Beethoven's opinion about ROCK'n ROLL

[stormx]

Hi !!

Let us imagine that Beethoven (when not deaf), was presented with some music from:

1- Elvis
2- Beatles
3- Pink Floyd

What would you imagine about his reaction? 

Do you beleive he would just completely disqualify it, saying something like "stop that noise, my ears are hurting !! " 

Or do beleive that, even finding it ABSOLUTELY STRANGE, he would have find it somewhat interesting?

[Chrysalis]

i think he would run away....
nah i dont know:)

[Dazzer]

he'd become deaf!

[Derek]

I think he'd think it was a very strange and loud style of folk-music. I bet he would write some pieces based on the Hey Jude melody, thats actually quite a beautiful melody, I could imagine it in a symphony! Imagine that with Beethoven's amazing orchestration...

I think Beethoven would have LOVED boogie woogie, incidentally....but this is all guess work of course..fun to think about it though

[Dazzer]

alright... let's turn the tables a little. Instead of writing classical pieces in a pop form, why not pop songs in a classical form!?:D:D:D:D:D:D

[Kassaa]

I think Beethoven would have LOVED boogie woogie, incidentally....but this is all guess work of course..fun to think about it though

Haha, I'm sure Liszt would love it too 

[musik_man]

Beethoven would've written some badass rock songs.  And then his debut CD would do terribly as most people wouldn't have the attention span to listen to a 10 minute rock song (even if it was masterfully written,) and Beethoven's record label would drop him.

[thalbergmad]

A Metal version of the 5th symphony would be interesting

[Derek]

If any of the masters wrote rock music today, it'd probably go in the "progressive rock" genre

lets face it---the only real differences between classical and rock are fairly superficial ones---formal and stylistic, and of course the instruments used. though rock often uses orchestral instruments and piano, especially in the more experimental, less popular varieties.

And I'm pretty sure several people have already recorded the fifth symphony with at least an electric guitar in for some of the violins...couldn't name those off the top of my head though cause I'm more interested in rock groups who write their own music.

[Nightscape]

Beethoven would likely have been confused - rock is tonal like Beethoven's music, but the harmonic progressions in rock would probably be seen as contradictory to Beethoven.  Like V -> IV or even bVII -> I.  Also he might find the fade-outs odd, as well as the instrumentation.  But I doubt he would run or be frightened, as it isn't too terribly far from popular music in his day.  Play him some Shoenberg, then see his reaction!

You'd probably have more luck with Debussy and Scriabin - they might find Pink Floyd particularly fascinating!

I could also see Vaughn-Williams enjoying the Beatles.

[donjuan]

Im sure Liszt would have been intrigued by rock and maybe even would have written a kick-ass concert paraphrase on your favorite tunes. 

[Derek]

Heh, someone should draw Beethoven wearing a leather jacket, black leather pants, with long hair and tattoos, playing an electric guitar, with a big evil grin on his face.

[Tash]

we once had a discussion in a uni music tutorial about whether beethoven would have preferred his piano or a steinway. so all the steinway lovers of the room were like duh he would've had a blast on a steinway, and then others decided that he would've composed different works for the different pianos. it'd be interesting to see what all the dead composers would think of today's music. i suppose you could attempt to bring up your child listening to nothing but baroque music and then later in life introduce them to see what they think of 21st century music, that'd be interesting...

[Siberian Husky]

we once had a discussion in a uni music tutorial about whether beethoven would have preferred his piano or a steinway. so all the steinway lovers of the room were like duh he would've had a blast on a steinway, and then others decided that he would've composed different works for the different pianos. it'd be interesting to see what all the dead composers would think of today's music. i suppose you could attempt to bring up your child listening to nothing but baroque music and then later in life introduce them to see what they think of 21st century music, that'd be interesting...

that'd be a cruel but nifty science project, haha

[pianomann1984]

A Metal version of the 5th symphony would be interesting

Didn't Bond or Vanessa May, or some other 'musucian' looking for a quick buck already do something like that?!

[Tash]

oh yeah bond has i really don't like it. in fact i don't like any of their arrangments of classical pieces. but that's cos i hate drum beats, i'd rather just listen to the real version