Beethoven Found Alive and Well
/That’s right, Beethoven, Bach, Mozart, many other famous composers composers are alive and well in today’s music world.
In fact, classical music is hiding in plain sight everywhere in the music industry.
I can almost see you shaking your head no and rolling your eyes at me. Please, hear me out.
“Back in the pioneer days”, as my kids say to me from time to time, I was a piano student, and yes, I studied classical music. Back then, I didn’t think it was that interesting or fascinating at all, until I started making the connections of music from then with the music of today.
One of my studies included “Plasir d’amour”, by Martini. It was beautiful, I admit, but as I improved on my playing, I realized how much it reminded me of “I can’t help falling in love”, by Elvis Presley/Corey Hart, and I’m sure more artists over the years. Suddenly, I found learning classical music interesting and I started listening for it day to day music. It was everywhere, I was amazed. I thought this was so clever of new artists to include these works to make them new again, make them exciting to listen to.
Think about it for a minute.
Imagine many of these artists probably started their musical journey learning classical music. Does it not make sense then, that they would find a way to incorporate those experiences and tools into their music. It seems that the most popular musical time periods that artists are in touch with are the Baroque (1600-1750) and the Romantic (1830-1900) period. The Beethoven’s. Bach’s Mozart, Vivaldi.
For fun, although, I haven’t referenced any music of today that incorporated female composers, there were we substantial number of successful women composers during those time periods. Some of these are: Francesca Caccini, Isabella Leonarda, Hildagard von Bingen. But more about these fabulous artists in my next blog.
I shall digress and get back to my list of todays artist who leveraged some of the most famous classical composer’s music as an inspiration to create new music for us today.
Artists such as:
Led Zeppelin “Stairway to Heaven”-Johann Sebastian Bach’s Bourree in E minor
The Beatles “Blackbird” also used Johann Sebastian Bach’s Bourree in E minor
Maroon 5-“Memories” uses Pachelbel’s eight-note harmonic progression from Canon
Elvis Presley “Can’t help falling in love” from Jean-Paul Martini’s Plaisir d’amour
One Republic “Secrets” uses Beethoven’s 5th Symphony
Ludacris “Coming 2 America” uses Mozart’s Requiem Mass in D minor ll)
DJ Premier and Nas “Regeneration” Uses Vivaldi Concerto No 2 in g minor
Nas “I can” contains Beethoven’s Fur Elise
Capone-N-Norega (Straight Like that)
Beyonce “Ava Maria” Song by Franz Schubert
I truly appreciate and believe that the classical era was the foundation for music today.
It is so powerful, even without lyrics. Classical music is so intense and rich that it fills you with wonder. Maybe that’s where the saying came from “music to my ears”.
I wonder if Beethoven and the rest of the gang would agree with how their work is being presented in today’s music world.
My name is Tammy. I am an avid lover of animals, music, and nature. I have 15 dogs and 1 cat, and spend most of my free time exploring nature, swimming, reading, and writing.
