"Ars Longa Vita Brevis" is the second album by the English progressive rock group The Nice. Released in 1968, it is a mix of rock and classical music genres, demonstrating the band's intent to bridge the two styles. The album was a key development in the progression of the genre that came to be known as progressive rock and showed a significant maturation of the band's musical concept.
The title "Ars Longa Vita Brevis" is a Latin phrase that translates to "Art is long, life is short". The album is essentially divided into two parts. The first part contains four songs including their cover of Leonard Bernstein's "America". Each song on the first side showcases the band's interpretive skills, integrating classical influences with rock music.
The second side, which contains the title track, is an early example of a concept piece consisting of multiple parts. "Ars Longa Vita Brevis" is a suite in four movements, plus a prelude and a finale, which features a full-blown orchestra. Here, each band member gets an opportunity to shine as a soloist.
Upon release, the album was met with positive reviews and it has continued to be appreciated for its fusion of rock and classical elements. The Nice went on to become one of the pioneering exponents of progressive rock, with "Ars Longa Vita Brevis" forming a significant fragment of their unique sound.
