Classical Composer Reacts to In Held 'Twas In I (Procol Harum) | The Daily Doug (Episode 573)
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 เม.ย. 2023
- #procolharum #InHeldTwasInI
In this edition of #thedailydoug, I'm listening to In Held 'Twas In I by Procol Harum. This song is a long time coming for me, as folks have been requesting it for a long time. I found the song to be a really interesting exploration of the psychology of life and its meaning. I heard many different musical influences, including the hymn-like passage toward the end. And, the closing guitar solo was quite awesome. I hope you enjoy!
Reference Video: • Procol Harum - In Held...
Daily Doug Merch: www.bonfire.com/store/the-dai...
Catch up on my full album reactions at my Patreon!
JOIN THE NEW EXCLUSIVE DAILY DOUG COMMUNITY!
Patreon: / doughelvering
Instagram: / doug.helvering
Facebook: / helvering
Twitter: / helvering
Vimeo: vimeo.com/user146736659
The Daily Doug Directory: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/... - เพลง
![[LIVE] : ONE ลุมพินี 66 วันนี้!! คู่เอก "ก้องชัย vs อัคราม"](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/j4uI5Uy8mWQ/mqdefault.jpg)
The entire album, Shine On Brightly, and their follow-up album, A Salty Dog, are masterpieces.
Gary Brooker, the co-composer and vocalist with Fisher, passed away just last year. Keith Reid, the lyricist passed away last month. RIP both. What a tremendous musical legacy from this team.
I wonder if Mike Oldfield ever heard this?
I'd no idea Keith had died. That's a tragic loss. He was the child of holocaust refugees who settled in Welwyn Garden City so kind of a local lad to me. And a totally unique talent.
@@hughwalker5628So many talents from the 70's that one by one are taken away from us, tragic as they will be replaced by AI crap, autotuning idiots that have no clue of what live music really is.... etc etc, I can go on and on.... so sad.
I did not either know that Keith Reid is no longer with us, I miss him...
RIP and thank you for the music ❤
There are many Procol Harum fans, 65 years old & beyond, that really appreciate this one, and I would count myself among them.
I'm only almost 63, but love this piece anyway ever since I heard it the first time in the beginning of the 80s.
I originally discovered PH in the middlle of the 70s when Pandora's Box was played on the Radio Luxenburg and it drove me nuts for a long time as I for the life of me never could remember both the name of the band and the title of the song at the same time (but sometimes I forgot both). Wonderful group.
Count me in among the senior citizen fans! I was 14 when this came out, and Trower’s solo on the finale taught me the meaning of passion(!), as expressed through electric guitar. I’ve been chasing that ever since ❤
I'm only 62, and I resemble that remark. :-)
I'm proud to be one of the fans. Procol Harum has been the number one band for me for over 50 years. I was privileged to see them live a couple of times in the 70's and they are still among the best concerts I've ever seen.
The "Grand Finale" section was written by organist Matthew Fisher, and borrows slightly (primarily from the first four bars) from the Minuet in J.A. Haydn's Piano Sonata No 26 in A major (1773).
This has always been one of the most breathtakingly beautiful pieces of music I've ever heard in my life. The band has performed it live many many times over the years and given this piece a legacy of amazing beauty and creativity that is unparalleled. It has always been one of the most meaningful pieces of music to me in my life and I never grow weary of hearing it. Very nice job on your reaction.
A top 10 album of all time.
Brilliant.
A most underrated band
The most underrated band,for me the best ever.
This is amazing, I have to thank every single person that requested this for introducing me to it.
I can honestly say if you don't know Procol Harums music,and you like this there's so much more out there,check them out.The first four.albums are the best place to start.Good luck if you do you won't regret it.
+1
I forgot to mention that the live version with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra packs a bigger punch with the orch. & choir. Because they only had one run through before the performance, the band and orchestra don't end exactly at the same time. There live version of A Salty Dog is also worthy of your attention. Either with Edmonton or years later with the Danish Orchestra from 2006. Following the Edmonton recording, they used an orchestra again for the Grand Hotel album. Using an orchestra lost them some fans but made me love them even more. Both Grand Hotel and Fires (Which Burnt Brightly) are worth listening to as well.
