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From: aam@pucc-h (Dwight McKay)
Newsgroups: net.music.classical
Subject: Fresh Aire anyone?
Message-ID: <1224@pucc-h>
Date: Thu, 20-Sep-84 16:14:47 EDT
Article-I.D.: pucc-h.1224
Posted: Thu Sep 20 16:14:47 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 25-Sep-84 21:09:10 EDT
Organization: Purdue University Computing Center
Lines: 22

(* snap, krakle, pop *)

	After re-reading the last few notes on the pop vs. classical music
debate, I thought I might suggest a new angle on the subject.
	Where do contemporary groups that mix classical forms and instruments
with more "modern" rhythms and instruments fit into this disscussion?  The
group I am thinking of inparticular is Mannheim Steamroller who has recorded
the "Fresh Aire" albums (Five in all) on American Gramaphone.  Having seen
some of his piano scores and listened to his music, I'd say much of it uses
classic forms (such as a Tocca) with "new" chord arrangements and some
refreshing "new" rhythms (for example "chocolate fudge" on the first Fresh
Aire album).  The sound seems quite "pop" to me but the instruments and forms
are old.  I would say this is "classical" music by the "amount of mental
effort required to listen to it" argument.  What do you think?  Also, what do
you do with groups that are more "commonly" thought of as "pop" yet (on their
early albums at least) worked from a strong classical base such as the
Electric Light Orchestra (aka E.L.O.)?

In search of more disscussion, I'm...
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      Dwight McKay, PUCC user services (...ihnp4!pur-ee!Pucc-H:aam)
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