Renaissance, A Song For All Seasons - A Classical Musician’s First Listen and Reaction

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Virgin Rock

Virgin Rock

10 ай бұрын

#renaissance
With a rhythmic pattern that puts progression in Progressive Rock, this piece takes off out of the starting gate in energetic fashion. adding to its dynamic feel, the generous orchestral quality also helps to smooth the edges of its sound.
Here’s the link to the original song by Renaissance:
• Renaissance - A Song F...
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Amy Shafer, LRSM, FRSM, RYC, is a classical harpist, pianist, and music teacher, Director of Piano Studies and Assistant Director of Harp Studies for The Harp School, Inc., holds multiple degrees in harp and piano performance and teaching, and is active as a solo and collaborative performer. With nearly two decades of teaching experience, she teaches privately, presents masterclasses and coaching sessions, and has performed and taught in Europe and USA.
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Credits: Music written and performed by Renaissance
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Пікірлер: 211
@mickfoster7140
@mickfoster7140 9 ай бұрын
Renaissance, now there's a band that often got overlooked and were never really appeciated as much as they deserved. Annie Haslam's vocals are gorgeous.
@bramposthumus9300
@bramposthumus9300 7 ай бұрын
Absolutely agree!
@luizjose778
@luizjose778 23 күн бұрын
Conheci essa banda recentemente apesar da minha idade 64 anos,comprei um cd "prologue"em um sebo da cidade onde moro e jà comprei outro que espetáculo saudo desde brasil❤
@brealistic3542
@brealistic3542 5 ай бұрын
The Progressive Rock Era has some of the finest Musical bands and music you will ever hear.
@richardmoloney689
@richardmoloney689 8 күн бұрын
Try Morow Radio. Internet from Paris. Prog Rock is alive and well.
@johnathandavis3693
@johnathandavis3693 10 ай бұрын
I'm in my early 60's, an old rocker, and I discovered Renaissance only recently after it popped up in my feed. In my opinion their song "Things I don't understand" is WAY more representative of their actual "groove". It is also a real showcase for their brilliant female vocal lead, Annie Haslam. She has a beautiful, powerful voice, and as I understand, across a 5-octave range. Please check out THAT song, I found it to be striking and maybe ahead of it's time...
@larry6112
@larry6112 10 күн бұрын
I think Prologue is a great introduction to their individual talents. Ashes are Burning - their best song. A Song for All Seasons - their best orchestration. Plenty to choose from and discuss.
@campbellthomson252
@campbellthomson252 7 күн бұрын
I was lucky enough to see them live in the 1970s in Aberdeen at the height of their powers. I've never forgotten that experience.
@williampeachey6057
@williampeachey6057 9 ай бұрын
Prologue is the song you should have started with to get a proper feel of what this band really is . When you ask some one about Renaissance you will always get one of two responses. Either never heard of them or oh yeah they are great.
@stevencharlton7693
@stevencharlton7693 9 ай бұрын
When it comes to Renaissance, the one track you should really listen to is "Song For Scheherazade" from their album "Scheherazade and Other Stories". Absolutely amazing stuff I know you will really like LOADS!!! 😀 But saying that, the whole album is really cool!!!
@laurabrevitz3944
@laurabrevitz3944 9 ай бұрын
YES!! Exactly!!
@yonatangoldman9759
@yonatangoldman9759 3 ай бұрын
The version on their Live at Carnegie Hall album is the definitive version.
@Pjaypt
@Pjaypt 9 ай бұрын
Finally 😊 Now Amy must listen to Ashes Are Burning! And next, The Moody Blues!
@becuzitsthere4484
@becuzitsthere4484 9 ай бұрын
Ashes Are Burning, Turn of the Cards, and Scheherazade are great albums. Also their live one. I recommend "Mother Russia" next for you. Later reunion bands are ok, but fall far short of their work in the 70's. Thanks for what you do. Your recent weekend of Led Zeppelin reactions was some of the best analysis I have heard of rock music. Your musical knowledge is impressive. I feel smarter just listening to you dissect music.
@ericanderson8886
@ericanderson8886 9 ай бұрын
Some great orchestral prog. Their Live at Carnegie Hall album is one of the great ones.
@tomratcliff3755
@tomratcliff3755 9 ай бұрын
I've been trying to get Vlad to get it for her. Not for us, but as a celebration for her
@laurabrevitz3944
@laurabrevitz3944 9 ай бұрын
Love, love, LOVE this band, and Annie Haslam's glorious voice.
@gwengoodwin3992
@gwengoodwin3992 10 ай бұрын
Well I am happy to see you listening to Renaissance. This is not the band's best work, in my estimation. I've recommended the Scheherazade album, which I consider their best. Prologue, Ashes Are Burning, and Turn of the Cards are also excellent. I do not enjoy the music of the Renaissance reunion bands. Every member of the original lineup contributed something special, and those attempts to revive the band's spirit just seem sad to me. You will find on KZfaq songs taken from the 1976 album Live at Carnegie Hall. There are compromises in these performances - missed notes, mixups in balance among instruments, the regrettable lack of a full orchestra for backup - but I think it's worthwhile to see the band perform live. And you get to hear some prominent harp parts too. Side 2 of Turn of the Cards (1974) has three songs and I think you would find something special in each of them: Black Flame, Cold Is Being, and Mother Russia. Cold Is Being is based on Remo Giazotto's Adagio in G minor (attributed to Albinoni). Mother Russia is a tribute to Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. Both are dramatic to the point of melodrama. Both feature fewer orchestral frills than A Song For All Seasons. If you listen to Renaissance further you will revise your estimation of Annie Haslam's voice, I predict. It is drowned in music in this poorly mixed song. In other recordings you will hear her voice soar over the instruments like a trumpet. She has one of the great voices in all of popular music, in my estimation. In live performances she tends to drift off-pitch, alas - but she holds it together during the Carnegie Hall performances I mentioned. Do yourself a favor and listen to Scheherazade. And consider a song from it - if not the 30-minute nine-part Song of Scheherazade, then maybe Ocean Gypsy from Side 1. Thanks for listening to some Renaissance. The band combines folk music with classical music in much the same way Emerson Lake & Palmer combined rock with classical. That's why Renaissance is sometimes called prog folk instead of prog rock. But these labels are ultimately limiting and often misleading. That's a rant for another day!
