=-> Quoting MICHAEL DOYLE to GARY SMITH re: Renaissance:
 MD> Renaissance - originally formed with 2 members of the Yardbyrds who
 MD> later bowed out(?).  My favorite track of theirs is "Mother Russia."
 MD> I always thought they where on the very low side of Prog-rock, lacking
 MD> in intrumental virtuosity, but being of a prog-rock style, a category
 MD> the Moody Blues also fit nicely into.  I never liked 'em much.
   This illustrates part of what I dislike about labelling genres of music.
 Where are the boundaries that determine what is and isn't Prog, or Jazz,
 or Pop?  I don't know what you mean when you say that Renaissance were
 `on the very low side of Prog-rock'.  What defines the `high' and `low'
 sides of Prog-rock other than that you apparently feel that Renaissance
 and the Moody Blues fit nicely into the latter `category'?  Can you give
 me some other examples of both?
   Also, saying that they are `lacking in instrumental virtuosity' suggests
 to me that you either haven't listened closely, or that you don't have
 much respect for the way they developed classical influences into rock
 music.  I guess either way, it's fairly understandable if, as you stated,
 you didn't like them much.  But whether you like them or not shouldn't
 affect a fairly objective assessment such as that.
   Renaissance were essentially a classical rock group, drawing especially
 heavily on the style of Russian masters such as Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev,
 and Rimsky-Korsakov, amongst others.  Hmmm.... come to think of it, I
 guess that makes them more of a fusion band, than Prog, so maybe you're
 right.  ;-)
   Their pianist/keyboardist, John Tout is a highly accomplished, and
 classically trained player.  Lead singer, Annie Haslam had some operatic
 training and IMO, possesses a strong, beautifully pure voice.  Guitarist
 and main songwriter, Mick Dunford while not at all flashy (he plays rhythm
 almost exclusively), was quite competent.  The rhythm section, made up of
 bassist/vocalist Jon Camp and drummer/percussionist, Terence Sullivan
 could arguably be accused of using cliched rock forms in their playing, 
 but that in itself, doesn't deny their technical prowess.  In any case,
 they nicely off-set the more classical leanings of Tout and Haslam.
   Anyway, Renaissance often played extended instrumental pieces, working
 through numerous variations on a theme before returning to the original
 idea.  That sounds to me like at least part of what defines Prog-rock,
 as I understand it.  So, in your opinion, are Renaissance `on the very
 low side of Prog-rock' because they didn't make extensive use of unusual
 synthesized sounds, or studio effects, electric guitars, and/or odd time
 signatures?  ;-\
   Cheers,
            Martin
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