Procol Harum – “A Whiter Shade of Pale” LIVE in Denmark (2006)
In 2006, Procol Harum took to the stage at Ledreborg Castle in Denmark for a truly special couple of shows, culminating in a performance of their most famous song which has continued to stun fans 15 years later.
The English rock band were joined by the Danish National Concert Orchestra and Choir for the show, which was later released on DVD.
On top form as ever, the show featured a performance of 1967’s ‘A Whiter Shade of Pale’, which has been seen by over 54 million people on YouTube.
Always a fantastic song to hear, this version is particularly special due to the orchestral backing, as well as singer Gary Brooker’s vocals, which if anything sound even better than they did at the height of their fame in the 1960s.
‘A Whiter Shade of Pale’ was Procol Harum’s biggest hit, and is one of the few songs to have sold over 10 million records worldwide.
Keith Reid got the song’s title at a party. He overheard someone at the party saying to a woman, “You’ve turned a whiter shade of pale”, and the phrase stuck in his mind.
Reid later told Uncut magazine: “I was trying to conjure a mood as much as tell a straightforward, girl-leaves-boy story. With the ceiling flying away and room humming harder, I wanted to paint an image of a scene. I wasn’t trying to be mysterious with those images, I was trying to be evocative.
“I suppose it seems like a decadent scene I’m describing. But I was too young to have experienced any decadence, then. I might have been smoking when I conceived it, but not when I wrote. It was influenced by books, not drugs.”
Procol Harum are still performing, and released their 12th album Novum in 2017.
The band’s 13th album, Novum, was released on 21 April 2017 and the band played 36 dates in the UK and Europe to promote it. However, the most significant concert of the year came in March when the band played with an orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall in London. Whilst leaving the stage at the end of the first half, Gary Brooker fell and was seriously hurt.
He reappeared for the second half with his head bandaged and nursing “a broken hand”. In 2018 the band again toured in Europe, including an orchestral show at the London Palladium on 9 October. They commenced 2019 with a Caribbean cruise hosted by Justin Hayward, with many well-known rock acts. A US tour was due to follow.
In 2018, the band was honoured by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame when “A Whiter Shade of Pale” was inducted into the brand-new Singles category.
Procol Harum – A Whiter Shade of Pale LIVE (2006) at the Ledreborg Castle in Denmark
Best site for sheet music download is here.
Procol Harum is an English rock band formed in 1967. Their best-known recording is the 1967 hit single “A Whiter Shade of Pale“, one of the few singles to have sold over 10 million copies.
Although noted for their baroque and classical influence, Procol Harum’s music is described as psychedelic rock and proto-prog.
Current members
- Gary Brooker – lead vocals, piano (1967–1977, 1991–present)
- Geoff Whitehorn – guitar, backing vocals (1991–present)
- Josh Phillips – organ, synthesisers (1993, 2004–present)
- Matt Pegg – bass, backing vocals (1993–present)
- Geoff Dunn – drums (2006–present)
Discography
Main article: Procol Harum discography Studio albums
- Procol Harum (1967)
- Shine on Brightly (1968)
- A Salty Dog (1969)
- Home (1970)
- Broken Barricades (1971)
- Grand Hotel (1973)
- Exotic Birds and Fruit (1974)
- Procol’s Ninth (1975)
- Something Magic (1977)
- The Prodigal Stranger (1991)
- The Well’s on Fire (2003)
- Novum (2017)
Browse in the Library:
Artist or Composer / Score name | Cover | List of Contents |
---|---|---|
Strauss Johann – The Blue Danube Piano solo | ||
Strauss Richard – Also Sprach Zarathustra (Trans. R. Schmalz for Piano solo) | ||
