| Author |
 Topic Search  Topic Options
|
jmatos 
Forum Groupie
Joined: April 29 2011
Location: Puerto Rico
Status: Offline
Points: 45
|
 Topic: Technicality vs. Musicality
Posted: April 29 2011 at 17:59 |
How's it going? When it comes to prog rock too much technical proficiency of a band often tends to ruin the music. I'm not saying that being great at your instrument is wrong, all the contrary. But I feel many bands make decisions just to show off what they can do, instead of what can they make you feel.
An example that comes to my mind the quickest is the decision DT made regarding their new drummer. While they had a chance to gain some (or lots! of) musicality, in my opinion, they blew it off by choosing a technically great drummer, but not a very musical one, compared to some of the other drummers that auditioned.
This happens in other bands also, but the you have a band like VGG (just an example), which also has incredible musicians, and they show off their genius while still maintaing a high level of musicality, and technical skills.
< ="utf-8">Any thoughts on this?
|
 |
colorofmoney91
Prog Reviewer
Joined: March 16 2008
Location: Biosphere
Status: Offline
Points: 22774
|
Posted: April 29 2011 at 18:10 |
You should check out some prog-electronic. It's hard to show off on an analog synthesizer 
But I do agree with you. Too much technicality makes bands seem kind of annoying, like Unexpect. But it's all a matter of opinion, which is the reason for the Tech/Extreme Prog Metal genre on this site; some people just dig some technical mess.
|
|
|
|
Prog Geo
Forum Senior Member
Joined: November 09 2010
Location: Athens (Greece)
Status: Offline
Points: 2555
|
Posted: April 29 2011 at 18:12 |
|
Of course I choose Musicality. I don't like so much the technicality in music.
|
|
Sonorous Meal show every Sunday at 20:00 (greek time) on http://www.justincaseradio.com
|
|
jmatos
Forum Groupie
Joined: April 29 2011
Location: Puerto Rico
Status: Offline
Points: 45
|
Posted: April 29 2011 at 18:28 |
|
From a musicians standpoint, the more technical skills you have, the better your ability to express yourself. And this can be applied for any kind of art. < ="utf-8">I'm a musician and while I do enjoy technicality, there comes a point where the overuse just gets in the way. I mean, it's very fun to play that type of music, but you get my drift. ;)
|
|
Mastosis
Forum Senior Member
Joined: November 24 2010
Location: Siberian Divide
Status: Offline
Points: 119
|
Posted: April 29 2011 at 18:32 |
|
I prefer to listen to music, not techno, so does that answer your question?
|
A wise man once said, " I have always wanted to be quoted." 
|
|
jmatos
Forum Groupie
Joined: April 29 2011
Location: Puerto Rico
Status: Offline
Points: 45
|
Posted: April 29 2011 at 18:33 |
 Mastosis wrote:
I prefer to listen to music, not techno, so does that answer your question?
|
Yes it does ;)
|
|
Mushroom Sword
Forum Senior Member
Joined: September 28 2010
Status: Offline
Points: 426
|
Posted: April 29 2011 at 18:48 |
|
I honestly do like technicality a lot. If done right it's very impressive, and I listen to music to be impressed. I go to concerts to see improvised solos, jazz impresses me. And technicality does as well. It's very fun to listen to and if mixed with Musicality well you get acts like Animals as Leaders or Dream Theater. I feel like "Technicality" is what separates "Progressive Rock" from "AOR", Dream Theater from Creed or Metallica, or Yes from Styx. And yes, musicality as well, but Technicality is what many people tend not to listen to. And I find it very intriguing and satisfying.
