I like different kinds of music. And I listened to Vanessa-Mae and Maksim Mrvica a few days ago. I think it’s a great way to use modern rhythms, noisy drums and guitars in classical music. What do you reckon?
Thank you for listening!
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I’m not a great fan of mixing things up in this way. I have no objection to serious ‘realisations’ of classical music when done sensitively and musically (eg ‘America’ by The Nice [based on 'America' from West Side Story] or ‘Pictures from an Exhibition’ by Emerson, Lake and Palmer or the ingenious jazz realisations of works by Mozart, Beethoven, Mahler etc by Uri Caine) but to simply put the two genres together in a messy mélange does an injustice to both and shows the lack of originality of the artists concerned (who care more about making a fast Buck than doing a service to the music).
The classical genre gains nothing from these attempts to make it more rewarding financially. It boosts the pop genre by providing ideas (in a genre that is rapidly running out). The result is usually poor pop music and terrible classical music. So I guess my opinion of it is that it is of no artistic value – so bring on the inverted thumbs.
An abomination.
Ok maybe I’d have to see the individual piece itself,to adjudge how tasteful if any it be.
Generally however I’m rather distrustful of any attempts to water-down and debase classical music in this way simply to breath fresh life into what they foolishly believe to be a dying art form,so as to make it more palatable to todays ungrateful generation.
Don’t misunderstand me,
I also appreciate many varied forms of music but I really don’t see any good with degenerating classical music in this way.
Incidentally If we want noisy percussion we already have it in spades using traditional drums in the orchestra.
For modern rhythms we’ve already got a whole bunch of 20th century composers.
As for those who even incongruously and unashamedly incorporate guitars into say a Beethoven symphony,my loathing knows no bounds for such evil and depraved people.
I think that when it’s done well, it can be really really cool. Or it can just be tacky. Some of Vanessa-Mae’s stuff is okay, some is just embarrasing.
If you like this genre, I would really recommend you check out the Ahn Trio. they’re classically trained at the highest level, but they mix percussion and electronic music with their own and it’s really beautiful.
I’m sure that there have been tasteful combinations, but overall, I can’t stand it. When people put words or trap set with what I consider a masterpiece, I really feel like the additions detract. That being said, everyone has their own taste, and I would not subject the world to limit itself to music I like. And though I can’t think of any, I’m sure there have been geniuses that have put the two together well.
Depends on who mixes it,and what piece =]
But Kronos Quartet does some good classical music with ‘alternative’ in it =]
Not really pop as in such though.
Up until the advent of modernism, where music became unintelligible to the average Joe, there was no difference between the two. Gershwin successfully straddled the line. Paul McCartney is trying to. Frank Zappa waded through both waters. Brain Eno ( of David Bowie circle) has some successful works considered classical.
Music is music, labels are as constrictive on it as on people.