Strauss – An Der Schönen Blauen Donau (Advanced Ver.) (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Strauss – An Der Schönen Blauen Donau The Blue Danube (Easy Piano Solo) (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Strauss – An Der Schönen Blauen Donau The Blue Danube (Intermediate Piano Solo) (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Strauss Also sprach Zarathustra op. 30 (arr. for 2 pianos) | ||
Strauss Richard 4 Lieder Op. 27 No. 4 Morgen Musescore File.mscz | ||
Strauss, Johann Ii An Der Schönen Blauen Donau, Op.314 Jrummel Easy Piano Solo | ||
Strauss, Johann Ii Waatzes For Piano Op. 314 (Complete) | ||
Strauss, Johann II Die Fledermaus Suite for piano solo arr. | ||
Strauss, Johann Ii Die Fledermaus Suite For Piano Solo Arr. Musescore File.mscx | ||
Strauss, Johann Jr. – The Blue Danube Waltz (Easy Piano Solo) | ||
Strauss, Richard Also Sprach Zarathustra, Op 30 Einleitung, Oder Sonnenaufgang (Solo Piano Arr) | ||
Stravinski, Igor – Poetica Musical Book (Español – Spanish) | ||
Stravinsky Ragtime (Piano Solo, Transcribed By The Composer) | ||
Stravinsky The Firebird Suite Piano Transcription | ||
Stravinsky Three Movements From Petrushka (piano solo arr.) | ||
Stravinsky – Octet for Wind Instruments | ||
Stravinsky – Ragtime (Piano Solo) | ||
Stravinsky – The Rite of Spring Le Sacre du printemps (4 hands, piano à 4 mains) | Stravinsky – The Rite of Spring Le Sacre du printemps (4 hands, piano à 4 mains) | |
Stravinsky – The Rite Of Spring – piano 2 hands – arr. by Raphling | ||
Stravinsky 3 Easy pieces for piano 4 hands | ||
Stravinsky 4 Etudes Op.7 | ||
Stravinsky And His World by Tamara Levitz (Book) | ||
Stravinsky Sonata F Sharp Minor | ||
Stravinsky Symphony of Psalms (arr. piano solo) | ||
Stravinsky Tango | ||
Stravinsky The Firebird Piano Transcription | Stravinsky: The Firebird | |
Stravinsky, Igor 5 Easy Pieces [Piano 4 Hands] | ||
Stravinsky, Igor – The Rite of Spring Le Sacre du Printemps (piano solo) | ||
Straylight Run – Existentialism On Prom Night | ||
Streabbog (Jean Louis Gobbaerts) – 12 Easy and Melodious Studies, Op 64 | ||
Streabbog (Jean Louis Gobbaerts) – 12 Very Easy and Melodious Studies, op 63 | ||
Streabbog Book 1 Opus 63 Twelve Very Easy And Melodious Studies | ||
Streabbog Book 2 Opus 64 12 Melodious Pieces For Piano | ||
Stride & Swing Piano The Complete Guide by John Valerio | Stride & Swing Piano Stride & Swing Piano – The Complete Guide | |
Stuart K. Hine How Great Thou Art Arr Joel Raney 6 Concert Hymns Expressions For Solo Piano | ||
Studio Ghibli Guitar Arrangements Best Album (Joe Hisaishi & Hayao Miyazaki) with Tablature | ||
Studio Ghibli Piano Suite | ||
Styx – Babe | ||
Styx – Come Sail Away | ||
Succar Ya Banat (Caramel OST) Rasha Rizk | ||
Suis-moi – Le Petit Prince OST (Hans Zimmer – Camille) | ||
Sum 41 – Pieces | ||
Summer of ’42 (Michel Legrand) | ||
Summer of ’42 The Summer Knows Michel Legrand Piano & Voice | Summer of ’42 The Summer Knows Michel Legrand Piano & Voice | |
SUMMER OF’42 THE SUMMER KNOWS Piano (another version) | THE SUMMER KNOWS -SUMMER OF’42 | |
Summertime – Piano arrangement Pianos Of Cha’n | ||
Summertime G. Gershwin | ||
Sun Ra sheet music Collection | 1 Sun Ra index sheet music | |
Sunday Music (100 Arrangements For Piano Solo) E. Pauer | Sunday Music (100 Arrangements For Piano Solo) E. Pauer | |
Sunrise on Pontchartrain (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button OST) Alexandre Desplat | Sunrise on Pontchartrain | |
Super Junior Pajama Party | ||
Super Mario 64 – dire,dire docks | ||
Super Mario 64 by Koji Kondo – Piano | ||
Super Mario Bros – Main Theme | Super-Mario-Bros-Main-Theme | |
Super Mario Bros – Main Theme Overworld | ||
Super Mario Bros – Main Theme Overworld (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Super Mario Bros – Mario Main Theme – Koji Kondo | ||
Super Mario Bros 2 Overworld Theme by Koji Kondo Piano Solo | ||
Super Mario Bros 2 Complete Piano Arrangement | ||
Super Mario Bros Overworld Main Theme sheet music | ||
Super Mario Bros Songbook | ||
Super Mario Bros. 3 Don’t stand on the Donuts – Piano Sheet Music | ||
Super Mario Galaxy – Aquatic Race | ||
Super Mario Galaxy – Attack! Koopas Fleet | ||
Super Mario Galaxy – Catastrophe | ||
