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Instruments that should be more present

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Topic: Instruments that should be more present
Posted By: Blaqua
Subject: Instruments that should be more present
Date Posted: December 05 2017 at 11:14
Which of these instruments should be more present?



Replies:
Posted By: progmatic
Date Posted: December 05 2017 at 12:04
Well I thought you could vote for multiple choices, so I started with flute but wasn't able to vote for others. If so, I would have added all except organ and saxophone the use of which is quite common.

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PROGMATIC


Posted By: Jeffro
Date Posted: December 05 2017 at 12:30
I would think the harpsichord would be a good one. The accordian would only work if you were doing Prog Polka ;)

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Posted By: Hrychu
Date Posted: December 05 2017 at 13:05
The Mellotron should always be more present.


Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: December 05 2017 at 13:06
Oboe 

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Posted By: Mascodagama
Date Posted: December 05 2017 at 14:25
Shoulda been multiple voting allowed Angry

I voted accordion.  But given a free choice, my answer would be the hurdy gurdy - of course.


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Soldato of the Pan Head Mafia. We'll make you an offer you can't listen to.
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Posted By: Rednight
Date Posted: December 05 2017 at 14:52
What about the French horn, for Crissakes?!

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Posted By: twosteves
Date Posted: December 05 2017 at 15:29
OrganSmile


Posted By: Squonk19
Date Posted: December 05 2017 at 15:43
Saxophone - not necessarily for prog - although often works. Year of the Cat and Baker Street...... Enough said! and of course Coltrane, Cannonball etc......

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“Living in their pools, they soon forget about the sea.”


Posted By: Magnum Vaeltaja
Date Posted: December 05 2017 at 15:55
Of those listed, oboe, but in general I think I'll have to side with Rednight on this one and say French horn. Both are very beautiful instruments that I think fit into prog quite well but aren't very commonly used.

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Posted By: rushfan4
Date Posted: December 05 2017 at 15:59
The PA forum used to have a pretty significant oboe fan club at one point in its history.  I'm not sure how many of those folks still remain.


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Posted By: maryes
Date Posted: December 05 2017 at 16:15
Harpischord


Posted By: Mascodagama
Date Posted: December 05 2017 at 16:21
Originally posted by Rednight Rednight wrote:

What about the French horn, for Crissakes?!

Indeed! Rodolfo Maltese made a little use of it in Banco, but I could stand to hear a lot more of its wonderfully plaintive yet plangent tones in a prog context.
 




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Posted By: Mascodagama
Date Posted: December 05 2017 at 16:22
Originally posted by rushfan4 rushfan4 wrote:

The PA forum used to have a pretty significant oboe fan club at one point in its history.  I'm not sure how many of those folks still remain.

A lot of them went to the DARK SIDE and transferred their allegiance to the bassoon.


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Soldato of the Pan Head Mafia. We'll make you an offer you can't listen to.
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Posted By: Mascodagama
Date Posted: December 05 2017 at 16:28
They call this a prog site, and yet nobody loves the crumhorn? For shame. Somewhere Brian Gulland is crying into his beer. Or, more likely, mead.

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Soldato of the Pan Head Mafia. We'll make you an offer you can't listen to.
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Posted By: axeman
Date Posted: December 05 2017 at 19:36
Originally posted by Mascodagama Mascodagama wrote:

I voted accordion.  But given a free choice, my answer would be the hurdy gurdy - of course.
Because...no bagpipe.

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-John


Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: December 05 2017 at 19:41
Seems most or all of these are represented in the greater prog/fusion spectrum.   I'd say voice should be more present, I miss the sophistication and complexity Yes or Gentle Giant put into their vocal arrangements.   Voted 'none of those' .





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"Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought."   -- John F. Kennedy


Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: December 05 2017 at 20:17
I don't know specifically what we're talking about but I went with saxophone. It seemed to be used a lot in the fifties then early sixties then sort of faded away and came back in the late sixties and early seventies(in prog)then faded away again. Also, a lot of avant garde and RIO bands seem to use the others but not so much the sax(based on what I've heard). 




Posted By: Dellinger
Date Posted: December 05 2017 at 21:22
In general, any extra instrument to give a fresh sound to the music is welcome. I guess the "obvious" choices are flute, sax, and violin (even though they are actually used often enough). I guess I would like to hear more Harpischord, and even more so, more organ, in prog, so I might just as well vote for that one. Another one I love, and sounds particularly nice with metal, is the bagpipes.