Edited by Mushroom Sword - April 29 2011 at 18:49
|
|
juandhaltrich
Forum Groupie
Joined: April 14 2010
Location: Buenos Aires
Status: Offline
Points: 78
|
Posted: April 29 2011 at 18:49 |
for me they're related a lot. of course they're not completely related. the thing is that even if you got great ideas for your music, it will not show very well executed, unless you got technical in your power to display them. im saying: there are not great prog bands with great musicians that ARE NOT well trained in their instruments. what i said is a contradiction of course. a great musician cant be a lousy player of his instrument. at least he's decent, lol! but out of joking, the point is that it's true. a great prog band HAS TO have technical players of their instruments in it. otherwise what's the point? though i understand the point of discussion. i agree in part of it. but not completely. excess in technical is wrong. excess in musicality is never wrong lol!, though with lots of musicality and nothing in technical doesnt work either. great imagination for creating your music, and a god-alike technical display=dream band.
|
|
JJLehto
Prog Reviewer
Joined: April 05 2006
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Status: Offline
Points: 34550
|
Posted: April 29 2011 at 19:09 |
|
Musicality.
I love technical skill, but in some restraint.
If its nothing but technicality while it is impressive....just leaves me cold and uninterested.
|
|
Triceratopsoil
Forum Senior Member
Joined: April 03 2010
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 17995
|
Posted: April 29 2011 at 19:14 |
|
The two are thoroughly unrelated.
|
|
Guests
Forum Guest Group
|
Posted: April 29 2011 at 20:16 |
|
Musicality is more important to me, but I like technicality also.
|
|
prog058
Forum Newbie
Joined: March 29 2010
Location: Australia
Status: Offline
Points: 33
|
Posted: April 29 2011 at 20:37 |
jmatos wrote:
How's it going? When it comes to prog rock too much technical proficiency of a band often tends to ruin the music. I'm not saying that being great at your instrument is wrong, all the contrary. But I feel many bands make decisions just to show off what they can do, instead of what can they make you feel.
An example that comes to my mind the quickest is the decision DT made regarding their new drummer. While they had a chance to gain some (or lots! of) musicality, in my opinion, they blew it off by choosing a technically great drummer, but not a very musical one, compared to some of the other drummers that auditioned.
This happens in other bands also, but the you have a band like VGG (just an example), which also has incredible musicians, and they show off their genius while still maintaing a high level of musicality, and technical skills.
< ="utf-8">Any thoughts on this? |
What they were looking for clearly is technical ability (they need it to play Portnoy's stuff and future DT stuff) but also musical ability. They chose Mike Mangini because he made a big impact on them with his emotional playing. Mangini felt the songs. You need both. Look at a classical musician. A great classical pianist possesses incredible technical skill and and a deep understanding of music. They play with so much emotion. The more technically proficient you are, and the more you know about music theory, the more it enables you to express emotions through your playing.
|
|
QuestionableScum
Forum Senior Member
Joined: August 22 2010
Location: Edmonton
Status: Offline
Points: 245
|
Posted: April 29 2011 at 20:53 |
To address the topic at hand. musicality is all that really matters. Technicality is only important in so far as it serves the cause of musicality.
Of course being a great technical player opens up musical options, but musicality is valuable in and of itself, whereas technicality is not.
Edited by QuestionableScum - April 29 2011 at 20:59
|
|
jmatos
Forum Groupie
Joined: April 29 2011
Location: Puerto Rico
Status: Offline
Points: 45
|
Posted: April 29 2011 at 20:57 |
prog058 wrote:
jmatos wrote:
How's it going? When it comes to prog rock too much technical proficiency of a band often tends to ruin the music. I'm not saying that being great at your instrument is wrong, all the contrary. But I feel many bands make decisions just to show off what they can do, instead of what can they make you feel.
An example that comes to my mind the quickest is the decision DT made regarding their new drummer. While they had a chance to gain some (or lots! of) musicality, in my opinion, they blew it off by choosing a technically great drummer, but not a very musical one, compared to some of the other drummers that auditioned.
This happens in other bands also, but the you have a band like VGG (just an example), which also has incredible musicians, and they show off their genius while still maintaing a high level of musicality, and technical skills.
