Norman Bernstein
12-12-2005, 05:52 PM
I often re-listen to Procol Harum's 'In Held 'Twas I'... and felt the urge to wax poetic about it.
Procol Harum was an English group, born of the British invasion rock era of the late 1960's. Their particular thing was rock influenced by classical music modes... mostly baroque, but with elements of other classical influences as well. Best known for their hit single 'Whiter Shade of Pale', and somewhat less well known for 'Conquistador', the classical influence in these songs is unmistakable.
Few people are familiar with the rest of their work, which consists of perhaps a half dozen seminal albums from the late 60's and early 70's.
One particular piece, however, has been a favorite of mine since I first heard it in late 1967 or so... a lengthy work called 'In Held 'Twas I'. The piece is structured like classical music, not with distinct 'movements', per se, but with changing themes and melodies, including repetition and variation, which are hallmarks of much classical music. The piece starts out with a low background that is almost like a Gregorian chant, while Gary Brooker (pianist) recites an opening poetic stanza or two... from there, the piece evolves. The very first instrumental theme is a hauntingly beautiful melody, performed on sitar in the original studio version... this same them is repeated later in the piece, but in a grotesque style, almost a parody of itself. The piece ends with an anthem, more like a hymn, which is spiritually uplifting... the guitar work of Robin Trower and the organ playing of Matthew Fisher complement Gary Brooker's distinctive style beautifully.
And the words... what do they mean? I don't know... but to me, they speak of life, choices, repentance, forgivenness, and mortality... suitably weighty themes for a suitable weighty work.
In 1971, Procol Harum performed 'In Held 'Twas I' live with the Edmunton Symphony Orchestra, and it is undoubtedly a near-perfect translation of a crafted studio piece into a live recitation that does not the slightest injustice to the original. If anything, the live version (unfortunately unavailable on CD, but I managed to obtain a copy via the 'net) is equal to, or even superior than the studio version. The haunting melody played on the sitar, at the beginning of the piece, is replaced by an oboe solo, but otherwise, the performance is immaculate.
Like most English groups of the era, Procol Harum was no more by the mid-70's, although Robin Trower had modest success as a solo act. I had not heard of anything from Gary Brooker until I saw, and heard, him on the 'Concert for George (Harrison)' DVD.... he's white haired and bearded now, but the voice is still the same.
So, if you're in a very contemplative mood some evening, put the wife and kids to bed, crank up your stereo (with headphones), and listen to 'In Held 'Twas I'... the studio version (on the 'Shine On Brightly' album) is your point of departure.
Procol Harum was an English group, born of the British invasion rock era of the late 1960's. Their particular thing was rock influenced by classical music modes... mostly baroque, but with elements of other classical influences as well. Best known for their hit single 'Whiter Shade of Pale', and somewhat less well known for 'Conquistador', the classical influence in these songs is unmistakable.
Few people are familiar with the rest of their work, which consists of perhaps a half dozen seminal albums from the late 60's and early 70's.
One particular piece, however, has been a favorite of mine since I first heard it in late 1967 or so... a lengthy work called 'In Held 'Twas I'. The piece is structured like classical music, not with distinct 'movements', per se, but with changing themes and melodies, including repetition and variation, which are hallmarks of much classical music. The piece starts out with a low background that is almost like a Gregorian chant, while Gary Brooker (pianist) recites an opening poetic stanza or two... from there, the piece evolves. The very first instrumental theme is a hauntingly beautiful melody, performed on sitar in the original studio version... this same them is repeated later in the piece, but in a grotesque style, almost a parody of itself. The piece ends with an anthem, more like a hymn, which is spiritually uplifting... the guitar work of Robin Trower and the organ playing of Matthew Fisher complement Gary Brooker's distinctive style beautifully.
And the words... what do they mean? I don't know... but to me, they speak of life, choices, repentance, forgivenness, and mortality... suitably weighty themes for a suitable weighty work.
In 1971, Procol Harum performed 'In Held 'Twas I' live with the Edmunton Symphony Orchestra, and it is undoubtedly a near-perfect translation of a crafted studio piece into a live recitation that does not the slightest injustice to the original. If anything, the live version (unfortunately unavailable on CD, but I managed to obtain a copy via the 'net) is equal to, or even superior than the studio version. The haunting melody played on the sitar, at the beginning of the piece, is replaced by an oboe solo, but otherwise, the performance is immaculate.
Like most English groups of the era, Procol Harum was no more by the mid-70's, although Robin Trower had modest success as a solo act. I had not heard of anything from Gary Brooker until I saw, and heard, him on the 'Concert for George (Harrison)' DVD.... he's white haired and bearded now, but the voice is still the same.
So, if you're in a very contemplative mood some evening, put the wife and kids to bed, crank up your stereo (with headphones), and listen to 'In Held 'Twas I'... the studio version (on the 'Shine On Brightly' album) is your point of departure.