The Mellotron Group

On Mar 7, 2008, at 9:13 AM, tronbros@aol.com wrote:

> It's been a slow train coming but having closely scrutinised a lot  
> of the 'prog' I have listened to over the years plus a good cross  
> section of what is currently on offer, I wonder why I ever bothered  
> with most of it.  Prog
> obviously has good music within the genre but to my ears the vast  
> quantity is utterly pointless and disposable.  When you consider the  
> genius involved in writing a symphony in your head for 60+ players  
> with all the counterpoint, harmonisation, voicing etc. etc. in a  
> month and the resulting work being playable on first attempt with a  
> few revisions needed and then you consider the simple sub standard  
> amalgam of styles churned out after months in a studio.  Well the  
> gulf is obvious to my mind.
>
> Start fighting....................
>
> Martin

Martin,

With all due respect, it takes a little longer than a month to write a  
symphony, especially if you're doing it by hand. Try many months to  
several years. And very few people did the whole thing in their head.  
It's worked out bits at a time. The only composer I know who could  
hold a whole piece in his head was Mozart -- and you don't think much  
of his music! ;)

But you're right: most prog is not particularly good music.  
Interesting? Certainly, at times. Well played? Definitely. But music  
for the ages? Not much of it.

Ludwig van Beethoven