< ="utf-8">Any thoughts on this? |
What they were looking for clearly is technical ability (they need it to play Portnoy's stuff and future DT stuff) but also musical ability. They chose Mike Mangini because he made a big impact on them with his emotional playing. Mangini felt the songs. You need both. Look at a classical musician. A great classical pianist possesses incredible technical skill and and a deep understanding of music. They play with so much emotion. The more technically proficient you are, and the more you know about music theory, the more it enables you to express emotions through your playing.
|
I understand what you mean perfectly. I apply that to myself and look to get technically better in my instrument in order to express my ideas better.
|
|
Atavachron
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: September 30 2006
Location: Pearland
Status: Offline
Points: 64349
|
Posted: April 29 2011 at 21:11 |
|
C'mon now, I love technicality and I'm not afraid to say it-- I also love musicality, both extremes bring what they do best to the party. Now; I dislike albums that fail to do either or do them poorly - e.g. LTE's debut - whereas Planet X does tech beautifully and if someone wants to say it's not "musical" that's fine, because it succeeds in its realm.
|
|
jmatos
Forum Groupie
Joined: April 29 2011
Location: Puerto Rico
Status: Offline
Points: 45
|
Posted: April 29 2011 at 21:33 |
I also love technicality. That's one of the many great things of progressive rock, and that's what started me with prog. I'm not going against technicality, what I mean is not to sacrifice musicality in order to be more technically impressive. A good example that comes to mind is Porcupine Tree. Great musicianship, and the technical abilities of every player is outstanding! All this without sacrificing the music. < ="utf-8">Just take a look at Gavin Harrison's videos, very technical, but musical at the same time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMGGE2AdGZY
|
|
Atavachron
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: September 30 2006
Location: Pearland
Status: Offline
Points: 64349
|
Posted: April 29 2011 at 21:48 |
jmatos wrote:
|
hyperlink and you'll get more business -- yes that's a nice example of musical technicality (though at times it does verge on Jizz)
|
|
jmatos
Forum Groupie
Joined: April 29 2011
Location: Puerto Rico
Status: Offline
Points: 45
|
Posted: April 29 2011 at 22:08 |
Atavachron wrote:
jmatos wrote:
|
hyperlink and you'll get more business
-- yes that's a nice example of musical technicality (though at times it does verge on Jizz)
|
Hahahahaha... Thanks for that. Didn't know how to do it. Well he's just as musical with all the bands that he play's in.
Edited by jmatos - April 29 2011 at 22:09
|
|
rogerthat
Prog Reviewer
Joined: September 03 2006
Location: .
Status: Offline
Points: 9869
|
Posted: April 29 2011 at 23:18 |
Technicality by itself with nothing else of interest in the music is largely abhorrent for me except in fusion or jazz based music but that again would be when the stuff they are playing is interesting, which it often is with the trade offs and unisons. In my view, everything you put into a composition must aid the development of musical drama, mood and emotion. It could be very simple parts or it could be highly technical but it must be the compositional imperative driving these and not the 'need' to show off. I cannot and never will come to terms with an approach where you just cut loose without warning to show "Hey, look at me, I am so talented". There is always the live setting to perform improvs and extended solos.
EDIT: Also, I dig a great technique which makes the performance more aesthetically appealing rather than just greater difficulty levels. Bill Bruford's work on Red is magnificent for instance and that is something I can relate to and appreciate as a listener. It is not that I cannot tell at all what is more involved and what isn't, but that is not so important to me in my listening experience. A musician playing very demanding music but delivering it in a rather sterile fashion does nothing for me.
Edited by rogerthat - April 29 2011 at 23:46
|
|
Henry Plainview
Forum Senior Member
Joined: May 26 2008
Location: Declined
Status: Offline
Points: 16715
|
Posted: April 30 2011 at 00:05 |
|
I don't care about "musicality", but I'm also not impressed or interested that someone can play something difficult very quickly, especially when technicality so often seems to mean "playing scales incredibly quickly". So I don't know how to answer your question.
|
|
if you own a sodastream i hate you
|
|
Donate monthly and keep PA fast-loading and ad-free forever.
/PAlogo_v2.gif "Progarchives.com Homepage")
Technicality vs. Musicality