Ah, to grab the proverbial bull by the horns is a daunting task. Especially when considering that progressive rock is a widely encompassing genre that spans a lifetime of more than three decades and an unending list of important innovations. Nevertheless, there is no point in writing about progressive rock unless one knows what progressive rock is, or at least has a vague idea of the borders that surround the genre.


What makes progressive rock such a hard term to define is its exploratory nature, which allows for a wide array of outside influences to merge with the music and create something entirely new. But despite the fact that progressive rock is most certainly exploratory and experimental, not all experimental music is progressive rock, and there lies the catch. The same conundrum lies behind the term "progressive." Not all bands that progress in their sound are progressive rock, and, unfortunately, not all progressive rock bands progress. The genre itself, however, is prone to progress as a whole due to its aforementioned exploratory nature, and as such has gone from the quirky advances of Krautrock to the lush instrumentation of so-called "neo-progressive" without missing a step.

Progressive rock originated in the sixties and had its blooming period during the following decade, with highly skilled musicians taking it to themselves to leave behind the relative simplicity of rock and roll and use their outside influences to enhance the visceral genre of music. It was thus that the vast majority of progressive rock artists chose to combine the intensity and sheer power of rock with the space, dynamics, and multi-movement focus of classical music and with the vivacity and dynamics of jazz. The aforementioned combination has been, in fact, the backbone of progressive rock up until this very day, but through the years has also been spiced up with a multitude of outside elements that results defying. Folk, industrial music, electronic music, ethnic music, and heavy metal have all been brought into the mix, with the result being an increased diversity in the music and a marked openness to new ideas and outside influences.

Another characteristic of progressive rock is the fact that it is challenging. Although not all progressive rock musicians are virtuosos, a large number of them are, and the underlying complexity of progressive rock structuring is apparent after serious observation even when its "non-virtuoso" elements are considered. There is a general attitude within progressive rock regarding composition and execution, and it is one of heightened involvement and skill. Thus progressive rock is often associated with complex arrangements, lengthy compositions, a multi-movement approach, and drawn out solos. Moreover, the genre focuses strongly on dynamics such as jumps between forte and piano volumes, constant tempo changes, and changing time signatures. It is a wild genre regarding movement, but at the same time it is carefully detailed and planned.


Even then, however, progressive rock is a hard concept to define precisely. While most people would not associate progressive rock with the improvisation typical of jazz, several progressive rock bands have adopted an improvisational approach. Moreover, not every progressive rock band uses all the dynamics at its disposition, and may in fact choose to rely upon them rarely, but the general spirit of progressive rock is nonetheless highly experimental and dynamic. Maybe a majority of its bands rely on conceptual albums with fantasy or science fiction-related lyrics; while others base their strength on the use of instruments not regarded traditionally as part of the rock culture; and yet others use guitars and keyboards as their angular stone. There are, however, elements that are subtly common to all progressive rock bands, and they lie in the experimentation, visceral intensity, dynamism, and skill of progressive rock musicians, as well as in their collective essence.

-by Marcelo Silveyra

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