chapter 12 what is art rock? the combination of rock and roll and classical music (aka “classical...
TRANSCRIPT
Chapter 12What is Art Rock?The combination of rock and roll and classical music (aka
“classical rock”)
The 6 typical approaches to bring together classical elements and rock elements:1) Quote a classical excerpt in the midst of a rock song2) Use a classical melody as the basis of a rock song3) Create a series of rock songs conceived as units in a
larger form4) Adapt a full classical work to a rock-style performance5) Create a work for rock group and classical ensemble6) Using the musical language of rock, create an extended
work modeled after a classical form
The Moody BluesA blues-based band formed around 1964Mid-1968: released Days of Future Passed (#3)
“Tuesday Afternoon (Forever Afternoon)” (#24)“Nights in White Satin” (#2 during reissue in 1972)Recorded with London Symphony OrchestraWas a concept albumNo simultaneous interaction between orchestra and
bandNo real blending of rock and classical (classical parts
were transitions between songs)Other albums: A Question of Balance (#3 in 1970),
Every Good Boy Deserves Favour (#2 in 1971), Seventh Sojourn (#1 in 1972), and Long Distance Voyager (#1 in 1981)
Deep PurpleBritish invasion band whose hard rock style will eventually
be called “heavy metal”1968- founded by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore1st single: “Hush” (#4)Sept. 1969- performed “Concerto for Group and Orchestra”
with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra In 3 movements (fast-slow-fast)Deep Purple maintains the hard rock sound throughoutThe 3rd movement is where the styles mesh together
1970- Gemini Suite was written for another rock group and orchestra6-movements, each centered around a different soloistCloser interactions between soloist and orchestra
Deep Purple’s biggest hit: “Smoke on the Water” (#4 in 1973)
They disbanded in 1976
Procol HarumA blues-based band from London originally
known as the Paramounts in 1962Their first single: “A Whiter Shade of Pale”
(1967)Their highest ranking album and only gold
album was Live in Concert with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (#5 in 1972)“In Held ‘Twas In I” (19 minutes long)
A journey from self-pity and depression through madness and an exalted reaffirmation of faith
Rock Operas & Theatrical WorksOpera- a play in which most or all dialogue is
spokenthe theatrical aspect includes acting, costuming, and
sceneryGenerally a classical form but can be in any style
Musical theater- a concert presentation with specific characters and a developing story line
1967- Hair! – a Broadway “rock musical” (soft rock)Celebrated the new Aquarian Age and revolutionary
freedom“Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In” by Fifth Dimension
(#1 in 1969)
The Who London in Late 1950s- Originally called the
Detours, followed by the High NumbersAdopted a “mod” image with flashy new
clothesMembers:
Pete Townshend (1945)John Entwistle (1946)Roger Daltry (1944)Keith Moon (1947-1978)
The Who (Cont)Gained popularity in England in 1965-1966
“My Generation” – stuttering vocals enunciated a rebellious teenage theme
Debut album: The Who Sing My Generation (1966)“The Kids Are Alright” – a follow-up to “My
Generation”Second album: Happy Jack (1967)
“A Quick One While He’s Away” – a “miniopera” A long song composed with a story line and characters to
fill in the 10-minute gap at the end of the album
“I Can See for Miles” – their American breakthrough in June 1967, making the Top 10 on the American charts
The Who (Cont)Tommy (1969) – a 90-minute “rock opera”
A story of a deaf, dumb, and blind boy who triumphs with his incredible ability as a pinball “wizard” The music is more restrained and sophisticated for the
Who Bears little resemblance of classical music Has a story line with characters based upon rock music
Rose to #4 on the album chartsVery popular- there is now a symphonic version, a
stage production, a ballet performance, a brass-band version, and a film version
“Pinball Wizard”“Tommy, Can You Hear Me?”
