Neoclassical (Dark Wave)
Encyclopedia
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
.
movement.
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.'
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.'
This music, 'clearly more inspired by the classical than the rock tradition, had a melancholy, visionary and sometimes nostalgic quality'.
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.
Art music
Art music is an umbrella term used to refer to musical traditions implying advanced structural and theoretical considerations and a written musical tradition...
form known as neoclassical music
Neoclassicism (music)
Neoclassicism in music was a twentieth-century trend, particularly current in the period between the two World Wars, in which composers sought to return to aesthetic precepts associated with the broadly defined concept of "classicism", namely order, balance, clarity, economy, and emotional restraint...
, a style of classical music dating from the early twentieth century. In the context of popular music
Popular music
Popular music belongs to any of a number of musical genres "having wide appeal" and is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. It stands in contrast to both art music and traditional music, which are typically disseminated academically or orally to smaller, local...
the term 'neoclassical
Neoclassicism (music)
Neoclassicism in music was a twentieth-century trend, particularly current in the period between the two World Wars, in which composers sought to return to aesthetic precepts associated with the broadly defined concept of "classicism", namely order, balance, clarity, economy, and emotional restraint...
' 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
Neoclassical (New Age)
Within the broad movement of New Age music, neoclassical New Age music is influenced by and sometimes also based upon early, baroque or classical music, especially in terms of melody and composition. The artist may offer a modern arrangement of a work by an established composer or combine elements...
.
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 musicNew Age music
New Age music is music of various styles intended to create artistic inspiration, relaxation, and optimism. It is used by listeners for yoga, massage, meditation, and reading as a method of stress management or to create a peaceful atmosphere in their home or other environments, and is often...
movement.
In the middle of the 1980s, the bands Dead Can Dance
Dead Can Dance
Dead Can Dance are an ethereal neoclassical duo formed in Melbourne, Australia, in August 1981, by Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry. The band relocated to London in May 1982 and disbanded in 1998. Their 1996 album Spiritchaser reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top World Music Albums Chart...
and In the Nursery
In The Nursery
In the Nursery are a neo-classical/martial electronica band, known for their cinematic sound. The duo has provided soundtracks to a variety of TV programmes and films, and is known for its rescoring of silent films.- Career :...
released influential albums which essentially laid the foundations of the Neoclassical Dark Wave genre.
In 1985 Dead Can Dance
Dead Can Dance
Dead Can Dance are an ethereal neoclassical duo formed in Melbourne, Australia, in August 1981, by Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry. The band relocated to London in May 1982 and disbanded in 1998. Their 1996 album Spiritchaser reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top World Music Albums Chart...
released Spleen and Ideal, which initiated the band's 'medieval European sound.'
In 1987 In the Nursery
In The Nursery
In the Nursery are a neo-classical/martial electronica band, known for their cinematic sound. The duo has provided soundtracks to a variety of TV programmes and films, and is known for its rescoring of silent films.- Career :...
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.'
This music, 'clearly more inspired by the classical than the rock tradition, had a melancholy, visionary and sometimes nostalgic quality'.
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
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
, 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
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
-like vocals, or in the case of Camerata Mediolanense
Camerata Mediolanense
Camerata Mediolanense is an ensemble of musicians enstablished in Milano in 1994. Its music can be classified as darkwave/neoclassical, with folk elements....
, madrigal
Madrigal (music)
A madrigal is a secular vocal music composition, usually a partsong, of the Renaissance and early Baroque eras. Traditionally, polyphonic madrigals are unaccompanied; the number of voices varies from two to eight, and most frequently from three to six....
-like vocals. Others such as Autunna et sa Rose utilize contemporary classical chamber music vocalise
Vocalise
A vocalise is a vocal exercise without words, which is sung on one or more vowel sounds.-In classical music:Vocalise dates back to the mid-18th century...
together with spoken dramatic monologue. Several other bands in the genre such as H.E.R.R.
H.E.R.R.
H.E.R.R. is a Dutch / English band that was founded in 2002 by Michiel Spapé . Other core members are Miklos Hoffer and, from the second album onwards, Troy Southgate . Musically, they have been described as neofolk, minimalist, Neoclassical and martial...
are notable for using a martial approach, including the heavy use of snare drum
Snare drum
The snare drum or side drum is a melodic percussion instrument with strands of snares made of curled metal wire, metal cable, plastic cable, or gut cords stretched across the drumhead, typically the bottom. Pipe and tabor and some military snare drums often have a second set of snares on the bottom...
and militaristic themes. Finally, there are in the genre a small number of purely instrumental groups.
