Goths would never ever listen to classical music... First Part

While BallerinaDark is writing an article about fighting goth stereotypes, I write a little about one I could never understand.
Goths only listen to agressive and/or depressive music. O-N-L-Y.
I know, gothic is inspired by music and lifestyle, and prejudices about the outer appearance may have developed this stereotype, but it's just not true.

I've read about this some time ago on "The Ultimate Goth Guide": A festival (don't remember which one) and a classical concert in the same town. Collision of two completely different cultures. But then people just wondered why a lot of goths also appeared on this classical concert...

I think there is a lot of classical music, that is really aesthetic, dramatic, thrilling and gloomy. I want to introduce some componists and their wonderful pieces of music to you.

The first one is a really common one and I bet you heard "In the Hall of the Mountain King" and "Morning Mood" about a thousand times. It's a piece from Edvard Grieg's (15 June 1843 – 4 September 1907) "Peer Gynt Suites", where he set the play Peer Gynt from Henrik Ibsen to music. (Honestly I haven't read it yet, but it's standing in my bookshelf, waiting for me).
The two suites contain eight pieces of music:

Suite No. 1

1. Morning Mood (Morgenstemning)
2. Aase's Death (Åses død)
3. Anitra's Dance (Anitras dans)
4. In the Hall of the Mountain King (I Dovregubbens hall)

Suite No. 2

1. The Abduction of the Bride. Ingrid's Lament (Bruderovet. Ingrids klage)
2. Arabian Dance (Arabisk Dans)
3. Peer Gynt's Homecoming (Stormy Evening on the Sea) (Peer Gynts hjemfart (Stormful aften på havet))
4. Solveig's Song (Solveigs Sång)

Here are some of my favourites you maybe havent heard that often.



I like this one a lot, I always turn the stereo up and dance and jump through the kitchen :D




I'm a big Liszt (October 22, 1811 – July 31, 1886) fan, if he would still be alive, I bet I would stand in the very first row of a concert screaming "I want a child from you!". That guy was a piano virtuose, obsessed with this instrument, practicing for hours and hours and he wrote some really great pieces for it. Mostly all of them are concerned as really hard, and though I've tried to learn the piano for some years, I still couldn't play any of these. It's sadly only for the pros.
One of my favourite is "La Campanella", one of his etudes (a piece that is meant for the piano player to practice certain techniques) inspired by a piece from Nicolo Paganini, played by the gorgeous Evgeny Kissin (look at his hair, whils he's playing^^). Everytime I listen to this, I close my eyes and goose bumps appear on my whole body.



Here's another pretty cool one from Camille Saint-Saens (9 October 1835 – 16 December 1921) the "Danse Macabre", it really seem fitting for the goth scene ;) Everytime I listen to this, I see sceletons dancing.


Let's jump from the romantic era straight to the baroque. Although I don't like Emilie Autumn that much, I found a very good performance on her Laced album of Arcangelo Corelli's (17 February 1653 – 8 January 1713) "La Folia".
I would really like to explain in short what a Folia is, but because it's a little to complicated and long for this post, I'll just redirect you to Wiki ;)



That was the first part, I'll make others, if you're interested. Feel free to make suggestions about classical stuff you like :)


sources: www.wikipedia.com
www.youtube.com

Otto Dix - into darkwave..

Otto Dix is a Russian darkwave music trio. Named after the expressionist painter of the same name, they are notable for their androgynous singer, believed to be either a countertenor male or a contralto female. After 6 years of being this band became one of the most famous Russian gothic acts. For German market Otto Dix currently signed to Danse Macabre Records, a record label owned by German act Das Ich. The latest release of Otto Dix of 2011 is "Chudnye Dni" (Wonderful Days).





Members:

Michael Draw — vocal, lyrics, design, stage performance.

Marie Slip— keyboards, composing, arrangement, programming.

Peter Voronov — violin, composing, arrangement, photography.



Discography:

Ego (2005)
City(2006)
Nuclearwinter (2007)
Ego (remastered) (2007)
Remixes (2008)
Starost (collection) (2008)
Zone of shadows (2009)


site: ottodix.net

Valravn

A friend of mine showed me this band some time ago. It is called "Valravn" which means "raven of the slain" in english.
It's a danish band also singing in this language. I'd really like to say something hyper-intelligent to their lyrics, but I simply can't. Although they sound funny ^^
However, their style is some kind of mixture between folk, ambient, and a somehow dark influence. They are playing a bunch of instruments, also very freaky ones like the hurdy gurdy, the shawn and some others, and are creating a very deep atmosphere with it. Also the electronic elements are very well combined with the traditional instruments.