The Who (Cont)Quadrophenia (1973)- 2nd full-length rock
operaRefers to a four-way split of personalities within
the Who Entwistle- classically trained stoic Moon- flamboyant wild man Daltrey- good-time rock-and-roll shouter Townshend- thinking, articulate member with rock
aspirations and Indian spiritualismThe 4 sides reflect this foursomeThe plot is more obscure but music is more
matureBecame a #2 album
Other Rock Operas and MusicalsJesus Christ Superstar (1971)
The “Overture” presents many of the themesGodspell (1971)Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor
Dreamcoat (1971)“Joseph’s Coat”
The Wiz (1975)“Ease on Down the Road” (Michael Jackson &
Diana Ross)Evita (1978)Grease (1972)
“Greased Lightning”
Rick Wakeman and YesYes formed in 1968
Jon Anderson (vocals)Chris Squire (bass)Rick Wakeman (joined in 1971 on keyboards)
Fragile (#4 in 1972) was their 1st album with Wakefield“Roundabout” (#13)- only major hit of the 1970’s
Yessongs (1973) was a live triple albumTales from Topographic Oceans (1974)
Lyrics based on scriptures by guru Paramhansa Yogananda
An experimental albumWakeman left the group in 1974
Rick Wakeman and Yes (cont)Journey to the Centre of the Earth (1974)
Performed live with the London Symphony Orchestra
Based on Jules Verne bookText shared by narrator, chorus and two
vocalistsWakeman rejoined the band in 1976 and then
left again in 1980Yes’s biggest hit was in 1984: “
Owner of a Lonely Heart”
GenesisFormed in 1967 as a quartetGrew as a quintet in 1971 with Peter Gabriel (vocals)
and Phil Collins (drums)They emphasized Mellotron and other electronic
keyboards, visuals, and theatrics in live performancesThe Lamb Lies Down on Broadway (1974)
About the adventures of Rael as he confronts NYC civilization
Peter Gabriel left in mid-1975 and Phil Collins became lead singer
The group (as a trio) had success in the 1980s with 3 gold albums, two platinum albums, and many top 40 hits
Emerson, Lake and PalmerKeith Emerson (1944) formed the group
called Nice in 1967Their album Five Bridges Suite (1969) was
promoted on a US tourThe 5-movement song moves fluently between
rock and jazz to Bach-like classicalAccompanied by the Sinfonia of London
OrchestraAlso contains rock adaptations of Sibelius,
Tchaikovsky, and BachEmerson met Greg Lake who recruited Carl
Palmer to become ELP
Emerson, Lake and Palmer (cont)Emerson, Lake and Palmer (#18 in 1971)
“The Three Fates” is in 3 parts; solo on pipe organ, piano solo, and entire trio
Blends classical, rock, and jazz“Tank”- drums connected to a synthesizer“The Barbarian”
Tarkus (#9 in 1971)“Eruption”
Pictures at an Exhibition (1972)- 3rd album based on Mussorgsky’s piece
Emerson, Lake and Palmer (cont)Brain Salad Surgery (1973)
brings everything together: 4th movement of “First Piano Concerto” by
Ginastera- a rock adaptation of classical work “Benny the Bouncer” - a “cute” piece “Still…You Turn Me On”- the “normal” song “Jerusalem”- spiritual song “Karn Evil 9” – 3-movement work
After 1979, ELP disappeared for a while before returning in the mid-1980s with a new drummer, Cozy Powell
Frank ZappaDescribed as creative, enigmatic, erratic,
puerile, pseudointellectual, unique, sophomoric, genius, and iconoclastic
Dec 21, 1940- Born in BaltimoreHis influences were R&B, Stravinsky, &
VareseIn Los Angeles, he created the group
“Mothers of Invention” in 1964 based on the Soul Giants band
Their first album: Freak out! (1966)A double albumWas released a year before Beatles’ Sgt.
Pepper
Frank Zappa (cont)Freak Out!
First disc contains “normal” songs with eccentricity and iconoclasm added “Who Are the Brain Police” “Motherly Love”
Second disc has extended pieces “Trouble Every Day”-about racial riots in Watts “Help, I’m a Rock”- a structured piece sounding like
its unstructured “The Return of the Son of Monster Magnet”
His style of art rock: nonmetrical, atonal, use of vocal improvisation, concentration on timbre and texture
Frank Zappa (cont)Uncle Meat (1969) was music for a movie that was
never finishedThere were 10 members in the band for this album
“Dog Breath, in the Year of the Plague” “Dog Breath Variations” “The Uncle Meat Variations” “Prelude to King Kong” “Project X” “King Kong”
Parts of the album used over 40 overdubbed tracksFillmore East, June 1971- a live album containing
a miniopera “Happy Together”- a #1 hit for the Turtles in 1967
Summary of Art RockMany art rockers had an outdated notion of
classical musicCreated combinations of current rock and
centuries-old classical or vice-versaSome artists softened their rock style to
match outdated classical musicMany artists rapidly moved onto a new style
without fulfilling the current style
“Karn Evil 9”30-minutes long and in 3 movements called
“Impressions”Follows the large form of a classical concerto:
fast, slow, fast“First Impression” is in 2 parts
Part 1- an introduction, 3 verses (with instrumental break) and codetta (a small coda closing the first section of the piece) Drums, cellos and basses change patterns every measure Each verse divided into 2 sections: A & B
Part 2- this is an analogy comparing an imaginary society to a carnival slideshow Introduction is in 7/4 meter Consists of 7 verses (each with the form of AAB) with
instrumental breaks in between
“Karn Evil 9”“Second Impression” is entirely instrumental
“through-composed”- musical sections always changing There is a motive that recurs throughout Section A features piano; Section B has a Latin flavor;
Section C is “impressionistic”; Section D is back to piano; Section E is a fast boogie-woogie section
“Third Impression” Begins with military-like “horn calls” Verse 1 (A & B), interlude, verse 2 (A&B), bridge, then new
theme for victory statement
There is no string quartet or orchestra for this piece; it is only a trio of performers
Its concept is more classical, even though the language is more rock
“Karn Evil 9”
Chapter 12 TestStudents will be able to:Describe the 6 approaches for combining rock and
classical elementsRecognize and describe rock artists with orchestras:
Moody Blues, Deep Purple, Procol HarumName and describe rock operas and theatrical works
and their composersThe Who, Jesus Christ Superstar, Joseph and the
Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Wiz, Grease, Rick Wakeman, Yes, Genesis
Describe nontheatrical art rock by unaccompanied rock groupsEmerson, Lake, and Palmer, Frank Zappa
Describe the form of “Karn Evil 9”