I seem to rember that Freddie had the most "scholing" in music ( as a kid) while Brian is referred as having the most knowledge on how to constract harmonies ( perhaps more able to read music sheets also)
I am not referring to knowldge on their instrument piano/voice VS. guitar, but in music theory in general.
So pre-Queen (mostly) was it Brian or Freddie who was more classsically trained?
None are classically trained musicians and none are classical musicians. Do you know the difference between a classical musician and a pop/rock musician. The gulf is like different planets. That's not to say crazy little thing called love isn't as good as Mozart concerto 26.
Both Freddie and Brian did receive some basic classical training playing the piano. "Classical training" is not some secret magical ritual, and not everyone who has received classical training becomes a member of a symphony orchestra. I've had some classical training in music theory myself (harmony, counterpoint), and that doesn't mean I'm some sort of wizard.
I would say that neither of them had any particular classical training beyond say, grade 4 or 5 piano. Brian might have reached a higher grade but that's irrelevant when it comes to writing your own music.
Basically they possess an excellent ear, and experience and experimenting shows them what works and what doesn't. Writing a rock song is not like writing a symphony or sonata, it's far more simple. That doesn't make it less difficult, because actually it's hard to be concise.
Bohemian Rhapsody's middle section is not really classical, it's a mind-blowing mini-epic, but it's not classical in any way.
We have to be careful when talking about 'classically trained' that it doesn't become a bench mark for quality. The quality comes from within, the training allows what is inside to get outside, that is what it's for. I have a music degree and a masters from two conservatoires, and I can tell you it is of little relevance when it comes to rock and roll, although it might have given me a sharper ear than someone who hasn't trained - but experience also gives you that if you teach yourself how to listen.
What I can do that Freddie or Brian couldn't do is play the Rachmaninoff piano concertos and the Beethoven sonatas. What they can do that I can't, or haven't yet (who knows) done, is be mind-blowing gifted songwriters and rock stars. Different disciplines.
Even in Barcelona, Freddie used a classically-trained composer to help him, and in fact I think Mike Moran's contribution to that was more than just to orchestrate, he was a fully-fledged ideas factory.
Ok. I get where the misfire was. That's why in my original post i spontaneously wrote "classically" trained, and then, silly me, i remooved the quotation marks.
So by "classically" i basicly mean technical knowledge. Knowing how things might work rather than experimenting. Not that the one is better than the other or that in 100% of the cases they do not go hand in hand.
But seems to me that Brian was more aware of music theory, while Freddie (who most of the times knew exactly what he wanted even if not always knowing exactly how to get there) based his method on his talent/improvising thing.
Another approach could be "Who of the two was slightly more able, to bring the other's ideas into fruition?"
miraclesteinway wrote:
I would say that neither of them had any particular classical training beyond say, grade 4 or 5 piano. Brian might have reached a higher grade but that's irrelevant when it comes to writing your own music.
Basically they possess an excellent ear, and experience and experimenting shows them what works and what doesn't. Writing a rock song is not like writing a symphony or sonata, it's far more simple. That doesn't make it less difficult, because actually it's hard to be concise.
Bohemian Rhapsody's middle section is not really classical, it's a mind-blowing mini-epic, but it's not classical in any way.
We have to be careful when talking about 'classically trained' that it doesn't become a bench mark for quality. The quality comes from within, the training allows what is inside to get outside, that is what it's for. I have a music degree and a masters from two conservatoires, and I can tell you it is of little relevance when it comes to rock and roll, although it might have given me a sharper ear than someone who hasn't trained - but experience also gives you that if you teach yourself how to listen.
What I can do that Freddie or Brian couldn't do is play the Rachmaninoff piano concertos and the Beethoven sonatas. What they can do that I can't, or haven't yet (who knows) done, is be mind-blowing gifted songwriters and rock stars. Different disciplines.
Even in Barcelona, Freddie used a classically-trained composer to help him, and in fact I think Mike Moran's contribution to that was more than just to orchestrate, he was a fully-fledged ideas factory.
thomasquinn 32989 wrote:
I've had some classical training in music theory myself (harmony, counterpoint), and that doesn't mean I'm some sort of wizard.