@netuno60
@netuno60 10 ай бұрын
I totally agree. Scheherazade is a very beautiful album and has some elements from the homonymous work of Rimsky-Korsakov. The others cited are also beautiful and good to show the ability of the band to compose romantic and epic music that mixes elements of rock with classical music and the use of the orchestra. My vote for the next song analyzed goes to Can You Understand or anyone cited above.
@SEAKPhotog
@SEAKPhotog 9 ай бұрын
⬆️ This! I'm one of those who is part of the early Renaissance cult. There are many more (and better) songs to showcase the original band's brilliance.
@Hartlor_Tayley
@Hartlor_Tayley 9 ай бұрын
I agree with you opinions
@Doutsoldome
@Doutsoldome 9 ай бұрын
Excellent post! I totally agree with all points.
@christopherlethe2997
@christopherlethe2997 9 ай бұрын
Turn of the cards is imo their best album
@KP-rm8eg
@KP-rm8eg 9 ай бұрын
Well, that was a nice surprise. About "checking their later work": I already consider this their "later" work. After that, it were just other incarnations of the band, and then mainly just a band touring with their older best work? So better go back in time, the period of the albums "Prologue", "Ashes are Burning", "Turn of the Cards" and "Scheherazade", for their best and fresh and nicest work. Pieces like 'Can you understand', 'Ashes are burning', 'Running hard', 'Mother Russia', 'Song of Scheherazade', etc
@Doutsoldome
@Doutsoldome 9 ай бұрын
Yes, exactly.
@Doutsoldome
@Doutsoldome 9 ай бұрын
​@@larry6112 Oh, it is a good song and I like it a lot. The thing is that, considering the band's body of work, there are many songs that are even better. In fact, this one is already a sign of the band's decline - because what came before was really, really good.
@thomassharmer7127
@thomassharmer7127 9 ай бұрын
Before critics coined the term "progressive" rock, this style was sometimes known as "symphonic" rock.
@netuno60
@netuno60 10 ай бұрын
Listen to Can You Understand. It’s very beautiful and has elements of something from the East, a little bit like the Ketelbey Persa Market vibe.
@xyhmo
@xyhmo 9 ай бұрын
That's the only song by them I am familiar with, but I love it.
@tomratcliff3755
@tomratcliff3755 9 ай бұрын
So glad you are discovering this band! There is no best in music, but I have to say they have been part of my life for decades. Earliest is most prog,later work is shorter, more radio friendly songs. Welcome to the journey.
@builderga
@builderga 9 ай бұрын
I've been waiting for you to discover Renaissance. I have loved them since the 1970s. I saw them at Carnegie Hall and was mesmerized. Please give a listen to The Song of Sheherezahd from that concert.
@manlioyllades
@manlioyllades 9 ай бұрын
Renaissance is a band you can easily fall in love with and Annie Haslam voice is angelical. The "electric guitar" you mentioned it's actually a bass guitar played with a pick. The bassist plays several melodies in this piece. Also, there are no electronic instruments, with the exception of the bass pedal Jon Camp sometimes uses.
@Frankliso
@Frankliso 9 ай бұрын
I would recommend checking out the earlier work of Renaissance ... The "Song for all Seasons" Album was the last highpoint of their Catalouge (in my opinion). If you want to hear them creating symphonic sound without classical instruments check out "Ashes are Burning". If you like to hear exceptional Piano skills try out "Prolouge". But almost everything before Song for all seasons is very enjoyable music.
@TheoZoffrok
@TheoZoffrok 9 ай бұрын
I'm so glad you've come to Renaissance, Amy. They're a band I've only properly discovered in the last three or four years (I'm in my late 50s now, too much music, too little time) - apart from their UK hit single Northern Lights, which is lovely, if not very representative of their music as a whole. They are, as others have said, rather undervalued now, whereas to me they are one of the greatest bands of the Golden Age of Prog [ie the late 60s through to the late 70s], and one of the only prominent Prog groups to feature a female singer. Their orchestral arrangements are magnificent, and always sound organic to the music, rather than "bolted on" to give a veneer of sophistication. John Tout and Jon Camp are superb musicians (on keyboards and bass respectively), and Annie Haslam is a simply wonderful singer, clear as a bell and with beautifully crisp diction and an unmistakably English accent - very rare in rock music. Their lyrics were interesting too, with most written by poet Betty Thatcher, who was never a member of the band (King Crimson had a similar arrangement with Pete Sinfield). I echo the recommendations for Mother Russia and Ashes Are Burning, although any song from their Imperial Period is worth doing. I'm crossing my fingers that your peregrinations through popular music will bring you to Joni Mitchell, who for my money is the greatest singer-songwriter of them all, and whose own Imperial Period - from 1971's Blue throught to 1977's Don Juan's Reckless Daughter - offers musical and lyrical delights you won't hear from anyone else.
