Instruments in progressive rock

[Wojtek]

One of the most important reasons I am listening to progressive rock is that in this kind of music we can often hear very wide instruments kit. It's great to mix traditional rock "foursome" guitar/bass/perc/keys with other instruments, sometimes ethnic, sometimes less exotic but still intriguing.
I'd like to ask you about your favourite "non-rock" instruments present in prog. Flutes, saxes or maybe harpsichord and church organ, oboe or clarinet (these are of course examples)? Please justify your choice - is it because you love given instrumentalist's performance so much or because you're simply never fed up with sound of the instrument and feelings it evokes.
Finally, what are in your opinion unforgettable tracks/albums with unforgettable "non-rock" instruments' performances?

[Rick and Roll]

especially in concert is where I see these "special" moments, but for me the violin is one. I saw this band saturday as an opener called "Skeleton Breath", where the violin player just went nuts.

My favorite lead is the end of UK's "Caesar's Palace Blues". Eddie Jobson just goes to town! And of course, 90% of what Jean-Luc ponty does is superb.

Jerry Goodman, etc. There's a lot to choose from.

The flute is a close second, with Thijs Van Leer and Ian Anderson leading the way.

Of course never discount the vibra-slap!

[moses]

I'm not sure of any bands that use Uilleann pipes other than Iona, but I do love their sound. They're not quite like bagpipes - they tend to not use the drones in Iona, that goes a long way to removing the Scottish bagpipeyness (good word, huh?).

Anyhow, I'm not sure why I like them so much. Maybe because they just sound so peaceful to me. Maybe because I'm half Irish and it's bred into me. Iona sounds great when they mix this type of instrument with synths and electric guitars. You wouldn't think it would work, but it does.

[cactus]

in my opinion, the band which uses the widest palette of (non-rock) instruments is Gentle Giant, I remember the day I saw the band's line-up for the first time I was very surprised because I was expecting to see a long list of all kind of instrumentists...

I like very much the "dramba", I dont know the name in English, but you can hear it on the track "Join Together With The Band" by The WHO. (you know maybe the movie "BLACK CAT, WHITE CAT" by Emir KUSTURICA, in which "dramba" plays a special role)

[Rick and Roll]

Originally posted by moses
I'm not sure of any bands that use Uilleann pipes other than Iona, but I do love their sound.

Kate Bush for sure, and maybe Oldfield.......and I thought I saw them elsewhere.....Metallica? No.......

[Yesspaz]

Originally posted by moses
Uilleann pipes

When I read the original post by Woj, that's exactly what came to mind. Iona also uses penny whistels with their flutes, piccolos, and sax. My favorite examples of the use of Uilleann pipes is in the song "Turning Tide/Flight of the Wild Goose" and "Here I Stand." Uillean pipes are slightly reminiscent of geese, so they use them here to do sound painting.

Here I stand looking out to sea
and I say a prayer that the Wild Goose will come to me

Then the Uillean pipes come in. "The Wild Goose" is the ancient Celtic symbol for the Holy Spirit, so the song depicts the Wild Goose falling on Joanne (actually on St. Brendan). If you see Iona in concert, or look at pics, you'll see the giant Wild Goose artwork behind the stage.


Of course, who can forget the harpsichord break in "Siberian Khatru," or it's featuring in "Madrigal"? I also like ethnic percussion and such, as Yes used on "The Ladder" in many tracks.

I can hear a song in my head that uses a didgeridoo, but I can't place it...

Not prog, but what about the theremin in "Good Vibrations"? I'm sure the theremin is used in prog sometimes, but can't think of any particulars. The ethereal Christian band Jabobstone uses theremin frequently, but they are definitely not prog - more like dream pop.

Of course, the use of sitar is great. King's X used it on "Out of the Silent Planet" and "Not Just for the Dead." Adrian Belew used it on Kevin Max's solo album.

Um, that's enough for now...



(Still waiting for someone to do a killer gutbucket solo )

[Yesspaz]

Originally posted by Rick and Roll
especially in concert is where I see these "special" moments, but for me the violin is one.

RnR, check out Rovo. They have a full member violinist.

[Rick and Roll]

Originally posted by Yesspaz

Of course, who can forget the harpsichord break in "Siberian Khatru," or it's featuring in "Madrigal"? Not prog, but what about the theremin in "Good Vibrations"? I'm sure the theremin is used in prog sometimes, but can't think of any particulars.

Those two are great.....also the harpsichord at the beginning of "Birth" by Focus....a perfect start to one of my very favorite songs!

There's a theremin played by Ronnie Montrose on the second tune of his "Open Fire" CD. It's on the Moon.

May be one on the Acuity record too.

[Roger -Dot- Lee(Admin)]

Hoo boy, Wojtek, you hit upon one of the subjects and subsets of prog that has drawn me here from day one and kept me here ever since. I've loved "non standard" instrumentation since I first started listening to music, when I was knee high to a low knee. Frank Zappa's use of Marimba and the like started it all.

But amongst my current favorites:

Par Lindh Project - Mundus Incompertus

Their use of pipe organ makes the entire epic for me. It wouldn't be the same with the standard Moog, ya know?

