Exactly. More snide gags about elves, sparkly cloaks, and punk replacing progressive music in the nation’s affections – all received wisdom lazy music journalist boilerplate. These people are “bald”, and playing “Northern Lights” in an orchestral arrangement is not going to save them, as it was a lame track to start with. “Mother Russia” (also already orchestrated), maybe. Or bloody “Tubular Bells”. What’s next? “Follow You, Follow Me”? “Wondrous Stories”? FFS.
I’m all for progressive Rennaissance, and am a big fan of the live album from Carnegie Hall – you will note this has lengthy conceptual tracks with plenty of widdle. No faults about Annie Haslam, of course; in her day, she very much provided the correct visual accent for my adolescent ponderings, and my mother could say, “at least she can sing properly”. After “Scheherazade”, etc, , “Northern Lights” seems a shamefully weak effort for the mainstream, as per the other flabby late-progressive hit singles by bands pointlessly appealing to the bald and square (and who tragically became much wealthier as a result). I prefer my progressive rock in an exotically-fragranced attic room decorated with Roger Dean posters, not in a Surrey garden centre with folk who have every “Asia” album. Other views are available.
Hmm, badly prejudging here but I fear it’ll be like other orchestral workings of classic rock tracks. Immaculately played and zero excitement. Civilians only. I saw the Tubular Bells Experience recently and haven’t quite recovered. Snobby probably but it’s not aimed at me.
I tend to think you’ll be proved right, sadly. If they really wanted to open some ears to the delights of progressive rock music, they should engage Nick Mason’s bunch to play ‘Echoes’ to the nation.
Oddly enough this was a suggestion for me today. TBH I’ve no idea why.
There may be an upsurge of interest in Prog, maybe Punkat the Proms will come in a few years.
Dear God. What I find most depressing about that article (from the BBC whose festival the Proms is) is that opening paragraph – not the announcement of Bond and Prog, which is fine, but the dismissal of the vast majority of concerts as ‘the usual programme of orchestras, operas and soloists.’ It suggests it’s the same old fare, of not much interest to anyone. When in fact a cursory browse suggests there’s some amazing stuff there – the Berlin, LA and Met Opera orchestras; a whole series of brilliant violinists like Vilde Frang, Simone Lamsma, Patricia Kopachinskaja and Isabelle Faust, lots of big Mahler and Shostakovich, and a whole load of new works from brilliant young composers like Dani Howard and Carmel Smickersgill, plus the new work mentioned in the article by Gwilym Sincock for Sheku Kanneh- Mason, Jess Gillam, and Ben Goldscheider. The Weyes Blood concert with the Jules Buckley Orchestra should be interesting too. But the real excitement and power of the Proms will come in some of those and many more orchestral concerts of core and contemporary classical music by some of the greatest artists, conductors and orchestras on the planet.
Paraorchestra doing Reich… that’s essential. I’ve seen them doing Riley’s In C, and it blew my mind. I honestly can’t explain the deep effect it had on me.
Hmmm…! It sounds a bit like an easy listening version of prog. If you’re going to have music of that genre then it seems ro me that it should be close to the original vision, not some watered down interpretation. They wouldn’t do this to Beethoven.
No they, whoever they is wouldn’t. They have Martha Argerich playing Beethoven’s 2nd piano concerto scheduled on September 5th. I shall give my attention to her and many of the other world class musicians who will be taking part over the course of the Proms. As It’s not obligatory to listen to music that doesn’t warm your cockles I shall give the prog nonsense a hard swerve. It’s an option that’s available to all.
Meanwhile, I see that the ENO are staging a co-production of Einstein on the Beach in Manchester next year. Five hours and probably no intermission. Now that’s what I call prog !
script for a jesters tear at the proms would be marvellous
Oh, good grief!
Do we need to point out that Soft Machine played at the Proms in 1970?
I didn’t realise Prog had “hits”
Bet it’s a safe programme. Pshaw!
Well, of course it’ll be a “nothing to scare the horses” programme – and I don’t much like Maconie’s mildly apologetic attitude in the BBC article…
Exactly. More snide gags about elves, sparkly cloaks, and punk replacing progressive music in the nation’s affections – all received wisdom lazy music journalist boilerplate. These people are “bald”, and playing “Northern Lights” in an orchestral arrangement is not going to save them, as it was a lame track to start with. “Mother Russia” (also already orchestrated), maybe. Or bloody “Tubular Bells”. What’s next? “Follow You, Follow Me”? “Wondrous Stories”? FFS.
Au contraire, Northern Lights was and is one of those rare things – a great prog single.