@michaelhogan6770
@michaelhogan6770 9 ай бұрын
I saw Renaissance many time since the mid 70's in the Philly area, including the Academy of Music, WOW, I have yet to hear a vocalist that's close to her in range, power and perfect pitch. Listen to the end of Ashes are Burning live and listen to her voice when she gives it her all. I met her a few times, she had a gallery in Bucks Co Pa and also would sell her art at the local Craft Fairs. I gave her a bunch of photos I took at a prior concert, she signed one and gave it back and sent be a thank you note in the mail.
@dancampeau1963
@dancampeau1963 5 ай бұрын
I'm 51, and this is the latest band I've discovered, and I love the songs!
@garylester8621
@garylester8621 9 ай бұрын
I got introduced to Renaissance in the late 70's. Been enjoying them every since.
@Hartlor_Tayley
@Hartlor_Tayley 9 ай бұрын
I was just listening to Renaissance yesterday and was thinking that you may find interesting. Annie’s vocals are pure joy for me. Carpet of the Sun is probably their most well known song and it’s a good one too. Although I like their music and the band is very good, it’s Annie’s vocals that I find most captivating.
@netuno60
@netuno60 10 ай бұрын
Great Amy! Renaissance is a band with a strong link with classical music and orchestra. I like them since the beginning. Their music composition is majestic, very good and it has emphasis in the bass, the keyboards, and the beautiful voice of Annie. You can hear other songs that probably you will like too.
@yes_head
@yes_head 9 ай бұрын
Renaissance is a prog band you're perfectly suited to react to, Amy, since they DO lean heavily on classical music tropes and traditions throughout the main sequence of albums from 1969-1979. They often partnered with orchestras in the studio to flesh out their sound that is otherwise the prog bog standard vocals/guitar/bass/keys/drums. Renaissance is most notable in the prog world for Annie Haslam's voice and Jon Camp's up-front bass playing (echoing Chris Squire's style), plus while other prog bands dabbled with partnering with orchestras, Renaissance made it part of their MO full stop. They started out in the late 60's with a more folky and acoustic sound (they were actually an offshoot of the Yardbirds!), but by the mid 70's they had embraced "rock band plus orchestra" as THEIR sound. This piece echoes several others they'd done on previous albums -- an epic length track with a long instrumental opening that goes into a "song" which itself goes through various movements. You can find this kind of thing on most of their 70's albums, although when the opening swings closer to rock on this track I'm reminded of The Alan Parsons Project for some reason. Their earlier albums were a bit more on the nose in terms of the orchestral elements, but by 1978 pressure was being applied to deliver something more commercially accessible. This was actually the last album where they worked with an orchestra, replacing it0 with synthesizers on the next one.
@pauldover1403
@pauldover1403 7 ай бұрын
I'm always happy to listen to people playing Renaissance who were one of my favourite bands along with Emerson, Lake and Palmer. I came to them a little later than some, probably in 1974 with their fifth album, "Turn of the Cards." This was in their greatest period with the classic line-up centred on John Tout, the pianist (he only accepted electronic instruments late on) and Annie Haslam the vocalist. I saw them only once, on 1st October 1976 at Trent Polytechnic, Nottingham when they played a relatively small hall using sound equipment from the Sweet, this was after their landmark "Live at Carnegie Hall" album which was released earlier in the year. I've never understood why they played there when on 24th January 1976 they had played at the larger venue of Nottingham University. This first concert was recorded for broadcast on John Shaw's programme and released much later as British Tour, '76. They were just as good live as on their recordings. If you are interested, Doug Helvering, who is a Classical composer himself has done a number of extended and detailed review of their works and was so impressed that he also did a long interview with Annie Haslam. Many of these are on KZfaq.
@pauldover1403
@pauldover1403 7 ай бұрын
Doug does review this song and he has a score for it, although as he says, only the lead sheet, not the full orchestral score but you would probably enjoy looking at that.
@Hartlor_Tayley
@Hartlor_Tayley 9 ай бұрын
If Annie Was in my band I would completely support her vocals with melody and lyrics she would like to sing and drop most of the instrumental wanderings.
@nixmixes770
@nixmixes770 9 ай бұрын
How lovely to see an old favourite group of mine crop up. It was an interesting track to start with. I had never heard it before but It has many elements and musical devices lifted straight from their earlier pieces 'Can You Understand' and 'Running Hard', but I found this much more restless, as if trying too hard to get back the glory days. Annie's beautiful voice is a little overwhelmed with the restlessness too, in my opinion. In the Carnegie Hall live recording of Can You Understand you hear a cheer from the crowd as she appears after the extended intro and her voice fills out into the space. Do listen to more of them. Moving forward in time, I sensed a musicality gene from them coming out in Weyes Blood 'Titanic Rising' album from a few years ago. I think you'd also enjoy that.
@gregg6992
@gregg6992 9 ай бұрын
More Renaissance please! ❤
@popsmcgee9775
@popsmcgee9775 9 ай бұрын
Renaissance!!!! Great choice! Ocean Gypsy, Mother Russia, Can You Understand would all be great reactions. Worth a deeper dive, for sure.
@Doutsoldome
@Doutsoldome 9 ай бұрын
Oh, yes! I do vote for a deeper dive!