Peter Gabriel - His use of many ethnic instruments makes his already poweful music that much more so.

Focus - Their use of Alto and Bass flute (which should actually be considered a 'tenor' flute, but that's not their fault) adds a haunting quality to many of their pieces

Dixie Dregs - OK, now is there ANYONE who's surprised that this hot fiddlin' group made it to my list? The Bash shows their virtuosity in ways that your average southern pickin' just wouldn't do. It brings out the inner redneck in me every time I hear it. But this isn't limited to just The Bash. Many of their tunes are enhanced by their violin work.

Genesis - See Peter Gabriel.

Steve Stevens - yeah, he doesn't use any non-standard instrumentation, but he takes what he DOES use and uses it to the hilt. His use of the accoustic guitar makes my heart sing.

I could go on. And on.

Roger -Dot- Lee, waiting for the first Prog Rock band that uses a Euphonium and makes it WORK!

[roger]

and don't forget Kansas and Rich Williams...

[Roger -Dot- Lee(Admin)]

Originally posted by roger
and don't forget Kansas and Rich Williams...

Absolutely not. Like I said, I could go on and on....

Roger -Dot- Lee, when did Kansas ever record with a Euphonium?

The Oboe has such a beautiful tone best summed up in the slow movement of Brahms' Violin Concerto but as we're talking Prog here, FRUUPP incorporated the Oboe played by Stephen Houston on their first 3 albums. He left before the release of their fourth album "Modern Masquerades" being replaced by John Mason who played Vibes (another strange instrument). Try listening to some of the tracks from "Prince of Heavens Eyes" by them.

A full orchestra is something else that (in the right circumstances) works well with a Rock band. I've seen BJH, Camel, Renaissance, The Moody Blues, Yes and Deep Purple perform with an orchestra and each time I felt it worked. Getting the right balance between the orchestra and the band is obviously crucial here as well as being EXTREMELY difficult but in all of the above cases they did well. The best were The Moodies and Yes with Renaissance and Camel close behind.

If you want to see an example of this then check out the DVD "Yes Symphonic" recorded in Amsterdam during the Magnification tour. A truly wonderful rendition of "Ritual" will unfold before your eyes. Watching the members of the orchestra (especially the wodwind section) grooving along to the band when they were playing on their own is a sheer delight.

[Rick and Roll]

Originally posted by roger
and don't forget Kansas and Rich Williams...

are we talking about the violin? That would be Robby Steinhardt.

if not, sorry.

[Yesspaz]

Originally posted by Keith Waye
The Oboe has such a beautiful tone

Many people forget that Roger Waters plays oboe on a few tracks on The Wall, most prominently on the last track, "Outside the Wall."

[moses]

Many people forget that Roger Waters plays oboe on a few tracks on The Wall, most prominently on the last track, "Outside the Wall."

I don't have it to check the liners and haven't heard it in years, but I always thought that sounded like a clarinet. I'm not disputing but that was my impression all these years.

[VAXman(Admin)]

Originally posted by moses
I'm not sure of any bands that use Uilleann pipes other than Iona, but I do love their sound. They're not quite like bagpipes - they tend to not use the drones in Iona, that goes a long way to removing the Scottish bagpipeyness (good word, huh?).

Anyhow, I'm not sure why I like them so much. Maybe because they just sound so peaceful to me. Maybe because I'm half Irish and it's bred into me. Iona sounds great when they mix this type of instrument with synths and electric guitars. You wouldn't think it would work, but it does.

You should listen to more Marillion than follow the parochial opinions of some others here. Check out the title track from Marillion's Brave; it features the Uilleann pipes extensively.

[VAXman(Admin)]

Originally posted by Yesspaz
Not prog, but what about the theremin in "Good Vibrations"? I'm sure the theremin is used in prog sometimes, but can't think of any particulars. The ethereal Christian band Jabobstone uses theremin frequently, but they are definitely not prog - more like dream pop.

Marillion did a song in honor of Mr. Brian Wilson on Afraid Of Sunlight called Cannibal Surf Babe which features a Theremin. Just an example off the top of my head.

[Rick and Roll]

Originally posted by VAXman
You should listen to more Marillion than follow the parochial opinions of some others here. Check out the title track from Marillion's Brave; it features the Uilleann pipes extensively.

Do I have to? I need to clean the dust off first.

[Yesspaz]

Originally posted by moses
I don't have it to check the liners and haven't heard it in years, but I always thought that sounded like a clarinet. I'm not disputing but that was my impression all these years.

Hmm, might be a clarinet. I'm not an expert on my woodwinds.

[prythm]

I just got my hand on Rythmix from Universe Zero. The use of the harpsichord is very cool.

I believe synthesizers are inherently linked to prog music. From the Lucky Man Moog solo to the awesome Watcher In The Sky Mellotron strings (not officially a synthesizer), I have always been attracted to prog because of the cool synthesizer timbres. The Oberheim strings in Fools Overture... That one string-like note held over most of Crystal Ball… That single ascending synth lead at the end of Dukes Travels(“I call you for I must leave"), luv them synths.

(Can you tell I've led a sheltered life, such newbie references)