The Italian progressive rock was born around the early 70s, mostly inspired by the progressive movement in Britain, but with certain features of its own that makes some sources mention it as a separate musical genre. 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1970 calendar). ... For the Swedish political music movement, see progg. ...

In the early-to-mid-70s, Italy was one the European countries most interested in this genre; many English bands such as Genesis, Van der Graaf Generator and Gentle Giant were discovered by the Italian public before they were consolidated in their home country. Consequently, progressive Italian groups were prolific. Some received worldwide attention, such as Premiata Forneria Marconi and Banco del Mutuo Soccorso. Most of the bands, however, were mainly known inside Italy. World map showing the location of Europe. ... Genesis is a Grammy Award-winning English progressive rock band who formed in 1967. ... This article is about the band. ... Gentle Giant was a British band considered to be one of the most original progressive rock bands of the 1970s. ... Premiata Forneria Marconi (PFM) is an Italian progressive rock band that achieved a high level of popularity in the 1970s, with success in both the British and American charts. ... Banco del Mutuo Soccorso - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ...

As CD reissues started appearing and the Internet made information flow easier during the 1990s, the Italian bands were discovered and rediscovered by a number of progressive rock fans internationally.

Hallmarks

Italian progressive rock encompassed a number of different styles. The Italian progressive scene produced a large number of bands releasing one record before disappearing into obscurity. This was the case with highly-regarded bands such as Cervello, Raccomandata Ricevuta Ritorno and Semiramis. Cervello (Brain) is the name of an Italian rock band of the early 1970s. ... Raccomandata Ricevuta Ritorno were an Italian symphonic rock band. ... Semiramis is an Italian teen-ager Rock progressive band who produced one LP in 1972, Dedicato a Frazz, which is considered one of the best result of the genre. ...

Symphonic rock bands

Italy's symphonic rock boomed in 1972, after the successes of Van der Graaf Generator's Pawn Hearts, which was number one in Italy's charts for 12 weeks early that year. The scene more or less ran dry by the end of 1975. [1] This article is about the band. ... Pawn Hearts is an album by Van der Graaf Generator. ...

The most popular bands, such as Banco del Mutuo Soccorso, Premiata Forneria Marconi and Le Orme, played symphonic rock heavily influenced by classical music, against the backdrop of the Italian canzone tradition. Banco del Mutuo Soccorso - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Premiata Forneria Marconi (PFM) is an Italian progressive rock band that achieved a high level of popularity in the 1970s, with success in both the British and American charts. ... Le Orme Italian Rock band. ... Symphonic rock is a subgenre of rock music. ... Literally song in Italian, a canzone (plural: canzoni) (cognate with English to chant) is an Italian or Provençal song or ballad. ...

Bands like New Trolls, Alphataurus and Biglietto per l'Inferno had a harder edge, but still with traits of the symphonic tradition. New Trolls are an Italian progressive rock band known for their fusion of rock and classical music. ... A late picture of Biglietto per linferno. ...

More experimental bands

Franco Battiato's 1970s output showed influences from electronic music. While his first albums can be called symphonic or progressive rock, his work became increasingly inaccessible, incorporating musique concrète and serial music. The willingness to experiment culminated in L'Egitto prima delle sabbie in 1978, where one chord is repeated throughout each LP side. After this, he turned more commercial, eventually earning huge national success. Franco Battiato (Jonia (CT), Italy 1945), italian singer, songwriter, filmmaker. ... For the Swedish political music movement, see progg. ... Musique concrète (French; literally, concrete music), is the name given to a class of electronic music produced from editing together fragments of natural and industrial sounds. ... Serialism is a rigorous system of composing music in which various elements of the piece are ordered according to a pre-determined ordered set or sets, and variations on them. ...

In the latter half of the decade, several bands more directed towards contemporary music or RIO emerged, such as Picchio dal Pozzo, Opus Avantra and Stormy Six. Flyer for the 1st RIO festival, 12 March 1978, The New London Theatre, London. ...

Newer bands

Bands such as Finisterre, La Maschera di Cera and Deus Ex Machina have made an impact since the progressive scene experienced a slight revival in the 1990s.

Timeline

Before 1971

English progressive rock bands such as Genesis were popular in Italy. In 1970, releases by Italian bands, however, still favoured American-style psychedelic rock, such as The Trip, Osanna, Le Orme and Il Balletto di Bronzo. For the Swedish political music movement, see progg. ... Genesis is a Grammy Award-winning English progressive rock band who formed in 1967. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... There are two films titled The Trip: The 2002 film, starred by Larry Sullivan and Steve Braun. ... Le Orme Italian Rock band. ... Il Balletto di Bronzo (translation: The Ballet of Bronze) was an Italian progressive rock band from Naples. ...

Banco del Mutuo Soccorso had already refined their progressive rock sound, as is evident from their recently released Live record, but didn't release anything until 1972. Banco del Mutuo Soccorso - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ...

1971

In this year, New Trolls released the seminal Concerto Grosso per i New Trolls, a collaboration with Luis Enriquez Bacalov. It was a mix of canzoni, rock and classical music, and helped put symphonic rock on the map in Italy. Other notable releases were I Giganti's concept album Terra in Bocca, Buon Vecchio Charlie's self-titled symphonic rock album, and Le Orme's organ-based album Collage. New Trolls are an Italian progressive rock band known for their fusion of rock and classical music. ... Luis Enríquez Bacalov (b. ... Literally song in Italian, a canzone (plural: canzoni) (cognate with English to chant) is an Italian or Provençal song or ballad. ... Look up rock in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Symphonic rock is a subgenre of rock music. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Le Orme Italian Rock band. ... Collage is a Ratt compilation album. ...

1972

In 1972, a creative explosion suddenly occured, with PFM, Banco del Mutuo Soccorso, Il Balletto di Bronzo and more releasing their most acclaimed work. PFM could mean: Post Graduate Diploma in Forest Management (PFM) - A 21 months program conducted by Indian Institute of Forest Management IIFM Bhopal. ... Banco del Mutuo Soccorso - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Il Balletto di Bronzo (translation: The Ballet of Bronze) was an Italian progressive rock band from Naples. ...

See also

• Music of Italy
• Progressive rock

The music of Italy ranges across a broad spectrum of opera and instrumental classical music, the traditional styles of the countrys diverse regions, and a body of popular music drawn from both native and imported sources. ... For the Swedish political music movement, see progg. ...

References

• Italian Prog Website
• Asbjornsen, D. E., Secret Gardens of the Mind: A Comprehensive Guide to the Golden Era of Progressive Rock (1968-1980), ISBN 978-1899855124, ISBN 1899855122.
• Gnosis Website