So I tried getting into classical music again and the only composer…..
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fontinau — 9 years ago(November 25, 2016 07:12 AM)
Metal fans often like music from the late "Baroque" period - Vivaldi and Bach (and apparently, at least in this case, Handel) - the obvious reason being that metal lead guitar is largely a pastiche of that style to begin with.
Rest assured, by the way, Vivaldi is plenty popular these days. -
Eva_Yojimbo — 9 years ago(November 29, 2016 03:55 PM)
This would greatly depend on what kind of metal they like. A quality fairly unique to Vivaldi that reminds me most of metal is the very insistent rhythmic drive, which is often integrated into the lead "hook" rather than having the melody "float" over the top of it. I also think it depends on what you mean by "lead metal playing;" if it's the solos, then it's probably closer to the concerto form that developed out of the classical period into romanticism (with virtuoso guitarists compared to virtuosos like Liszt and Paganini); if it's the lead guitar melodies then that's more particular to early metal and later melodic-based metal, which I think shares qualities with both the directness of Vivaldi, but also the cantabile approach of Mozart (and sometimes Haydn and Beethoven). Vivaldi's simplicity also makes him closer to the song-oriented approach of classic metal ca. Priest and Maiden, some thrash, and all power metal; less so of the more prog and tech inflected metal that came after. Bands like Opeth and Emperor are probably closer to the longer structures and darker tones of late romanticism (Mahler, Bruckner, etc.) and the more traditional modernists (like Shosta) than the baroque. There are also plenty of more experimental metal bands out there today (Kayo Dot, eg) that are also closer to Modernism.
warriorspirit
: if the penis is used as a pencil holder we'll incur a cost. -
fontinau — 9 years ago(November 29, 2016 05:16 PM)
A quality fairly unique to Vivaldi that reminds me most of metal is the very insistent rhythmic drive, which is often integrated into the lead "hook" rather than having the melody "float" over the top of it.
I would say the part of that unique to Vivaldi - and his acolyte J. S. Bach - is the "very" (that is, the vehemence). "Insistent [monotonous] rhythmic drive" is simply the early 18th century convention. Anyway, I would say the approximate similarity of Vivaldi's and Bach's rhythm to rock is one reason why, when rock musicians (see also the Beatles, the Byrds, the Who) want to sound "classical," they try to sound like them more often than Mozart, Beethoven, or Wagner. Another reason is that Vivaldi and Bach sound classy but not pretty (like Mozart and Chopin) or pompous (like Handel and every Romantic who isn't Chopin).
I also think it depends on what you mean by "lead metal playing;" if it's the solos, then it's probably closer to the concerto form that developed out of the classical period into romanticism (with virtuoso guitarists compared to virtuosos like Liszt and Paganini); if it's the lead guitar melodies then that's more particular to early metal and later melodic-based metal, which I think shares qualities with both the directness of Vivaldi, but also the cantabile approach of Mozart (and sometimes Haydn and Beethoven).
I mean anything that sounds like the "Stairway To Heaven" solo (no I'm not saying Led Zeppelin is metal). I submit that metal soloing has approximately nothing to do with the classical concerto. -
Eva_Yojimbo — 9 years ago(November 29, 2016 05:38 PM)
I would say the part of that unique to Vivaldi - and his acolyte J. S. Bach - is the "very" (that is, the vehemence). "Insistent [monotonous] rhythmic drive" is simply the early 18th century convention.
While I do hear it in other 18th century music it doesn't seem as dominant as it does in Vivaldi, and that may have something to do with the "hook in the rhythm" approach as well.
Another reason is that Vivaldi and Bach sound classy but not pretty (like Mozart and Chopin) or pompous (like Handel and every Romantic who isn't Chopin).
Hmmm, I think both Vivaldi and Bach frequently sound pretty, the latter occasionally pompous (hard to imagine anyone with the audacity to write a work titled "The Art of (Anything)" not being a bit pompous!).
I mean anything that sounds like the "Stairway To Heaven" solo (no I'm not saying Led Zeppelin is metal). I submit that metal soloing has approximately nothing to do with the classical concerto.
Yeah, I made the distinction because either solos or some melodic riffs (often played over a rhythm riff) can be referred to as "guitar leads" (ala the melodic riff that opens Maiden's The Trooper:
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The classical concerto link is the virtuosic element. Not that baroque music doesn't require virtuoso skills, but it rarely seems as ostensibly designed as a display of skill the way many classical and romantic concertos were. From that period I think fantasy and other improvisational styles are closer, but they're often for solo instruments without any backing ensemble.
warriorspirit
: if the penis is used as a pencil holder we'll incur a cost. -
Eva_Yojimbo — 9 years ago(November 29, 2016 05:55 PM)
Have no idea what's hipster or indie about either; though both are terms that are tossed around so liberally as to be practically meaningless now. Kayo Dot is only nominally metal anyway, and then only on their first and last albums. Up until Crack the Skye Mastodon just seemed pretty old-fashioned metal with modern hardcore/death vocals. Crack was more prog, then it was back to more old-school stuff.
warriorspirit
: if the penis is used as a pencil holder we'll incur a cost. -
Eva_Yojimbo — 9 years ago(November 29, 2016 06:02 PM)
He may have been trying but I didn't take it as very inflammatory, partly because I like a lot of what's called "indie rock" anyway and don't give a hoot whether something is labeled "hipster" or not; I'm just curious as to how he arrived at that comparison with those bands in particular.
warriorspirit
: if the penis is used as a pencil holder we'll incur a cost. -
drunkbear — 9 years ago(November 26, 2016 11:21 AM)
Try the Russians, esp. Stravinski and Moussorgski. They were very experimental, and turned out some surprising - and surprisingly-enjoyable - music.
- Oh, SOMEbody asides me is gonna RUE this here particular day
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HippieDrillSealOfApproval — 9 years ago(November 26, 2016 11:44 AM)
I instinctively love most classical music. Some of my favorite composers where I actually know some of their works are Bach, Paganini, Chopin, Debussy, Schubert, Handel, Vivaldi, Brahms, and of course Beethoven and Mozart.
Theres a lot of classical pieces I love where Im not sure who the composer is. Like often Ill be watching a movie and the soundtrack will have some classical pieces I love but I wont be able to tell you who it is half the time.
I really should get more familiar with classical music. Ive been kind of stagnant on my music listening for awhile now anyways, I play music more than I listen to it these days. Perhaps exploring classical more will reawaken my passion for listening to music.
To the OP, as long as youre not one of those knobs who has an aversion to guitar music Id recommend checking out some of the great classical guitar composers like Fernando Sor, Agustin Barrios, and Francisco Tárrega.
What are words for when no one listens anymore