@marxug1
@marxug1 9 ай бұрын
Oh please do more Renaissance!!! Song for all Seasons is not one of their stronger pieces, for all its grandiosity. To me seemed written in the very long shadows cast by their much better songs “Mother Russia” and “Scheherazade.” And anything from the album “Turn of the Cards” is prime Renaissance.
@altair8598
@altair8598 9 ай бұрын
What a nice surprise in choice of song and genre (prog rock). There are some great Renaissance tracks on Turn of The Card and Scheherazade for you to follow up (though also from the 1970s. Maybe you can be tempted back to Yes, Genesis, Jethro Tull, King Crimson and one of the first to explore symphonic rock, The Moody Blues?
@progger53
@progger53 9 ай бұрын
I saw Renaissance for free in Dallas 1977. They were trying to break into the DFW and Houston areas i was front row center. Right in front of Annie.
@chrisredlich7075
@chrisredlich7075 9 ай бұрын
Thank You, Thank You, Thank You.
@Hartlor_Tayley
@Hartlor_Tayley 9 ай бұрын
I saw Renaissance in 1977 or 78. I hadn’t heard their music but a nice lady friend had an extra ticket and we went. It was an amazing concert and Annie’s voice just captivated me and everyone else it seems.
@Doutsoldome
@Doutsoldome 9 ай бұрын
Ah, Renaissance... Now that you fond it, you have to listen to _Song of Scheherazade,_ or I'll never forgive you! I'm serious! This band is a precious gem. Their five studio albums between _Prologue_ (1972) and _Novella_ (1977) are all essentially flawless, in my humble view. The next two, _A Song for All Seanons_ (1978) and _Azure d'Or_ (1979), are less brilliant, but I still identify them with the band's "classical" sound. After that, they never reached the same heights. But I insist: _Song of Scheherazade,_ preferably the studio version, with the London Symphony Orchestra. Although it is painful for me to single out just one song, among so many great ones. _Mother Russia,_ _Ashes are Burning,_ _Can You Hear me?,_ _Black Flame,_ their wonderful use of Debussy in _At the Harbour..._ As I said: five flawless albums.
@helenespaulding7562
@helenespaulding7562 9 ай бұрын
An English band being more popular in the US than in England was actually a recognized phenomenon. Zeppelin had that in spades.
@silgen
@silgen 9 ай бұрын
And vice versa, see Tom Petty and the Hearbreakers for example, who were big in the UK (and Europe) in the late 70's but unknown in the USA.
@w.geoffreyspaulding6588
@w.geoffreyspaulding6588 9 ай бұрын
@@silgen unknown in the USA?. Several hits…
@raymondregis6219
@raymondregis6219 9 ай бұрын
And the strawbs.
@GachagirlLcL8
@GachagirlLcL8 3 ай бұрын
I played bass in a progressive rock band from 1972 to 1980. We had a female vocalist in our band. Renaissance was one of my favorite bands ever. I still listen to their albums quite often. Renaissance definitely fit the classical style progressive rock genre. Their music had a very classical feeling to it. The Royal Philharmonic was a great fit for the album "A Song for all Seasons". I went to see Renaissance live more than a dozen times. Simply an incredible band.
@DennisTrovato
@DennisTrovato 9 ай бұрын
Oh, what a surprise. Love this song.
@Scottlp2
@Scottlp2 9 ай бұрын
Ashes are Burning and Turn of the Cards were two early and some of their best/most representative albums. Song for All Seasons was also a good album…
@darrenjones5885
@darrenjones5885 9 ай бұрын
Another great, and I’d argue the greatest, integration of rock band with orchestra is The War of the Worlds by Jeff Wayne. The original, not his easier to tour remake that sounds like a demo for the original by comparison.
@CharlyDS
@CharlyDS 9 ай бұрын
I was waiting for you to try this band, was an obvious choice for you :) The original Renaissance with Keith Relf (of Yardbirds fame) and his sister Jane was also very cute, but teh definite one comes with Annie Haslam. Ashes Are Burning is a perfect album, I would check that one. Thanks.
@raphaellopes4396
@raphaellopes4396 9 ай бұрын
Great reaction! Great band! Ashes Are Burning, Turn of the Cards, and Scheherazade are great albums too
@getexis8685
@getexis8685 5 ай бұрын
Certain songs have this ability to confuse us at the beginning of listening to them but pique our curiosity in listening to them a second and third time just so we can begin to understand them and embrace them a little more in their memorization so that we can then start to understand them and then be prepared to appreciate by leading us to listen to and discover the true sound they represent. It is its complex beauty that captivates our attention for many decades or more... we will see if for longer or even forever.
@tonymilone5458
@tonymilone5458 9 ай бұрын
Bravo! What a freaking masterpiece! I have loved this music since the time it was first released. I'm glad you have now been exposed to it and hope more people here dive into Renaissance. Annie Haslam is quite an amazing singer and she really shines on some of their earlier works. She can really project her voice in amazing ways.
@netuno60
@netuno60 10 ай бұрын
I think they are the “rock band” that has make the best composition utilizing orchestra and rock instruments. None other has did it better. I like Grieg and especially Peer Gynt.
@J0hnC0ltrane
@J0hnC0ltrane 9 ай бұрын
Renaissance "Prologue" from their third album by the same name. Worth a listen.
@lisarainbow9703
@lisarainbow9703 9 ай бұрын
"Mother Russia" is another incredible composition by Renaissance. So glad you've been introduced to this band! This particular song you reacted to today was a first listen for me as well, and your analysis was fantastic.