Agreed. I like Mother Russia as well – I just have no deep enthusiasm for hearing them played at the Proms.
(Edit: do you not like Renaissance, Vincent? Or is it just Northern Lights?)
Annie Haslam and Jim McCarty Were on The Strange Brew podcast last November. Annie had an interesting life.
Indeed she did!
Thanks for the heads up – I’ll seek that episode out.
What a great chat! The presenter didn’t have to do much, did he?
Top tip thanks Dave. What an amazing voice she had.
I’m all for progressive Rennaissance, and am a big fan of the live album from Carnegie Hall – you will note this has lengthy conceptual tracks with plenty of widdle. No faults about Annie Haslam, of course; in her day, she very much provided the correct visual accent for my adolescent ponderings, and my mother could say, “at least she can sing properly”. After “Scheherazade”, etc, , “Northern Lights” seems a shamefully weak effort for the mainstream, as per the other flabby late-progressive hit singles by bands pointlessly appealing to the bald and square (and who tragically became much wealthier as a result). I prefer my progressive rock in an exotically-fragranced attic room decorated with Roger Dean posters, not in a Surrey garden centre with folk who have every “Asia” album. Other views are available.
Isn’t prog just watered down classical anyway? 😉
They need to have the Mahavishnu folk there – could call it Prom’n’on’n’on…
Hmm, badly prejudging here but I fear it’ll be like other orchestral workings of classic rock tracks. Immaculately played and zero excitement. Civilians only. I saw the Tubular Bells Experience recently and haven’t quite recovered. Snobby probably but it’s not aimed at me.
This ⬆️.
I tend to think you’ll be proved right, sadly. If they really wanted to open some ears to the delights of progressive rock music, they should engage Nick Mason’s bunch to play ‘Echoes’ to the nation.
Excellent suggestion @vulpes-vulpes.
If the concert is to be at all interesting, there should be some actual prog musicians involved.
@Twang is so right. Orchestral versions of Prog’s greatest hits will not cut the mustard.
The Rick Wakeman obsessives would certainly think so.
spot on.
IMHO, it’s a Womble issue. “From the underground to the overground – the emergence of Mike Oldfield was the death of progressive music: discuss.”
Oddly enough this was a suggestion for me today. TBH I’ve no idea why.
There may be an upsurge of interest in Prog, maybe Punkat the Proms will come in a few years.
Dear God. What I find most depressing about that article (from the BBC whose festival the Proms is) is that opening paragraph – not the announcement of Bond and Prog, which is fine, but the dismissal of the vast majority of concerts as ‘the usual programme of orchestras, operas and soloists.’ It suggests it’s the same old fare, of not much interest to anyone. When in fact a cursory browse suggests there’s some amazing stuff there – the Berlin, LA and Met Opera orchestras; a whole series of brilliant violinists like Vilde Frang, Simone Lamsma, Patricia Kopachinskaja and Isabelle Faust, lots of big Mahler and Shostakovich, and a whole load of new works from brilliant young composers like Dani Howard and Carmel Smickersgill, plus the new work mentioned in the article by Gwilym Sincock for Sheku Kanneh- Mason, Jess Gillam, and Ben Goldscheider. The Weyes Blood concert with the Jules Buckley Orchestra should be interesting too. But the real excitement and power of the Proms will come in some of those and many more orchestral concerts of core and contemporary classical music by some of the greatest artists, conductors and orchestras on the planet.
Yep. I concur, plus the Berlioz.
…with which sentiment, I should like to associate myself…
Me, too.
You should be the copywriter for the Beeb @Blueboy.
Your paragraph got me really curious to find out more and try and listen to some of the concerts you’ve recommended. Great work.
Paraorchestra doing Reich… that’s essential. I’ve seen them doing Riley’s In C, and it blew my mind. I honestly can’t explain the deep effect it had on me.
Hmmm…! It sounds a bit like an easy listening version of prog. If you’re going to have music of that genre then it seems ro me that it should be close to the original vision, not some watered down interpretation. They wouldn’t do this to Beethoven.
No they, whoever they is wouldn’t. They have Martha Argerich playing Beethoven’s 2nd piano concerto scheduled on September 5th. I shall give my attention to her and many of the other world class musicians who will be taking part over the course of the Proms. As It’s not obligatory to listen to music that doesn’t warm your cockles I shall give the prog nonsense a hard swerve. It’s an option that’s available to all.
Will Five Bridges make an appearance?
I can only think of three – Lloyd, Beau and Jeff…
Meanwhile, I see that the ENO are staging a co-production of Einstein on the Beach in Manchester next year. Five hours and probably no intermission. Now that’s what I call prog !