How would legendary composers react to modern music?

[Borgholio]

Today on the drive to work I was listening to Avenged Sevenfold and I started thinking about how music has evolved over the centuries. Over time it has become more complex, with larger numbers of instruments being created over the years. Harpsichord -> Piano -> Synthesizer, Lute -> Guitar -> Electric Guitar, etc...

I found myself wondering what past musicians and composers would think if they listened to today's music. Say that Chopin or Bach found themselves listening to a modern band such as Muse or Bastille. Or a Greek or Roman lyre-player had the opportunity to listen to a modern rock musician play an electric guitar. What would they think? Would they consider it pure noise and trash since many of the instruments and styles didn't exist in their day? Or would they recognize how music has become more complex and appreciate how the sounds of these new instruments blend in nicely with ones they would be familiar with such as brass and strings? (Not saying they'd actually ENJOY what they heard, but that they would appreciate the artistry of it)

[FireNexus]

Probably depends on their age when they hear it. At younger ages they would be more receptive, while as they got older less so. That seems to be how people react to new kinds of music.

[Thanas]

I am pretty sure that Beethoven would appreciate modern punk.

[Borgholio]

I am pretty sure that Beethoven would appreciate modern punk.

Really? I would have expected punk to be one of the least appreciated forms of music...

Or is it because it'll be easier for him to "feel" the vibrations of the music after he went deaf?

[Thanas]

I am pretty sure that Beethoven would appreciate modern punk.

Really? I would have expected punk to be one of the least appreciated forms of music...

No, it is just that Beethoven was very much in favor of leaving constraints and traditions behind, or at least in favor of such attempts.

Also, this:

is pretty close to punk if punk were classical IMO.

[Jub]

I am pretty sure that Beethoven would appreciate modern punk.

Really? I would have expected punk to be one of the least appreciated forms of music...

Or is it because it'll be easier for him to "feel" the vibrations of the music after he went deaf?

Listen to the brash tones of a Beethoven piece and tell me he wouldn't gravitate to punk, or perhaps even more fitting, certain kinds of heavy metal.

[Borgholio]

Nice piece. That definitely sounds edgier than most classical I've listened to.

[Executor32]

You could always start them off with something like this—



—and then move on to actual modern compositions. Ease them into it, so to speak.

[Iroscato]

I am pretty sure that Beethoven would appreciate modern punk.

Really? I would have expected punk to be one of the least appreciated forms of music...

No, it is just that Beethoven was very much in favor of leaving constraints and traditions behind, or at least in favor of such attempts.

Also, this:

is pretty close to punk if punk were classical IMO.

Nice. I also love the odd chimaera (heh) that is classical music fans commenting on youtube. And never the twain shall meet...

[Zor]

I remember from my Intro to Ancient Greece and Rome course that their was an ancient greek equivalent of Rap music. You had a piper put down a beat while the singer lays down a poem in musical form often about sex and battle.

And apparently the vikings had their equivalents to rap music.

Zor

[Mr. Coffee]

You could always start them off with something like this—



—and then move on to actual modern compositions. Ease them into it, so to speak.

As much as I love Vossy, that's the exact fucking opposite of what the OP ask for, dude. If we're doing that shit, I've got a lot of stuff I could post of covers of classical music (For fuck's sake, I ever made a thread just for that in AMP. duh).

[Zeropoint]

I'd guess that Vivaldi would love what we've done--some of his pieces are ALREADY metal; you just have to play them on the electric guitar like they were obviously meant to be.

[Thanas]

Or he'd recoil in horror.

More wild guesses: Mozart would be into modern pop. Sometimes innovative, oftentimes repetitive, often bland standard fare made for money which offends nobody.

[Mr. Coffee]

More wild guesses: Mozart would be into modern pop. Sometimes innovative, oftentimes repetitive, often bland standard fare made for money which offends nobody.

Now I'm imagining him and Skrillix collaborating on the mother of all drops....

[Lord Pounder]

More wild guesses: Mozart would be into modern pop. Sometimes innovative, oftentimes repetitive, often bland standard fare made for money which offends nobody.

Now I'm imagining him and Skrillix collaborating on the mother of all drops....

All I can imagine is anyone with a sense of rhythm hearing Skrillix and pulling a professor farnsworth and asking for a ticket off the planet.

[Iroscato]

You could always start them off with something like this—



—and then move on to actual modern compositions. Ease them into it, so to speak.

Oh man, that is right up my aural street, and I didn't even realise until now

[tim31]

And of course, Johann Pachelbel would grimace and say 'guys, there are other chord progressions.'

[Executor32]

You could always start them off with something like this—

<snip>

—and then move on to actual modern compositions. Ease them into it, so to speak.

Oh man, that is right up my aural street, and I didn't even realise until now

If you liked that, you (and Beethoven, I imagine) might also like this:



I swear, Jeff Loomis is like the god of arpeggios on guitar. That first part of the intro—before the backing track starts—almost sounds like it's being played on a harp, it's so... perfect.

[Dalton]

Had to post this. (skip to 2:15)

[Mr. G]

You could always start them off with something like this—



—and then move on to actual modern compositions. Ease them into it, so to speak.

Metal always has a certain similarity to classical music. Like classical, it takes itself seriously and is characterized by a strong sense of theatricality.

But in general, I don't think most classical composers would like most popular music, it's more like the folk music of pre-industrial days, more simple, not very dramatic and less "serious" sounding. With some very limited exceptions, such as Dream Theater, a progressive rock/metal band, most popular music is not complex compared to classical music. Even heavy metal, which claims classical influence, doesn't usually try to mimic the complexity of classical music, the similarity mostly being in the dramatic/powerful sound and the technical virtuosity of those who play.

[Mr. Coffee]

You could always start them off with something like this—

<snip>

—and then move on to actual modern compositions. Ease them into it, so to speak.

Oh man, that is right up my aural street, and I didn't even realise until now

If you liked that, you (and Beethoven, I imagine) might also like this:



I swear, Jeff Loomis is like the god of arpeggios on guitar. That first part of the intro—before the backing track starts—almost sounds like it's being played on a harp, it's so... perfect.

You are a bro for posting that. Jeff Loomis is a literal guitar god.

[Mr. Coffee]

You could always start them off with something like this—



—and then move on to actual modern compositions. Ease them into it, so to speak.

Damnit, Exec, you started it... Mods, maybe consider moving the thread to AMP and retitling it something about "Classical Covers and NeoClassical Guitar"?

[Iroscato]

^ I like this plan, it is a good plan.

[Mr. Coffee]

So let's embrace our new topic like baroque ballas, yo...