@rafaelmaltez3605
@rafaelmaltez3605 9 ай бұрын
Congratulation! I love Let it grow
@jcforrester2
@jcforrester2 4 ай бұрын
You're making me smile ! Love this music. Annie is one of the greats.
@gregoryriddle2618
@gregoryriddle2618 9 ай бұрын
I always thought this song had some James Bond movie qualities. My fave by them,like for many others, is Ashes Are Burning
@Mi5terMarc
@Mi5terMarc 9 ай бұрын
LOOoooooove me some Renaissance. I will recommend the albums Prologue, Turn of the Cards, and Ashes are Burning. The last of those was the one that first hooked me on the band, but the first is probably my current favorite. Honestly most of their older albums (the ones I mentioned plus Illusion, Novella, Scheherazade and Other Tales, Azure d'Or, A Song for All Seasons) have at least a few tracks that are worth listening to. Just an all around great band! Please do some more!
@tonyantonuccio4748
@tonyantonuccio4748 9 ай бұрын
FINALLY RENAISSANCE! Take a look at some of their live videos. By the way, Annie's voice is anything but ordinary. Listen more. After this band you can try Caravan's Virgin On The Ridiculous.
@LeeKennison
@LeeKennison 9 ай бұрын
I grew up immersed in 70s music, but I don't think I have heard them before. But I was never a hardcore progressive rock fan that got into some of the lesser known bands. I of course know and love the bigger more mainstream progressive bands such as Yes, Genesis, Jethro Tull, Pink Floyd, etc. With Jethro Tull and Pink Floyd being my favorites of the group, and they are more likely to be banished from the club by the more hardcore progressive fans. I enjoyed this song and found it interesting, but I would never go out of my way to listen to it again, although I should check out a few more of their pieces. I am really glad Amy seemed to like this and could relate the structure and other qualities to certain classical music.
@helenespaulding7562
@helenespaulding7562 9 ай бұрын
Agree with everything you said, except Tull was never a fave of mine. Floyd TOP fave. To me, the closest prog band that comes closest to some of the same feel to this is Marillion
@ianp9086
@ianp9086 9 ай бұрын
There is more than a hint of the James Bond theme creeping into this track in places - especially that viola you pointed out just before the vocals start!
@stephaniethurmer5370
@stephaniethurmer5370 9 ай бұрын
You make the 4th KZfaqr to look at this amazing group. Also try Ocean Gypsy, Mother Russia, Ashes are Burning(live from Carnegie Hall, and Scheherazade. Thank you for this and enjoy your journey.
@marcblachman2322
@marcblachman2322 9 ай бұрын
Thank you Amy and Vlad! Excellent first listen and commentary! But please don’t stop there or jump ahead on the Renaissance timeline. I agree with Gwen. You will leave the best on the table if you bypass Ashes Are Burning, Mother Russia, Scheherazade, Ocean Gypsy. The 70s golden period of Annie and Co. is where time needs to be spent. Of all the bands that deserve the attention, Renaissance resides at the top of the list. Their run of quality during those years is unmatched. No one blended rock and classical as seamlessly as they did…album after album.
@davidatkinson-lifematters4826
@davidatkinson-lifematters4826 9 ай бұрын
My favourite Renaissance album. 👍🏻
@C64SX
@C64SX 9 ай бұрын
Mikael Åkerfeldt from Opeth talked about this album in a video on the Metal Injection channel here on the 'tube, that's how I first heard of this band. And after hearing it, I also fell in love with this album. Mikael said that this particular song is one of the most epic song he's ever heard, and it has inspired much of his own song writing.
@Yes_Jorge_Yes
@Yes_Jorge_Yes 9 ай бұрын
I think Scheherazade would fun for you to react
@scottsnyder2726
@scottsnyder2726 9 ай бұрын
Love Renaissance and Annie Halsam. Many great songs, with my favorite being “Ashes are Burming”
@lorijones9579
@lorijones9579 7 ай бұрын
I listened to Renaisasance a lot in college. It's several minutes before you hear Annie Haslam's beautiful voice, but still is pretty great.
@rapidfirerob4
@rapidfirerob4 9 ай бұрын
An unbelievable band. Annie Haslam is now in her 70s and her voice isn't what it used to be, but still good. In the 70s, she was the best female vocalist IMO. You need to listen to more Annie Haslam on their other albums. Amazing. A Song For All Seasons was a fine album, but you should listen to earlier albums, Turn Of The Cards, Ashes Are Burning and Scheherazade and Other Stories, their best albums.Terry Sullivan was the drummer. Michael Dunford played guitar and wrote a lot of their material. So very sad when he died at the dinner table with his family, of a cerebral hemmorage. Jon Camp, the original bass player, was as much a lead instrument very often as the keyboard player, John Tout. Michael Dunford was not a lead guitarist, very much adding texture. You should listen to Curved Air with another fine vocalist, Sonja Kristina, still leading the band, with completely different players. So many great songs. Try Metamorphosis from Air Cut.
@Lodur_66
@Lodur_66 9 ай бұрын
In the 70s, she was the best female vocalist IMO. - It's not Inga Rumpf from "Frumpy"? Come on, just listen to her singing "Indian Rope Man" or "How the Gipsy Was Born".
@MrSweelinck
@MrSweelinck 7 ай бұрын
This was probably the top of their popularity and they had the backing to make detailed arrangements and record with session musicians. I'm surprised that you didn't mention Jon Camp's bass work. He is the most prominently featured musician in this piece.
