Summary
Objectives
Teaching Approach

Summary

Progressive rock music emerged in Britain in the late 1960s and became very popular in Europe and America during the 1970s. The music of bands such as Yes, Genesis, King Crimson, ELP, and numerous others, was generally characterized by a combination of classical, avant-garde, or jazz music with elements of rock music. After challenging problems related to the genre's definition, we will investigate how progressive rock was idiomatic of its corresponding subculture. In order to do so, we will explore both the social context in which the genre emerged and flourished, and the genre's musical characteristics.

Objectives

By the end of the course, students should:

become familiar with the progressive rock repertoire; become familiar with the most representative groups and artists; be able to identify characteristics of the different sub-genres; be able to identify the social, economic and cultural factors that led to the birth of progressive rock and further influenced its development, and to link those factors to the music; have developed skills for the analysis of progressive rock music;

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Teaching Approach

Although classes will mainly consist of traditional lectures, a significant portion of the time will be devoted to listening and viewing audiovisual material. Students are also expected to participate in discussions and debates that might emerge in class.

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Textbook
Recordings

Textbook

Every student is required to purchase the following book, which is available at the UWO Bookstore (University Community Centre).

MACAN, Edward. Rocking the Classics. English Progressive Rock and the Counterculture. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1997. ISBN 0-19-509888-9.  Price: 28.95$ REQUIRED

There will also be a number of books on reserve at the Music Library (see Appendix).

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Recordings

Recordings needed for the course will be on reserve at the Music Library.

CD-01

1. The Nice, "Acceptance Brandenburger" (3rd movement), Ars Longa Vita Brevis, 1968

2. Genesis, "Firth of Fifth", Selling England By the Pound, 1973

3. Emerson, Lake and Palmer, "Tarkus", Tarkus, 1971

4. Yes, "Roundabout", Fragile, 1971

5. King Crimson, "Red", Red, 1974

6. Yes, "Close to the Edge", Close to the Edge, 1972

CD-02

1. Gabriel, Peter, "Digging in the Dirt", Us, 1992

2. Morissette, Alanis, "Front Row", Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie, 1998

3. Fisher, Miss Toni, "The Big Hurt", 1959

CD-03: Proto-Progressive Bands (1967-1969)

1. Beatles, The, "She's Leaving Home", Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, 1967. (Elements of classical music aesthetic, such as a string ensemble).

2. Beatles, The, "Within You, Without You", Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, 1967. (Indian music influence).

3. Beatles, The, "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite", Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, 1967. (Influence of musique concrète/electroacoustic music, especially toward the end of the track).

4. Pink Floyd, "See Emily Play", 1967. (single)

5. Pink Floyd, "Interstellar Overdrive", The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, 1967.

6. Moody Blues, "Nights in White Satin", Days of Future Passed, 1967.

7. Moody Blues, "Forever Afternoon (Tuesday)", Days of Future Passed, 1967.

8. Procol Harum, "A Whiter Shade of Pale", Procol Harum, 1967.

9. Procol Harum, "A Salty Dog", A Salty Dog, 1969.

10. The Nice, " Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack", Thoughts of Enmerlist Davjack, 1967.

11. The Nice, "America", 1968 (single).

12. The Nice, "Acceptance 'Brandenburger' (3rd Movement)", Ars Longa Vita Brevis, 1968.

13. Giles, Giles and Fripp, "Newly-Weds", 1968 (single).

14. King Crimson, "21st Century Schizoid Man", In the Court of the Crimson King, 1969.

15. King Crimson, "Epitaph", In the Court of the Crimson King, 1969.

16. King Crimson, "Cat Food", In the Wake of Poseidon, 1970.

CD-04: Early Progressive Bands (1969-1971)

1. Yes, "Looking Around", Yes (1969)

2. Yes, "Time and a Word", Time and a Word (1970)

3. Emerson, Lake and Palmer, "The Barbarian", Emerson Lake and Palmer (1970)

4. Emerson, Lake and Palmer, "Lucky Man", Emerson Lake and Palmer (1970)

5. Genesis, "Where the Sour Turns to Sweet", From Genesis to Revelation (1969)

6. Genesis, "The Knife", Trespass (1970)

7. Van Der Graaf Generator, "Refugees", The Least We Can Do Is Wave to Each Other (1969)

8. Jethro Tull, "The Witch's Promise" (1970) (single)

9. Gentle Giant, "Giant", Gentle Giant (1970)

10. Soft Machine, "Hope for Happiness", Volume One (1968)

11. Soft Machine, "The Moon in June", Third (1970)

12. Caravan, "Place of My Own", Caravan (1968)

13. Caravan, "Golf Girl", In the Land of Grey and Pink (1971)

14. Gong, "Mystic Sister/Magyck Brother", Magick Brother (1970)

15. Gong, "Tropical Fish: Selene", Camembert Electrique (1971)

16. Gong, "Wet Cheese Delirium", Camembert Electrique (1971)

 

Week	Dates	Content	Assignments
1	a. 03/01/2001	Introduction
	b. 05/01/2001
2	a. 08/01/2001	Musical Parameters 1
	b. 10/01/2001
	c. 12/01/2001
3	a. 15/01/2001	Musical Parameters 2
	b. 17/01/2001
	c. 19/01/2001
4	a. 22/01/2001	Analysis
	b. 24/01/2001
	c. 26/01/2001
5	a. 29/01/2001	The Counterculture
	b. 31/01/2001
	c. 02/02/2001
6	a. 05/02/2001	Sociology of Progressive rock	Analysis (20%)
	b. 07/02/2001
	c. 09/02/2001
7	a. 12/02/2001	Emergence of Progressive Rock.1967-1968
	b. 14/02/2001
	c. 16/02/2001	Test 1	Test 1 (25%)
8	19-23/02/2001	Conference Week
9	a. 26/02/2001	1969-1971
	b. 28/02/2001
	c. 02/03/2001
10	a. 05/03/2001	1969-1971
	b. 07/03/2001
	c. 09/03/2001		Initial Draft
11	a. 12/03/2001	Canterbury Scene
	b. 14/03/2001
	c. 16/03/2001
12	a. 19/03/2001	Golden Age 1 (1971-1973)
	b. 21/03/2001
	c. 23/03/2001	Test 2	Test 2 (25%)
13	a. 26/03/2001	Golden Age 2 (1973-1975)
	b. 28/03/2001
	c. 30/03/2001
14	a. 02/04/2001	Toward the 1980s
	b. 04/04/2001
	c. 06/04/2001	Final Paper	Final Paper (30%)

 

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	Analysis (20%) [Due Date: 5 February 2001] This assignment will consist in the analysis of a given piece, or section of a piece. Students are expected to use methods seen in class and which are adapted to the particular nature of rock music.
	Test 1 (25%) [16 February 2001] This first test will be devoted to social aspects of progressive rock: relationship between progressive rock and the counterculture; sociological profile of progressive rock musicians and fans; etc.
	Test 2 (25%) [16 March 2001] Test 2 will assess students' ability to identify musicians, groups, songs, etc. This test will include a listening section.
	Final Paper (30%) [Due Date: 6 April 2001] In the final paper, students are expected to demonstrate their ability to relate rock music analysis with extramusical aspects of the progressive rock genre (characteristics of the counterculture; sociological profile; other issues, such as gender, race, etc.). Papers should be between 3000 and 4000 words, including footnotes (10-15 pages, double space). Papers should follow the style outlined in Kate Turabian's, A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (LB2369.T8 1996; Music Library reference). Students will be invited to submit an initial draft by 3 March 2001, which draft will be returned with comments for revision. The final version will be submitted by 6 April 2001.