{"product_id":"focus-hamburger-concerto","title":"Focus – Hamburger Concerto","description":"\u003ch4\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFocus – Hamburger Concerto\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReleased in 1974, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHamburger Concerto\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is a landmark album by Dutch progressive rock band Focus, showcasing the group's extraordinary musicianship, classical influences and distinctive blend of instrumental rock, jazz and European musical traditions. Following the international success of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMoving Waves\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and the hit single 'Hocus Pocus', the album continued the band's exploration of ambitious compositions while introducing a more refined and richly orchestrated sound.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLed by guitarist Jan Akkerman and keyboard player, flautist and vocalist Thijs van Leer, Focus developed one of the most distinctive musical identities of the European progressive rock movement. Their sound brought together virtuosic guitar playing, organ, flute, classical composition and elements of jazz and folk, often shifting between intricate instrumental passages and powerful rock arrangements. The band's ability to combine technical complexity with memorable melodies made them one of the most respected progressive groups of the early 1970s.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eProduced by Mike Vernon, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHamburger Concerto\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e features the core Focus line-up of Akkerman, van Leer, bassist Bert Ruiter and drummer Colin Allen. The album is particularly notable for its title composition, an ambitious six-part suite inspired by the Goldberg Variations of Johann Sebastian Bach and incorporating the traditional Dutch folk song 'Wilhelmus van Nassouwe'. Moving through a series of contrasting musical sections, the piece demonstrates the group's ability to combine classical structures with adventurous progressive rock.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe shorter compositions provide an equally fascinating showcase of the band's musical range. 'Delitiæ Musicæ' opens the record with a distinctive early-music atmosphere, while 'Harem Scarem' delivers a more energetic and rhythmically adventurous performance. 'La Cathedrale De Strasbourg' brings a dramatic, classically influenced character to the album, and 'Birth' provides another opportunity to appreciate the interplay between Akkerman's expressive guitar work and van Leer's keyboards and flute.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe centrepiece remains the extended 'Hamburger Concerto', whose six sections – 'Starter', 'Rare', 'Medium I', 'Medium II', 'Well Done' and 'One For The Road' – take the listener through an elaborate musical journey. The combination of intricate instrumental passages, changing tempos, melodic development and virtuosic performances makes it one of the band's most ambitious achievements.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn essential release from the golden era of European progressive rock, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHamburger Concerto\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e will appeal to fans of Focus, Yes, Genesis, classical-influenced progressive music and technically accomplished instrumental rock. It is a particularly rewarding album for collectors exploring the more adventurous and musically sophisticated side of 1970s prog.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTracklist\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSide A\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003col data-spread=\"false\" start=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDelitiæ Musicæ\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHarem Scarem\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLa Cathedrale De Strasbourg\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBirth\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSide B\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003col data-spread=\"false\" start=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHamburger Concerto\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-spread=\"false\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eStarter\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRare\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMedium I\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMedium II\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWell Done\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOne For The Road\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Yl8RbU1hXuQ?si=W9QEzfhuibxIlV5k\" title=\"YouTube video player\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Polydor Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56495533621590,"sku":"2442 124","price":8.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1009\/1013\/7686\/files\/1000101609.jpg?v=1793974271","url":"https:\/\/www.sounds-grounds.co.uk\/products\/focus-hamburger-concerto","provider":"Sounds + Grounds","version":"1.0","type":"link"}