Numerous music fads have come and gone over the last decades. But classical music has incredibly withstood the test of time over several centuries, being the one constant form that all modern music draws inspiration from.
But how is classical and pop music related? Well, for starters, without it, there wouldn’t be a written music history or form. And even the instruments in use today would be completely different.
This article will give you a deeper look into how classical music is indispensable even today and its influence on modern music.
Words and music
It is common knowledge that most classical music is primarily instrumental in nature. On the contrary, much of pop music relies on vocals. However, there still are similarities between both these music genres.
The main body of classical instrumental music provides a base for many modern music forms. Specifically, it is the structure of classical music that plays a crucial role in popular music. For instance, many pop songs have a structure involving the start, a chorus, the middle eight, and the end. If you study classical music’s romantic era, you will find that many music pieces during this time had a similar structure.
Modern Rock music and the Baroque era
The complex, intriguing rock music genre has its roots in the Baroque era that lasted around the 1600-1700s. This was the time when western classical music compositions came into the scene. Even now, modern pop stars and bands draw inspiration from Baroque music. For example, bands like Led Zeppelin have acknowledged classical music influence in their songs. On the other hand, artists like Lady Gaga have quintessential Baroque themes running through many of their compositions.
The chorus
Studies reveal that music can be beneficial to the brain. For this reason, music is being used as a therapy all across the world. People particularly prefer to listen to soft, classical music to calm frayed nerves. However, modern music has its fans too. And more importantly, both music forms have a similar trait in the chorus.
Pop music chorus is a major attraction to music lovers. It entails a repetitive, catchy tune that repeatedly plays in a song, subconsciously causing the listeners to memorize it. However, not many are aware that this pop music chorus style has been influenced by classical music. Over the years, classical music pieces have a short melody that periodically repeats a theme, bringing the listener back to the main music piece.
Modern songs with a classical influence
If you are still wondering – “how is classical and pop music related?”, there are several aspects that can explain the relationship between these genres. For instance, even the classical music era had pop stars in Mozart and Bach, whom many considered to be forward for their time. Many modern musicians take inspiration from the revolutionary music of these artists.
To cite a few famous examples:
- Elvis Presley’s superhit song “I can’t help falling in love with You” was based on “Plaisir d’amour” by Jean-Paul-Égide Martini (1784).
- Eric Carmen’s hit “All By Myself” was inspired by Sergei Rachmaninov’s emotional “Piano Concerto No. 2” (1900).
So, like all other art forms, music will keep evolving, relying on its deep classical roots.
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