INDEX D - The genres of progressive rock
Sunday, 16. September 2007, 18:00:19
Genres of PROGRESSIVE ROCK are numerous in number because it is difficult to define it as one musical style itself. The following is a list of PROGRESSIVE ROCK genres and their definitions:
ART ROCK:
Art Rock was the original name for PROGRESSIVE ROCK. Now, it is used as a term which refers to bands that have no specific genre of music which they play. Art Rock bands are primarily considered to be Prog Bands.
CANTERBURY SCENE:
This is not so much a genre as it is a fraternal collection of musicians from around the Kentish tourist town that is home to the Church of England's Archbishop. However, it is classified as a genre because this is where half a dozen of Britains bands of the post psychedelic era originated from. This style of music features Jazz improvisation and rock rhythms with intellectual song writing tied to psychedelia.
EXPERIMENTAL / POST-ROCK:
EXPERIMENTAL: This term is used to define a musical genre which contains anything that is not normally accepted as musical. ''Experimental'' music can be looked at through two different views. One view is that experimental music can only be extended to the point where it is modified traditional music. (Unconventional instruments, instrument modification, noises, etc.) The other view is that experimental music can be taken to the extreme in that it may not be classified as music at all.
POST-ROCK: ''Post-Rock'' is different from regular rock because it uses rock instrumentation for non-rock purposes, with guitars being used as facilitators of timbres and textures instead of riffs and power chords. This genre has been used for all sorts of instrumental music, electronic-added music, and Jazz/Krautrock influenced music made after 1994.
INDO-PROG / RAGA ROCK:
This particular genre of Prog is provided an emotion though the music that is a real message which guide the listener into a state of emotional trance. It revolves around long, improvised pieces containing repeated patterns for the ''trance effect''. It is also a mix between regular rock and music from India.
ITALIAN SYMPHONIC PROG:
A very large amount of Progressive Rock has emerged from Italy, so many people feel that it deserves it's own sub-genre. Typically speaking, this genre uses traditional Italian composition technique and Italian lyrics.
JAZZ ROCK / FUSION:
It is basically mixing Jazz with Progressive rock by using Jazz arrangements, instruments and performance style with Prog Rock elements. Usually, the result is very complex and technical instrumentation.
KRAUTROCK:
Krautrock is the term used to describe the direction that German bands took Prog Rock in the early 70's as opposed to what British and American bands did. While many bands included Classical and Jazz in their music, these German bands moved toward a more electronic sound including things like synthesizers and the splicing together of tape reels.
NEO-PROGRESSIVE:
Neo-Progressive music is sort of the halfway point between regular rock and Progressive Rock. It appears to be more interesting to listen to than rock, but many Prog Rock fans wouldn't find it as sophisticated or interesting. At it's best, Neo-Prog lyrics are deep and well written, but the instrumentation does seem to lack when compared to other Prog Rock sub-genres.
PROG FOLK:
Progressive Folk music was introduce to the world when some Folk artists began to add electronic elements to their music. This made many traditional Folk-listeners angry, but at the same time a new genre was born which was appealing to a larger group of people. Prog Folk takes the main Folk style and mixes it other rock-based influences.
PROGRESSIVE ELECTRONIC:
Progressive Electronic music is known for synthesizers and a robotic/mechanical type sound. This sub-genre of Prog Rock also influenced many other styles of music shortly after it was invented itself, such as New Age, Trance, Techno, Synth Pop and Space Music.
PROGRESSIVE METAL:
This form of Prog Rock is also called ''Prog'' or ''Prog Metal'' when differentiating from regular Prog Rock. It typically contains complex compositional structures, odd timing signatures, and other different features. Prog Metal was formed by a mixture of standard Prog Rock and Heavy Metal. One thing that makes Progressive Metal stand out from other Prog Rock genres is that it could be broken down into countless other genres. Some Prog Metal bands are commonly known as mainstream grunge rock and other Prog Metal bands are commonly known as Death Metal. Classical, Jazz and Symphonic music also have a large influence on Progressive Metal.
