Zeuhl is a word meaning celestial in Kobaïan, the constructed language created by Christian Vander. Originally solely applied to the music of Vander's band, Magma, the term zeuhl was eventually used to describe the similar music produced by French bands, beginning in the mid-1970s. Although primarily a French phenomenon, zeuhl has influenced recent avant-garde Japanese bands. Magma is a French progressive rock band founded in 1969 by classically-trained drummer Christian Vander, who claimed as his inspiration a vision of humanitys spiritual and ecological future that profoundly disturbed him. ... A constructed or artificial language — known colloquially as a conlang — is a language whose phonology, grammar, and/or vocabulary have been devised by an individual or group, instead of having naturally evolved as part of a culture. ... Christian Vander (born February 21, 1948) is a French drummer and musician and founder of the band Magma, whom sing their songs in Kobaïan, a constructed language. ... Magma is a French progressive rock band founded in Paris in 1969 by classically-trained drummer Christian Vander, who claimed as his inspiration a vision of humanitys spiritual and ecological future that profoundly disturbed him. ...

Zeuhl typically blends progressive rock, symphonic rock, fusion, neoclassicism, aspects of rock in opposition and vocal elements of African-American spirituals and Western military call and response. Common aspects include dissonance, marching themes, throbbing bass, keyboards including piano, Rhodes piano, or organ, and brass instruments. For the Swedish political music movement, see progg. ... Symphonic rock is a subgenre of rock music, and more specifically, progressive rock. ... Jazz fusion (or jazz-rock fusion or fusion) is a musical genre that merges elements of jazz with other styles of music, particularly pop, rock, folk, reggae, funk, metal, R&B, hip hop, electronic music and world music. ... Late Baroque classicizing: G. P. Pannini assembles the canon of Roman ruins and Roman sculpture into one vast imaginary gallery (1756) Neoclassicism (sometimes rendered as Neo-Classicism or Neo-classicism) is the name given to quite distinct movements in the decorative and visual arts, literature, theatre, music, and architecture that... Flyer for the 1st RIO festival, 12 March 1978, The New London Theatre, London. ... == Historical background on spiritual music Spirituals were often expressions of religious faith, although they may also have served as socio-political protests veiled as assimilation to white, American culture. ... In music, a call and response is a succession of two distinct phrases usually played by different musicians, where the second phrase is heard as a direct commentary on or response to the first. ... A Rhodes piano A Rhodes piano is a musical instrument, a brand of electric piano. ...

Pronunciation: zEU(h)l, while the EU is like a French E with a slight U, and the (h) is a semi-silent letter which is an integrated part of the EU, totaling in a "syllable and a half". The word is often misunderstood as meaning "celestial music", since the members of Magma describe the genre of their music as Zeuhl. Magma is a French progressive rock band founded in Paris in 1969 by classically-trained drummer Christian Vander, who claimed as his inspiration a vision of humanitys spiritual and ecological future that profoundly disturbed him. ... Look up genre in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

List of Groups Commonly Associated with Zeuhl Music

• Magma (France)
• Weidorje (France)
• Zao (France)
• Potemkine (France)
• Paga group (France)
• Eskaton (France)
• Shub Niggurath (France)
• Dün (France)
• Art Zoyd (France)
• Eider Stellaire (France)
• Univers Zero (Belgium)
• Lagger Blues Machine (Belgium)
• Ruins (Japan)
• Koenjihyakkei (Japan)
• Bondage Fruit (Japan)
• Pochakaite Malko (Japan)
• Happy Family (Japan)
• Kultivator (Sweden)
• YETI (United States)

Magma is a French progressive rock band founded in Paris in 1969 by classically-trained drummer Christian Vander, who claimed as his inspiration a vision of humanitys spiritual and ecological future that profoundly disturbed him. ... Art Zoyd is a French band formed in 1968, mixing free jazz, progressive rock and avant-garde electronica. ... Univers Zéro are an instrumental Belgian band known for playing dark music heavily influenced by 20th century chamber music. ... The Japanese duo of Yoshida Tatsuya and Sasaki Hisashi are Ruins, a twisted progressive rock outfit that specialize in short, sharp, jerky numbers that resemble the improvisational convulsions of Boredoms. ... Koenji Hyakkei (高円寺百景 - Hundred Sights of Koenji) is a Japanese Zeuhl band led by Yoshida Tatsuya of Ruins fame. ...

External links

• More Zeuhl efforts
• Kobian-English word list
• Blog post surveying Zeuhl with audio files