Popol Vuh (German band)
Encyclopedia
Popol Vuh was a German electronic avantgarde band, in the mainstream-media so called Krautrock
, founded by pianist and keyboardist Florian Fricke
in 1969 together with Holger Trülzsch (percussion) and Frank Fiedler (recording engineer and technical assistance). Other important members during the next two decades included Djong Yun, Conni Veit, Daniel Fichelscher
, Klaus Wiese
and Robert Eliscu. The band took its name from the Popol Vuh
, a manuscript containing the mythology of the Post-Classic Quiché Maya
people of highland Guatemala
and south east Mexico
; the name translates roughly as "meeting place."
, space music
or New Age music
works, featuring the then new sounds of the Moog synthesizer
together with ethnic
percussion
. This continued for only one more album, In den Gärten Pharaos, and material later to b release on the soundtrack to "Aguirre", 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.
Popol Vuh influenced many other bands from Europe
with their uniquely soft but elaborate instrumentations, that took inspiration from Tibet
, Africa
, and pre-Columbian
America. They created dream-like soundscapes along with psychedelic walls of sound, and are regarded as precursors of contemporary world 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
, Nosferatu
, Fitzcarraldo
, Cobra Verde
, 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:
Krautrock
Krautrock is a generic name for the experimental music scenes that appeared in Germany in the late 1960s and gained popularity throughout the 1970s, especially in Britain. The term is a result of the English-speaking world's reception of the music at the time and not a reference to any one...
, founded by pianist and keyboardist Florian Fricke
Florian Fricke
Florian Fricke was a German musician who started his professional career with electronic music using the Moog synthesizer within the Krautrock group Popol Vuh...
in 1969 together with Holger Trülzsch (percussion) and Frank Fiedler (recording engineer and technical assistance). Other important members during the next two decades included Djong Yun, Conni Veit, Daniel Fichelscher
Daniel Fichelscher
Daniel "Danny" Secundus Fichelscher, , is a German multi-instrumentalist who played a pivotal role in Krautrock band Popol Vuh, was a member of German group "Gila" and is currently Amon Düül II's drummer...
, Klaus Wiese
Klaus Wiese
Klaus Wiese was a veteran e-musician, minimalist, and multi-instrumentalist. A master of the tibetan singing bowl, he created an extensive series of album releases using them...
and Robert Eliscu. The band took its name from the Popol Vuh
Popol Vuh
Popol Vuh is a corpus of mytho-historical narratives of the Post Classic Quiché kingdom in Guatemala's western highlands. The title translates as "Book of the Community," "Book of Counsel," or more literally as "Book of the People."...
, a manuscript containing the mythology of the Post-Classic Quiché Maya
Maya peoples
The Maya people constitute a diverse range of the Native American people of southern Mexico and northern Central America. The overarching term "Maya" is a collective designation to include the peoples of the region who share some degree of cultural and linguistic heritage; however, the term...
people of highland Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
and south east Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
; the name translates roughly as "meeting place."
History
The first album, Affenstunde, released in 1970, can be regarded as one of the earliest ambient musicAmbient 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 :...
, space music
Space music
Space music, also called spacemusic, is an umbrella term, synonymous with a segment of New Age Music and Ambient Music, used to describe music that evokes a feeling of contemplative spaciousness. Space music can be found within a wide range of genres. It is particularly associated with ambient, New...
or New Age music
New 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...
works, featuring the then new sounds of the Moog synthesizer
Moog synthesizer
Moog synthesizer may refer to any number of analog synthesizers designed by Dr. Robert Moog or manufactured by Moog Music, and is commonly used as a generic term for older-generation analog music synthesizers. The Moog company pioneered the commercial manufacture of modular voltage-controlled...
together with ethnic
World music
World music is a term with widely varying definitions, often encompassing music which is primarily identified as another genre. This is evidenced by world music definitions such as "all of the music in the world" or "somebody else's local music"...
percussion
Percussion instrument
A percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
. This continued for only one more album, In den Gärten Pharaos, and material later to b release on the soundtrack to "Aguirre", 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
Wind instrument
A wind instrument is a musical instrument that contains some type of resonator , in which a column of air is set into vibration by the player blowing into a mouthpiece set at the end of the resonator. The pitch of the vibration is determined by the length of the tube and by manual modifications of...
and strings
String instrument
A string instrument is a musical instrument that produces sound by means of vibrating strings. In the Hornbostel-Sachs scheme of musical instrument classification, used in organology, they are called chordophones...