Posted By: bertolino
Date Posted: December 06 2017 at 01:17
Originally posted by Rednight Rednight wrote:

What about the French horn, for Crissakes?!

I voted for oboe; keeping in mind this would be the nearest of french horn; so i absolutely agree apart of the fact i would change the swearing for "câlisse"

I actually enjoy those small colors added by such instruments in an unconventional  brass section, mainly in symphonic prog. After  Crying comes to my mind at first; refering to the first era , this would be KC "Islands", or Mcdonald and Giles, then Chris Squire's "Fish out of water", not forgetting Banco's Di Terra , a truly underrated classic, which i find an absolute must, as long as we talk of orchestral prog. In this case it's the trumpet which comes out of the lot.


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45 years of prog listening and still movin'


Posted By: Blaqua
Date Posted: December 06 2017 at 02:52
" Well I thought you could vote for multiple choices, so I started with flute but wasn't able to vote for others." " Shoulda been multiple voting allowed Angry"

 

Right, next time I'll start a poll I'll make multiple choices available, if deemed suitable.

 

" The Mellotron should always be more present."

 

The instruments I selected are used but are "underpresented", not common. Mellotron is an electronic keyboard and such keyboards are heard extensively in prog.

 

" What about the French horn, for Crissakes?!" "Because...no bagpipe."

 

I omitted it because the list includes, as said before,  instruments used nowadays in prog but rarely. King Crimson used cowbell and viola on Larks', but that doesn’t make those two instruments a standard in prog. In fact, accordion should have been omitted and was included perhaps because unique, not a string or wind instrument.



Posted By: progaardvark
Date Posted: December 06 2017 at 06:12
Cello, with xylophone a close second.

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Posted By: Mormegil
Date Posted: December 06 2017 at 06:27
Voted for "all", although you could keep the accordion, thank you very much . . .


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Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: December 06 2017 at 06:59
Originally posted by Atavachron Atavachron wrote:

Seems most or all of these are represented in the greater prog/fusion spectrum.   I'd say voice should be more present, I miss the sophistication and complexity Yes or Gentle Giant put into their vocal arrangements.   Voted 'none of those' .



This, but a couple of the newer prog acts do stretch out on group vocals a bit more at times like Spock's Beard.

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Posted By: Manuel
Date Posted: December 06 2017 at 07:17
I would say depending on the music. I don't see Oboe fitting in prog metal, but sounding fantastic in Symphonic prog. All great instruments, when played properly, in the right content.


Posted By: Meltdowner
Date Posted: December 06 2017 at 07:22
There's never enough harpsichord.


Posted By: Quinino
Date Posted: December 06 2017 at 07:39
Originally posted by Manuel Manuel wrote:

I would say depending on the music. I don't see Oboe fitting in prog metal, but sounding fantastic in Symphonic prog. All great instruments, when played properly, in the right content.


Well... Nightwish used it (and more often also bagpipes) - there are no strict boundaries in progressive music, that's clear ...  Big smile


Posted By: Quinino
Date Posted: December 06 2017 at 07:42
I see someone mentioned Cello - I agree (but Harpsichord right behind)


Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: December 06 2017 at 07:48
The banjo, obviously.


Posted By: Jeffro
Date Posted: December 06 2017 at 08:07
Sousaphone and bassoon

Oh, and recorder and triangle 


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We all dwell in an amber subdomain, amber subdomain, amber subdomain.

My face IS a maserati


Posted By: bertolino
Date Posted: December 06 2017 at 08:14
Originally posted by Jeffro Jeffro wrote:

Sousaphone and bassoon

Oh, and recorder and triangle 

Better simply name Gryphon at the end; then you may had , apart of these, crumhorn, church organ, pipes  and all the fanfare!


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45 years of prog listening and still movin'


Posted By: Jeffro
Date Posted: December 06 2017 at 08:15
Originally posted by chopper chopper wrote:

The banjo, obviously.

If you're going to go banjo, then go dueling banjos


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We all dwell in an amber subdomain, amber subdomain, amber subdomain.

