Gryphon were a British progressive rock band of the 1970s, notable for their unusual sound and instrumentation. Multi-instrumentalist Richard Harvey and his fellow Royal Academy of Music graduate Brian Gulland, a woodwind player, began the group as an all-acoustic ensemble that mixed traditional English folk music with medieval and Renaissance influences. Shortly after this, the duo was joined by guitarist Graeme Taylor and Drummer/percussionist Dave Oberle. After their self-titled debut, they expanded their sound to include electric guitars and keyboards as well as wind instruments, such as bassoons and crumhorns, not often found in rock music. Gryphon's music often sounded as much like rural English folk or renaissance chansons as it did rock, at least on their early recordings. After their third album (Red Queen to Gryphon Three) and the subsequent tour as a supporting act for Yes, their instrumentation became more conventional and the use of non-standard instruments was reduced. Fans and critics generally regard Midnight Mushrumps and the all-instrumental Red Queen to Gryphon Three as their finest albums. Progressive rock (shortened to prog, or prog rock when differentiating from other progressive genres) is an ambitious, eclectic, and often grandiose style of rock music which arose in the late 1960s, reached the peak of its popularity in the early 1970s, and continues as a musical form to this day. ... A Fox Instruments bassoon. ... various Crumhorns The crumhorn is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. ... Yes is a progressive rock band that formed in London in 1968. ...

In 1974, the group's publicist Martin Lewis arranged for the band to be commissioned to write and record the music for a major stage production of Shakespeare's "The Tempest at Britain's National Theatre directed by Sir Peter Hall. It opened at the historic Old Vic theatre in April 1974. The music the band wrote and recorded for the stage production inspired the 21-minute fantasia "Midnight Mushrumps" (a phrase heard in "The Tempest") which became the title track of their second album. Following the successful premiere of the play and acclaim for its music, Lewis arranged for Gryphon to give a Sunday evening concert at the Old Vic in July 1974 - the first-ever rock concert held at Britain's National Theatre. At the concert the band performed "Midnight Mushrumps". The concert was considered a major breakthrough for progressive music. Rumours have abounded that there are audio tapes of the fabled concert but none have yet surfaced. William Shakespeare—born April 1564; baptised April 26, 1564; died April 23, 1616 (O.S.), May 3, 1616 (N.S.)—has a reputation as the greatest of all writers in English. ... The Tempest is the title of: A play by William Shakespeare A painting by Giorgione A Star Trek: Deep Space Nine novel It is also the nickname often attached to the Sonata No. ... Several countries have a National Theatre. ... Sir Peter Reginald Frederick Hall (born 22 November 1930) is a British theatre and film director. ... The Old Vic is a theatre in the Waterloo area of London. ... The Old Vic is a theatre in the Waterloo area of London. ...

Members

• Brian Gulland — Bassoon, Crumhorn, Recorder, Keyboards, Vocals
• Richard Harvey — Recorder, Crumhorn, Mandolin, Keyboards, Vocals
• David Oberlé — Drums, Percussion, Lead Vocals
• Graeme Taylor — Guitars, Vocals (through Raindance)
• Philip Nestor — Bass guitar, Vocals (Midnight Mushrumps and Red Queen to Gryphon Three)
• Malcolm Bennett — Bass guitar, Flute (Raindance)
• Jonathan Davie — Bass guitar (Treason)
• Bob Foster — Guitar (Treason)

A Fox Instruments bassoon. ... various Crumhorns The crumhorn is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. ... Various recorders The recorder is a woodwind musical instrument of the family known as fipple flutes—whistle-like instruments which include the tin whistle and ocarina. ... Piano, a well-known instance of keyboard instruments A keyboard instrument is any musical instrument played using a musical keyboard. ... In music a singer or vocalist is a type of musician who sings, i. ... Various recorders The recorder is a woodwind musical instrument of the family known as fipple flutes—whistle-like instruments which include the tin whistle and ocarina. ... various Crumhorns The crumhorn is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. ... Carved and round backed mandolins (front) A mandolin is a small, plucked, stringed musical instrument, descended from the mandora. ... Piano, a well-known instance of keyboard instruments A keyboard instrument is any musical instrument played using a musical keyboard. ... In music a singer or vocalist is a type of musician who sings, i. ... A drum is a musical instrument in the percussion family , technically classified as a membranophone. ... Percussion instruments are music instruments played by being struck, shaken, rubbed or scraped, hence the percussive name. ... In music a singer or vocalist is a type of musician who sings, i. ... A guitar is a musical instrument characterized by its visually dominant body and neck. ... In music a singer or vocalist is a type of musician who sings, i. ... Martin EB18 Bass Guitar in flight case The electric bass guitar (also called an electric bass, or simply a bass) is an electric string instrument similar in appearance to an electric guitar, but with a larger body, commonly four strings, a longer scale neck and tuned an octave lower in... In music a singer or vocalist is a type of musician who sings, i. ... Martin EB18 Bass Guitar in flight case The electric bass guitar (also called an electric bass, or simply a bass) is an electric string instrument similar in appearance to an electric guitar, but with a larger body, commonly four strings, a longer scale neck and tuned an octave lower in... The Flute (Ger. ... Martin EB18 Bass Guitar in flight case The electric bass guitar (also called an electric bass, or simply a bass) is an electric string instrument similar in appearance to an electric guitar, but with a larger body, commonly four strings, a longer scale neck and tuned an octave lower in... A guitar is a musical instrument characterized by its visually dominant body and neck. ...

Auxiliary Musicians

the following musicians contributed to Gryphon albums - though they were not band members

• Ernest Hart - Organ (Midnight Mushrumps and Red Queen to Gryphon Three)
• Peter Redding - Acoustic bass (Red Queen to Gryphon Three)

The Casavant pipe organ at Notre-Dame de Montréal Basilica, Montreal The organ is a keyboard instrument with one or more manuals, and usually a pedalboard. ... Side and front views of a modern double bass with a French bow. ...

Main Discography

• Gryphon (1973)
• Midnight Mushrumps (1974)
• Red Queen to Gryphon Three (1974)
• Raindance (1975)
• Treason (1977)

1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday. ... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1974 calendar). ... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1974 calendar). ... 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1975 calendar). ... For the album by Ash, see 1977 (album). ...

Compilations and Other Releases

• The Collection (1991)
• The Collection II (1995)
• About as Curious as It Can Be (2002) - 1974 & 1975 BBC session performances
• Glastonbury Carol (2003) - 1972 & 1974 BBC session performances
• Crossing the Styles: The Transatlantic Anthology (2004)

1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Cusco album, see 2002 (album). ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Gryphon Website