Classical Music Thread

**Matritensis** · 11-25-2010, 08:34 PM

[YOUTUBE]f73r-wWYzAQ[/YOUTUBE]

Epic! I love this!

**Magister Eckhart** · 11-27-2010, 10:01 AM

[YOUTUBE]F8oqZ7SJN_8[/YOUTUBE]

A thought crossed my mind recently when thinking about how we describe "classical music" and I had to wonder if the contemporary epic film might not represent a sort of Winter-tide operatic form (since we have now passed the time of true creativity in the West); after all, it is in many ways an imitation of the Wagnerian form. Thus, do the soundtracks for said epic pieces (pioneered by Star Wars and John Williams) represent "classical" music?

**Simonsson** · 11-29-2010, 07:18 PM

Good point, I've thought of that myself a few times. I think that it is applicable as a branch of contemporary classical music, just as jazz is a relative of classical music, even though not to a particularly large extent.

**Magister Eckhart** · 11-30-2010, 10:34 AM

Originally Posted by Simonsson

Good point, I've thought of that myself a few times. I think that it is applicable as a branch of contemporary classical music, just as jazz is a relative of classical music, even though not to a particularly large extent.

I do not share your positive views of jazz, which is foreign to us, so I'm somewhat wary of accepting the "contemporary classical" label.

I myself might propose that it represents a return to native forms rather than any sort of imagined progress. For example, much of it (especially in LotR) is thoroughly Wagnerian in the use of leitmotifs. For example, Theodan's theme appears wherever Rohan has a great role to play:

[YOUTUBE]Om_BKWttz18[/YOUTUBE]

While The Fellowship's theme is present where there is emphasis on said Fellowship:

[YOUTUBE]Hss1puOeBmU[/YOUTUBE]

These are definitely Western forms being inserted into music once again, however, nothing like the foreign influence of Negroes that created Jazz and Swing, or the cacophony of atonal "music".

I invite others to jump in here and offer some examples.

**Simonsson** · 11-30-2010, 10:42 AM

Well, I suppose the difference of our opinions lies in the fact I don't base my music selections on ethnic backgrounds.

Also, to coincide with the title of this thread, some music as well:

[youtube]ty8CCHicF40[/youtube]
[youtube]oo7z469Y7bg[/youtube]
[youtube]6AynXDnFuOE[/youtube]

**Magister Eckhart** · 11-30-2010, 09:59 PM

Originally Posted by Simonsson

Well, I suppose the difference of our opinions lies in the fact I don't base my music selections on ethnic backgrounds.

Also, to coincide with the title of this thread, some music as well:

[YOUTUBE]ty8CCHicF40[/YOUTUBE]
[YOUTUBE]oo7z469Y7bg[/YOUTUBE]
[YOUTUBE]6AynXDnFuOE[/YOUTUBE]

"Classical" music is Western; I dare say your position on this matter is more tenuous. Also, "Western" isn't an ethnicity, it's a culture - or a civilization, and there are none who can argue convincingly that the Negro is not foreign to it.

Therefore, I don't base my musical selections on ethnic backgrounds either (I actually like a lot of slower Jazz, and traditional Indian music also appeals to me greatly-- but I'm not going to pretend either is native to the West or to Europeans). All in all, you'll find I'm also less willing to throw foreign music into a European category strictly for reasons of accuracy.

Now, surely someone besides Simonsson and myself must have an opinion on this point. We have so many listeners to classical music, after all.

**The Lawspeaker** · 12-02-2010, 04:57 AM

Even if you can't speak Dutch. Radio 4 is always interesting if you're into classical music.
Ooh.. and for the capitalists amongst us: it's publically held.

**Crossbow** · 12-02-2010, 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by The Wagnerian

"Classical" music is Western; I dare say your position on this matter is more tenuous. Also, "Western" isn't an ethnicity, it's a culture - or a civilization, and there are none who can argue convincingly that the Negro is not foreign to it.

Therefore, I don't base my musical selections on ethnic backgrounds either (I actually like a lot of slower Jazz, and traditional Indian music also appeals to me greatly-- but I'm not going to pretend either is native to the West or to Europeans). All in all, you'll find I'm also less willing to throw foreign music into a European category strictly for reasons of accuracy.

Now, surely someone besides Simonsson and myself must have an opinion on this point. We have so many listeners to classical music, after all.

I agree, but Jazz and blues are pretty much influenced by elements of western music: harmony, and therefore melodies are formed departing from the western basis of harmony, the major and minor triads. "Blue' notes are intervals which give jazz and blues its typical character.
So what differs this musical style from western music would be only these characteristic notes (and as a result of that, some chord-building as well), as well as the 'exotic' rhythms.