As mentioned in at least one other thread, the song "Fires (Which Burnt Brightly)" from Procol Harum's album Grand Hotel is fantastic and gets better and better with multiple listening's as does the whole album (the title track and For Licorice John are the other stand out tracks IMHO). Fires features guest vocalist Christiane Legrand of The Swingle Singers fame and Keith Reid's lyrics are exceptionally poetic and poignant and sadly seem to reflect the way to world and humanity seems to be headed these days:
Fires (Which Burnt Brightly) - Procol Harum
"This war we are waging is already lost
The cause for the fighting has long been a ghost
Malice and habit have now won the day
The honours we fought for are lost in the fray
Standards and bugles are trod in the dust
Wounds have burst open, and corridors rust
Once proud and truthful, now humbled and bent
Fires which burnt brightly, now energies spent
Let down the curtain, and exit the play
The crowds have gone home and the cast sailed away
Our flowers and feathers as scarring as weapons
Our poems and letters have turned to deceptions"
The live version with Edmonton symphony orchestra is also pretty epic, I actually prefer it to the original
Agreed . That orchestra and choir and the acoustics of the recording were superb.
Agree! The scale serves the piece really well, and the drums and guitar are masterful and overwhelming in the big hall, tapping energy from the choir and orchestra to soar above them. An epic, breathtaking performance if played back on a system capable of delivering its power.
This is for me as well.
Add me to the list ☺️ I think if Doug's looking for the soaring ending, he won't be disappointed.
I totally agree with you.
Epic Robin Trower solo indeed. Look up "Whaling Stories" from the "Home" album for a possibly more achieved one, with more urgency too...
I listened to this over and over again - convinced it contained the wisdom I needed to navigate my teen years. I finally realized that yes, life WAS like a beanstalk.
This was groundbreaking when it came out in 68. Even the Beatles had not constructed such a long and serious masterwork. There had been long jams, sure, but nothing like this. OK, so the sections do not flow together very well, but those sudden jolts are fun too. Great review!
When I think of Procol Harum it’s always Whiter Shade of Pale. This amazing piece is driving me to dig deeper into their repertoire! Thanks so much to everyone that requested this and to Dr. Doug for this review. I really enjoyed this one! Someone mentioned their concert with the Danish Orchestra 2006 on here. That’s a great concert I’ve seen on TH-cam worth checking out.
I became aware of Procol Harum when I was 14. Still love them and miss them.
I often start the day with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra recording of this song. It makes a very good start to the day. I hear so much Bach-influenced themes in this piece (also in A Whiter Shade of Pale).
Possibly the first prog epic - and still one of the best.
The piano section is one of the most beautiful sections ever
I never listened to this piece all the way through. Absolutely brilliant. And Doug's exposition about the closing "hymn" - spot on and very enlightening.
The recitation on the first part of Glimpses of Nirvana is by Gary Brooker, the second part ("Held close by that which some dispies...") is recited by Keith Reid. The cembalo on Look to Your Soul is probably played by Matthew Fisher, since there is no organ. I think the piano quotes the Moonlight Sonanta by Beethoven between Gary's and Keith's recitations on Glimpses of Nirvana. At the start of Grand Finale it sounds as if both Gary and Matthew plays pianos, there is one in each channel.
Always said UP to 1969 there were two sides of Procol ,the well known with Gary ' s pianos parts and voice,the other one as rich was Matt ' s organ ,voice ,others too much underrated !! My fave Procol ( i came from classical piano).Scott- Irvin in his book shown many faces of this great band .4 virtuosos ,David doing a pretty good job.Matt Fisher too much underrated ,he did wrote much of it as uncredited Robin, here and there 2 pianos ( finale ) a grand and an upright ( Frankie ,Gary s wife ordered it ) Matt hasn' t heavy ego ,so he waited the 2000 years to ask for his royalties for organ part in "wsop" .he did played a B3 in that LP ,giving a near cinema theater sound to the Hammond .MHO.
GET THE EDMONTON LIVE VERSION!! Doug, you will be enthralled by the integration of the orchestra and choir! Robin Trower had left the band, but the guitarist that replaced him is amazing. One of the best live pieces ever recorded, and Grand Finale will reduce you to tears… 😢
Gary Brooker did all the orchestral arrangements himself throughout his career. A hugely talented man!
