Medieval Prog Appreciation Thread - Progressive Rock Music Forum

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Atomic_Rooster View Drop Down

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Topic: Medieval Prog Appreciation Thread
Posted: November 02 2006 at 12:30

This seems to be an underappreciated topic. Though im no expert in this area, i thought id take the initiative to start a thread

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Heptade

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Posted: November 02 2006 at 12:44

The Wurtemburg album from about 1980 is really good for that stuff.

Gryphon sometimes verged on that style- haven't quite got into them, but I'm trying.

Steeleye Span aren't considered prog, but they did a lot of amplified medieval type stuff as well as folk, as did the Albion Band.

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Legoman

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Posted: November 02 2006 at 12:59

Yeah, Gryphon is definitely something that everyone should look into, especially if they are interesting in this so dubbed "medieval prog".

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Posted: November 02 2006 at 13:00

some often overlooked bands are Malicorne (top French medieval folk prog) and Ripaille (only 1 album)

Gentle Giant also did some medieval prog, especially their earlier stuff

I am but a servant of the mighty Fripp, the sound of whose loins shall forever be upon the tongues of his followers.

Philéas

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Posted: November 02 2006 at 13:09

So there was Prog way back then? Wink

At the risk of sounding like a real wise-guy, wouldn't Medieval-styled or Medieval influenced been a better description? Please don't take offense! Embarrassed

Anyway! To get back on topic, I love influences from medieval music in Prog. Gentle Giant and Focus made good use of it, they are also two of my favourites from the classic era (though not solely because of the medieval influences). I also hear some medieval touches in Taal's music, and there are probably many, many medieval sounding Prog Folk bands (as I seldom listen to Prog Folk I wouldn't know for sure though).

Heptade: The Wurtemburg album? What's that? Is it hard to find? Sounds interesting. I'll also be checking out Gryphon soon (they've been on my To Hear-list for a while now). Any other recommendations?

Edited by Philéas - November 02 2006 at 13:10

Atomic_Rooster View Drop Down

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Posted: November 02 2006 at 13:19

there have been quite a few more "mainstream" prog bands that had medieval influences, one that comes to mind is some early JTull
in fact, medieval influences seem to have affected Sting recently.

the aforementioned Steeleye Span are a great example of Medievalish Prog (i consider them prog)

I forgot to mention Blackmore's Night (Richie Blackmore and his wife playing medieval influenced folk)

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Philéas

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Posted: November 02 2006 at 13:24

Sting + medieval influences? I'll have to hear that to believe it... Shocked

Atomic_Rooster View Drop Down

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Posted: November 02 2006 at 13:38

Philéas wrote:

Sting + medieval influences? I'll have to hear that to believe it... Shocked

on his newest album he plays lute and performs songs by a long dead English court musician or something like that... LOL

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Posted: November 02 2006 at 13:42

Atomic_Rooster wrote:

on his newest album he plays lute and performs songs by a long dead English court musician or something like that... LOL

Wow... that's incredible! Who would've guessed... Shocked

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Posted: November 02 2006 at 13:47

I believe its called Songs from the Labyrinth and it features Sting doing Elizabethan style singing and Edin Karamazov on Lute. The album is music by the 16th century musician/composer John Dowland. I have yet to hear it.

I am but a servant of the mighty Fripp, the sound of whose loins shall forever be upon the tongues of his followers.

Heptade

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Posted: November 02 2006 at 15:19

Hey Phileas, you can read a review of the Wurtemberg album here:
http://www.progweed.net/reviews/w/w.html#wurtemberg

I have it and it's pretty good, although not something I'd recommend breaking the bank for.

I find that Gentle Giant's vocals are very medieval-influenced (polyphony), but not not so much in the music.

And yes, Malicorne is wonderful. Their second album, which you can read about here on PA, is awesome.

Edited by Heptade - November 02 2006 at 15:20

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Atomic_Rooster View Drop Down

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Posted: November 02 2006 at 15:33

the only problem with bands like malicorne, is that their albums are constantly going out of print and then back in for another year or two (especially Malicorne's self titled albums). I believe cdroots.com is a good place to buy their music.

GG will on occasion use more medieval influenced instrumentation (On Reflection) but their madrigal style singing is by far their most medieval aspect.

