When Galloping Coroners (Hungarian: Vágtázó Halottkémek or simply VHK) was formed in 1975, there was not a defined category for the musical genre that they were exploring. Frontman Atilla Grandpierre was a student of shaman's music infusing Galloping Coroners with shamanistic philosophies and concepts from the start. Because the group was formed 1–2 years before the western punk movement the band didn't initially use the term "shaman punk" to define their music.[1]
In late 1970s as punk rock emerged, VHK's relationship to punk and hardcore become obvious for both the band, fans and journalists. "Shamanistic punk", "psychedelic hardcore" and also "ethno punk" were expressions that began to be used retroactively by western musical press from the 1980s and was also applied by the Hungarian press after the political changes around 1989.
Some critics who regard tribal shaman music as an ancient form of folk music suggested the use of "ethno punk", while others claim that VHK's musical style should be regarded as a folk punk subgenre. But, while typical "folk punk" groups include national folk elements in their music, VHK's repetitive, ecstatic sound with distorted guitars and inarticulate howls is much closer to hardcore or even industrial rock.
Today the "shaman punk" expression is widely used in Hungarian and western musical media when talking about Galloping Coroners.[2] To date there is no other group that is regarded as "shaman punk".
Philosophyedit
The concept of "shaman punk" music is rooted in VHK's musical philosophy which includes exploring contemporary musical expressions of what prehistoric shamans did by their ecstatic, tribal ceremonies to find and join the powers of nature and creation. The band states that "it is a magical folk-music, a cosmic vision about the role of earthly life on the destination of the Universe."[3] VHK has described their music as "an instinctive primeval music liberating the elementary powers of nature - creating ourselves and evolving to its highest completion with a free spontaneity and overwhelming energy."[3] Band leader Attila Grandpierre explains this in his manifesto Punk As a Rebirth of Shamanist Folk Music in 1984 :
Punk is not simply a new, superficial "wave in fashion" but a radical reinterpretation of art, punk has gone back to such forgotten, underground layers of ancient culture... and plays the same role as shamanic ceremonies played in the “prehistoric” times giving a magic force for its creators, leading to ecstasy, and, through its force, elevated the participant’s relation to himself and the world into a symbolic order.[4]
^Szemere, Anna (1991). Up from the Underground: The Culture of Rock Music in Postsocialist Hungary. USA: The Pennsylvania State University Press, University Park.
^"Contemplating the Heavens with VHK's Atilla Grandpierre | VICE | United States". Retrieved 2015-06-01.
^Grandpierre, Atilla (1984). Punk As a Rebirth of Shamanic Folk Music.
Bibliographyedit
Contemplating the Heavens with VHK's Atilla Grandpierre, by Jordan N. Mamone, at www.vice.com, 2013 [1]
New York Times: Critic's Notebook; Rock Music of Eastern Europe: So Western, So Familiar, So Old By JON PARELES Published: February 28, 1990, [2]
Attila Grandpierre: Punk As a Rebirth of Shamanist Folk Music[3]
Documentary film: VHK - The Ones Who Taught Death a Lesson, 2012 [4]
imdb.com Documentary film: VHK - The Ones Who Taught Death a Lesson, 2012
Interview with Attila Grandpierre, by Archie Patterson, Eurock.com
Anna Szemere: Up from the Underground: The Culture of Rock Music in Postsocialist Hungary, The Pennsylvania State University Press, University Park, 2001
November 10, 2023
shaman, punk, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, 2015, learn, when, remove, this, template, message, subgenre, pu. This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations May 2015 Learn how and when to remove this template message Shaman punk is a subgenre of punk rock and hardcore punk first used by critics to describe the musical style of Hungarian band Galloping Coroners in the 1980s Contents 1 History 2 Philosophy 3 Musical features 4 References 5 BibliographyHistory editWhen Galloping Coroners Hungarian Vagtazo Halottkemek or simply VHK was formed in 1975 there was not a defined category for the musical genre that they were exploring Frontman Atilla Grandpierre was a student of shaman s music infusing Galloping Coroners with shamanistic philosophies and concepts from the start Because the group was formed 1 2 years before the western punk movement the band didn t initially use the term shaman punk to define their music 1 In late 1970s as punk rock emerged VHK s relationship to punk and hardcore become obvious for both the band fans and journalists Shamanistic punk psychedelic hardcore and also ethno punk were expressions that began to be used retroactively by western musical press from the 1980s and was also applied by the Hungarian press after the political changes around 1989 Some critics who regard tribal shaman music as an ancient form of folk music suggested the use of ethno punk while others claim that VHK s musical style should be regarded as a folk punk subgenre But while typical folk punk groups include national folk elements in their music VHK s repetitive ecstatic sound with distorted guitars and inarticulate howls is much closer to hardcore or even industrial rock Today the shaman punk expression is widely used in Hungarian and western musical media when talking about Galloping Coroners 2 To date there is no other group that is regarded as shaman punk Philosophy editThe concept of shaman punk music is rooted in VHK s musical philosophy which includes exploring contemporary musical expressions of what prehistoric shamans did by their ecstatic tribal ceremonies to find and join the powers of nature and creation The band states that it is a magical folk music a cosmic vision about the role of earthly life on the destination of the Universe 3 VHK has described their music as an instinctive primeval music liberating the elementary powers of nature creating ourselves and evolving to its highest completion with a free spontaneity and overwhelming energy 3 Band leader Attila Grandpierre explains this in his manifesto Punk As a Rebirth of Shamanist Folk Music in 1984 Punk is not simply a new superficial wave in fashion but a radical reinterpretation of art punk has gone back to such forgotten underground layers of ancient culture and plays the same role as shamanic ceremonies played in the prehistoric times giving a magic force for its creators leading to ecstasy and through its force elevated the participant s relation to himself and the world into a symbolic order 4 Musical features editFurther information Galloping CoronersReferences edit Szemere Anna 1991 Up from the Underground The Culture of Rock Music in Postsocialist Hungary USA The Pennsylvania State University Press University Park Contemplating the Heavens with VHK s Atilla Grandpierre VICE United States Retrieved 2015 06 01 a b Vagtazo Halottkemek vhk mediastorm hu Retrieved 2015 06 01 Grandpierre Atilla 1984 Punk As a Rebirth of Shamanic Folk Music Bibliography editContemplating the Heavens with VHK s Atilla Grandpierre by Jordan N Mamone at www vice com 2013 1 New York Times Critic s Notebook Rock Music of Eastern Europe So Western So Familiar So Old By JON PARELES Published February 28 1990 2 Attila Grandpierre Punk As a Rebirth of Shamanist Folk Music 3 Documentary film VHK The Ones Who Taught Death a Lesson 2012 4 imdb com Documentary film VHK The Ones Who Taught Death a Lesson 2012 Interview with Attila Grandpierre by Archie Patterson Eurock com Anna Szemere Up from the Underground The Culture of Rock Music in Postsocialist Hungary The Pennsylvania State University Press University Park 2001 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Shaman punk amp oldid 1063649324, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
