On Reflection

"On Reflection" is a song by the progressive rock band Gentle Giant. It was released on their 1975 album Free Hand.

"On Reflection"
Song by Gentle Giant
from the album Free Hand
Released	July 1975
Recorded	April 1975
Genre	Progressive rock
Length	5:43
Label	Chrysalis (UK)
Songwriter(s)	Kerry Minnear, Derek Shulman, Ray Shulman
Producer(s)	Gentle Giant
Official audio
"On Reflection" on YouTube

Composition

"On Reflection" is in the key of B-flat major.^[1] It features a four_{or five} part Polyphony of voices.

Bruce Eder of AllMusic wrote that the song had "medieval-style a cappella vocals",^[2] while The Great Rock Bible described the song as a "folk rocker".^[3]

Reception

Robert Taylor of AllMusic wrote that "On Reflection" was revolutionary for its time, due to the band's vocal approach. Taylor also wrote that the song was one of prog-rock's defining moments.^[4]

uDiscoverMusic also commented on the song positively, writing that the song's opening four-part fugue remains one of Gentle Giant's and the progressive rock genre's defining moments.^[5]

Paul Stump in the 2005 book Acquiring the Taste wrote that the song was an example of the band's "mastery of writing and performing intensely complex contrapuntal music", and that it was an instant hit when they performed live.^[6]

Other appearances

A live performance of the song (recorded in 1976) is also included on the 1977 album Playing the Fool.

Personnel

• Gary Green – electric guitar, descant recorder, co-lead vocals
• Kerry Minnear – piano, Hammond organ, Minimoog, harpsichord, celesta, glockenspiel, vibraphone, marimba, timpani, harp, cello, lead vocals
• Derek Shulman – lead vocals
• Ray Shulman – bass, viola, co-lead vocals
• John Weathers – drums, bass drum, snare drum, triangle, cymbal, percussion