Classical Music Fans, What's Your Opinion Of Rock Artist's Performing Classical Works?

Question

I was just curious as to how You fell about this subject.
Several of My favorite Rock artists are very Classically influenced I.E.
Deep Purple
Rainbow
Yngwie Malmsteen
ELP
I wonder what Classical listeners and fans think of the influence of Classical upon Rock?

Case in Point:
Emerson Lake & Powell's Version of
"Mars The bringer Of War"

Scenok
I am a classicaly trained Concert Pianist
As was my Mother
Thank You

Answer 1

I love it! You made reference to Gustav Holtz; Check out 'King Crimson' paying homage the suite's bombastic opening movement, 'Mars, Bringer Of War', in their suite 'The Devil's Triangle' from their classic second album, In the Wake of Poseidon.
http://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/king_crimson/in_the_wake_of_poseidon/
Actually, they'd been performing "Mars" in concert since early 1969, but could never get permission to adapt the piece officially.
'The Planets' is one of my favorite classical pieces of all time!
Holtz was a genius! Gustav's daughter, along with the publisher closely guarded his work, and would never let it be interpreted by a rock band.
By the end of the 1970s, however, the rock audiences demand for the piece had grown too big to ignore, and there followed a couple completely different adaptations of "The Planets" for Moog synthesizer. One, very ornate and flashy, and heavily laden with sound effects, was done by 'Isao Tomita' on RCA, and so offended the publisher and Holst's daughter, that it was blocked from release in England. Great album by the way!
http://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/tomita/the_tomita_planets/
http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/tomita
Emerson Lake & Powell's 1985 rendition is cool also, and they must have done some sweet talking to get away with it. Either that or Gustav's daughter was hard up for cash, or deceased!

I also enjoy it when the tables are turned. The LSO has done marvelous interpretations of both The Beatles, and The Who.

Answer 2

I love it, but I don't know too many bands that have actually been influenced or play classical works other than neo-classical metal guitarists, which I know few of. I'm not a big fan of those guitarists anyway.

Other than that, besides the ones you mentioned, Yes also did at least one classical work. It was in Fragile, called "Cans and Bahms". It was from Brahms' 4th Symphony in E minor, Third Movement composed by Johannes Brahms, The Yes song was arranged by Rick Wakeman. From when it begins, it's instantly noticeable that the track is a classical piece with some progressive elements.

Answer 3

There certainly have been some passable attempts. Fanfare for the Common Man from ELP was good.
Other pieces that I have heard rarely make much sense. It does however show that the performers do have some musical training. I would not describe Deep Purple or Rainbow as being classically influenced, although some bands such as ELO clearly are carrying over something of all those years of music lessons.
Generally, there is not much that the rock bands bring to the table is terms of interpretations, so whats the point?
Don't even get me started on so called "cross over" artists.

Answer 4

My father listens to almsot all the bands you list and several more. I have to say that they are ok. Me personally I found that the combination of classical and rock is near prefection at times. For example the aww inspiring Trans- Siberian Orchestra's "Beethoven's Last Night". Or you could consider Some non classical bands such as Uriah Heep or even more modren hard hitters like Nightwish. I find that the crossing point between these types of music is required and without it most modren music would be bland. I can say this even as a huge trance and techno fan. With out classical influnce bands like Kraftwerk and Tangerine Dream would be sleeper music. So heres to being classically influenced.
Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 5

I like it ~ from what little I've *knowingly* heard of it!

The first examples I can think of are :~

ELP's cover of 'Fanfare for the Common Man'
Jethro Tull's interpretations of 'Bouree' and 'Pavane'

And I think Mike Oldfield had a few Classical influences in his work.


I think a lot of Rock fans would be suprised at just how much Classical has influenced many Rock artists.

Answer 6

Much of it is played badly but I guess that sometimes it might inspire somebody in the audience to say "what was that ?" and they may look further into classical music.

Answer 7

Classical groups play "rock" music for some POPs concerts.

Borrowing is part of musical history

Answer 8

King Crimson, ELO, Frank Zappa, ELP and The Moody Blues come to mind.

Answer 9

Rock bands DO NOT perform classical works. They take themes and play in their manner.
To perform a piano sonata by Mozart, you must play the exact notes which Mozart composed (not only notes, of course). You don't need a bass guitar, an acoustic guitar, a drum set and a keyboard.

Answer 10

Some of it is pretty bad. Often it is not done tastefully ...

but ...

It DOES sometimes bring the music to a wider audience!