Super Mario Galaxy – File Select | ||
Super Mario Galaxy – King Koopa’s Entrance | ||
Super Mario Galaxy – Kinopio’s Expedition | ||
Super Mario Galaxy – Overture | ||
Super Mario Galaxy – Peachs Castle is Stolen | ||
Super Mario Galaxy – Rosetta’s Comet Observatory I | ||
Super Mario Galaxy – Starbit Festival | ||
Super Mario Galaxy Complete Sheet Music | ||
Super Mario Galaxy Sheet Music (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Super Mario Land – Birabuto Kingdom by Hirokazu Tamaka | ||
Super Mario World 2 Yoshis Island – Athletic | ||
Super Sight Reading Secrets by Howard Richman (Book) for keyboard players | ||
Super Solos for Acoustic Guitar Solos (by Johnny Norris) Fingerpicking with Tablature | Super Solos for Acoustic Guitar Solos (by Johnny Norris) Fingerpicking with Tablature | |
Super Top Ten Volume (Guitar) | Super Top Ten Volume (Guitar) | |
Supercell – Sayonara Memories | ||
Superhero Themes 14 of Your Favorite Heroes and She-Roes | Superhero Themes 14 of Your Favorite Heroes and She-Roes | |
Superman Theme For Piano | ||
Supertramp – Breakfast In America | Supertramp Breakfast In America Book | |
Supertramp – Logical Song | ||
Supertramp Anthology Songbook | Supertramp Anthology Songbook | |
Supertramp Breakfast In America SongBook | Supertramp Breakfast In America Book | |
Supertramp Crisis What Crisis SongBook | ||
Supertramp Even In The Quietest Moments Songbook | Supertramp Even In The Quietest Moments | |
Supertramp Famous Last Words SongBook | Supertramp Famous Last Words Book | |
Supertramp Paris SongBook | Supertramp Paris Book | |
Surface Pressure – Encanto (sheet music).mscz | ||
Suzanne Ciani Adagio from the album Pianissimo | Suzanne-Ciani-Adagio 1st page | |
Suzanne Ciani Dream Songs for piano | Suzanne Ciani Dream Songs piano | |
Suzanne Ciani New Age Piano | Suzanne Ciani New Age Piano | |
Suzanne Vega Songbook | Suzanne Vega Songbook | |
SUZUKI – Guitar School Revised Edition (Vol 1) | SUZUKI – Guitar School Revised Edition (Vol 1) | |
Suzuki Guitar (Complete Vol. 1 To 9) | SUZUKI GUITAR Vol 1-9 | |
Suzuki Piano School – Vol 07 – Mozart Handel and Paderevski | ||
Suzuki Piano School Volumes 1 to 7 (240 p.) | Suzuki 1-7 – Piano School (7 books) | |
Suzuki Tsunekichi – Omohi De – Irish Folk Song Opening Theme To The Netflix Series Midnight Diner Tokyo Stories) (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Suzuki Tsunekichi – Omohi de – Irish Folk Song Opening theme to the Netflix series Midnight Diner Tokyo Stories) Guitar | Suzuki Tsunekichi – Omohi de – Irish Folk Song Opening theme to the Netflix series Midnight Diner Tokyo Stories) Guitar | |
Sveinn Eythorsson – Easy Guitar Songs | ||
Swan Lake Theme – Tchaikovsky (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Swanee River Boogie Woogie – Albert Ammons (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Sweet Hour Of Prayer – Piano Solo arr. of 13 Sacred Songs by Marvin Goldstein | ||
Swing And Early Progressive Piano Styles Jazz Improvisation 3 by John Mehegam | Swing And Early Progressive Piano Styles Jazz Improvisation 3 by John Mehegam | |
Swing Low Sweet Charriot (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Sydney Bechet Si Tu Vois Ma Mere Lead sheet music GUITAR CHORDS | ||
Symphony No 40 In Gm K550 (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Symphony No 9 In E Minor (From The New World) For Piano – 1st Movement (Adagio – Allegro Molto) (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Symphony No 9 In E Minor (From The New World) For Piano – 2nd Movement (Largo) (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Symphony No 9 In E Minor 4th Mov. (From The New World) A. Dvorak (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Symphony No. 2 Third Mov. Advanced Piano Arr. (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Symphony No. 5 – Adagietto Gustav Mahler (Musescore File).mscz | ||
System Of A Down – Lonely Day | ||
T – Pain – Buy You A Drink | ||
Table for Two – Nocturnal Animals OST (Abel Korzeniowski) | ||
Takashi Yoshimatsu – Piano Folio … To a disappeared pleiad |