Haggard (band)
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Haggard (Template:IPAc-en) is a German symphonic metal band founded in 1989 that combines classical music and early music with metal.<ref name="allmusic1"/>
History
Haggard was founded in 1989 and originally played death metal.<ref name="allmusic1">Template:Cite web</ref> They changed their musical style after their first demo tape, Introduction in 1992, becoming a band with symphonic melodies and classical instruments but folk themes. The album And Thou Shalt Trust... the Seer marked their breakthrough in 1997. After their second album Awaking the Centuries (the life of the prophet Nostradamus), they toured through Mexico twice.
Just before their album Awaking the Centuries was released, the group had its highest number of musicians at 21. All their songs are written by vocalist and guitarist Asis Nasseri.
In 2004, they released their third album Eppur Si Muove about the life of Italian scholar Galileo Galilei, sentenced to house arrest for heresy by the Catholic Church for supporting Copernicus' claim that the Earth revolved around the Sun. In 2021 the album was elected by Metal Hammer as the 23rd best symphonic metal album.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The fourth album, Tales of Ithiria, was released in 2008 and is based on a fantasy story.
Since 2008, Italian bassist Giacomo Astorri has collaborated with Haggard as a stable member. Besides his work with Haggard, Astorri has played in various metal bands, including The Dogma, Infernal Angels (guitar), ZAP (bass), and is currently a member of the Italian doom metal band Stryx (https://www.stryxband.com), whose debut album is in preparation. In addition to his music career, Astorri is also a professional concert and event photographer.<ref>Template:Webarchive</ref><ref>Template:Webarchive</ref>
In 2010, the band had its first concert along with a symphonic orchestra. Haggard played together with the philharmonic orchestra of Plovdiv in the Bulgarian city of Plovdiv on 19 April 2010.
Although a new album with the title of Grimm was originally announced for the end of 2012, the album has been postponed indefinitely, and the band has been inactive ever since, apart from occasional concerts.
Members
Current members
- Asis Nasseri – vocals, guitar (1991–present)
- Giacomo Astorri – bass
- Janika Groß – soprano
- Frank Schumacher – tenor vocals
- Claudio Quarta – guitar
- Aline Deinert – violin
- Ivica Kramheller – double bass
- Lisa Hellmich – viola
- Anne Eberlein – viola
- Cosmin Nechita – violin
- Johannes Schleiermacher – violoncello (cello)
- Florinda Hoffmann – violoncello (cello)
- Hans Wolf – piano, keyboards, organ, harpsichord
- Ingrid Nietzer – piano, keyboards
- Licia Missori – piano, keyboards
- Maurizio Guolo – drums, percussion (2012–present)
- Stefana Sabau – oboe
- Catalina Popa – flute
- Veronika Kramheller - soprano
- Michel Schumm - drums, percussion
- Michel Stapf - violin
Past members
- Florian Bartl – oboe, English horn
- Judith Marschall – violin
- Fiffi Fuhrmann – tenor vocals, bass
- Dorothea Zelinsky – violin
- Mark Pendry – clarinet
- Sasema – vocals
- Gaby Koss – soprano vocals
- Robert von Greding – clarinet
- Christoph von Zastrow – flute
- Danny Klupp – guitar
- Kathrin Pechlof – harp
- Karin Bodemüller – vocals
- Florian Schnellinger – percussion
- Andi Nad – bass
- Robin Fischer – bass
- Andi Hemberger – vocals
- Kathrin Hertz – cello
- Andreas Peschke – flute
- Manuela Kraller – soprano vocals
- Susanne Ehlers – soprano vocals
- Veronika Kramheller – soprano vocals
- Jonathan Whynot – guitar
- Michael Stapf – violin
- Andreas Fuchs – horn – percussion
- Linda Antonetti – oboe
- Steffi Hertz – viola
- Patrizia Krug – cello
- Luz Marsen – drum
- Michael Schumm – classical percussion – drum
- Ally Storch-Hukriede – violin
Template:Div-col-end In addition to the 16 band members, more than 10 guest artists and musicians were involved in the making of the album Eppur Si Muove.
Discography
Studio albums
| Year | Title | Peak positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GER<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | SWI<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | |||
| 1997 | And Thou Shalt Trust... the Seer | — | — | |
| 2000 | Awaking the Centuries | 64 | — | |
| 2004 | Eppur si muove | 47 | — | |
| 2008 | Tales of Ithiria | 37 | 89 | |
Demos
- Introduction (1992)
- Progressive (1994)
- Once... Upon a December's Dawn (1995)