Collegium Musicum

Collegium Musicum is a Slovak art rock / progressive rock band formed by Marián Varga and Fedor Frešo in Czechoslovakia in late 1969, best known for their complex, predominantly instrumental compositions centred around Varga's keyboards/organ, and for their interpretations of classical works by Rimsky-Korsakov, Stravinsky, Bartók, and others. While never achieving mainstream popularity, the band was among the most influential formations on the Czech/Slovak music scene in the 1970s, drawing comparisons to the Emerson, Lake & Palmer, and featured some of the foremost Slovak rock instrumentalists, including Fedor Frešo (bass), František Griglák (guitar), and others. Known for their live performances, Collegium Musicum enjoyed a revival through touring in the late 1990s and late 2000s, particularly among younger generations.