Mainstream Classical Music

Hey everyone!

I thought I'd take a moment and offer a little "étude" into how the classical music of days gone by is relatable to the "pop" music of today.

What makes a great (or at least popular...) song today?  Well... it has to be really catchy, well crafted, well produced, and show some semblance of originality (optimism is something I try to practice :) ).  It has to be something that can easily get stuck in your head, and that you'll be humming for days.  I believe that, in some fashion or another, these same principles applied to the music that was being written 200 years ago.

So let's have an example:  If I were to ask you to hum me the opening line to Beethoven's Symphony no. 5, could you do it?  Now I know you connoisseurs are all thinking "duh! of course!" but what about the non-connoisseurs?  The everyday guy/girl?  They might have no clue what piece that is when it's referenced by name.  So I'll ask everyone to take a quick glance at the beginning of this video...

Now I'm sure that mostly everyone that hears that opening line recognizes it, be they a classical music know-it-all or someone who claims to hate classical music.  That classic da-da-da-dum is so famous it is still recognized and hummed by people almost exactly 200 years after it was premiered.  I'll bet I just got it stuck in your head :).  When it was written, that line was original, well thought out (as it was the basis for the whole piece), perfectly conveyed the intended sentiment, and was pretty catchy (if people are still singing it today)!

Another great example of a "catchy" classical music tune is "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" by Mozart (was that German?).  Most of you would probably recognize this piece when you heard the intro, which goes a little something like this...

An extremely well-crafted and original piece from the genius mind of Mozart displays once again the same features that make a song popular today... it's lasting impression!

So next time you hear a piece of classical music on the radio and find it unbearable to listen to, keep in mind that it is not representative of all classical music.  There were many composers and many different styles of writing.  Some were more catchy and lively, and could be compared to today's pop stars and mainstream music.  And some were more intricate, choosing to get lost in the art of creation and experimentation, yielding something not so mainstream and widely popular, but nonetheless beautiful!  

It may be akin to the difference between country music and heavy metal.  You may love one and completely dislike the other.  Or you may just like everything!  Either way, music is so diverse and there are way too many artists out there, both from present time and past, for you not to find something you enjoy.

The examples I gave today are, of course, ideal, but it was just to show that there is indeed much classical music out there that you know about and would recognize.  Now I'm sure that even if I made you listen to Haydn's Symphony no. 104, you probably wouldn't recognize it, but you probably don't know every song that's playing on the radio today either...

P.S. I wonder if people will be humming Celine Dion in 200 years?

John Williams is Classical Music!!

I thought I'd let the cat out of the bag right from the get-go.  I'm a huge John Williams fan!!

For everyone who thinks they'd never listen to classical music... take another listen to the themes to Indiana Jones, Star Wars, E.T., Superman, and many great Steven Spielberg films...  Those babies are composed by a man named John Williams!

When it comes to the masterful works of composer John Williams, they are often thought of as nothing more than great soundtracks.  However, they make use of the classical orchestra, are written with Romantic influences, and, in my humble opinion, display the pinnacle of modern classical music! (oxy moron?) 

I find his work to be awe-inspiring and perfectly composed for it's intended use as soundtrack material, but also amazing to listen to outside of the movies!!

There will be much more to come on John Williams and his different works, but for now I'll leave you with a video that displays his mastery in a concert setting.

P.S.  Listen to the guy who's filming it's reaction

P.P.S. clapping at a classical music concert? (amazing! :) )

Classical Music is for Everyone!

Hi everyone... my name is Jason... I'm 23... and I have a problem... I actually love classical music!!

What's not to love about complex harmony, 20 different instruments playing at the same time, and 40 minute songs that take more than 5 minutes to write?...

Nothing!

And that's why I'm writing a classical music blog today; to exclaim that classical music is not just for old people, or rich people... or any type of people!  It's for everyone!  You, me, and the whole lot of us.

And even if you're saying: "ahh... no way man, it's definitely not for me" then you're wrong.  Because I know you've listened to it before in the car... (caught ya!)

And that's exactly who this classical music blog is for.  Everyone that "enjoys" listening to classical music.  Whether you're a connoisseur and can list to me every Mozart piece, or the person who flips through the radio stations in the car and "ends up" on the classical station and never tells anyone that he or she would ever listen to it, you should check back here often for a view of classical music through the eyes of a 23 year old who's not ready to give up on this almost lost art!