The origin and evolution of the rock orchestra....

[poltr1]

Many years ago, symphony orchestras and rock bands were musically exclusive. Then someone came up with the idea of blending them, or augmenting the orchestra with rock band instruments such as electric guitars, a bass guitar, a drum "trap set", and electric or electronic keyboards. Adding keyboards to orchestras was not a new idea; I remember hearing that some conductors played piano along with the orchestra they were conducting.

I believe the earliest example was the Moody Blues' 1969 album "Days of Future Passed". Others soon followed with their own "rock orchestras" -- Procol Harum ("Conquistador"), Andrew Lloyd Webber (the sound track to "Jesus Christ Superstar"), and Renaissance. Some artists did these projects as one-shots. Some just used the string section of the orchestra.

On January 18, 1974, rock keyboardist Rick Wakeman performed his "Journey to the Centre of the Earth" suite with the London Symphony Orchestra and the English Chamber Choir, and was released as an album later that year. Parts of H.G. Wells' story were narrated, interspersed with music apparently inspired by the story. If I remember correctly, the album reached #1 on the rock album charts.

In 1977, Emerson, Lake & Palmer released "Works Vol. 1", a double-album set which featured each performer in solo -- one for each album side -- and the group. Keith Emerson's album side was a piano concerto, Greg Lake's album side featured a few of his compositions (including one of my favorites, "C'est a Vie"), Carl Palmer's album side featured some of his compositions (including "Tank"), and the band's album side had a rendition of Aaron Copland's "Fanfare of the Common Man" and "Pirates". They even went on tour with the orchestra.

The original lineup of the Electric Light Orchstra -- ELO -- featured a violinist (Mik Kaminski) and two cellists (Melvyn Gale and Hugh McDowell). When ELO downsized from a septet to a quartet, these three members were no longer in the band. (Some ELO fans say that this is when ELO jumped the shark.)

Now it's common to add rock instruments to symphony orchestras or add string sections to rock bands.

Comments

[athanasios.livejournal.com]

I believe the earliest example was the Moody Blues' 1969 album "Days of Future Passed".

You mean 1967 album. :) Then in 1968 they released "In Search of a Lost Chord."

[autographedcat.livejournal.com]

The Beatles were experimenting with adding strings to their songs as early as '65, I think. But that wasn't for entire albums.

[poltr1]

Yeah, 1967. When I haven't had my coffee, or if the lighting's bad, the small print all looks the same. :-)

Y'know, I can always count on other people giving me the right info when I don't have it right on my LJ. :-)

You will agree that it was a groundbreaking album, right?

[athanasios.livejournal.com]

You will agree that it was a groundbreaking album, right?

Yeah, I love the Moody Blues!