
Posted By: A Person
Date Posted: December 03 2009 at 19:34
| I can never choose between strings or woodwinds. |
Posted By: Tsevir Leirbag
Date Posted: December 03 2009 at 20:08
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- Bassoon
- Violin / Viola
- Flute
- Classical Guitar
- Church Organ
- Grand Piano
- Saxophone
- Oboe ------------- Les mains, les pieds balancés Sur tant de mers, tant de planchers, Un marin mort, Il dormira - Paul Éluard |
Posted By: domizia
Date Posted: December 04 2009 at 04:16
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Church organ is awesome, and I have a soft spot for folk instruments like bouzouki, hurdy gurdy. And harpsichord. ------------- RPI=> http://www.camelotclubprog.net" rel="nofollow - Camelot Club Prog ...but also> http://www.maracash.com" rel="nofollow - MaRaCash records. |
Posted By: Cygnus X-3
Date Posted: December 05 2009 at 00:45
For me it'll probably have to be flute, harpsichord, clarinet, oboe, recorder, timpani and a violin. Some of my fav prog bands use those instruments ex: King Crimson, Yes, Genesis 
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Posted By: ProgressiveAttic
Date Posted: December 05 2009 at 23:36
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Church Organ (Keith Emerson, Par Lindh, Rick Wakeman, etc.), Orchestral Percussions(Carl Palmer,Christian Vander,Jaimie Muir, etc), Transverse Flute (Thijs van Leer, Peter Gabriel, Eva Rosa, Hapsichord (Emerson, Wakeman, Moraz, etc), Classical Guitar (Steve Hackett, Steve Howe), Violin(David Cross, Jean-Luc Ponty), Cello (Julian Lloyd Webber on Variations) ------------- Michael's Sonic Kaleidoscope Mondays 5:00pm EST(re-runs Thursdays 3:00pm) @ Delicious Agony Progressive Rock Radio(http://www.deliciousagony.com) 
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Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: December 05 2009 at 23:40
Pekka Pohjola |
Posted By: ProgressiveAttic
Date Posted: December 06 2009 at 12:37
King Crimson's Lizard King Crimson's Islands King Crimson's Red Camel's Harbour of Tears Camel's Dust and Dreams Caravan's Waterloo Lilly (track 5 "The Love In Your Eye/To Catch Me A Brother/Subsultus/Debouchement/Tilbury Kecks") Frank Zappa's The Yellow Shark ------------- Michael's Sonic Kaleidoscope Mondays 5:00pm EST(re-runs Thursdays 3:00pm) @ Delicious Agony Progressive Rock Radio(http://www.deliciousagony.com)
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Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: December 06 2009 at 12:48
The electric guitar. 
------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: cacha71
Date Posted: December 10 2009 at 16:33
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I think that any musical instrument can be put to good creative use, but I'm particularly fond of the flute, followed by the violin. Needless to say I'm a big fan of Jethro Tull, and if you like a strong violin presence I can recommend Ankh's same titled album. A couple of bands whose expert playing of classical or traditional instruments are Omnia, a celtic folk band from the Netherlands whose members play didgeridoo, slideridoo, harp, hurdy-gurdy, piano, bodhrán, guitar, mandolin, violin, and banjo! Also the Canadian folk rock band The McDades are pretty good. The latter two bands mentioned are not on this site but do have progressive elements and are worth a listen!
------------- http://www.last.fm/group/Progressive+Folk |
Posted By: harmonium.ro
Date Posted: December 10 2009 at 17:06
Cool list. I'll add Univers Zero. |
Posted By: Equality 7-2521
Date Posted: December 10 2009 at 17:15
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There's Cornet on Red, but no Clarinet. You might be mistaking the oboe for clarinet. ------------- "One had to be a Newton to notice that the moon is falling, when everyone sees that it doesn't fall. " |
Posted By: Moatilliatta
Date Posted: December 11 2009 at 15:42
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Choirs of the Eye has some excellent clarinet. I haven't checked earlier pages so I don't know if it's been mentioned or not. ------------- www.last.fm/user/ThisCenotaph  
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Posted By: jv_neXus
Date Posted: December 11 2009 at 18:53
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I always love piano and church organ for the right moments in certain songs (such as Repent Walpurgis from Procul Harum, and Close to the Edge from Yes for organ, and various other songs such as Love Reign O'er Me by The Who for piano. Piano is unlimited though). I also love full orchestras but if I had to pick out one specific instrument from an orchestra it would have to be Cello. The cello lead in the Exogenesis Symphony from the new Muse album "The Resistance" is spectacular.
------------- "The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion." -Albert Camus |
Posted By: Tengent
Date Posted: December 14 2009 at 09:59
| Cello (In Freedom - Anekdoten is AWESOME), vibes (In Freedom - Anekdoten..), violin (especially with glissando), timpanis, piano. I'm not into brass at all sadly. |