Yes, Close To The Edge - A Classical Musician’s First Listen and Reaction
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Published 2023-05-31
It’s been a long time coming, but finally, YES! I really had no idea what to expect — in fact, the title made me expect something else, but once I adjusted to what I was hearing, this music took me on a vividly descriptive journey.
Here’s the link to the original song by Yes:
• Yes - Close To The Edge
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Amy Shafer, LRSM, FRSM, RYC, is a classical harpist, pianist, and music teacher, Director of Piano Studies and Assistant Director of Harp Studies for The Harp School, Inc., holds multiple degrees in harp and piano performance and teaching, and is active as a solo and collaborative performer. With nearly two decades of teaching experience, she teaches privately, presents masterclasses and coaching sessions, and has performed and taught in Europe and USA.
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Credits: Music written and performed by Yes
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All Comments (21)
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This is a brutal way to introduce someone to Yes.
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I don't know how one could even process that song mentally, without multiple listening. What a masterpiece.
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Jon Anderson’s vocals are beyond angelic and Chris Squire is the most creative Bass player ever.
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It's always gratifying to watch someone hearing Close to the Edge for the first time. This song was recorded 51 years ago, and I've been listening to it for about 45 years. When you have heard it as often as I have, it becomes a part of your skeletal system. One of the most important things that sets Yes apart from their contemporaries in the progressive rock genre is their mastery of musical form. Close to the Edge is probably the greatest example of this, but it is difficult to discern when the music is broken up, as it was in this video. I suggest that you listen to the piece uninterrupted from beginning to end, and see if you have any further impressions. Some other relevant things to know about the piece. Yes, it was inspired by Sibelius's 7th symphony, but really that inspiration was more with regard to the fact that the symphony was about 20 minutes long and was all in one continuous movement. That aspect of the symphony convinced singer and lyricist Jon Anderson that Yes could and should attempt something similar. Of course, Close to the Edge was the result. The other interesting inspiration for the piece was the novel Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse. It might be interesting for you to read that book (if you haven't done so already) and then come back to the piece. Like the story of Siddhartha in the novel, I interpret Close to the Edge as a meditation on spiritual searching and awakening. Over several sections of the piece, one is confronted with a recurring idea: "I get up, I get down." To me, this means that life happens. Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad. I have always interpreted the pipe organ part as a kind of awakening, and then the synth and drum part which follows as a sort of renunciation, and then the funky Hammond organ solo as the antithesis of the pipe organ part, a sort of breaking away and newfound freedom -- the spiritual development is complete and true wisdom has been obtained. And what has finally been learned? I get up, I get down. Life happens. We're happy, we're sad. We do the right thing, we do the wrong thing. We're human. And yet, there is an ecstatic joy in the final three recitations of this realization. The attainment of enlightenment is in the living of life itself, and the embracing of life in all of its complexity. Anyway, that's my take on it. All in all, it's a remarkable piece of music, especially considering that a bunch of 20-somethings created it.
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Calling Chris Squire's bass tone "Wild animals sound" is perfect.
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This is my #1 desert island album. Even after 100's of listens, it remains fresh and vibrant.
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The Wakeman organ solo in this is incredible! 🙌🙌
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One can argue that Yes is the greatest Progressive Rock band, and that the album Close to the Edge is their greatest work. I have been listening to this album for 50 years and I still hear new subtleties. I really hope you follow this up with B side, And You and I, and Siberian Katru complete the theme.
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The organ part you liked was played by Rick Wakeman on the pipe organ of St Giles church in London. He studied at the Royal College of Music in London
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Me screaming at the screen, "the lyics aren't gonna help!" LOL I always had a hard time understanding Jon's lyrics, with the occasional exception. But even when they were intelligible to me, they conveyed little meaning. Instead, I've always focused on the mood of the words, the rhythm with which they're sung, the pitch and the weight of the words. Sort of the James Joyce of lyricists. That's probably just me though, cause I knew a guy who claimed to have a deeper understanding of his lyrics and went to to live in a commune where they lived by the philosophy described therin, so.... there's that. LOL Hard core intro to Yes, but I think you're up for the task. Take some time with this one and bask in its light! Drummers note: Bill is a master at placing the snare at the most anti-cliché/expected places. The thing that in most bands is the primary rhythmic synch element and he's moving that shit all over the place. Not easy to play these off times and to make it more challenging, they're anti-intuitive. One of the reasons he's one of my favorites. 🤘🧙♂️🤘 Rich the Ancient Metal Beast
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Chris Squire had a very unique and punchy tone with his Rickenbacker bass. No real studio processing- he did it live as well. One of those unsung but hugely admired bassists.
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That is actually YES playing. No engineered sounds. I saw this live in concert and it is amazing!
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I saw them live because I told my friends that they probably couldn’t play live. Was I a fool. They were better than the album. Jaw dropping great musicianship.The sound engineering was impeccable. So amazing.
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This totally blew my 13yr old mind about 50 years ago. The contrast between this (and similar pieces, of course) and the songs in the UK pop charts was flabbergasting. It's fascinating listening to a reaction such as yours. Would I feel the same if Yes had passed me by all those years ago? Who knows. I find it so joyous, so beautiful, and so uplifting.
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I discovered Yes in 1971, and in 1972 Close to the Edge became my favorite song and album. In the 50 years since nothing has changed my mind!
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It’s not just a bass… It’s a Rickenbacker.
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"Often, what is not instantly relatable holds the deepest meaning and value" - Amy Shafer
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The musicianship of this song has always boggled my mind. The lyrics aren’t nonsense at all. They are mostly an impressionistic take on “Siddhartha,” Herman Hesse’s novel based loosely on the life of the Buddha. The song is about enlightenment. From the absolute chaos of the intro, perhaps representing the chaos and suffering of Samsara to the beautiful “I Get Up I Get Down” section to the climactic ending with Wakeman’s brilliant keyboard solo, the song is brilliant. Thank you for checking out this song. Your musical insights are appreciated. You might enjoy the song more with some background on it and a second listen. Roundabout would have been an easier starting place.
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“Jon & Vangelis” gets a mention, yay! They produced four albums together. Vangelis on his own is a very, very deep rabbit hole to explore .. RIP, Maestro.
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1972 was a magical year with 2 of my top5 all-time albums released. "Foxtrot" by Genesis and "Close to the Edge" by Yes. I can listen to both forever.