PROTO-PROG:
Proto-Prog is a term used to describe bands prior to 1969 which had an influence on Prog Rock by incorporating some of it's features in their music. Some Proto-Prog artists turned toward Prog Rock and others did not.
PSYCHEDELIC / SPACE ROCK:
PSYCHEDELIC PROGRESSIVE: Many British bands and Prog Folk bands that emerged in the mid 60's began to include Indian, Eastern, and Jazz elements in their music, creating a more ''Psychedelic'' sound. Today, Psychedelic Prog often included ''Space Rock'' and ''Space Fusion'' elements.
SPACE PROGRESSIVE ROCK: This style tends to have the ''Insterstellar Traveller'' sound, using space-like guitar and synthesizer effects to create the illusion of an outer space atmosphere.
RIO / AVANT-PROG:
ROCK-IN-OPPOSITION: RIO uses 20th Century Avant-garde Classical structures. This style is dominated by dissonant chords, odd time signatures, polyrhythms and abstract lyrics. The musicianship is extremely high, but unfornutalely RIO does not receive the respect it should.
AVANT-GARDE PROGRESSIVE ROCK: Avant-Prog is an extension of RIO and the Canterbury Scene. While RIO and the Canterbury Scene have their limits, Avant-Prog goes beyond the restrictions. Usually, Avant-Prog musicians compose short yet complicated instrumental pieces while avoiding stage props and larger Prog acts.
SYMPHONIC PROG:
Symphonic Prog is most definitely the largest and renowned sub-genre of Prog Rock. Symphonic Prog follows the main characteristics which define Progressive Rock. The main influence is Symphonic Prog is Classical music. (Whether late Gothic Orchestral works or Modern Classical.) However, although this melodic style of music is described as "Symphonic", it rarely contains symphony works. It is merely describes as "Symphonic Prog", because that is the main influence.
ZEUHL zEU(h)l:
Zeuhl is celestial-sounding music created from a mixture of Neoclassicism, Romanticism, Modernism and fusion. It has an oppressive or discipline-conveying feel. Zeuhl often includes marching themes, throbbing bass, brass instruments and an ethereal-like piano.
ART ROCK:
Art Rock was the original name for PROGRESSIVE ROCK. Now, it is used as a term which refers to bands that have no specific genre of music which they play. Art Rock bands are primarily considered to be Prog Bands.
CANTERBURY SCENE:
This is not so much a genre as it is a fraternal collection of musicians from around the Kentish tourist town that is home to the Church of England's Archbishop. However, it is classified as a genre because this is where half a dozen of Britains bands of the post psychedelic era originated from. This style of music features Jazz improvisation and rock rhythms with intellectual song writing tied to psychedelia.
EXPERIMENTAL / POST-ROCK:
EXPERIMENTAL: This term is used to define a musical genre which contains anything that is not normally accepted as musical. ''Experimental'' music can be looked at through two different views. One view is that experimental music can only be extended to the point where it is modified traditional music. (Unconventional instruments, instrument modification, noises, etc.) The other view is that experimental music can be taken to the extreme in that it may not be classified as music at all.
POST-ROCK: ''Post-Rock'' is different from regular rock because it uses rock instrumentation for non-rock purposes, with guitars being used as facilitators of timbres and textures instead of riffs and power chords. This genre has been used for all sorts of instrumental music, electronic-added music, and Jazz/Krautrock influenced music made after 1994.
INDO-PROG / RAGA ROCK:
This particular genre of Prog is provided an emotion though the music that is a real message which guide the listener into a state of emotional trance. It revolves around long, improvised pieces containing repeated patterns for the ''trance effect''. It is also a mix between regular rock and music from India.
ITALIAN SYMPHONIC PROG:
A very large amount of Progressive Rock has emerged from Italy, so many people feel that it deserves it's own sub-genre. Typically speaking, this genre uses traditional Italian composition technique and Italian lyrics.
JAZZ ROCK / FUSION:
It is basically mixing Jazz with Progressive rock by using Jazz arrangements, instruments and performance style with Prog Rock elements. Usually, the result is very complex and technical instrumentation.