, electric and acoustic alike, combined to convey a mystical aura that made their music spiritual and introspective.
Popol Vuh influenced many other bands from Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
with their uniquely soft but elaborate instrumentations, that took inspiration from Tibet
Music of Tibet
The music of Tibet reflects the cultural heritage of the trans-Himalayan region, centered in Tibet but also known wherever ethnic Tibetan groups are found in India, Bhutan, Nepal and further abroad...
, Africa
Music of Africa
Africa is a vast continent and its regions and nations have distinct musical traditions. The music of North Africa for the most part has a different history from sub-Saharan African music traditions....
, and pre-Columbian
Pre-Columbian
The pre-Columbian era incorporates all period subdivisions in the history and prehistory of the Americas before the appearance of significant European influences on the American continents, spanning the time of the original settlement in the Upper Paleolithic period to European colonization during...
America. They created dream-like soundscapes along with psychedelic walls of sound, and are regarded as precursors of contemporary world music
World music
World music is a term with widely varying definitions, often encompassing music which is primarily identified as another genre. This is evidenced by world music definitions such as "all of the music in the world" or "somebody else's local music"...
, as well of new age music and ambient music.
The band contributed soundtracks to the films of Werner Herzog
Werner Herzog
Werner Herzog Stipetić , known as Werner Herzog, is a German film director, producer, screenwriter, actor, and opera director.He is often considered as one of the greatest figures of the New German Cinema, along with Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Margarethe von Trotta, Volker Schlöndorff, Werner...
, including Aguirre, the Wrath of God
Aguirre, the Wrath of God
Aguirre, the Wrath of God is a 1972 West German adventure film written and directed by Werner Herzog. Klaus Kinski stars in the title role. The soundtrack was composed and performed by German progressive/Krautrock band Popol Vuh...
, Nosferatu
Nosferatu: Phantom der Nacht
Nosferatu the Vampyre is a 1979 West German vampire horror film written and directed by Werner Herzog. Its original German title is Nosferatu: Phantom der Nacht...
, Fitzcarraldo
Fitzcarraldo
Fitzcarraldo is a 1982 film written and directed by Werner Herzog and starring Klaus Kinski as the title character. It portrays would-be rubber baron Brian Sweeney Fitzgerald, an Irishman known as Fitzcarraldo in Peru, who has to pull a steamship over a steep hill in order to access a rich rubber...
, Cobra Verde
Cobra Verde
Cobra Verde is a 1987 German drama film based upon Bruce Chatwin's 1980 novel, The Viceroy of Ouidah. The film depicts the life of a fictional slave trader named Francisco Manoel da Silva who is played by the prolific German actor Klaus Kinski...
, Heart of Glass
Heart of Glass (film)
Heart of Glass is a 1976 film written, directed, and produced by Werner Herzog, set in 18th century Bavaria. The main character is "Hias," based on the legendary Bavarian prophet Mühlhiasl.-Plot synopsis:...
and The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser
The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser
The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser is a 1974 West German drama film written and directed by Werner Herzog about the legend of Kaspar Hauser. Its original German title is Jeder für sich und Gott gegen alle, which means "Every man for himself and God against them all"...
, in which Fricke appeared.
Florian Fricke died in Munich on December 29, 2001, and the group disbanded.
In October 2003 Klaus Schulze
Klaus Schulze
Klaus Schulze is a German electronic music composer and musician. He also used the alias Richard Wahnfried. He was briefly a member of the electronic bands Tangerine Dream and Ash Ra Tempel before launching a solo career consisting of more than 60 albums released across five decades.-1970s:In...
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, which Werner Herzog loves so much, transforming the thought patterns of electronic music into the language of acoustic ethno music."
