Neoclassical Dark Wave

Neoclassical Dark Wave
Stylistic origins	Post-punk Ethereal Wave Neoclassicism
Cultural origins	Late 20th century, Europe
Typical instruments	Synthesizers Brass instruments Pipe organs
Mainstream popularity	Very Low. Most famous in central Europe.
Other topics
Dark Wave Neoclassical

Neoclassical Dark Wave refers to a music genre within the Dark Wave movement. It is characterized by the use of ethereal atmosphere and angelic female voices but also adds strong influences from classical music. Neoclassical Dark Wave is distinct from the academic art music form known as neoclassical music, a style of classical music dating from the early twentieth century. In the context of popular music the term 'neoclassical' is frequently used to refer to music influenced by classical (including elements from the baroque, classical, romantic, impressionistic music), including styles like Neoclassical Dark Wave as well as Neoclassical metal and Neoclassical new age.

Historical Context

References to classical music by popular music as a major influence had been first used by music artists dating from the mid-1970s at the beginnings of the new age music movement.^[1]

In the middle of the 1980s, the bands Dead Can Dance and In the Nursery released influential albums which essentially laid the foundations of the Neoclassical Dark Wave genre. In 1985 Dead Can Dance released Spleen and Ideal, which initiated the band's 'medieval European sound.'^[2] In 1987 In the Nursery released Stormhorse, which exhibited a bold, cinematic style and a symphonic/post-industrial sound lending itself to 'being envisioned as backing music for a dramatic epic.'^[3] This music, 'clearly more inspired by the classical than the rock tradition, had a melancholy, visionary and sometimes nostalgic quality'. ^[4]

Neoclassical Dark Wave makes frequent use of formal styles associated with orchestral music as well as chamber music. Many bands utilize orchestra-derived synthesizer samples, while some better-known groups such as Elend make use of chamber orchestras and other acoustic instruments. Vocals in the genre can also vary. Some bands such as Les Secrets de Morphée make use of opera-like vocals, or in the case of Camerata Mediolanense, madrigal-like vocals. Others such as Autunna et sa Rose utilize contemporary classical chamber music vocalise together with spoken dramatic monologue. Several other bands in the genre such as H.E.R.R. are notable for using a martial approach, including the heavy use of snare drum and militaristic themes. Finally, there are in the genre a small number of purely instrumental groups.

Notable Artists

Amber Asylum[5] Arcana[6] Ashram[7] Ataraxia Autumn Tears Bacio di Tosca Black Tape for a Blue Girl Camerata Mediolanense[8] The Changelings[9]

Chaostar Corde Oblique Collection d'Arnell Andréa[10] Dargaard Dark Sanctuary[11] Dead Can Dance Deleyaman Der Blaue Reiter Devil Doll

Die Verbannten Kinder Evas Elend (band) H.E.R.R. Hexperos In The Nursery Kanon Wakeshima Life's Decay Life Toward Twilight Lisa Gerrard Love Is Colder Than Death[12] Malice Mizer Mirabilis[13]

Narsilion Ophelia's Dream Ordo equitum solis Persephone Rising Shadows Schattenkinder Seventh Harmonic Sopor Aeternus & the Ensemble of Shadows Vernian Process Weltenbrand[14]

References

1. ^ Connolly, Dave. "Review of Fresh Aire (1975) by Mannheim Steamroller". www.allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r83345. Retrieved September 25, 2008. "a unique mix of light classical piano music, progressive rock, and medieval songs." 
2. ^ Raggett, Ned. "Review of Spleen and Ideal". allMusic Guide. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r5241. Retrieved June 26, 2008. 
3. ^ Raggett, Ned. "Review of Stormhorse". allMusic Guide. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r203540. Retrieved June 26, 2008. 
4. ^ Scaruffi, Piero. "Gothic Rock". History of Rock. http://www.scaruffi.com/history/cpt47.html. Retrieved June 26, 2008. 
5. ^ "Amber Asylum". Profound Lore Records. http://www.profoundlorerecords.com//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=77&Itemid=28. Retrieved June 16, 2008. "One of the most respected and influential acts that have emerged from the neo-classical/gothic/ambient/and post-rock alternative scene..." 
6. ^ www.kogaionon.com. "Projekt Artist: Arcana". Projekt darkwave shop. http://www.projekt.com/projekt/artist.asp?id=1047. Retrieved June 16, 2008. "...one of the leading bands in the neoclassical genre." 
7. ^ Equilibrium Music. "Ashram's Official Website". Shining Silver Skies. http://www.ashramusic.com/index.php3. Retrieved May 12, 2010. 
8. ^ "Camerata Mediolanense Artist Page". Dark Transmission record label website. http://www.dark-transmission.de/html/camerata_mediolanese.html. Retrieved September 26, 2008. "Its music can be classified as darkwave/neoclassical, with folk elements." ^{[dead link]}
9. ^ Rik. "Review of Astronomica". www.fluxeuropa.com. http://www.fluxeuropa.com/changelings-astronomica.htm. Retrieved September 10, 2008. "Gothic, neofolk, neoclassical, and cinematic ..." 
10. ^ Rik. "Review of Villers-aux-Vents". www.fluxeuropa.com. http://www.fluxeuropa.com/review.htm?item=41. Retrieved June 16, 2008. "...the fifth neo-classical rock album from CdAA..." 
11. ^ "Thoughts: 9 years in the sanctuary album description". Projekt darkwave shop. http://www.projekt.com/projekt/product.asp?dept_id=10&sku=PRO00168. Retrieved June 16, 2008. "They create a lovely, lush, somber neo-classical sound ..." 
12. ^ Marks, Peter. "Review of Time". Release Music Magazine. http://www.releasemagazine.net/Onrecord/orloveiscolderthandeatht.htm. Retrieved June 16, 2008. "For the first half of the 1990s, this band were in the vanguard of the neo-classical movement..." 
13. ^ "Projekt Artist: Mirabilis". Projekt darkwave shop. http://www.projekt.com/projekt/artist.asp?id=1054. Retrieved June 16, 2008. "Mirabilis is the neo-classical/ethereal musical project started by Dru Allen of This Ascension and Summer Bowman of the Machine in the Garden." 
14. ^ van der Haar, Thijs. "Review of The End of the Wizard". Vampire Magazine.com. http://www.vampire-magazine.com/article.php?aid=42211. Retrieved June 17, 2008. "...magnificent, neoclassical compositions..." 

See also

• Dark ambient
• Martial industrial (martial music)
• Neofolk

Notable labels

• Equilibrium Music
• Prikosnovénie