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Part 4

So we have seen over the last few weeks how song writers have used classical music in 3 different ways:

  1. Adding lyrics to the melody of a classical piece to make a song.

  2. Adding a new musical line (or a rap) on top of a classical piece in their song.

  3. Adding a small quote from a classical piece (perhaps with new lyrics added).

 

Today we are going to look at another way in which classical music has been used.

 

Have a listen to "Go West" as sung by the Pet Shop Boys then listen to Pachelbel's Canon. See if you can hear that both pieces have the same chord structure. In order words, "Go West" uses the harmony (and bass line) of Pachelbel's Canon but has got rid of Pachelbel's melody. 

Actually the Pet Shops Boys were not the only group to use this chord sequence in their songs. Have a listen to a few more that I have selected from a list of over 40 examples! Incidentally, "Beach Baby" also quotes from a symphony by Sibelius.

This next example was recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic by The One Voice Children's Choir from the USA.

Barry Manilow in his hit "Could It Be Magic" not only starts this with the opening from Chopin's Prelude in C Minor but he continues to borrow heavily the chords from this prelude in the song.

Your task this week is:

  • to write lyrics for Verse 3 (the final verse) in the same manner as you did for verses 1 and 2.

  • to look for improvements in the lyrics you have written for the verses and the chorus and make any alterations you wish to make. This might include re-ordering the verses.

  • to practise singing your song all the way through (making improvements in your performance) using the backing track created especially for you with your options chosen over the previous lessons.

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The structure of your song is:

  • INTRO - using the dramatic classical music opening you selected last week.

  • VERSE 1

  • CHORUS

  • VERSE 2

  • CHORUS

  • VERSE 3

  • CHORUS

  • OUTRO - this will be the extra bit on the end of your chorus music that you heard when selecting the piece.

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