- Popol Vuh (German band)
Popol Vuh was a German
Krautrock band founded by pianist and keyboardistFlorian Fricke in 1970 together with Holger Trulzsch (percussion) and Frank Fiedler (electronics). Other important members during the next two decades includedDaniel Fichelscher and Robert Eliscu. [Michael Fuchs-Gambock, Gerhard Augustin: Booklet to CD re-issue of "Hosianna Mantra", SPV recordings, 2004] The band took its name from thePopol Vuh , a manuscript containing the mythology of the Post-ClassicQuiché Maya kingdom of highlandGuatemala .History
The first album, "Affenstunde", released in 1970, can be regarded as one of the earliest
Ambient music ,space music orNew Age music works, featuring the then new sounds of theMoog synthesizer together with ethnic percussion. This continued for only one more album, "In Den Garten Pharaos", before Fricke largely abandoned electronic instruments in favour of piano-led compositions from 1972's "Hosianna Mantra" forward. This album also marked the start of exploring overtly religious themes rather than a more generally spiritual feeling within the music. The group evolved to include all kinds of instruments: wind and strings, electric and acoustic alike, combined to convey a mystical aura that made their music spiritual and introspective.Popul Vuh influenced many other bands from
Europe with their uniquely soft but elaborate instrumentations, that took inspiration from Tibet, Africa, and Pre-Colombian America. They created dream-like soundscapes along with psychedelic walls of sound, and are regarded as precursors of contemporaryworld music , as well of new age music and ambient music.The band contributed soundtracks to the films of
Werner Herzog , including "", "Aguirre, the Wrath of God ", "Fitzcarraldo ", "Heart of Glass" and "The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser ", in which Fricke appeared.Florian Fricke died in Munich on December 29, 2001, and the group disbanded.
In October 2003
Klaus Schulze wrote::"Florian was and remains an important forerunner of contemporary ethnic and religious music. He chose electronic music and his big Moog to free himself from the restraints of traditional music, but soon discovered that he didn't get a lot out of it and opted for the acoustic path instead. Here, he went on to create a new world, whichWerner Herzog loves so much, transforming the thought patterns of electronic music into the language of acoustic ethno music." [Klaus Schulze, Oldau, October 7, 2003: Booklet to CD re-issue of "Hosianna Mantra", SPV recordings, 2004]Discography
*"
Affenstunde " (1970)
*"In den Gärten Pharaos " (1971)
*"Hosianna Mantra " (1972)
*"Seligpreisung " (1973)
*"Einsjäger und Siebenjäger " (1974)
*"Das Hohelied Salomos " (1975)
*"Aguirre" (1975)
*"Letzte Tage - Letzte Nächte " (1976)
*"Coeur de Verre " (1977)
*"Nosferatu" (1978)
*"Brüder des Schattens - Söhne des Lichts " (1978)
*"Die Nacht der Seele " (1979)
*"Sei still, wisse ICH BIN " (1981)
*"Agape - Agape " (1983)
*"Spirit Of Peace " (1985)
*"Cobra Verde" (1987)
*"For You And Me " (1991)
*"City Raga " (1995)
*"Shepherd's Symphony - Hirtensymphonie " (1997)
*"Messa di Orfeo " (1999)Florian Fricke solo albums
*"Die Erde und ich sind Eins" (1983) - limited private pressing
*"Florian Fricke Plays Mozart" (1992) - featuring Fricke on piano playing Mozart compositionsCompilations
*"Perlenklänge: The Best Of Popol Vuh" (1976) - Ohr / Pilz / Kosmische Musik compilation
*"Tantric Songs" (1981) - featuring tracks fromDie Nacht der Seele andBrüder des Schattens - Söhne des Lichts
*"Fitzcarraldo" (1982) - soundtrack featuring four previously released Popol Vuh compositions besides opera and traditional music
*"In The Gardens of Pharao / Aguirre" (1983)
*"Gesang der Gesänge" (1988)
*"Florian Fricke" (1991) - featuring tracks fromCoeur de Verre (retitled) andBrüder des Schattens - Söhne des Lichts
*"The Best Soundtracks From Werner Herzog Films" (1991)
*"Sing, For Song Drives Away The Wolves" (1993) - remix album
*"Movie Music" (1994)
*"Nicht Hoch Im Himmel" (1998)
*"Future Sound Experience" (2002) - remix album recorded in 1993 (according to its booklet) and released after Florian Fricke's death
*"70's Progressive" (2006) - SPV compilationUnauthorized album
*"Yoga" (1976) - recorded by Florian Fricke with Indian musicians
External links
*http://www.furious.com/perfect/populvuh.html (Comprehensive article & review of every album, in English)
*http://www.venco.com.pl/~acrux/discogr.htm (Definitive discography - includes sound samples)
*http://www.popolvuh.it/ (Italian fansite, in Italian and English)
*http://www.enricobassi.it/hosiannamantra.htm/ (Italian fan club, in Italian)
*http://www.popolvuh.nl/ (Dutch fansite. In English, German. Many full text articles)
*http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/ultimathule/krautrockers.html#p "The Crack In The Cosmic Egg" krautrock encyclopedia "P"References
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