Chapter 12What is Art Rock?The combination of rock and roll and classical music (aka

“classical rock”)

The 6 typical approaches to bring together classical elements and rock elements:1) Quote a classical excerpt in the midst of a rock song2) Use a classical melody as the basis of a rock song3) Create a series of rock songs conceived as units in a

larger form4) Adapt a full classical work to a rock-style performance5) Create a work for rock group and classical ensemble6) Using the musical language of rock, create an extended

work modeled after a classical form

The Moody BluesA blues-based band formed around 1964Mid-1968: released Days of Future Passed (#3)

“Tuesday Afternoon (Forever Afternoon)” (#24)“Nights in White Satin” (#2 during reissue in 1972)Recorded with London Symphony OrchestraWas a concept albumNo simultaneous interaction between orchestra and

bandNo real blending of rock and classical (classical parts

were transitions between songs)Other albums: A Question of Balance (#3 in 1970),

Every Good Boy Deserves Favour (#2 in 1971), Seventh Sojourn (#1 in 1972), and Long Distance Voyager (#1 in 1981)

Deep PurpleBritish invasion band whose hard rock style will eventually

be called “heavy metal”1968- founded by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore1st single: “Hush” (#4)Sept. 1969- performed “Concerto for Group and Orchestra”

with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra In 3 movements (fast-slow-fast)Deep Purple maintains the hard rock sound throughoutThe 3rd movement is where the styles mesh together

1970- Gemini Suite was written for another rock group and orchestra6-movements, each centered around a different soloistCloser interactions between soloist and orchestra

Deep Purple’s biggest hit: “Smoke on the Water” (#4 in 1973)

They disbanded in 1976

Procol HarumA blues-based band from London originally

known as the Paramounts in 1962Their first single: “A Whiter Shade of Pale”

(1967)Their highest ranking album and only gold

album was Live in Concert with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (#5 in 1972)“In Held ‘Twas In I” (19 minutes long)

A journey from self-pity and depression through madness and an exalted reaffirmation of faith

Rock Operas & Theatrical WorksOpera- a play in which most or all dialogue is

spokenthe theatrical aspect includes acting, costuming, and

sceneryGenerally a classical form but can be in any style

Musical theater- a concert presentation with specific characters and a developing story line

1967- Hair! – a Broadway “rock musical” (soft rock)Celebrated the new Aquarian Age and revolutionary

freedom“Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In” by Fifth Dimension

(#1 in 1969)

The Who London in Late 1950s- Originally called the

Detours, followed by the High NumbersAdopted a “mod” image with flashy new

clothesMembers:

Pete Townshend (1945)John Entwistle (1946)Roger Daltry (1944)Keith Moon (1947-1978)

The Who (Cont)Gained popularity in England in 1965-1966

“My Generation” – stuttering vocals enunciated a rebellious teenage theme

Debut album: The Who Sing My Generation (1966)“The Kids Are Alright” – a follow-up to “My

Generation”Second album: Happy Jack (1967)

“A Quick One While He’s Away” – a “miniopera” A long song composed with a story line and characters to

fill in the 10-minute gap at the end of the album

“I Can See for Miles” – their American breakthrough in June 1967, making the Top 10 on the American charts

The Who (Cont)Tommy (1969) – a 90-minute “rock opera”

A story of a deaf, dumb, and blind boy who triumphs with his incredible ability as a pinball “wizard” The music is more restrained and sophisticated for the

Who Bears little resemblance of classical music Has a story line with characters based upon rock music

Rose to #4 on the album chartsVery popular- there is now a symphonic version, a

stage production, a ballet performance, a brass-band version, and a film version

“Pinball Wizard”“Tommy, Can You Hear Me?”

The Who (Cont)Quadrophenia (1973)- 2nd full-length rock

operaRefers to a four-way split of personalities within

the Who Entwistle- classically trained stoic Moon- flamboyant wild man Daltrey- good-time rock-and-roll shouter Townshend- thinking, articulate member with rock

aspirations and Indian spiritualismThe 4 sides reflect this foursomeThe plot is more obscure but music is more

matureBecame a #2 album

Other Rock Operas and MusicalsJesus Christ Superstar (1971)

The “Overture” presents many of the themesGodspell (1971)Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor

Dreamcoat (1971)“Joseph’s Coat”

The Wiz (1975)“Ease on Down the Road” (Michael Jackson &

Diana Ross)Evita (1978)Grease (1972)

“Greased Lightning”

Rick Wakeman and YesYes formed in 1968

Jon Anderson (vocals)Chris Squire (bass)Rick Wakeman (joined in 1971 on keyboards)

Fragile (#4 in 1972) was their 1st album with Wakefield“Roundabout” (#13)- only major hit of the 1970’s

Yessongs (1973) was a live triple albumTales from Topographic Oceans (1974)

Lyrics based on scriptures by guru Paramhansa Yogananda

An experimental albumWakeman left the group in 1974

Rick Wakeman and Yes (cont)Journey to the Centre of the Earth (1974)

Performed live with the London Symphony Orchestra

Based on Jules Verne bookText shared by narrator, chorus and two

vocalistsWakeman rejoined the band in 1976 and then

left again in 1980Yes’s biggest hit was in 1984: “

Owner of a Lonely Heart”