@adanerubielliddiard9453
@adanerubielliddiard9453 9 ай бұрын
For me, the long intro is like a lately 60's/early 70's police TV series theme; and the song itself is a perfect example of James Bond song never used for that purpose.
@zwordser
@zwordser 9 ай бұрын
Wow! I thought Amy might get around to Renaissance eventually, but was pleasantly surprised that it was this early. Lots of comments for Amy on this one: It would be worth digging into the history of Renaissance a bit more, especially in light of the fact that you've been listening to Led Zeppelin quite a bit recently. The two bands have a common origin in the Yardbirds. I won't go into details here--you can find plenty of info online, I'm sure. Also, I have to second what many others have commented here: better to go earlier than later with Renaissance from here. The album: Scheherezade and Other Stories is arguably their best. The title track is, IMHO, in the top 10 best Progressive Rock epics ever made. I will also put in a plug for the opening track: Trip to the Fair--also brilliant, and could be a great one to do around Halloween (as it has a creepy theme). Maybe just do the whole album! Mother Russia, Ashes are Burning, and many others are great too. Your mention of Symphony of Light, (and possibly listening to Renaissance's later material) prompted me to go back and re-listen to most of the album. It has some decent tunes, but nothing close to as good as their 70's "classic" output. Perhaps The Mystic and the Muse is the best track. I think Annie Haslam was well into her 60's when it was recorded, and while she sings great for her age, her voice is a bit weaker/deeper. Which brings me to my final comment: You are the only person I've ever heard call Annie's vocals "ordinary". But other comments I've read here may be right: you may need to listen more to get the true extraordinary feel and range of her 4-octave-capable voice. For many, she is the glue that holds the band together and, in a way, makes the band unique (most other Prog Rock bands are male-vocal dominated).
@DavidGodfrey-kj5ys
@DavidGodfrey-kj5ys 9 ай бұрын
Amy you should listen to Rockalise on Annie's solo album Annie in Wonderland the harp is the lead instrument for a long section of the song. I'm British and have loved Renaissance from the mid 70's and seem to be less critical than the so called USA fans who always carp and whinge. the band were pressurised by their management to change their music. more please
@jamesvananda6382
@jamesvananda6382 5 ай бұрын
I saw this band back in "78 ( I believe) in Asbury Park, N.J. and have been a fan ever since.
@harmono8766
@harmono8766 9 ай бұрын
The keyboard player was mainly into piano playing but as the synthesizer technology got better they stayed in tune and had polyphany. Not sure if they were touch sensitive but the mystery instrument sounds like a string synthesizer with a phaser effect.
@stevegirard-voiceaudiopodcasts
@stevegirard-voiceaudiopodcasts 9 ай бұрын
Well Amy, back @ Penn State in the late 70’s, Renaissance was very popular, and the visited the college twice that I know of. We were blessed, and we listened to music across the spectrum… from this band to the more pastoral prog bands like Genesis, King Crimson, et al… the singer-songwriters like Billy Joel, James Taylor, Carole King… the blues rockers like Zeppelin, Bad Company, and Clapton… the folk rockers like Traffic, the Eagles… and the outright fun of Boston and the Mighty Earth, Wind, & Fire! As for great American prog, please try Kansas: Song for America!
@splitimage137.
@splitimage137. 10 ай бұрын
Boy, this one is really odd for me. I thought I had heard of most of the English progressive bands of the 1970s, but I had never heard of this one. And then I look them up on Wikipedia and see that it was started by two ex-Yardbirds (a great band, methinks) and has a whole lot of other rock-trivia that I was aware of, but I had not specifically heard of this band. How weird. But, judging from this song alone, I can't say as I like this type of music. Maybe it's just TOO classically inspired, or, at least, inspired by classical music that doesn't interest me much. HOWEVER, since I like some of the better English Prog bands of the 70s (Yes, Genesis, King Crimson) I guess I'll check out some more of their stuff. Thanks, AMY - for showing an old dog a new (old) band I hadn't heard of before. One of the reasons why I like your channel.
@tomratcliff3755
@tomratcliff3755 9 ай бұрын
Actually Keith and Jane Relf were only on the first album, which I haven't listened to more than a few times. The release of Prologue brought the new lineup in,and the songwriting team really took it to a new level.
@Hartlor_Tayley
@Hartlor_Tayley 9 ай бұрын
Carpet of the Sun. Try that song.
@Hartlor_Tayley
@Hartlor_Tayley 9 ай бұрын
This reminds me slightly of Pentangle which is another English band with a similar vibe that I hope you get to hear at some point.
@LordSavok
@LordSavok 9 ай бұрын
Yeah it's a band that doesn't really get much attention these days. A woman in prog is so rare you'd think that would garner attention by itself. Ashes Are Burning is probably their best album.
@pketley
@pketley 9 ай бұрын
If you like Yes, and have just discovered Annie's beautiful voice (I have been listening to her for almost 50 years), you should listen to her version of Turn of The Century with Steve Howe from Yes on guitar - you will be hooked. Go see them live - she lives in PA these days so they play mostly the East Coast USA.