But just listen yourself.




For further information go on this site: www.last.fm/music/Valravn?ac=valravn

Enjoy!

Yours
PinkPlumFairy

Paradise Lost

Genre: Doom Metal (early), Gothic Metal, Gothic Rock/Metal, Synth Rock (middle)
Country: England
Activity Period: 1988 - present
Members: Nick Holmes: Vocals
Greg Mackintosh: Lead Guitar
Aaron Aedy: Rhythm Guitar
Steve Edmondsom: Bass
Adrian Erlansson: Drums
Discography: 1990 Lost Paradise
1991 Gothic
1992 Shades Of God
1993 Icon
1995 Draconian Times
1997 One Second
1998 Reflections
1999 Host
2001 Believe In Nothing
2002 Symbol Of Life
2003 At The BBC
2005 Paradise Lost
2007 In Requiem
2008 The Anatomy Of Melancholy (live)
2009 Drown in Darkness - The Early Demos
2009 Faith Divide Us – Death Unites Us
Videography: 1990 Live Death
1994 Harmony Breaks
1999 One Second Live
2002 Evolve
2007 Over The Madness
2007 The Anatomy Of Melancholy



Band formed in 1988 Halifax, England by Nick Holmes (vocals), Greg Mackintosh (Lead Guitar), Aaron Aed (Rhythm Guitar), Steve Edmonson (Bass) and Matthew Archer (Drums). In 1990 released their first album "Lost Paradise" with sounds Doom Metal which was well received by public. One year after they released "Gothic" the album cataloged as one of the best and that positioned as founder of genre Gothic Metal mixing electric guitars with orchestral elements, female vocals and guitar solos (The fathers of Gothic Metal). "Shades Of God" is their third album released in 1992, disk that approaches an increasingly personal style and own, retaining the dark guitar melodies typical of Mackintosh, althought this time using acoustic guitars and vocal performance with a much more melodic than before by Holmes. In 1993 released "Icon" becoming one of the masterpieces of Gothic metal. Nick Holmes's voice, distant fully of his early doom sound, shows melodic and deep. The first thing is the careful attention to aesthetics that accompanied the album, which became more accessible sound, guttural voices were gone but there was still the weight of his music. In 1995 released "Draconian Times", recorded completly by Matt Archer on drums, who left the band to end of 1994, replaced by Lee Morris. The sound on this record had distanced itself a bit of gothic metal of previous discs, to achieve a heavy sound and melodic at the same time.
After that disk Nick Holmes announces more or less drastic changes in the influences and the sound of the band: the backsounds are more rockers, keyboards acquire greater role and voice of Holmes and is almost always clean."One Second" was released in 1997 a disk with rocker and a Synth Rock touch sounds. In 1999 release "Host", disk where the old hard guitars practically disappear in favour of rock sounds more technological, Synth Rock. In 2001 the band try to recover a bit of their old sound releasing "Believe in Nothing", disk where hard guitar riffs are again in the songs of Paradise Lost but not forgetting the electronic sounds Synth Rock. In 2002 released "Symbol Of Life", this was an album that combine heavy guitars with keyboards and electronic effects that at times reach Industrial rhythms; melodic, melancholy and epic rithms are added to this album reusing female voices like in their old disks.
In 2004 the drumer Lee Morris leave the band replaced by Jeff Singer. In 2005 the band says "return to roots" and publishes its tenth album "Paradise Lost". who tries to unite the two musical stages of the band, on this album practically disappears electronic sounds of Synth Rock leading a good album Gothic Metal.In 2007 release "In Requiem" which has a sound that seems rather a combination of "Icon" and "Draconian times" but spiced with elements that give them a more elegant and gloomy touch.
After celebrating their 20th anniversary in 2008 with the release of their much praised live DVD/2CD "The Anatomy Of Melancholy". In 2008 Jeff Singer left the band and comes Adrian Erlandsson in 2009.
Recently this year 2099 Paradise Lost released thier new album "Faith Divide Us - Death Unites Us" an album strikes an even darker path, keep the sounds of their latest album "in Requiem" and reminds their old albums "Gothic" and "Draconian Times".Nick Holmes use a mix between gruff, mecancholic and clean vocals accompained of the power drums recorded by session drumer Peter Damin and heavy guitars riffs sound (Greg Mackintosh and Aaron Aedy used guitars 7-string), another masterpiece of Paradise Lost.