KRAUTROCK:
Krautrock is the term used to describe the direction that German bands took Prog Rock in the early 70's as opposed to what British and American bands did. While many bands included Classical and Jazz in their music, these German bands moved toward a more electronic sound including things like synthesizers and the splicing together of tape reels.
NEO-PROGRESSIVE:
Neo-Progressive music is sort of the halfway point between regular rock and Progressive Rock. It appears to be more interesting to listen to than rock, but many Prog Rock fans wouldn't find it as sophisticated or interesting. At it's best, Neo-Prog lyrics are deep and well written, but the instrumentation does seem to lack when compared to other Prog Rock sub-genres.
PROG FOLK:
Progressive Folk music was introduce to the world when some Folk artists began to add electronic elements to their music. This made many traditional Folk-listeners angry, but at the same time a new genre was born which was appealing to a larger group of people. Prog Folk takes the main Folk style and mixes it other rock-based influences.
PROGRESSIVE ELECTRONIC:
Progressive Electronic music is known for synthesizers and a robotic/mechanical type sound. This sub-genre of Prog Rock also influenced many other styles of music shortly after it was invented itself, such as New Age, Trance, Techno, Synth Pop and Space Music.
PROGRESSIVE METAL:
This form of Prog Rock is also called ''Prog'' or ''Prog Metal'' when differentiating from regular Prog Rock. It typically contains complex compositional structures, odd timing signatures, and other different features. Prog Metal was formed by a mixture of standard Prog Rock and Heavy Metal. One thing that makes Progressive Metal stand out from other Prog Rock genres is that it could be broken down into countless other genres. Some Prog Metal bands are commonly known as mainstream grunge rock and other Prog Metal bands are commonly known as Death Metal. Classical, Jazz and Symphonic music also have a large influence on Progressive Metal.
PROTO-PROG:
Proto-Prog is a term used to describe bands prior to 1969 which had an influence on Prog Rock by incorporating some of it's features in their music. Some Proto-Prog artists turned toward Prog Rock and others did not.
PSYCHEDELIC / SPACE ROCK:
PSYCHEDELIC PROGRESSIVE: Many British bands and Prog Folk bands that emerged in the mid 60's began to include Indian, Eastern, and Jazz elements in their music, creating a more ''Psychedelic'' sound. Today, Psychedelic Prog often included ''Space Rock'' and ''Space Fusion'' elements.
SPACE PROGRESSIVE ROCK: This style tends to have the ''Insterstellar Traveller'' sound, using space-like guitar and synthesizer effects to create the illusion of an outer space atmosphere.
RIO / AVANT-PROG:
ROCK-IN-OPPOSITION: RIO uses 20th Century Avant-garde Classical structures. This style is dominated by dissonant chords, odd time signatures, polyrhythms and abstract lyrics. The musicianship is extremely high, but unfornutalely RIO does not receive the respect it should.
AVANT-GARDE PROGRESSIVE ROCK: Avant-Prog is an extension of RIO and the Canterbury Scene. While RIO and the Canterbury Scene have their limits, Avant-Prog goes beyond the restrictions. Usually, Avant-Prog musicians compose short yet complicated instrumental pieces while avoiding stage props and larger Prog acts.
SYMPHONIC PROG:
Symphonic Prog is most definitely the largest and renowned sub-genre of Prog Rock. Symphonic Prog follows the main characteristics which define Progressive Rock. The main influence is Symphonic Prog is Classical music. (Whether late Gothic Orchestral works or Modern Classical.) However, although this melodic style of music is described as "Symphonic", it rarely contains symphony works. It is merely describes as "Symphonic Prog", because that is the main influence.
ZEUHL zEU(h)l:
Zeuhl is celestial-sounding music created from a mixture of Neoclassicism, Romanticism, Modernism and fusion. It has an oppressive or discipline-conveying feel. Zeuhl often includes marching themes, throbbing bass, brass instruments and an ethereal-like piano.
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