@DrakusRecords
@DrakusRecords 6 ай бұрын
Beem a fan of renaissance since 1995, was so happy when they reunited in 2009 and I got to see them live at a concert in NYC with Michael Dunford in 2010. Saw them again in 2022 with a small orchestra. Amazing show. They actually started in 1969, formed by ex-yardbirds members Keith Relf and Jim McCarty (with Paul Samwell Smith producing). But after a bunch of personnel changes in 1970/71 they emerged with a completely different lineup in 1972. They had a string of excellent albums throughout the mid 70s. The early stuff is very good too, but I would say 1972-78 was their peak, and the music they released in the period was a mix of beautifully composed orchestral epics mixed with folk and even a bit of jam band rock. They nailed that sound to perfection. After that they started experimenting with shorter pop songs to mixed results and band just sort fell apart. They reformed briefly in 2001 and again in 2009 and on there more recent albums they revisited the symphonic prog sound that made them so popular in the 70s. There are some good moments here and there in there more recent stuff, but unfortunately they were never able to recapture the magic of those mid 70s albums. Still, they are a great band to see live and I definitely recommend checking them out if they come around your area.
@dago87able
@dago87able 9 ай бұрын
That sounds to me like an electrified violin played in the low register through a pedal, or perhaps a synth…?
@cletasteidle2389
@cletasteidle2389 3 ай бұрын
Got to see them in concert and meet several members at a album signing at Peaches (a record store) in Ft. Lauderdale-I still love them so much❤
@jcforrester2
@jcforrester2 6 ай бұрын
Really enjoying your 'reaction'. You're at 15 minutes now, Can't wait to hear your astonishment at Annie's vocals. What will you hear here?
@Sandervideoclipsegames-or7ui
@Sandervideoclipsegames-or7ui 8 ай бұрын
I appreciated your reaction. You've heard one of the 3 most perfect works by this band. I want to suggest the other two that for me form the Renaissance trilogy of perfection. From the same album the track DAY OF THE DREAMER. And the other is from the album Turn of the cards. Track THINGS I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
@tomratcliff3755
@tomratcliff3755 9 ай бұрын
Thanks!
@VirginRock
@VirginRock 9 ай бұрын
Thank you, Tom!
@DavidTateVA
@DavidTateVA 2 ай бұрын
I had some college friends who were huge Renaissance fans, and I got familiar with all of their very different epochs up into the 1980s. There was gold in all of those periods, from the early (Ashes are Burning, Mother Russia, Scheherezade) through the albums A Song for All Seasons (Northern Lights, She is Love) and Azure D'Or. Annie Haslam is an all-time great vocalist.
@ulfingvar1
@ulfingvar1 9 ай бұрын
Great stuff! They don't wrote like this anymore..sadly..
@yuriykorotkevych8838
@yuriykorotkevych8838 9 ай бұрын
Is it the greatest Renaissance piece? Maybe not. But still it's a great piece of music from a great album. The last great one from them, IMHO. Amy, if I may give you any advice, go backwards from A Song for All Seasons, not forward, in your further exploration of their music. Here in the comments people made many sound suggestions as to particular pieces.
@Alewifes_Husband
@Alewifes_Husband 9 ай бұрын
"Ordinary" is not a word I have ever heard used to describe Annie Haslam's voice. And to echo others -- this work is interesting but not really the band's best work. A few tracks I'd recommend to you are: Ashes Are Burning Ocean Gypsy Mother Russia Black Flame Can You Understand Spare Some Love
@swirll360
@swirll360 9 ай бұрын
I enjoyed your analysis of this wonderful song. Renaissance is a band I always thought you should react to since as you've found out they combine a rather sophisticated element of orchestral (not a fan of the term "classical") music with elements of rock. A word of caution which I think many fans would agree with is not to go much further forward in their discography than with this record. I wouldn't go past the follow-up to this one Azure d'Or for sure, I think you'll be disappointed as they tried to stay current and dipped their musical hands into more pop stuff with mediocre results. Also, sadly on later albums, Annie's voice is not what it once was and is also noticeable. Every band has its heyday and theirs was 1972-1979 however I'd say A Song for All Seasons was their peak; Azur d'Or (1979) is acceptable but I really can't wholeheartedly recommend it. Lastly, this is not one of Annie Haslam's best vocal performances and you noticed it right away, I think it was the way it was recorded, it seemed muted. You'll be more impressed with her 5-octave range on other songs from earlier in their career. It's also worth noting Annie vocally trained for opera for a few years and that's what makes her voice unique in this musical setting, you'll pick those qualities up with further listening. I'd recommend for the next listens to "Ashes are Burning" and "Mother Russia" (inspired by the struggles of Alexander Solzhenitsyn)
@clannad99germany70
@clannad99germany70 4 ай бұрын
Renaissance was one of my favorite bands of all time, and this album was their ultimative masterpiece. And Annie had that so lovely voice. And this band was sadly so much underrated.
@jerome4631
@jerome4631 9 ай бұрын
Renaissance was created by Keith Relf and Jim Mac Carty, who were the singer and drummer of the Yardbirds.
@helenespaulding7562
@helenespaulding7562 9 ай бұрын
Wow….they sure went off in a different musical direction from Beck/Clapton and Page. And that’s an understatement.
@jerome4631
@jerome4631 9 ай бұрын
At the time, the trend was towards experimental and progressive rock. They are on the first two albums (very good). There was also Keith Relf's sister as singer.
@Sandervideoclipsegames-or7ui
@Sandervideoclipsegames-or7ui 8 ай бұрын
The best band all the time!!!
@brucekives2194
@brucekives2194 9 ай бұрын
22:53 I know you weren't impressed with Annie Haslam, but this was not her best song. Please give a listen to their first 4 albums, Prologue, Ashes Are Burning, Turn of the Cards, and Scheherazade and Other Stories. Any of those albums are better than Song for All Seasons. Her first song withe the band, Prologue, gets my attention every time I listen to it. the entire Ashes are Burning album is excellent.