Paradise Lost - Reflections

Download

http://www.paradiselost.co.uk

http://www.myspace.com/paradiselostuk

Bauhaus

Genre: Post Punk, Gothic Rock

Country: England

Activity Period: 1978–1983,1998, 2005– (2008)

Members: Peter Murphy: Vocals

                 Daniel Ash: Guitar

                 Kevin Hankins: Drums

                 David J: Bass

Discography: 1980 The Flat Field

1981 Mask

1982 The Sky’s Gone Out

1982 Press The Eject And Give Me The Tape (Live)

1983 Burning From The Inside

1983 Swing The Heartache – The BBC Session

1992 Rest In Peace: The Final Concert (Live)

1999 Gotham (Live)

2008 Go Away White

Videography: Shadow Of Light

Archive

Gotham

Bauhaus is a post punk/gothic rock band of Northampton, England, formed in 1978 by Peter Murphy (Vocals), Daniel Ash (Guitar), Kevin Haskins (Drums) and David J (Bass).
Their gloomy and introspective sounds and image, Bauhaus is consider one of the first gothic rock bands.
Daniel Ash and David J both friends had the idea to a new band for this they need the right look for the band, so contacted with Peter Murphy, his old school friend who in this then worked in a printing factory, Murphy accept join to the proyect and co-wrote the song "in the flat field" (he never had written any lyrics or music). For complete the line-up joined Kevin Haskins old band mater of Ash and David J's young brother.
Their debut single was "Bella Lugosi's dead" released on 1979 (song of 9 min. recorded live in the study of a single shot). Followed for their first album "In The Flat Fields", an album claustrophobic and dense, and placed them among the vanguard of the movement gothic / sinister with bands like Siouxsie & The Banshees, The Cure or Joy Division.
In 1981 released their second album "Mask", employed more keyboards and a variety of other instruments to add to the diversity of the record, including the singles "Kick In The Eye" and "The Passion Of Lovers".
Their third album was "The Sky's Gone Out" released in 1982. Including Ziggy Stardust (Bowie's Cover), sinlge "Spirit". This album was released with a limited edition of the live album "Press the Eject and Give Me the Tape".
At that time began the band's internal problems due to the excessive role of vocalist Peter Murphy, who became the main face of advertising Maxel cassette tapes and made a stellar appearance in the preface of the movie "The Hunger" Tony Scott's, where they were supposed to appear all members of the band.
In 1983, Bauhaus presented his latest album "Burning From The Inside" that was their biggest seller and showed the group at its most commercial singles like "She's In Parties". The album began recording by members of the band while Peter Murphy was hospitalized with pneumonia, this detail and the fact that when Murphy was introduced to record the voices of the disc Daniel Ash and David J had recorded their voices in some issues were the detonating for the dissolution of the band.

Before the Bauhaus broke up in 1983, all members of the group made several solo works. Singer Peter Murphy worked briefly with bassist Mick Karn of Japan in the band Dali's Car before record his solo albums as Deep and Love Hysteria. Daniel Ash also recorded and released solo albums under the name of Tones on Tail with Kevin Haskins and Glen Campling, roadie for Bauhaus. David J has released multiple solo albums and collaborated with several musicians over the years. Currently working "in visual arts. Kevin Haskins has been creating electronic music for video games and has also produced artists like Gary Numan.
In 1985, David, Daniel and Kevin formed Love and Rockets who managed to enter the charts in the U.S. in 1989 with "So Alive". The band broke up after seven albums in 1998.
In 1998, Bauhaus reunited for the "Resurrection Tour" which included two new songs ( Severance, Dead Can Dance's Cover and The Dog's a Vapor "which was also published on the OST of the movie" Heavy Metal 2 ") . A live album recorded during the tour, called Gotham,released the same year.
They reunited in 2005, playing that year's Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California.
In 2006 it was announced that the band would tour with Nine Inch Nails on "With Teeth tour".
After to 20 years without record, Bauhaus decide record their last album "Go Away White" ("I come with this darkness and go away white"), the album was recorded in 18 days in California and at this recreates the atmosphere that have always characterized this group.
Peter Murphy described the album as "spontaneous" and while it doesn't sound much as what they did in the past, it has some "positives" and "playfullness" to it.

Bauhaus - Crackle

Download

www.bauhausmusik.com
www.myspace.com/officialbauhaus