What Makes Classical Music Different?
Certain stylistic features in classical music (speaking in general terms) differentiate it from many other genres of music, especially pop music, country or jazz. Some of these are common knowledge; whereas, others are not.
- Classical music today gives equal consideration to instrumental music as well as vocal. For instance, Mozart and Beethoven wrote several symphonies that featured only musical instruments and no voice. (They also both wrote operas that did feature the voice). The idea here is that timbres (tone quality) of different instruments are like pallets of different colors a painter uses to paint. Thus, composers can draw upon these instruments to depict emotions other than sadness and happiness, using instruments in addition to the voice.
- Classical music is pre-composed note for note, with very little opportunity for solo improvisation, such as what we discovered in jazz. Remember that during the swing era (early jazz), most big bands used written arrangements with very little improvisation. In classical music it is more about the composer than the performer; whereas in modern jazz of today, which emphasizes solo improvisation over composed music and the composer, it is the opposite
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Wide range of emotions. Pop music basically deals with two emotions--happiness (in love) and sadness (out of love). Any topic other than that is almost a novelty. Classical composers, especially Beethoven, explore a much wider range of emotions (e.g., despair, ecstasy, jubilation) expressed through the music.
- Whereas the instrumentation in rock is mostly guitars and drums, the classical symphonic orchestra consists of 4 large families of instruments: strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion. Whereas rock groups tend to have a small number of musicians, an orchestra may have up to 60 or more musicians. The orchestra also breaks down into smaller units, such as chamber ensembles and string quartets.
Note in the following photo that the string section is situated closest to the conductor and audience because these are the softest sounding instruments (more quiet than others behind them).
The Classical Symphony Orchestra of Today
- Woodwinds
- 2 Flutes
- 2 Oboes
- 2 Clarinets (in C, B♭, or A)
- 2 Bassoons
- Brass
- 2 or 4 French horns (in any key)
- 2 Trumpets (in any key)
- Percussion
- 2 Timpani
- Strings
- 10 Violins 1
- 10 Violins 2
- 9 Violas
- 5 Cellos
- 3 Double basses
(NOTE: Students do not need to know all the individual instruments. Do know the four major divisions of the orchestra)
- The orchestra uses a conductor who rehearses the orchestra and teaches the orchestra the conductor’s vision of how the music should be played. Yes, the conductor keeps the time, but that is probably the most pedestrian function he performs. The goal of the conductor is to transfer his vision of how the music should be played to the musicians, the final result being the music itself. In this regard, the priority for the conductor is to render the music as he thinks the original composer wanted it. That is not easy to do with composers like Mozart who are dead. How does one know how Mozart wanted his music to be performed since there are no extant recordings of his performances? Conductors research the music, look at letters that Mozart wrote and consider all the clues that might help in developing a picture. In the end, one conductor's interpretation of a Mozart symphony can vary from that of another.
FILM CLIP: To contrast styles of conducting. Each conductor is a world onto one’s own. View the first three minutes of the following clip and note the insights into conducting offered by the interviewees. Then browse through the clip looking at other examples of conductors conducting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYnqU4AJvtA Links to an external site.
Then there is this guy, Joseph R. Olefirowicz. Talk about interpreting the music visually as one goes along . . . (go figure). This is for fun (not covered on the exam). He does have personality.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJU0lC3iHaY Links to an external site.
- In classical music, there is no instrument, such as the trap drums, that establish a steady, isometric, rhythm in which the main beats of the rhythm are constantly sounded. This allows the conductor to expand and contract the melody line to achieve different expressions.
Metallica, A notable exception: In 1999 the heavy metal band Metallica partnered with the San Francisco Symphony, which resulted in the live album and DVD called S&M. This is a rare meeting of two very different genres of music coming together, and it works, in my opinion (some hard core Metallica fans think the band "sold out" with this recording). The idea of combining classical and alternative music is more common in Europe, mostly because the classical tradition started there and has deep roots. Lars Ulrich is the trap drummer with Metallica. So, here is a reinvention of the symphony, moving outside its historical comfort zone, and teaming up with instruments usually considered a no-no in the classical performance tradition. On what levels does it work? Anytime, a symphony is involved the songwriting has to be better than good. Metallica's writing meets that challenge. Metallica is definitely the featured band in this concert, hence the symphony acts more like an accompaniment to Metallica. I believe Metallica did another concert with the SF Symphony in which they backed up the symphony. If this is your cup of tea, you may also want to check out groups like the Finnish cello quartet Apocalyptica, which sometimes covered tunes by Metallica and other alternative bands.
Watch the first five minutes of the Metallica concert with the San Francisco Symphony. Even if you are not a heavy metal fan, would you say that the fusion of classical and heavy metal actually works? I think it does work in the sense that the orchestra definitely adds richness to the music and emotional intensity of Metallica's song writing. Also, visually speaking, it would have been an interesting concert to attend.
Link Links to an external site.
- Audience etiquette: One has to sit quietly through a performance of classical music and know when to clap. This is because classical music was traditionally supported throughout history by the aristocratic and well-to-do classes. Hence, the music in many ways reflects those values.
Comments from atop the soap box (and will not be on the exam): What in modern times has taken over the role of the rich patron? Maybe it is corporate advertising. Perhaps the only difference between them and the aristocractic patronage system of the past is that patrons cared about the music at least to some degree. Advertisers care only about using someone's music to sell something, which is another way to look at advertising on You Tube.
- Classical musicians generally have more formal training in music and a wider variety of musical skills, with the exception of some jazz musicians. Check out Arthur Rubenstein performing De Falla's "Ritual Fire Dance." Simply enjoy Rubenstein's mastery of technique, interpretation, and the highly visible way his hands dance across the keyboard. He is considered one of the top 10 all time performers on the piano.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wj6_5qWZCDY Links to an external site.
- Some classical music is programmatic. The music is supposed to imitate something in reality. For instance, Handle used a harp to imitate water in his piece “Water Music.”
EXAMPLE: Vivaldi’s, “The Spring” (Allegro = Brisk / lively); from The Four Seasons
Note: Brisk tempo, use of primarily strings, thin texture (few instruments playing at once), and instruments playing high notes.
Listen from 0 secs to 3:18: When listening to this example, ask yourself why Vivaldi used strings, and especially the fiddle, to depict spring. Think in terms of the instruments having a light tone (young bunny rabbits running around green fields under bright sunny skies), the violin being high pitched. Contrast that idea with perhaps instruments playing in lower pitches to denote something like winter. Also enjoy Perlman's consummate playing on the fiddle in this clip.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKthRw4KjEg Links to an external site.
Classical Music Nearly Starts Riot in Paris
In looking at programmatic music, it just makes sense that different composers interpret different themes in different ways. Here is another example of spring, this time by Stravinsky. The composition is called "The Rite of Spring." It is a ballet, which means music combined with dance. From about 2:45 on, the ballet starts. The dances are inspired by village dances that have pagan origins, having to do with fertility. Back in the day, especially among agricultural communities, such as those found in Europe over 100 years ago, it was common to see these kinds of rituals being performed.
However, when the ballet was performed in Paris in 1913, it nearly started a riot. There were reports of fist fights and men burning seats. Why? The values of the Post Victorian age still applied. Stravinsky's depiction of pagan rites in the dance and that throbbing, undulating and powerful rhythm heard in the music conjured up images a little more risque than bunny rabbits frolicking in the sunshine. Stravinsky was suggesting something more in keeping with the expression, "The birds and bees do it."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jo4sf2wT0wU Links to an external site.