@noncounterproductive4596
@noncounterproductive4596 9 ай бұрын
Another great example of PROGRESSIVE ROCK -- although without accompaniment by a full orchestra -- would be Manfred Mann's recording of Blinded By The Light. This got huge amounts of radio airplay in the 1970s.
@fernandoroza6061
@fernandoroza6061 9 ай бұрын
Nice reaction😌👍. Maybe You could react to really important Jazz songs . 😊 With real challenging harmonies, voices, and arrangments😌 I think You ( maybe) would like...😌( with all the respect) . Love & Peace👍PS: Renaissance has 3 interessant songs: Prologue, Asches are burning and Can you understand. 😉 Your reactions are super cool😌😌👍
@kevindayton9757
@kevindayton9757 6 ай бұрын
TWO songs by them that you owe it to yourself to listen to: "Scheherazade and Other Stories" & "Mother Russia" (as many have already mentioned) 🙂
@simonwatkins3236
@simonwatkins3236 9 ай бұрын
Very cinematic.
@pencilpauli9442
@pencilpauli9442 2 ай бұрын
That's the first time I've heard Annie Haslam being described as ordinary! lol IMHO her voice is more earthy in this track, which is in keeping with the feel of the music as a whole. Prog being the most accessible music for a classical musician makes sense. My musical journey went in the opposite direction. I started listening to classical music thanks to the likes of Renassaince, YES, ELP, and The Moody Blues.
@netuno60
@netuno60 10 ай бұрын
Please Amy, help me understand the exact name of the guy you have said in the end. Is it John Header? I’m sorry my english is not so good.
@gwengoodwin3992
@gwengoodwin3992 10 ай бұрын
It's John Rutter, @netuno60. You'll find plenty of his music here on KZfaq.
@netuno60
@netuno60 10 ай бұрын
Thank you very much@@gwengoodwin3992. I found it and listened to some music. He's a conductor of choral and religious music composer. The music is very beautiful sometimes, but too many religious motivated for me. If I try not to pay attention to the lyrics, the experience is better.
@VirginRock
@VirginRock 10 ай бұрын
Thank you, @gwengoodwin3992! Indeed, John Rutter!
@thomassharmer7127
@thomassharmer7127 9 ай бұрын
I sang in a choir event conducted by John Rutter a few years ago. His energy and his enthusiasm is wonderful. His music can be challenging to perform but great fun.
@helenespaulding7562
@helenespaulding7562 9 ай бұрын
@@thomassharmer7127I’ve had the same experience of singing Rutter choral works. And yes, challenging but fun. But what an experience you had, being conducted by the composer himself. Wow. What piece did you do?
@blackcatcentralmusic
@blackcatcentralmusic 9 ай бұрын
This is the last very good album from Renaissance. The best albums are earlier. Very difficult to choose a favorite but "Turn of the Cards" is a good one with "Mother Russia" and "Thinking of Things I Don't Understand". You will find a lot of Russian composers influencing the arrangements. The first incarnation of the band with Keith and Jane Relf is underrated. That band later reformed as Illusion in the mid '70s.
@lucapolidori8817
@lucapolidori8817 6 ай бұрын
Grieg was quoted several times by progressive rock artists, anyway if you want to dig Renaissance pick one random track from their Live At Carnegie Hall.
@BigSky1
@BigSky1 9 ай бұрын
Northern Lights
@peterverutes4021
@peterverutes4021 11 күн бұрын
The Entire “Song For All Seasons” is a Brilliant Masterpiece, along with “Scheherazade”, which is my Ultimate favorite. This is Renaissance’ most Magnificent Work. IMHO. But, that’s not saying that every other album from Prologue to Azure D’Or are not Masterpieces. Because they are. How can you even compare any of them? They were a brilliant line up and we will never see the likes of music of the 70’s Classic, symphonic, Prog Rock etc. The Ultimate Period of music.
@johnnywilson3071
@johnnywilson3071 4 ай бұрын
Generally with this band I recommend the trio of "Let it Grow, On the Frontier and Carpet of the Sun" as a first start to listening to the band. But I think you'd love to get straight into their more orchestral heavy works. So my recommendations would be Ocean Gypsy, Running Hard, Mother Russia or Song of Scheherazade if you ever plan to cover this band again.
@miles-thesleeper-monroe8466
@miles-thesleeper-monroe8466 9 ай бұрын
Big fan ❤ especially the beatles analysis you do! Id love you and Vlad to consider reviewing SOS by ABBA. Is it pop song perfection? I think it stands apart from their dozens of other worlwide catchy tune hits but dont have the expertise to know why! 🙏 😊
@vonVile
@vonVile 9 ай бұрын
Amy, with it being Halloween season I suggest Italian prog rock band Goblin (Claudio Simonetti). They are known for doing scores for doing fantastic musical scores for Dario Argento's horror movies. Songs: "Suspiria" "Profondo Rosso (Deep Red)" "Tenebrae"
@mikes9305
@mikes9305 9 ай бұрын
Still waiting for the follow-up analysis of Yes, Close to the Edge, since one initial reaction was not enough for you to fully appreciate the work. ☺
@philblagden
@philblagden 9 ай бұрын
Scheherazade and Other Stories is their best studio album, followed by Turn Of The Cards and Ashes Are Burning in my opinion. This is not where I would have started but I hope you hear more of them.
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