My face IS a maserati


Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: December 06 2017 at 08:35
Hi,

I do not think of a specific instrument needs to be there or not, when composing something ... at times, I like the sound of a violin, at others, some mystical sound of strings that does not exist and 100 violins can not provide!

What is necessary, is for a composer to better define his/her music, so that it does not come off like a cookie cutter mentality ... that it has to have this instrument in this section so we can put the baby to sleep ... kind of thing ... and then we use lots of noise over here because we need an alarm clock ... the idea that we have to "signal" our intent in music, and thus, this instrument will always be sad and forever unhappy, and that other one will always sound magical and ethereal ... the kind of mentality that prevents you from learning what music is really all about ... you are not allowed to think for your self, and all minor keys are sad, and all major keys are happy ... got that?

Makes me think we are no longer listening to music, when we have to make one of those decisions ... I would rather have a visual or another and then try to find a mix of instruments that can illuminate that visual in music ... it's not easy, but it has been done for hundreds of years, to music we still listen to, because it takes us away ... its magic has never died.


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Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told!
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Posted By: bertolino
Date Posted: December 06 2017 at 08:40
Few i thought it was one of those light and funny post... now i feel guilty...

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45 years of prog listening and still movin'


Posted By: ForestFriend
Date Posted: December 06 2017 at 10:51
I would like to hear more violin; there are a lot of interesting and expressive sounds that can come out of one, and it doesn't seem to be as common in prog as flute or saxophone (at least not in classic prog).

It would be interesting to hear a prog band make some interesting of an oboe... although I imagine it might sound too duck-like if someone tries playing it aggressively.


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Posted By: Squonk19
Date Posted: December 06 2017 at 16:12
Cowbell! I need more cowbell!

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“Living in their pools, they soon forget about the sea.”


Posted By: BrufordFreak
Date Posted: December 06 2017 at 18:38
Originally posted by Jeffro Jeffro wrote:

I would think the harpsichord would be a good one. The accordian would only work if you were doing Prog Polka ;)

No! It works great with Prog Cabaret and Prog Folk and NeoClassical (Seas of Mirth, North Sea Radio Orchestra, Rational Diet/Five-Storey Ensemble). And then there's the wonderful 2011 debut album from Poland's TUNE, "Lucid Moments," which is simply prog perfection!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCIdDAFszDo





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Drew Fisher
https://progisaliveandwell.blogspot.com/


Posted By: iluvmarillion
Date Posted: December 06 2017 at 22:13
Cello for me. Mellotron is a great instrument but only in the right places, whereas Cello is always great in the quiet acoustic pieces.


Posted By: Blaqua
Date Posted: December 07 2017 at 02:39
"I do not think of a specific instrument needs to be there or not, when composing something ... at times, I like the sound of a violin, at others, some mystical sound of strings that does not exist and 100 violins can not provide!"

 

All those instruments exist to provide musical variety and wealth and help composers experiment and customize their work. Seldom used instruments may bring that mystical sound we are longing for. Listen again to the exquisite Bolero http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gC4KoQW9axw" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gC4KoQW9axw

Using the same means leads to the cookie-cutter mentality.

"Cowbell! I need more cowbell!"

The Big Mac of cowbells

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dy4HA3vUv2c" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dy4HA3vUv2c

" Cello for me."

Very rarely employed, I agree it should be more present.

 

 

 



Posted By: Guldbamsen
Date Posted: December 07 2017 at 05:27
The accordion can be used in many ways that completely removes its polka sensibilities. Coming from Denmark I'm used to hearing it adorning the music of Savage Rose. Mixed together with what is arguably the music world's most powerful female voice it ends up sounding far more like East European organ than an actual accordion. Played slow and passionately it takes on this dreamy oozing quality that I personally find quite beautiful.

I would love to see the flute played more often though without the usual 'Ian Anderson teams up with Black Sabbath' type of deal I often hear these days. Blood Ceremony championed that particular flavour some ten years ago and I would like to hear something new. Pan flute maybe? One of those instruments that almost universally is linked with a specific style of music ie new age. It'd be interesting to see if anyone can make the damn thing snarl in a rock setting.

One omission from the above list, and posts, is of course the wonderful sauerkraut synthesiser which I've posted about before (Unconventional Music Instruments Appreciation thread).

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“The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.”

- Douglas Adams


Posted By: hellogoodbye
Date Posted: December 07 2017 at 05:50
Less organ in prog, please !