I am but a servant of the mighty Fripp, the sound of whose loins shall forever be upon the tongues of his followers.

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Posted: November 02 2006 at 15:51

Algarnas Tradgard used psychedelic music with Scandinavian medieval folk and indian music ,amazing!

I like music with archaic,traditional instruments...do you have any recomandation?

Ars longa , vita brevis

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Posted: November 02 2006 at 16:13

DarioIndjic wrote:

Algarnas Tradgard used psychedelic music with Scandinavian medieval folk and indian music ,amazing!

I like music with archaic,traditional instruments...do you have any recomandation?

For medeival influenced music you cant beat gryphon. Every albums a classic. The Incredible String Band, Amazing Blondel and the Third Ear Band are all worth looking at. and of course there's circulus if you want a more tongue in cheek version. On the subject of these bands i think its an awful shame that the're all in the archives bar the incredible string band. one of the most influencial bands of there day and did much more of a progressive rock group than deep purple, queen, uriah heap, the beatles and all those other bands that get in

lucas

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Posted: November 02 2006 at 18:19

DarioIndjic wrote:

I like music with archaic,traditional instruments...do you have any recomandation?

Not prog but if you like medieval music Maddy Prior & the carnival band deserves a particular attention, especially the album 'sing lustily and with good courage' where her gorgeous vocals are associated with traditional instruments

"Magma was the very first gothic rock band" (Didier Lockwood)

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Posted: November 02 2006 at 19:03

Wurtemberg's a bit of a disappointment IMHO - it's OK but Gryphon did it much better. If you can find a good deal on the album buy it, but not at full price! Haven't heard Malicorne to my shame - but have heard Alan Stivell, and any prog fan who hasn't at least sampled his stuff should hang his/her head in shame. Haven't got Ripaille either! Hmph! And am desperately seeking albums by the early 80s French prog-folkies Avaric. Can anyone help?

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Posted: November 02 2006 at 22:35

avaric is indeed a rarity, i've also been meaning to get my hands on them for a while now... every once and awhile the lps pop up on ebay for 50 USD or so - i dont think they've ever been rereleased on cd format. Just saw a copy of Pauvre Sens et Pauvre Memoire go for quite a bit more than 50 Pinch

.

If your a malicorne fan, then check out Gabriel Yacoub's solo work, as he's the leader of the band and quite prolific. More folk than prog though.

I am but a servant of the mighty Fripp, the sound of whose loins shall forever be upon the tongues of his followers.

Atomic_Rooster View Drop Down

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Posted: November 02 2006 at 22:47

Paul Stump wrote:

And am desperately seeking albums by the early 80s French prog-folkies Avaric. Can anyone help?

ok, if you've got some spare cash, alot of spare cash, here's a link that will help Big smile

http://www.musicstack.com/show.cgi?aid=rateyourmusic&currency=USD&find=Avaric

its got several albums ranging from 56-230 USD Cry

as i cant afford to spend all of my available money on 1 album, you'll get no competition from me.

I am but a servant of the mighty Fripp, the sound of whose loins shall forever be upon the tongues of his followers.

Ivan_Melgar_M View Drop Down

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Posted: November 02 2006 at 23:10

Atomic_Rooster wrote:

This seems to be an underappreciated topic. Though im no expert in this area, i thought id take the initiative to start a thread

Well, I believe Medieval Music is a wide influence in at least three different sub genres but not a sub-genre per se.

Being that around the XII or XIII Century the music split into Religious and Pagan, this is the point in history when what we know as Classical and Folk start as we know them, the Pagan music and the trouvadores stayed in Folk and of course Religious Music (Starting with Perotin and his pairs) are the early form of Classical music.

We can find Medieval influences in:

Symphonic: Par Lindh Project (Gothic era) Aphrodite's Child 666 has some Gothic influences, some Vangelis like Heaven & Hell, etc.
Folk Prog: Gryphon, Miranda Sex Garden, Renaissance, etc
Art Rock: Gentle Giant and followers.

Interesting topic.

Iván

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Posted: November 02 2006 at 23:13

I forgot all about Miranda Sex Garden

I am but a servant of the mighty Fripp, the sound of whose loins shall forever be upon the tongues of his followers.