Re: [Harp-L] music/artist awareness

[Eric Nielsen <ericbarnak@xxxxxxxxx>]

Thanks Iceman,

I discovered Goth Metal/Symphonic Rock a while back and was also entranced.

Sirenia, Nightwish, Tristania, and Epica are other bands to check out.
Most of these bands are out of Holland and the Scandinavian countries.
The music goes by many different labels (the experts will quibble),
but what these bands have in common is that they have a " 'metal'
guitar and drums sound" backing a female vocalist of stellar talent,
classical training, and Operatic range. The music often has symphonic
complexity, as you noted.

One of the first bands of this genre that I noticed was "The
Gathering." They started as a head-bobbing, heavy metal band, but
after adding a fantastic vocalist in the person of Anneke van
Giersberge, became a pioneer of this sound. She is just wonderful--an
outstanding singer.

To my mind, exploring different kinds of music can be very harmonica
relevant and rewording--especially in the case of vocal music. Our
instrument has a close-to-voice quality that is one of its great
strengths and attraction. I often find inspiration in a good vocalist
:and try to capture their tone (timbre ?) and phrasing on harmonica.
I've even attempted lines from Verdi: Very pretty melodic material for
this very expressive instrument.

Eric



On Sun, Oct 11, 2009 at 8:49 AM, <icemanle@xxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> Harp-l has turned me on to artists that have proven amazing - some of them not harmonica players. Eva Cassidy was an artist I discovered through postings on the "L".
>
> I just found out about a Dutch band "Within Temptation" - categorized as Heavy Metal Rock, they are actually Symphonic Rock. I watched and was hypnotized by a two hour concert video "Black Symphony" - band in front of a full fledged orchestra w/choir. Aside from the ultra clean mix and sound and the superior light show, I found this group to be of that frightening level of professionalism with a lead female vocalist who sings fearlessly and with such amazing getting the maximum from the minimum that she makes it look effortless.
>
> This is no verse, chorus, verse, two choruses and out pop FM music. It is a little challenging, as a good classical symphony is. European audiences are much more up to the task than American ones, having had a steady diet of Gentle Giant, the original Genesis, Focus, King Crimson, etc.
>
> Highly recommended.
>
> The Iceman
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