Symphonic Rock

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Symphonic rock, or classical rock as it is also commonly called, is what happens when electric guitars and symphony orchestras collide. The results are often not pretty — there's a reason nobody remembers that album Deep Purple did with an orchestra, for example. But ever since the Beatles experimented with the idea of adding classical flourishes to Sgt. Pepper, some rock groups have been likewise drawn to the symphonic rock idea like moths to a flame.

The most successful symphonic rock band was arguably the Moody Blues, although other bands like Procol Harum, Renaissance, and Emerson Lake & Palmer have also found varying degrees of success melding guitars and drums with violins, oboes, and cellos.

A significant number of bands like Yes, Genesis, and the Moodies (those guys again) have also used string synthesizers — and an instrument called the mellotron, in particular — to achieve the same effect. These records generally fall under another rock sub-genre called prog or progressive rock.

You'll find bloggers talking about symphonic rock at sites like Prog Archives.

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Latest blogosphere posts tagged “Symphonic Rock”

  • Concert Review: Trans-Siberian Orchestra – 11/02/09


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    Trans-Siberian Orchestra 11/02/09 Breslin Student Events Center at MSU in East Lansing, Michigan Though I own a TSO album, I never really got into it, but I sure did try to given the Savatage connection. Trans-Siberian Orchestra has always seemed like a group that would be more fun to see live and after last ...
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  • Yes – Close To The Edge (Part 1)


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    Jon Anderson , American lead vocalist of Yes Tagged: art rock, classic rock, Grammy winner, Jon Anderson, October 25 birthdays, prog rock, progressive rock, rock, symphonic rock, Yes
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  • Music Review: Muse, The Resistance


    Blogger News Network — Authority Authority: 631
    Since Muse’s inception in the mid-90s, this alternative band has been constantly working to develop their sound and expand on their previous work. A decade after their first album (1999’s Showbiz) hit stores, Muse has now put forth their most polished record yet. The band’s new album, The Resistance, has already ...
    3 weeks ago

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