The guitarist who replaced Robin Trower in Procol Harum was Dave Ball. He passed away, in the last decade.
So true. Great music.
Little. Suppers ready. Spots. Love this 😀 ❤️ thanks Doug.
The live version with the Edmonton Orchestra has un much long and beautiful end !
Damn, goosebumps at the beginning, tears at the end.
I've only ever heard Transatlantic's cover of this piece.
The grand finale hymn melody is reminiscent of the British national anthem
amazing pre-Genesis stuff...
Yea! Suppers Ready comes to mind!😄
Thanks for bringing this lost classic back to life. "Acrostic" - haven't heard that word in a long time.
Not sure if someone posted yet or not, but:
(From Wikipedia):
The title of the nearly side-long suite "In Held 'Twas in I" is an acrostic. It is formed by taking the first word of the lyrics in each of the first four movements as well as the first word of the sixth verse in the first movement:
"In the darkness of the night..." From movement 1, "Glimpses of Nirvana"
"Held close by that which some despise..." From the sixth verse of movement 1
"′Twas tea-time at the circus..." From movement 2, "′Twas Teatime at the Circus"
"In the autumn of my madness..." From movement 3, "In the Autumn of My Madness"
"I know if I'd been wiser..." From movement 4, "Look to Your Soul"
If you miss the question, you miss the point of the story. "Life is like a beanstalk. Isn't it?"
First time hearing the original. Edmonton Symphony Orchestra version, hands down.
So the song title was the first example of a mashup in contemporary music 😎
Finally Doug!!!, thanks to you and we wait for the live version in Edmonton. It will be epic.
If you want to know what Procol Harum were really capable of, then listen to the album Grand Hotel, and in particular the track, Fires (which burnt brightly) that has a gorgeous female chorus and a (La-La) solo by French soprano Christiane Legrand, who was the lead singer with the Swingle Singers.
Yes!
Grand Hotel is quite possibly my favourite Harum album. 👍🏻
@@LyonThroy-RSA I go back and forth between That and “Exotic Birds and Fruit”
@@2LegsAPaulMcCartneyPodcast yes, also an excellent option
Absolutely! The whole album is fantastic and my three favorite tracks are Grand Hotel, For Liquorice John, and Fires (Which Burn Brightly)! All amazing but the lyrics in Fires are the most deep, poignant, and exceptional IMHO! 🥰
Excellent! It's been a few years since I listened to this album, or to their other one, A Salty Dog. And I have to admit, listening to it in the context of your reaction allowed me to hear aspects of this song I hadn't noticed before, even though I've heard it so many times. Great stuff!
Bravo Doug!! An epic track. Welcome to the Procol Harum rabbit hole! Keep diving in you won’t be disappointed!
Best band ever.
Thank you for reviewing this masterpiece. I was 16 years old when my father gave me the Shine on Brightly album and it changed my life (I’m 49 now) “In Held ‘Twas in I” has influenced every song I’ve ever written to this day. This was an excellent review of the song I really enjoyed your analysis and will definitely tune in for more.
Thanks, Doug! I've loved Procol Harum for a long, long time, and it was good to see you dig into this one. The live version with the Edmonton Symphony is a gorgeous recording, and maybe a bit more coherent than the studio version, though both have many wonderful moments. The live version came after Robin Trower had left the band, but the guitar work is still quite good. One of the beautiful things about Procol Harum was that Keith Reid was considered a full member of the band, though his contribution was as lyricist instead of as a musician (much like Peter Sinfield in the original King Crimson). This was one of the qualities that set this band apart, along with that unique pianist/organist combo that was a signature of the band.
Best version is live with Edmonton Symphony Orchestra.
RIP Gary...
This song (I see the title in Judeo-Christian theological referencing as "In Hell It Was In I") has been rooted in me since the 1960's. I have long wanted to witness a sympathetic composer's reaction to it. Doug, you are that man, with your emotional and music theory exclamations. I'm sure the originating Procul Harum are saying, "Bingo! Thank you, Doug."
Watching your reaction was a great thrill for me. Thank you.
I haven't heard this in ages but as we rolled into it I remembered hearing it on the radio. Well done!