GenesisFormed in 1967 as a quartetGrew as a quintet in 1971 with Peter Gabriel (vocals)

and Phil Collins (drums)They emphasized Mellotron and other electronic

keyboards, visuals, and theatrics in live performancesThe Lamb Lies Down on Broadway (1974)

About the adventures of Rael as he confronts NYC civilization

Peter Gabriel left in mid-1975 and Phil Collins became lead singer

The group (as a trio) had success in the 1980s with 3 gold albums, two platinum albums, and many top 40 hits

Emerson, Lake and PalmerKeith Emerson (1944) formed the group

called Nice in 1967Their album Five Bridges Suite (1969) was

promoted on a US tourThe 5-movement song moves fluently between

rock and jazz to Bach-like classicalAccompanied by the Sinfonia of London

OrchestraAlso contains rock adaptations of Sibelius,

Tchaikovsky, and BachEmerson met Greg Lake who recruited Carl

Palmer to become ELP

Emerson, Lake and Palmer (cont)Emerson, Lake and Palmer (#18 in 1971)

“The Three Fates” is in 3 parts; solo on pipe organ, piano solo, and entire trio

Blends classical, rock, and jazz“Tank”- drums connected to a synthesizer“The Barbarian”

Tarkus (#9 in 1971)“Eruption”

Pictures at an Exhibition (1972)- 3rd album based on Mussorgsky’s piece

Emerson, Lake and Palmer (cont)Brain Salad Surgery (1973)

brings everything together: 4th movement of “First Piano Concerto” by

Ginastera- a rock adaptation of classical work “Benny the Bouncer” - a “cute” piece “Still…You Turn Me On”- the “normal” song “Jerusalem”- spiritual song “Karn Evil 9” – 3-movement work

After 1979, ELP disappeared for a while before returning in the mid-1980s with a new drummer, Cozy Powell

Frank ZappaDescribed as creative, enigmatic, erratic,

puerile, pseudointellectual, unique, sophomoric, genius, and iconoclastic

Dec 21, 1940- Born in BaltimoreHis influences were R&B, Stravinsky, &

VareseIn Los Angeles, he created the group

“Mothers of Invention” in 1964 based on the Soul Giants band

Their first album: Freak out! (1966)A double albumWas released a year before Beatles’ Sgt.

Pepper

Frank Zappa (cont)Freak Out!

First disc contains “normal” songs with eccentricity and iconoclasm added “Who Are the Brain Police” “Motherly Love”

Second disc has extended pieces “Trouble Every Day”-about racial riots in Watts “Help, I’m a Rock”- a structured piece sounding like

its unstructured “The Return of the Son of Monster Magnet”

His style of art rock: nonmetrical, atonal, use of vocal improvisation, concentration on timbre and texture

Frank Zappa (cont)Uncle Meat (1969) was music for a movie that was

never finishedThere were 10 members in the band for this album

“Dog Breath, in the Year of the Plague” “Dog Breath Variations” “The Uncle Meat Variations” “Prelude to King Kong” “Project X” “King Kong”

Parts of the album used over 40 overdubbed tracksFillmore East, June 1971- a live album containing

a miniopera “Happy Together”- a #1 hit for the Turtles in 1967

Summary of Art RockMany art rockers had an outdated notion of

classical musicCreated combinations of current rock and

centuries-old classical or vice-versaSome artists softened their rock style to

match outdated classical musicMany artists rapidly moved onto a new style

without fulfilling the current style

“Karn Evil 9”30-minutes long and in 3 movements called

“Impressions”Follows the large form of a classical concerto:

fast, slow, fast“First Impression” is in 2 parts

Part 1- an introduction, 3 verses (with instrumental break) and codetta (a small coda closing the first section of the piece) Drums, cellos and basses change patterns every measure Each verse divided into 2 sections: A & B

Part 2- this is an analogy comparing an imaginary society to a carnival slideshow Introduction is in 7/4 meter Consists of 7 verses (each with the form of AAB) with

instrumental breaks in between

“Karn Evil 9”“Second Impression” is entirely instrumental

“through-composed”- musical sections always changing There is a motive that recurs throughout Section A features piano; Section B has a Latin flavor;

Section C is “impressionistic”; Section D is back to piano; Section E is a fast boogie-woogie section

“Third Impression” Begins with military-like “horn calls” Verse 1 (A & B), interlude, verse 2 (A&B), bridge, then new

theme for victory statement

There is no string quartet or orchestra for this piece; it is only a trio of performers

Its concept is more classical, even though the language is more rock

“Karn Evil 9”

Chapter 12 TestStudents will be able to:Describe the 6 approaches for combining rock and

classical elementsRecognize and describe rock artists with orchestras:

Moody Blues, Deep Purple, Procol HarumName and describe rock operas and theatrical works

and their composersThe Who, Jesus Christ Superstar, Joseph and the

Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Wiz, Grease, Rick Wakeman, Yes, Genesis

Describe nontheatrical art rock by unaccompanied rock groupsEmerson, Lake, and Palmer, Frank Zappa

Describe the form of “Karn Evil 9”