Let’s embark on a whimsical journey to a special place filled with memories, creativity, and delightful soundscapes. I want to awaken your ears to a world of enchanting melodies, where you can pause your background music and simply savor the moment. No Elevator Music allowed; just cutting edge classical vibes...
When we think of classical music, we often picture one of four charming scenarios. Imagine it’s a cozy Monday or Tuesday morning, and you’ve decided to set the mood:
The Baroque Circus: Picture a lutist strumming awkwardly while a piccolo-wielding performer hops around the royal court, desperately trying to catch the attention of a distracted king who’s more interested in his breakfast pastries. Meanwhile, some early piano is clattering away like a toddler on a sugar high. This lively scene makes up about 30% of the classical fare served on many channels. It’s fun and spirited, but you can’t really do homework to this—unless your assignment is to chase farm animals.
The Symphony Wind Tunnel: Now, envision a symphony where violins create a swirling wind of woodwinds and trumpets, like an orchestra trying to blow away a flock of pigeons. A pianist dazzles us with trills, probably thinking, “I hope this impresses my date.” This is the Classical Symphony—making up about 50% of what you hear. It’s beautiful, yet sometimes it feels like an academic lecture on how to play a handstand on a keyboard.
The Waltz of Confusion: Then there are the waltzes, with glorious horns and an orchestra that sounds like they’re all practicing different songs at once—like a musical game of telephone gone wrong. Many Russian composers have crafted pieces that feel like clever excuses to avoid the battlefield.
“I play the notes as they are written, but it is God who makes the music,” said J.S. Bach.
The Fugues of Fate: Lastly, we stumble upon fugues that pop up at odd moments, like that one friend who always shows up uninvited to the party. They’re squeezed between a dramatic Russian symphony and the sweet strains of Madame Butterfly's 64th beats, just hanging out, awkwardly waiting for their moment to shine.
We’ve been surrounded by these musical styles all our lives. While they are dramatic and sophisticated, a classical music workday often misses the mark. It’s like a high school band warming up before recess—lots of enthusiasm, but where’s the actual music?
We need a Shakespeare of classical music, and the only candidate is J.S. Bach. I categorically need my Bach, a musician who wrote in sheer, precise mathematics. Perhaps the most remarkable “mathematics” in Bach’s music are the instances of the golden ratio, often denoted by the Greek letter φ (phi), which is approximately 1.618. Bach wrote for the inclined mathematical ear through his subtle cues in notes and nuanced chords, making him one of the greatest composers of all time.
b–a–c–h is the beginning and end of all music– Max Reger, 1912
Bach had a secret called "The Bach Motif." This motif cleverly incorporates the notes B, A, C, and H—his name transformed into a musical cryptogram. It’s like he left a secret code for all of us to discover. Pachelbel’s Canon in D, known as the Wedding Song, is a prime example of this motif in action. Who doesn’t recognize that catchy tune?
However, classical music can sometimes miss the mark for your health. Unlike other genres, classical music often lacks lyrics (unless we’re talking opera), which means it interacts with our minds in unique ways. Some pieces soothe like a day at the spa, while others blast triumphantly with noise, making you feel like you’re stuck in a blender!
So, let’s bring life back to classical music. Whether it’s Bach’s melodic genius or the soothing modern sounds of incredible artists, there’s a whole world waiting to be discovered in classical crossover music. A new generation of artists has tapped into the Bach Motif, flooding the soul with their note progressions. Remember, music should make you smile, not make you feel like you’re at the dentist’s office.
If you find classical music a bit too 18th century, chunky, or overly dynamic on the piano, harpsichord, or trumpet, try a 21st-century inspired musician (and there are a lot of them with very rewarding journeys into the current musical landscape!) Explore a Classical Crossover Artist. Here are some recommendations :
- Dirk Maassen - Solstice D'Été Listen Here Watch Here
- Chad Lawson Listen Here Watch Here
- Piano Novel Listen Here
- Jóhann Jóhannsson Listen Here
- Helen Jane Long Listen Here
- Fiona Joy Hawkins Listen Here
- Brian Crain Listen Here
- Ryan Stewart Listen Here
- Ludovico Einaudi Listen Here
- Marconi Union (Ambient Soundscape Artist) Listen Here
For more on the Bach Motif, check out this Wikipedia link. And for your listening pleasure, explore iTunes or Spotify for a rich library of classical and crossover music.
So, let the melodies flow and rediscover the magic of classical music—there’s a whole universe waiting for you to explore. Be careful what goes in your ears!