Hi Doug, really enjoying your reactions and break downs of the stuff your putting out.
Have you listened to any of The Sensational Alex Harvey bands stuff? Faith Healer, Next, are a couple of tracks you might be interested in.
I always interpreted the Dalai Llama's message as saying there isnt really a meaning to life, you simply grow like a beanstalk. Furthermore a beanstalk does not ponder such things but simply grows without concern. Once you start concerning yourself with such things you are no longer in the present
I am a little ashamed that I had never given the album version a listen. This is spectacular! I feel it is at least equal to the Live version in Edmonton!
The version with Edmonton Symphony 'Live' 1972 is the best version. I've listened to this over and over since that time. Love it.
Doug, be sure to check out Everything Matthew Fisher did after he left the band including Journeys End. That’s his voice on In the Autumn of my Madness. And on Salty Dog he’s singing on Boredom and Wreck of the Hesperus. 18:39
...........and, more importantly, on Pilgrims Progress. Where his gentle, contemplative voice almost becomes one with his beautiful organ lines (as well as with the lyrics).
That's a really Cool piece. I'll Listen to it again sometime on a Sunday morning I know Salty Dog, Conquistador and Whiter Shade of Pale by Procal Harum. Always loved their sound, the mix of guitar, organ and Gary Brookers vocals Amazing Stuff..Plus I'm a huge fan of Robin Trowers solo output
"Homburg" was the second single, and it was hard to follow up Whiter Shade without comparisons being made (it only reached No. 6 in the UK charts). Critics said it was too much like Whiter Shade, but for me it was a great record that stood on its own, and has its own baroque vibe with surreal Reidian lyrics.
When I first heard this in 1969, I was a freshman in college and was experiencing what later was diagnosed as “major depression” and this song seemed to encapsulate my feelings at that time.
Procol Harum the first concert I went to in 1973. Have loved them ever since.
I saw them play this at the Hollywood Bowl with the LA Philharmonic along with choir and lyricist Keith Reid read the opening poem segments…
Excellent! I have not heard this before either.
Please please play the live version with the Edmonton Symphony orchestra and choir from 1972. You will not be disappointed
Quite agree. The live version was superior in all respects because It was live and played as a one off with a full orchestra and choir. It is a masterpiece with a strong sense of presence
Yes Dave Ball's guitar work was a lot better than Robin Trower's.
I've been waiting for this one. It's perfect for you. Very arguably the first "prog epic", released way back in 1968. The only other contender for that distinction is "The Fool" by Quicksilver Messenger Service, also released in 1968. Both are still on my playlist, and in my vinyl record collection, over half a centurty later. "The lesson lies in learning, and by teaching I'll be taught...." Keep teaching us about the finer points of music, and keep learner for yourself.
Please try the live version. It flows together much better than the studio version, in my opinion.
Agreed
You REALLY need to check the British band UFO formed in 1968. Start with their song "Rock Bottom" which was released in '74 after the brought in 17 y.o. German guitarist, Michael Schenker, the younger brother of Scorpians guitarist, Rudolf Schenker. With the addition of Michael the dynamics changed drastically & their popularity skyrocketed. It's from this point where they've influenced such groups & musicians like Slash, Iron Maiden & Metallica. There are a couple live performances available. Live or studio doesn't matter. The song will blow you away. Other great songs to follow up with are "Doctor, Doctor", "Too Hot to Handle", "Lights Out", "You Can Rock Me", "Love to Love", & "Too Much of Nothing" just to name a few
Yes!!! Gonna love hearing the reaction on this one. Procols big masterpiece!
The working title for this suite, while it was still developing, was actually Magnum Harum. Pity they changed it before recording!
Thanks for introducing me to this song! The only Procol Harum song I'd known before today was Whiter Shade of Pale. I learnt it when I used to take Piano lessons, although it would have sounded better on Hammond Organ.
The "circus" part of IHTII reminds me of the Beatles (E.g. For the Benefit of Mr Kite) but also the band Madness. I'm sure Procol Harum and the Beatles influenced them. I haven't found an in-depth analysis of "House of Fun." maybe Doug can do a reaction?
