What Pop music owes to Classical

[Quijote]

Well well, here's an interesting article for you all. Enjoy.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2013...ssical-masters

[Quijote]

Sorry, I meant 'us all'. I'm not saying I agree or disagree with it, but you should read the newspaper readers' comments posted just after the article (scroll down after the Guardian article) for some very disparate views! The debate among those readers gets quite heated, as you will see !

[Enrique]

I liked this:

Pop is an exploitative, globalist, technological product created by entrepreneurs for the purpose of dominating a mass market; Mozart composed for European aristocrats of taste and culture. So to say that they both "pleased the public" would be, at best, a sophism.

[Peter]

Sorry, I meant 'us all'. I'm not saying I agree or disagree with it, but you should read the newspaper readers' comments posted just after the article (scroll down after the Guardian article) for some very disparate views! The debate among those readers gets quite heated, as you will see !

I never read other people's comments!

[Michael]

Goodall certainly got a Good ol' hammering in the comments section!
I'm still waiting for next Saturday night. I bet his Beethoven appraisal won't be All Good.
Of course, if I'm wrong, I'll post a full apology on this forum (where Howard won't see it - he'll be on the Bach Reference Site).

[Michael]

I never read other people's comments!

No wonder we get away with murder on this forum.

[Quijote]

More follow up articles on Goodall. It appears that he has a 'Top 10' list of books on music.
Here's the link :
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2013...10-music-books

[Sorrano]

So why isn't Goodall's book, The Story of Music, on the list? I see it (neatly) advertised just before the list begins.

[Michael]

Hmmm.
I have Book No. 1 and it is rather good. I also have another of the books listed, "Revolution in the Head" .... so it seems Mr Goodall is a Beatles fan. Maybe I should forgive him his Beethovenian deafness.
Maybe.

[Quijote]

Hmmm.
I have Book No. 1 and it is rather good. I also have another of the books listed, "Revolution in the Head" .... so it seems Mr Goodall is a Beatles fan. Maybe I should forgive him his Beethovenian deafness.
Maybe.

I knew you wouldn't miss that one, Michael. In fact when I read the Guardian article I had precisely you in mind. Ah, so now we see you confronted by divided loyalties !!!!

[Michael]

I'm afraid if it came to the crunch, there would be absolutely no contest.
Nobody equals the Black Spaniard of Bonn.

[Preston]

I would like to say, and will (lol), that I urge people who are devout classicists and feel that it is the only "true musical art" to try and open their minds - for there are some exceptionally talented popular musicians.

What I don't like about a lot of classical enthusiasts is they just immediately go against popular music. Yet, what I get a great kick out of, is that while going against popular music they expect the musicians to sit on stage in tuxedos, for truly royal elitism.

I admit the greatest geniuses come from classical music but many of the classical composers do not match what some of the pop musicians are coming out with.

Again, there are some exceptionally talented and musically gifted popular musicians.

It is like a lot of you just knock music because it is modern - without ever giving it a fair chance.

[Michael]

I admit the greatest geniuses come from classical music but many of the classical composers do not match what some of the pop musicians are coming out with.

One of them being the ability to write a good tune. Many "pop" composers (especially in the 1960's) would put a lot of modern "serious" composers to shame.

[Preston]

One of them being the ability to write a good tune. Many "pop" composers (especially in the 1960's) would put a lot of modern "serious" composers to shame.

Well said, Michael! The rubbish I hear with a lot these avant-garde composers is nonsense. It reminds me of the age old saying - someone asks "why is it genius" another answers, "it's genius because you can't understand it". Lol!

No, but seriously - agreed.

[Preston]

One of them being the ability to write a good tune. Many "pop" composers (especially in the 1960's) would put a lot of modern "serious" composers to shame.

I want to add to this. Often times, based on what I have heard, I wonder if a lot (I know some can) of the modern composers can write a good tune, also. Or a tune at all for that matter. Maybe it's not their style but I wonder if they could even do it?

Also, look what the 20th century classical enthusiasts revere - Copland, Stravinsky, etc. I admit they had some musical skills and good skills with orchestration but in no way do they move the way much popular music has. What should I like the hoedown - yes, at times I'll listen to it - but I have heard things far more moving than that. Truthfully I think most of Copland's music is tosh. No deep emotion or feeling. Nothing that makes you want more. And the same with Stravinsky.

And, I think that what is important - is not the complexity of the music - but what moves us - that is the true nature of music.

It's like there is a war going on between modern and traditional - but this war is based on stereotyping. Not all modern is the same as not all traditional.