Symphonic Techno
Encyclopedia
Symphonic techno represents the integrated, non-genre, and progressive instrumental electronic music
that interfuses the different elements of electronic dance music
such as techno
, ambient
, drum’n’bass with progressive rock
, neo-classical music using the classical orchestration
techniques.
This term was originally devised, proposed, and defined by a Japanese composer AQi Fzono
in order for him to describe the new genre that came into existence referring to the hybrid sound of his fifth album Cosmology (album)
(original edition released in 1998). In this album Fzono used various new and old synthesizers, samplers
, keyboards (including pipe organs, harpsichords), and Theremin
, and portrayed the theme "transcend time and space". The symphonic poem
-like suite style that can be heard in some progressive rock
(especially symphonic rock
) albums was utilized from sheer necessity, but it actually gave birth to this revolutionary methodology. Even though "techno
music with symphonic arrangement" had existed in the past, Cosmology by AQi Fzono
is thought to be the first of its kind that created a total symphonic poem
by adopting the suite
-like style and associating all the songs organically.
In a broad sense, symphonic techno can be interpreted as the music that "combines symphonic rock
and techno
”, but according to Fzono, it is "hotchpotch of Techno
" that combines together and "synthesizes" many different musical elements using the electronic musical instruments like synthesizer. This methodology can be found in the last installment of symphobient Trilogy Cathedral by AQi Fzono
released in 1995.
There have not been many followers of this style as of yet, probably because it requires advanced compositional technique, but this genre does possess infinite possibility of expansion. This term is also thought to have an aesthetic cross relationship with “Sci-fi music”, a musical concept AQi Fzono
devised and proposed around the same time.
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
that interfuses the different elements of electronic dance music
Electronic dance music
Electronic dance music is electronic music produced primarily for the purposes of use within a nightclub setting, or in an environment that is centered upon dance-based entertainment...
such as techno
Techno
Techno is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in Detroit, Michigan in the United States during the mid to late 1980s. The first recorded use of the word techno, in reference to a genre of music, was in 1988...
, ambient
Ambient music
Ambient music is a musical genre that focuses largely on the timbral characteristics of sounds, often organized or performed to evoke an "atmospheric", "visual" or "unobtrusive" quality.- History :...
, drum’n’bass with progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
, neo-classical music using the classical orchestration
Orchestration
Orchestration is the study or practice of writing music for an orchestra or of adapting for orchestra music composed for another medium...
techniques.
This term was originally devised, proposed, and defined by a Japanese composer AQi Fzono
AQi Fzono
is a Japanese composer, synthesizer musician and electronic music artist. The translunary and hybrid sound of his synthesizer/electronic music that fuses trance, techno, ambient, progressive rock and classical music, and his spacey and vast-scaled instrumental electronic music album series that...
in order for him to describe the new genre that came into existence referring to the hybrid sound of his fifth album Cosmology (album)
Cosmology (album)
Cosmology is the second album by Rolo Tomassi, released on 24 May 2010. The album was supposed to be released on 19 April, but was pushed back by Hassle to 24 May 2010. The band had begun recording demos for the record within the first week of October 2009 and wasted no time in getting to record...
(original edition released in 1998). In this album Fzono used various new and old synthesizers, samplers
Sampler (musical instrument)
A sampler is an electronic musical instrument similar in some respects to a synthesizer but, instead of generating sounds, it uses recordings of sounds that are loaded or recorded into it by the user and then played back by means of a keyboard, sequencer or other triggering device to perform or...
, keyboards (including pipe organs, harpsichords), and Theremin
Theremin
The theremin , originally known as the aetherphone/etherophone, thereminophone or termenvox/thereminvox is an early electronic musical instrument controlled without discernible physical contact from the player. It is named after its Russian inventor, Professor Léon Theremin, who patented the device...
, and portrayed the theme "transcend time and space". The symphonic poem
Symphonic poem
A symphonic poem or tone poem is a piece of orchestral music in a single continuous section in which the content of a poem, a story or novel, a painting, a landscape or another source is illustrated or evoked. The term was first applied by Hungarian composer Franz Liszt to his 13 works in this vein...
-like suite style that can be heard in some progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
(especially symphonic rock
Symphonic rock
Symphonic rock is a sub-genre of progressive rock. Since early in progressive rock's history, the term has been used sometimes to distinguish more classically influenced progressive rock from the more psychedelic and experimental forms of progressive rock....
) albums was utilized from sheer necessity, but it actually gave birth to this revolutionary methodology. Even though "techno
Techno
Techno is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in Detroit, Michigan in the United States during the mid to late 1980s. The first recorded use of the word techno, in reference to a genre of music, was in 1988...
music with symphonic arrangement" had existed in the past, Cosmology by AQi Fzono
AQi Fzono
is a Japanese composer, synthesizer musician and electronic music artist. The translunary and hybrid sound of his synthesizer/electronic music that fuses trance, techno, ambient, progressive rock and classical music, and his spacey and vast-scaled instrumental electronic music album series that...
is thought to be the first of its kind that created a total symphonic poem
Symphonic poem
A symphonic poem or tone poem is a piece of orchestral music in a single continuous section in which the content of a poem, a story or novel, a painting, a landscape or another source is illustrated or evoked. The term was first applied by Hungarian composer Franz Liszt to his 13 works in this vein...
by adopting the suite
Suite
In music, a suite is an ordered set of instrumental or orchestral pieces normally performed in a concert setting rather than as accompaniment; they may be extracts from an opera, ballet , or incidental music to a play or film , or they may be entirely original movements .In the...
-like style and associating all the songs organically.
In a broad sense, symphonic techno can be interpreted as the music that "combines symphonic rock
Symphonic rock
Symphonic rock is a sub-genre of progressive rock. Since early in progressive rock's history, the term has been used sometimes to distinguish more classically influenced progressive rock from the more psychedelic and experimental forms of progressive rock....
and techno
Techno
Techno is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in Detroit, Michigan in the United States during the mid to late 1980s. The first recorded use of the word techno, in reference to a genre of music, was in 1988...
”, but according to Fzono, it is "hotchpotch of Techno
Techno
Techno is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in Detroit, Michigan in the United States during the mid to late 1980s. The first recorded use of the word techno, in reference to a genre of music, was in 1988...
" that combines together and "synthesizes" many different musical elements using the electronic musical instruments like synthesizer. This methodology can be found in the last installment of symphobient Trilogy Cathedral by AQi Fzono
AQi Fzono
is a Japanese composer, synthesizer musician and electronic music artist. The translunary and hybrid sound of his synthesizer/electronic music that fuses trance, techno, ambient, progressive rock and classical music, and his spacey and vast-scaled instrumental electronic music album series that...
released in 1995.
There have not been many followers of this style as of yet, probably because it requires advanced compositional technique, but this genre does possess infinite possibility of expansion. This term is also thought to have an aesthetic cross relationship with “Sci-fi music”, a musical concept AQi Fzono
AQi Fzono
is a Japanese composer, synthesizer musician and electronic music artist. The translunary and hybrid sound of his synthesizer/electronic music that fuses trance, techno, ambient, progressive rock and classical music, and his spacey and vast-scaled instrumental electronic music album series that...
devised and proposed around the same time.