Posted By: Guldbamsen
Date Posted: December 07 2017 at 05:57
Yeah that one puzzled me as well but then again maybe it isn't organs like in Keith Emerson and knives but rather organs removed by knives? The question remains: can you play the kidney? How does it sound...and perhaps more importantly; why haven't King Crimson played the fecker on their last tour? They've got three drummers and just about everyting else you can hit.

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“The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.”

- Douglas Adams


Posted By: mlkpad14
Date Posted: December 07 2017 at 06:01
I would like to hear musicians breaking the house down... Smashing plates and running into walls...

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Posted By: Mascodagama
Date Posted: December 07 2017 at 06:46
^  No plate smashing, but  https://www.discogs.com/artist/920574-Jean-Fran%C3%A7ois-Ga%C3%ABl" rel="nofollow - Jean-François Gaël  recorded a 7" vinyl Musiques de Table where all the music is made using plates, cups, glasses, cutlery and other kitchen utensils. Quite fun.



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Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: December 07 2017 at 07:07
Originally posted by mlkpad14 mlkpad14 wrote:

I would like to hear musicians breaking the house down... Smashing plates and running into walls...
I thought that was Rock In Opposition.ConfusedLOL

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Posted By: mlkpad14
Date Posted: December 07 2017 at 19:58
Originally posted by Mascodagama Mascodagama wrote:

^  No plate smashing, but  https://www.discogs.com/artist/920574-Jean-Fran%C3%A7ois-Ga%C3%ABl" rel="nofollow - Jean-François Gaël  recorded a 7" vinyl Musiques de Table where all the music is made using plates, cups, glasses, cutlery and other kitchen utensils. Quite fun.


Sounds cool! I will have to check it out!


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Posted By: Mascodagama
Date Posted: December 08 2017 at 03:56
Originally posted by mlkpad14 mlkpad14 wrote:

Originally posted by Mascodagama Mascodagama wrote:

^  No plate smashing, but  https://www.discogs.com/artist/920574-Jean-Fran%C3%A7ois-Ga%C3%ABl" rel="nofollow - Jean-François Gaël  recorded a 7" vinyl Musiques de Table where all the music is made using plates, cups, glasses, cutlery and other kitchen utensils. Quite fun.


Sounds cool! I will have to check it out!

The tracks from the 7" are available on a CD reissue of the album K'an by Gael's band Sonohrc:

http://www.discogs.com/Sonorhc-Jean-Fran%C3%A7ois-Ga%C3%ABl-KAn-Musiques-De-Table/release/8767284" rel="nofollow - http://www.discogs.com/Sonorhc-Jean-Fran%C3%A7ois-Ga%C3%ABl-KAn-Musiques-De-Table/release/8767284

K'an is experimental with a lot of electronics and of likely interest to avant-proggers. The earlier Sonorhc albums are also very good, but quite different.


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Soldato of the Pan Head Mafia. We'll make you an offer you can't listen to.
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Posted By: axeman
Date Posted: December 08 2017 at 17:51
Originally posted by mlkpad14 mlkpad14 wrote:

I would like to hear musicians breaking the house down... Smashing plates and running into walls...
Well, there's breaking glass on Floyd's Money. A blues song in 17/4

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-John


Posted By: bertolino
Date Posted: December 10 2017 at 01:12
Originally posted by axeman axeman wrote:

Originally posted by mlkpad14 mlkpad14 wrote:

I would like to hear musicians breaking the house down... Smashing plates and running into walls...
Well, there's breaking glass on Floyd's Money. A blues song in 17/4

And what about the opening of "In a glass house", from Gentle Giant?


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45 years of prog listening and still movin'


Posted By: Frenetic Zetetic
Date Posted: December 10 2017 at 03:31
ALL.

Preferably mixed and balanced in a creative manner! Wink


Posted By: Guldbamsen
Date Posted: December 10 2017 at 05:55
Pineapples and electric triangles.

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“The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.”

- Douglas Adams


Posted By: Dopeydoc
Date Posted: December 10 2017 at 15:33
Oboe: imagine the firth of fifth with oboe instead of flute...


Posted By: HackettFan
Date Posted: December 10 2017 at 19:53
Originally posted by maryes maryes wrote:


Harpischord

Harpsichord

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