Notable Artists
- Amber AsylumAmber AsylumAmber Asylum is a highly-variable San Francisco-based music group that serves as a platform for composer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist Kris Force...
- ArcanaArcana (band)Arcana is Swedish neoclassical band formed in 1994 and was originally signed to the Cold Meat Industry label.-History:The original band consisted of founder Peter Bjärgö and vocalist Ida Bengtsson...
- AshramAshram (band)Ashram is a neoclassical band from Italy band made up of Sergio Panarella, Luigi Rubino, Alfredo Notarloberti and Leonardo Massa. Their songs typically comprise piano, violin, cello and vocals.- Discography :* For My Sun * Ashram...
- AtaraxiaAtaraxia (band)Ataraxia is an Italian neoclassical band who combine modern technology with archaic instrumentation over various media. They describe their music as a cross "between sacred and profane, ethereal and neo-classical, contemporary and early music". They make researches into the European legends...
- Autumn TearsAutumn TearsAutumn Tears is an American Neoclassical Dark Wave band from Billerica, MA. They are sometimes considered gothic.-History:The band was formed in September 1995 by Erika and Ted...
- Bacio di ToscaBacio di ToscaBacio di Tosca is a German Neoclassical musical project by Mezzo-sopranist Dörthe Flemming that combines influences from classical music, mainly the German Lied, with modern electronic Dark wave...
- Black Tape for a Blue GirlBlack tape for a blue girlBlack Tape for a Blue Girl is an American Dark Wave band formed in 1986 by Projekt Records' founder Sam Rosenthal. Their music takes on elements of dark cabaret, Dark Wave, ethereal, ambient and neoclassical music. Director David Lynch...
- Camerata MediolanenseCamerata MediolanenseCamerata Mediolanense is an ensemble of musicians enstablished in Milano in 1994. Its music can be classified as darkwave/neoclassical, with folk elements....
- The ChangelingsThe ChangelingsThe Changelings are a band from Atlanta, Georgia self-described as a “blend of ambient pop-fusion laced with neo-Classical and Middle Eastern styles”. Formed in 1995, they have released six albums, and have been named the “Best Local Experimental/Fringe Band/Artist of Atlanta” in Creative Loafing...
- ChaostarChaostarChaostar is a Classical, Opera and Vocal Orchestra from Greece started in 1998, composed of Christos Antoniou, Spiros Antoniou, Sotiris Vayenas, Nathalie Rassoulis, and Sapfo Stavridou. Several of the members are also members of Septic Flesh. They have released four albums on Holy Records, a label...
- Corde ObliqueCorde ObliqueCorde Oblique are a neoclassical band based in Italy. They are the solo project of Riccardo Prencipe, with vocal contributions from numerous female singers and actresses...
- Collection d'Arnell AndréaCollection d'Arnell AndreaCollection d'Arnell~Andréa is a French darkwave band founded by Jean-Christophe d'Arnell , Pascal Andréa, and Chloé St Liphard in 1986. Andréa left the band shortly after its founding, before its first performance. However, d'Arnell left Andréa's name in the band name. Their music features...
- DargaardDargaardDargaard is a neoclassical/ambient band from Austria formed in 1997. Typically in dark and somber moods, the music of Dargaard presents medieval and folk-like melodies, often orchestrated through the use of various instrument patches from a keyboard. The band is still active and has four releases...
- Dark SanctuaryDark SanctuaryDark Sanctuary is a French Neoclassical band which was formed in 1996 in Paris, Île-de-France.-History:The band's first official release was a 20 minute single track MCD, Funeral Cry, released in 1997...
- Dead Can DanceDead Can DanceDead Can Dance are an ethereal neoclassical duo formed in Melbourne, Australia, in August 1981, by Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry. The band relocated to London in May 1982 and disbanded in 1998. Their 1996 album Spiritchaser reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top World Music Albums Chart...
- DeleyamanDeleyamanDeleyaman is a multi-nationality, multi-cultural dark wave, alternative band formed on the northern coast of France in 2000.The members of the band are American, Swedish, French and Armenian.-History:...
- Der Blaue Reiter
- Devil DollDevil Doll (band)Devil Doll is an Italian-Slovenian experimental rock band formed in 1987 by the mysterious "Mr. Doctor". The band has gained a cult following, taking influences from gothic rock, classical and slavonic folk music, and fronted by the sprechgesang of Mr. Doctor himself. Devil Doll albums were all...