Discography
- AffenstundeAffenstundeAffenstunde is the first album by Popol Vuh. It was originally released in 1970 on Liberty Records. In 2004 SPV re-released the album with one bonus track.- Track listing :All tracks by Popol Vuh except track number 4 by Florian Fricke....
(1970) - In den Gärten PharaosIn den Gärten PharaosIn den Gärten Pharaos is the second album by Popol Vuh. It was originally released in 1971 on the label Pilz. In 2004 SPV re-released the album with two bonus tracks.- Track listing :...
(1971) - Hosianna MantraHosianna MantraHosianna Mantra is the third album by Popol Vuh. It was originally released in 1972 on the German record label Pilz. In 2004 SPV re-released the album with one bonus track ....
(1972) - SeligpreisungSeligpreisungSeligpreisung is the fourth album by Popol Vuh. It was originally released in 1973 on Kosmische Musik. In 2004 SPV re-released the album with one bonus track .- Track listing :...
(1973) - Einsjäger und SiebenjägerEinsjäger und SiebenjägerEinsjäger und Siebenjäger is the fifth album by Popol Vuh. It was originally released in 1974 on Kosmische Musik. In 2004 SPV re-released the album with two bonus tracks...
(1974) - Das Hohelied SalomosDas Hohelied SalomosDas Hohelied Salomos is the sixth album by Popol Vuh. It was originally released in 1975 on United Artists Records. In 2005 SPV re-released the album with three bonus tracks.- Track listing :...
(1975) - AguirreAguirre (soundtrack)Aguirre is the seventh album by German progressive/Krautrock band Popol Vuh. It contains music used in the soundtrack to Werner Herzog's film Aguirre, the Wrath of God , first released as an album in 1975 on Ohr, and reissued in 2004 by SPV with one bonus track. This score was the first of many...
(1975) - Letzte Tage - Letzte NächteLetzte Tage - Letzte NächteLetzte Tage - Letzte Nächte is the eighth album by Popol Vuh. It was originally released in 1976 on United Artists Records. In 2005 SPV re-released the album with three bonus tracks.- Track listing :...
(1976) - Herz aus Glas (1977)
- Brüder des Schattens - Söhne des LichtsBrüder des Schattens - Söhne des Lichtsis the tenth album by Popol Vuh. It was originally released in 1978 on Brain Records. In 2006 SPV re-released the album with one bonus track that was originally released on the remix compilation Sing, for Song Drives Away the Wolves in 1993...
(1978) - NosferatuNosferatu (Popol Vuh album)Nosferatu is the eleventh album by Popol Vuh and was released as the original motion picture soundtrack of Nosferatu: Phantom der Nacht by director Werner Herzog. It was originally released in 1978 on Egg...
(1978) - Die Nacht der SeeleDie Nacht der SeeleDie Nacht der Seele is the twelfth album by Popol Vuh. It was originally released in 1979 on Brain Records. In 2005 SPV re-released the album with four bonus tracks...
(1979) - Sei still, wisse ICH BINSei still, wisse ICH BINSei still, wisse ICH BIN is the thirteenth album by Popol Vuh. It was originally released in 1981 on Klaus Schulze's record label Innovative Communication. In 2006 SPV re-released the album with one bonus track. "Wehe Khorazin", "Garten der Gemeinschaft", an extract of "Laß los" and ".....
(1981) - Agape - AgapeAgape - AgapeAgape – Agape / Love – Love is the fourteenth album by Popol Vuh. It was originally released in 1983 on Uniton. In 2004 SPV re-released the album with one bonus track.- Track listing :All tracks composed by Florian Fricke except where noted....
(1983) - Spirit of PeaceSpirit Of PeaceSpirit of Peace is the fifteenth album by Popol Vuh. It was originally released in 1985 on Cicada. The first track was used by Werner Herzog as original motion picture soundtrack for his documentary The Dark Glow of the Mountains about Reinhold Messner.- Track listing :All tracks composed by...
(1985) - Cobra VerdeCobra Verde (soundtrack)Cobra Verde is the sixteenth album by Popol Vuh. It was originally released in 1987 on Milan Records as the original motion picture soundtrack of Werner Herzog's Cobra Verde with Klaus Kinski...
