I've had a very boring music class today at school. While trying to stay alive throughout it, I heard a classmate asking the teacher why don't we learn about rock'n'roll or jazz music too, saying: "There are some rock bands that have been hugely influenced by classical composers. I know that Queen have been influenced by J. S. Bach..."
Oh well she's not a Queen fan (btw, she says I'm obsessed with them), but to say such things, come on... I can't see any connection between Queen and Bach, unless for Procession, but she definitely hasn't ever heard the song.
I simply laughed heartily and let her alone. Any comments?
My father (a conductor and choirmaster) once listened to Brians Guitar Solo from Live at Wembley, and compared the last quiet bit with a classical fuga created by the triple-delay causing the melodies to overlap each other.
He also said that some of the compositions really have a classic touch in terms of harmonies and playing technique. especially the piano-solo in "Love of my life". Maybe Sebastian can add more.
Of course Queen would have been influenced to some degree by many composers, Bach among them. Certainly Holst in Brian's case.
But this was probably just a flippant remark by your teacher hoping to ignite a tiny spark of interest in an apparently moribund lesson.
Has she got nice tits, by the way?
Could be. Just looking at the structural quality of each piece, not to mention chord modulations, sections, etc -- I mean, I could go on and on about how Queen were obviously influenced by classical composers. But it's there. Just has to be looked for past the surface. :)
Yes, defintely in the earlier orchastrated guitar pieces (f.e. Procession, Brighton Rock)
Even more Bach-type elements are used by Deep Purple especially Jon Lord!
Regor wrote:
My father (a conductor and choirmaster) once listened to Brians Guitar Solo from Live at Wembley, and compared the last quiet bit with a classical fuga created by the triple-delay causing the melodies to overlap each other.
He also said that some of the compositions really have a classic touch in terms of harmonies and playing technique. especially the piano-solo in "Love of my life". Maybe Sebastian can add more.
Yes, but only in the early 70s, when they were trying something similar to the medieval metal (on Queen II, e.g. Procession). It was on purpose then. But I don't think their music, as a whole was very much influenced by Bach. On LOML, they deliberatley tried something a bit classical (just look at the album's name, for God's sake! A Night At The OPERA :)...). Freddie used to describe Bo Rhap as a "mock opera", isn't it? LOML too has this classical feel.
That'll drive some people on the board crazy, but, after all, Queen were the first band to mix rock, opera and dance music in a... *some tomatoes flying right into her face*... ok, ok, me myself I'm fed up with this silly phrase, I've run across it for thousands of times, but it was one of the main reasons I loved Queen in the begginings, they were close to the classical muisc I was very fond of by then.
However, they may have used many kinds of harmonies, but that doesn't mean they were Bach's direct successors. Or, at least, no one can state Bach as their MAIN influence. The classical music was one of the many they had (but I doubt it's especially Bach).
Oh and, Sebastian, you're definitely welcome on this thread... If you've got anything to say, be my guest!
<font color="red">Brianmay1975 wrote: Or, at least, no one can state Bach as their MAIN influence. The classical music was one of the many they had (but I doubt it's especially Bach).
What makes you say that?
I've got a friend who's a musical prodigy, and his #1 influence is Bach.
<font color="red">Brianmay1975 wrote: Or, at least, no one can state Bach as their MAIN influence. The classical music was one of the many they had (but I doubt it's especially Bach).
What makes you say that?
I've got a friend who's a musical prodigy, and his #1 influence is Bach.
OK, perhaps I didn't speak my mind the way I should. I didn't want to say that Bach definitely wasn't their #1 influence. But it just doesn't seem to me that Bach was their main influence, I see very little connection between them and Bach's music... perhaps there are some obvious reasons to say it,but I just can't find them. I think they're somehow more connected to the glam / hard rock thing in the 70s or the Italian opera (but applying only to some songs, e.g. Bo rhap, It's A hard Life...), more than to Bach. BUT I could be wrong. That's what I was waiting for when starting this topic, to get some great opinions that could persuade me I'm getting it all wrong :)...
Bach-favorized elements like counterpoints, counter melodies, trill ornaments, pedal bass, voice-leading, canon were present in many Queen songs but usually in minority compared to "modern" influences.
For my ears Dear Friends is influenced by chamber music, but not quite J.S.Bachesque IMO. A big part of their classical influences (eg. The Kiss, the whole operatic stuff) came from the post-Bach era, also they got "second hand" classical influences coming from the progressive rock genre.
juls wrote:
Yes, defintely in the earlier orchastrated guitar pieces (f.e. Procession, Brighton Rock)
Even more Bach-type elements are used by Deep Purple especially Jon Lord!
and "esp" Ritchie B:
"Do you ever go and see it live?"
Ritchie Blackmore: Yeah, I should have gone to the Hollywood Bowl tonight to see a Bach concert. The trouble with that is, once you get hung up on that, it’s hard to relate that to rock. In one respect, you must not forget the roots, which is rock. Obviously, I could never be that good to play classical, but I like to incorporate it. I’m inspired by famous pieces. I mean, I listen very carefully to the patterns that Bach plays. I pick up on certain chord progressions that he uses and I like to use those, which is what we’ve done on the LP a lot.
"You also used that type of sequence for the solo on “Highway Star” ["Made in Japan"]."
Ritchie Blackmore: That’s right. That’s a Bach progression.