- Die Verbannten Kinder EvasDie Verbannten Kinder EvasDie Verbannten Kinder Evas is an Austrian music project signed to Napalm Records, which was founded in 1993 by Richard Lederer and Michael Gregor.- Biography :...
- Elend (band)
- H.E.R.R.H.E.R.R.H.E.R.R. is a Dutch / English band that was founded in 2002 by Michiel Spapé . Other core members are Miklos Hoffer and, from the second album onwards, Troy Southgate . Musically, they have been described as neofolk, minimalist, Neoclassical and martial...
- HexperosHexperosHexperos is an Italian duo founded in 2004 by Alessandra Santovito and Francesco Forgione ....
- In The NurseryIn The NurseryIn the Nursery are a neo-classical/martial electronica band, known for their cinematic sound. The duo has provided soundtracks to a variety of TV programmes and films, and is known for its rescoring of silent films.- Career :...
- Kanon WakeshimaKanon Wakeshimais a Japanese singer and cellist. Produced by Mana, Wakeshima debuted under the DefStar Records label on May 28, 2008 with the single "Still Doll", the ending theme for the anime adaptation of the manga series Vampire Knight. She also provided the voice for a maid that appears in the eighth episode...
- Life's DecayLife's DecayLife's Decay is a darkwave, folk, and industrial music group from France that features both French and English female vocals. Based in Paris, the project was born at the beginning of 2003. Until 2005, singer-songwriter Lyktwasst was alone in the center of the project; realizing everything, from the...
- Life Toward TwilightLife Toward TwilightLife Toward Twilight is a dark ambient, post-industrial project from Detroit, Michigan. Life Toward Twilight's sound explores genres such as martial industrial and neoclassical, with a heavy presence of ambience and drone.-Members / History:...
- Lisa GerrardLisa GerrardLisa Gerrard is an Australian musician, singer, and composer who rose to prominence as part of the music group Dead Can Dance with former music partner Brendan Perry....
- Love Is Colder Than Death
- Malice MizerMalice MizerMalice Mizer was a visual kei rock band from Japan. They were active from August 1992 to December 2001. Formed by Mana and Közi, the band's name stands for "malice and misery", extracted from "nothing but a being of malice and misery" — their reply to the question "what is human?"...
- MirabilisMirabilis (band)Mirabilis is a neoclassical/ethereal musical project formed in 2001 by Dru Allen of This Ascension and Summer Bowman of the Machine in the Garden. Mirabilis uses vocals as the primary instrumentation, crafting original musical compositions and interpreting traditional classical vocal pieces from a...
- NarsilionNarsilion (band)Narsilion is a neoclassical darkwave band from Spain. Formed in 2000 as Aranmanoth and renamed to Narsilion in 2002 following the disbanding of Ordo Funebris, the band has been under contract with Caustic Records since 2004. The name of the band references the "Narsilion" a song about the creation...
- Ophelia's Dream
- Ordo equitum solisOrdo equitum solisOrdo Equitum Solis are an alternative music band consisting of Leithana, pseudonym of Nathalie Herrera, French and Deraclamo, pseudonym of Paolo De Marco, Italian . The duo formed in 1988, released albums between 1990 and 2000 and made many tours. In 2001 the band suddenly broke up...
- PersephonePersephoneIn Greek mythology, Persephone , also called Kore , is the daughter of Zeus and the harvest-goddess Demeter, and queen of the underworld; she was abducted by Hades, the god-king of the underworld....
- Rising ShadowsRising ShadowsRising Shadows is a Neoclassical band formed in Stockholm, Sweden by composer Fredrik Klingwall in 1996.-Biography:Rising Shadows was originally started by Fredrik Klingwall as a one-man project under the name 'Shadow of the Concealed'....
- Schattenkinder
- Seventh Harmonic
- Sopor Aeternus & the Ensemble of Shadows
- Vernian ProcessVernian ProcessVernian Process is an Avant-Garde band formed in San Francisco in 2003. Taking its name from the works of 19th century author Jules Verne, Vernian Process is a band that creates music themed around Victorian scientific romance and its modern counterpart steampunk...
- WeltenbrandWeltenBrandWeltenBrand is a Neoclassical/Darkwave band from Liechtenstein, formed in 1995 by Oliver Falk .-Discography:* 1996 - Das Rabenland* 1997 - Das Nachtvolk* 1999 - Der Untergang von Trisona...