SKY OVERTURE by Uli Jon Roth!!!!!🎸
55 years ago ! Monsters
Please check Saecula Saeculorum performing live version of the song of the band name with the fabulous violinist Marcus Viana.
If you are hungry for some more Procal Harum, Check out another of their shorter epics. Whaling Stories with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra.
Whaling Stories in Denmark 2006 is also great. Great use of hammer and anvil.
Whaling Stories seconded!!
I was interested which version would you select. Studio one is tight and solid. Live with Edmonton Orchestra is fuller. Both are fantastic pieces of music. Thanks.
Procol have some really beautiful pieces and lots of interesting key change sort of stuff. This almost reminds me of "what is is what" by Morgan.
Dear Doug. May i challenge you with a quite strange music suggestion? The piece i was thinking about is :Zoviet*France: Something Spooked The Horses (from the album The Decriminalisation Of Country Music)
Hi Doug, excellent video as always, I just wanted to recommend you a song for your next video that seems ti me you haven't heard yet. It's April by deep purple and it's an under-appreciated piece but magnificent in every possible way.
Opened the door for Genesis.
A friend of mine whose sister was a Nun said the grand finale sounded like they were marching up to heaven.
I still get chills
My first exposure to this epic was from Transatlantic, which does pay great homage. I knew they were covering PH, but I had never heard this original version until today. Such good stuff! To me, that final “hymn” as you call it, Doug, reminds me of “God Save the Queen/King, My Country ‘Tis of Thee”. Thanks for sharing Doug!
And don’t overlook Matthew’s masterpiece “Repent Walpurgis” from their first album.
i would say the Edmonton live version is considered the definitive one to listen to.... but the studio version is a very close 2nd. It is so uplifting...Has had a dramatic effect on my life. I really feel you understood and got the whole point and meaning of this beautiful piece of music. Really well done analysis. You'll love the live version as well.
All these years I've enjoyed the live take from Edmonton and never took the trouble to listen to the studio version. It's good to hear it along with Doug. :-)
I was around for this but this is another band that I never did a deep dive into so haven't heard this one before. I, too, was struck by the spoken word parts being much like some Moody Blues. The vocals in another part reminded me of the Strawbs--and others of Van der Graaf Generator and some groups/styles I can't quite put my finger on to name. Anyway, I'm sure all these bands listened to each other.
Amazing!! Like the old Genesis!
Finally! :)
:: Edit: And just imagine I caught this less than 2 hours after it was posted. :)
Procol Harum and Sam Clayton Band sorta made me realize at a relatively early age that I liked music, not songs. The earliest "awakening memory" I have is the sound of the Hammond organ which made its presence known here as well.
You cannot analyze genius, you only diminish yourself! This is epic and is celestial!
I can really recommend the song "No Borders" by "Ruskaja". Its very good music with a good message. Its rather unpopular european ( i think austrian) group, bit very cool. Got elements of Rock, Metal ans Ska. Very interesting, Special and cool.
A Salty Dog would be a beautiful full album to cover.....many great and lyrically deep tunes.....
What an exciting piece of music after all these years....
Long time since I've heard this, Thanks. Beautiful,
Procol Harum is in the top 5 favorite bands of mine. Still get goosebumps. Thanks' Dave.
How about top one?! Wayyy beyond the Beatles.
Also some Pink Floyd atmosphere !.....and King Crimson !
Had only heard Transatlantic's version up until now.
Early Epic! I think VDGG listened for Lighthouse Keepers and KC for GP! Love it!
I was interested in hearing the studio version of this, as well as a composer's reaction, since I had only heard the live version with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, which I LOVE. But since I had heard that live version so much, I was prepared to be disappointed and I was. The version with the Edmonton Symphony is much fuller and much more powerful. If you haven't already, you should listen to it. I think you'll be impressed. In my opinion, the studio version pales in comparison.
I read on another comment that Gary Brooker, Keith Reid, and Matthew Fisher have all died recently. That is a terrible shame. Brooker's vocals and piano and Fisher's organ are wonderful and Reid's lyrics are some of the most vibrant and interesting in all of rock music. As often happens, these guys, and Procol Harum as a whole, as successful as they were, were really under appreciated. They were an amazing band that brought some truly unique slant on rock music.