(1987) - For You and MeFor You And MeFor You and Me is the seventeenth album by Popol Vuh. It was originally released in 1991 on Milan Records. In 2006 SPV re-released the album with one bonus track.- Track listing :All tracks composed by Florian Fricke except where noted....
(1991) - City RagaCity RagaCity Raga is the eighteenth album by Popol Vuh. It was originally released in 1995 on Milan Records.- Track listing :All tracks composed by Florian Fricke, Guido Hieronymus, and Maya Rose except where noted.# "Wanted Maya" – 7:00...
(1995) - Shepherd's Symphony - HirtensymphonieShepherd's Symphony - HirtensymphonieShepherd's Symphony – Hirtensymphonie is the nineteenth album by Popol Vuh. It was originally released in 1997 on Mystic Records. In 2004 SPV re-released the album with a different cover .- Track listing :...
(1997) - Messa di OrfeoMessa di OrfeoMessa di Orfeo is the twentieth and last album by Popol Vuh. It was originally released in 1999 on Spalax and features music played during an audio-video-light installation as performed in the Labyrinth of Molfetta, Bari, during the Time Zones Festival in 1998.- Track listing :All tracks composed...
(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 compositions
Compilations
Note: there are two distinct issues of the compilation Best of Popol Vuh - Werner Herzog. These are distinct from The Best Soundtracks from Werner Herzog Films, though the selections of tracks overlap.- Perlenklänge: The Best Of Popol Vuh (1976) – Ohr / Pilz / Kosmische Musik compilation
- Tantric Songs (1981) – featuring tracks from Die Nacht der SeeleDie Nacht der SeeleDie Nacht der Seele is the twelfth album by Popol Vuh. It was originally released in 1979 on Brain Records. In 2005 SPV re-released the album with four bonus tracks...
and Brüder des Schattens - Söhne des LichtsBrüder des Schattens - Söhne des Lichtsis the tenth album by Popol Vuh. It was originally released in 1978 on Brain Records. In 2006 SPV re-released the album with one bonus track that was originally released on the remix compilation Sing, for Song Drives Away the Wolves in 1993... - 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)
- Best of Popol Vuh - Werner Herzog (1989 with 14 tracks; reissued 1993 with only 10 tracks)
- Florian Fricke (1991) – featuring tracks from Herz aus Glas (retitled) and Brüder des Schattens - Söhne des LichtsBrüder des Schattens - Söhne des Lichtsis the tenth album by Popol Vuh. It was originally released in 1978 on Brain Records. In 2006 SPV re-released the album with one bonus track that was originally released on the remix compilation Sing, for Song Drives Away the Wolves in 1993...
- The Best Soundtracks from Werner Herzog Films (1991, 8 tracks)
- Sing, for Song Drives Away the Wolves (1993) – remix album
- Movie Music (1994) - 3 CD set: Aguirre, Herz aus Glas, Nosferatu
- 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 compilation
- On the Way to Himalaya (2006) - 3 CD set: Brüder des Schattens - Söhne des LichtsBrüder des Schattens - Söhne des Lichtsis the tenth album by Popol Vuh. It was originally released in 1978 on Brain Records. In 2006 SPV re-released the album with one bonus track that was originally released on the remix compilation Sing, for Song Drives Away the Wolves in 1993...
, Spirit of PeaceSpirit Of PeaceSpirit of Peace is the fifteenth album by Popol Vuh. It was originally released in 1985 on Cicada. The first track was used by Werner Herzog as original motion picture soundtrack for his documentary The Dark Glow of the Mountains about Reinhold Messner.- Track listing :All tracks composed by...
, Die Nacht der SeeleDie Nacht der SeeleDie Nacht der Seele is the twelfth album by Popol Vuh. It was originally released in 1979 on Brain Records. In 2005 SPV re-released the album with four bonus tracks... - The Werner Herzog Soundtracks Box set (2011)
- Revisited & Remixed (1970-1999) (2011)
External links
- http://www.furious.com/perfect/populvuh.html (Comprehensive article & review of every album, in English)
- http://www.venco.com.pl/~acrux/ (Polish fansite, with discography)
- 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