Progressive Rock – Emerson Lake & Palmer
1April 7, 2012 by Admin
I’ve loved British progressive rock music for more than 40 years, and still listen to the wonderful creations of the late 60s and early-to-mid 70s. I’m convinced that one reason I work in classical music today is that the music of many of the groups from this genre was grounded in the classics. I got used to larger, more complex forms and structures, so it was an easier transition to the classical world.
I’ll have more to say about some favorites in the coming weeks, but let’s start with Exhibit A that supports my idea, Emerson Lake & Palmer. Their music came, either directly or with some variation, from such as Bartok, Copland and Mussorgsky, the last two being the most direct inspiration for their recordings of Hoedown and Pictures at an Exhibition.
One of my ELP favorites is their electronic setting of the old English hymn Jerusalem, from the poetry of the great William Blake, whose graphical work can be seen above. Static video, but great music.
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From: David Lembo (Add as Preferred Sender) Date: Mon, Feb 18, 2008 6:29 pmTo: , Wishbone Ash is very cool. I think you can easily lump Floyd in with Crimson, Yes, Genesis and Rush as prog-pioneers. Purple is more of an early metal band like Cheer, Sabbath and Zep. Cream was a very belusy band but they even got border line prog rock.I think Coltrane is more Jazz than rock. From: To: ; Subject: RE: Prog Rock Week Today, Pink FloydDate: Mon, 18 Feb 2008 22:41:57 +0000I still don’t see them as a prog rock band.But that’s my opinion.Again, where do you draw the line. Half the band in 60s were this same style of blues rock. Procol Harem, then Robin Trower, The Band, on and on and on. I certainly see Crimson and Yes and Genesis as prog rock bands. I see Rush and Deep Purple and Can as Prog Rock bands. I see this band I’ve been getting into a lot lately, Wishbone Ash, as a prog rock band. None of these bands have a sound even remotely like Pink Floyd.Again, I see some progression in Floyd’s music but I wouldn’t classify them as prog rock. As before, in the same way, would I not classify Hendrix, Cream, Iron Butterfly, Blue Cheer as prog rock. All those bands have progression in their music as well.I think the earliest pioneers of prog rock are jazz musicians such as John Coltrane. Original message From: David LemboPsychadelic rock is a category I would put them in but they are also one the pioneers of prog. All of the early 70 s and late 60 s bands were heavily blues influenced. From: To: ; Subject: RE: Prog Rock Week Today, Pink FloydDate: Mon, 18 Feb 2008 13:12:37 +0000Yeah.But I still wouldn’t label it a prog rock band.To me Floyd’s always been more of a blues band than a rock band. They’re one of those bands that influenced the term psychodelic. So I’d call it psychodelic rock before I’d call it prog rock.And again, where would you draw the line? Iron Butterfly, Tangerine Dream, Cream, The Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix and on and on and on. Each of those bands have just as much progression in them as Floyd has. Original message From: David LemboFloyd is a 70 s jam band with prog leanings. Not just the long jams but the sound effects and conceptual albums and tracks. Much of Floyd’s stuff is spontaneous but some is very well thought out. Dave From: To: CC: Subject: RE: Prog Rock Week Today, Pink FloydDate: Thu, 14 Feb 2008 20:35:53 +0000If Floyd is prog rock so is Iron Butterfly and Jimi Hendrix and Vanilla Fudge and that band Cactus I was telling you about. I mean, where do you draw the line? They all have weird bits of random noise, some of it musically inclined.-Corey