I don't know how I never heard this. That being said, I sure did enjoy it.
We think you will surely enjoy the live version of Procol Harum with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and Choir
Sonically the the Edmonton version is much better with the orchestrations and choirs!
Glad to see someone React to this at last so well done for that.I think you talked a bit too much over the song but i guess it is a reaction vidio after all.Procol Harum are to me the best band ever and they have many more amazing songs believe me..
Procol Harum are amazing, I love it 👍
I just saw your review of this. I spent months listening to just this song in high school. I pity young people who do not have music like this to listen to as they grow. Unfortunately, they had to finish it as it had to fit on the record.
Hello
In those days I havent so much record so I must have heard this record 30 times, masterpiece....
Great analysis!
This often unpredictable shift to different, non obvious, keys, major and minor, is really typical of Procol music.
Something that might shed some light on how this masterpiece was composed is the notion that most of the music was composed by Gary Brooker and Matthew Fisher as SEPARATE pieces, the idea of sticking them together, also adding connecting and returning bits, came after a while.
Also, it’s interesting to note that there are in fact three vocalists on the studio version: the usual Gary Brooker, organist Matthew Fisher for Autumn of my Madness (who also played piano and rhythm guitar on that section) and lyricist Keith Reid himself, who speaks the words for the “held close” section.
The Edmonton version is pretty good and not too different, they had to arrange a few things differently of course, both to use more the orchestra and to allow for the transition, also Brooker does all the singing, since Fisher was no longer in the band. Guitarist Dave Ball is no Robin Trower but managed.
I also recommend the 1997 redhill reunion version, the only good recording with Mick Grabham on guitar and especially magic when Matthew Fisher takes on the rhythm guitar and sings Autumn of my Madness for the first time in almost 20 years. Also Douglas Adams (!!!) does the Keith Reid spoken part.
They began to do it again while touring in the 2010s, in fact I’ve heart it live three times in 2013 with orchestra
The coda struck me as a great wedding march with a little psychedelia tossed in for good luck. And is it just me, or does Brooker remind you of David Bowie singing in his higher registers?
Oh you have to hear the Transatlantic cover of this. Neal and Mike killll!!
Procol Harum is supposed to mean BEYOND THESE THINGS in Latin, but that would be Prucul Harem... close enough. Check out the various FAN MADE videos that accompany images to the entire epic. There used to be 4 of them, all very good
So glad you finally got to this early prog suite masterpiece: others from '68 would include 'Ars Longa Vita Brevis' (The Nice), A Saucerful Of Secrets' Pink Floyd (similar choral resolution t this one), and Side 3 of of Electric Ladyland- the 'Rainy Day/Mermaid' suite one might call it...? Then there's the whole of 'SF Sorrow' by The Pretty Things, truly the first concept album..? Townshend thought so and it inspired him to write 'Tommy', which might not unjustly be up for consideration.
These videos are like the music course I was hoping to get when I was a young hopeful, sadly English academia just wasn't up it, then or probably even now...
Hey Doug how about doing ELP Pictures at an Exposition?
The chord progressions on these songs are a bit different than the Moody Blues songs on 'Days of Future Pass' to my ears. More common practice diatonic progressions, exploring parallel minor/major, sequence, and secondary dominant/diminished chords. I really like the way they take melodic motives and adapt them to different progressions. They get lots of musical mileage out of 1-2 melodic ideas. This a very impressive effort.
This piece really comes to life in the ‘Edmonton’ live version, I think. The studio version sounds a bit…. timid?
I still wish you make a Reaction to the Full Album "Grand Hotel" by Procol Harum! Especially of the Title Song and "T.V. Caesar" + "A Souvenir of London"
from that mind blowing Album, whein i as 8. Now I'm 53
The live orchestral version is very nice, but the guitarist on that occasion is NOT Robin Trower, and that makes a difference. I believe the replacement guitarist is David Ball(?) A fine player, but NOT Trower.
As to the relative shortness of the grand finale, it may have had more to do with the limitations of the LP media. Eighteen minutes is a long one, and I believe there was another shorter song that opened side 2 of that album…🤔
Brooker said that he was always terrified that when he sang "and though the crowd clapped furiously..." he would switch the 'r' and 'l'.
Thank you for that.