What's the difference between classical music and light music?

What is the standard of classical music?

What is the standard of classical music? The word "classical" itself contains the concepts of balance, moderation, conciseness and exquisiteness. For example, these concepts can be used in "classical" architecture, but they are not enough to express classical style. Classical music can have stormy momentum and complex content and form. In short, classical styles refer to those styles that can be heard from the music of the greatest and most famous composers of18th century, such as Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven. So, what are the basic elements that distinguish their music from baroque music before and romantic music after?

Part of the reason for the unprecedented characteristics of classical style is historical. One thing is certain, if there is a tendency of nationalization in classical style, it will surprise composers in the middle of18th century, because this tendency did not appear until19th and 20th centuries. Although they realize that their works are in sharp contrast with the late Baroque, their gradual change process is slower than the historical motivation.

Perhaps sonata form is the most typical feature of classical music. This form is the basic way to organize music materials in many works in the late18th century. However, as the main form of a whole generation, it has been used until the decline of classical music school, and provided inspiration for many composers in The Romantic Period.

Classical composers have never described the form of sonatas so thoroughly as we do now. More importantly,1composers in the mid-8th century like to use the concept of expression. Mozart provided important clues for his creative intention in his letter to his father. At that time, he talked about the creation of his piano concerto: "The pleasant media between extremely difficult and extremely easy, they are very brilliant and pleasant, very natural and smooth. There are doorways in music from time to time, from which connoisseurs can get satisfaction; But these doors are not profound, so as not to be too high and too few. " Easy to understand is the vitality of Mozart's music.

The development of easy-to-understand music language is closely related to the thought of18th century Enlightenment. It provides clues for understanding the inevitable reasons for the following phenomena: 1740 or so, an impatient mood is generated for the obscure traditional methods assumed by the old school. This traditional method pays attention to the counterpoint of composition. At that time, composers wanted to write some simple music, with open harmony (the positions of notes in chords are scattered and cymbals). But the most important thing is not to confuse the mainstream development of classical style. Because in the era of Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven, these revolutionary changes have been absorbed by the music language: people can see this evolution process from Haydn's early symphonies or Mozart's symphonies (from a completely different angle). Moreover, another important feature of the mature classical style (which obviously puzzles us) is to return to the counterpoint principle in the heyday of Baroque.

In classical music, the idea of contrast is the essential feature, just like the description in sonata form, the "strong" first theme contrasts with the usually restrained second theme. There are many famous examples of avoidance in the late Baroque music, among which the strong concept of contrast is extremely important. For example, a drama ensemble in Han Deer's oratorios and operas. On the other hand, this kind of works can also be found in the category of classical style, that is, the concept of contrast is almost abandoned in a certain movement in pursuit of consistency of expression: many movements in Han Deer's symphony and string quartet are considered to be single-themed, or based on a single theme. Sometimes they may show dynamic contrast, but in fact they keep the unity of music materials, which contradicts our simple understanding of classical style. Other examples can be found in Mozart's early piano concertos, with smooth and beautiful melodies.

If there is a standard to distinguish the structure of classical music from baroque music, it must be the use of tuning or tonality, which is a dramatic element in the work. Classical composers have established a new set of expressive skills, using different themes to balance and balance. For example, most of the novelty in Haydn Quartet music comes from the fact that when the audience's attention is directed to listen to one tonality, they hear another tonality. There is also freshness in rhythm and melody, but the important way to express this freshness is through the contrast of tonality.

We don't have to be overly rational like critics in the19th century, but as long as we grasp the essence of this tone, the basic driving force of classical style will be clear at a glance. We can immediately see how wide it is, because the possibility of tonal cooperation is very great; But it is also limited, because the rich chromatic harmony has not been developed, and chromatic harmony has gradually developed into a dominant technique of romantic music.

Therefore, we can see that although the classical style is a expressive style, it can not only express strong and passionate emotions, but also express lyrical and rich emotions, but it is always limited by convention. /kloc-At the end of 0/8th century, the music of great composers was under these conventions, but they always followed them. In this sense, understanding classical style is more important than any form of description.

What is "light music"?

"Light music" is a kind of music category. Figuratively speaking, it is a light weapon in music, which is roughly the same as essays, jokes and lyric poems in literature. It is light, popular, small and exquisite, easy to understand and easily accepted by people. It is in sharp contrast with large-scale art forms such as symphony, concerto, chorus and orchestra. In the folk, light music is very popular and has a wide range of social significance and spiritual functions. But in the form of light music, many works are low-level yellow. Therefore, as far as its political content is concerned, light music is good or bad, and there is progress and backwardness.

There are many kinds of light music, including ordinary life songs, lyric songs, humorous songs and satirical songs, as well as some operettas, waltzes, small orchestral overtures and serenades, as well as some orchestral sketches, movie songs and dance music.

Compared with other music forms, the style and characteristics of light music are more vivid and interesting, especially its melodies are particularly beautiful. Some symphonies, orchestras, choruses and other works often rely on harmony, orchestration, polyphony and other technical means, while light music relies on the beauty of melody. Therefore, light music requires more beautiful and brisk tunes than other music forms. A lyric song should be elegant and euphemistic; A waltz should have a clear rhythm and melodious tone, a humorous song should give people a happy infection, and a satirical song should be spicy and sharp. The unique performance characteristics of these light music have formed their own style.

Walking into a warm and romantic poetic country —— Talking about light music (1)

The "Third Power" in Music

The so-called light music is relative to classical music, that is, it is a kind of casual pop music, which is adapted and interpreted by popular pop techniques and played by small bands, with the aim of creating a warm and romantic atmosphere and a relaxed and beautiful atmosphere. As we all know, classical music has a heavy texture, a huge structure and scale, a dignified musical thought, a profound ideological connotation, and the most important feature is seriousness and solemnity. Light music, on the other hand, is light in texture, compact and simple in structure, lively and stretching in rhythm and beautiful in melody. It has no profound ideological connotation, and it doesn't want to have this connotation. It just wants to bring people relaxed and beautiful enjoyment. Its main feature is lightness and liveliness. Therefore, it is very appropriate to name this kind of music light music.

But light music is not the same as pop music with pop songs as its core. It is different from pop music, not because of its distinctive characteristics of the times and its critical awareness of society, nor because of its high aesthetic interest and relatively little commercial atmosphere. Popular pop songs will soon be out of date, but beautiful light music will last forever. Generally speaking, light music is between classical music and pop music, which is a compromise of sharp opposition between the two, and can be described as the "third force" in music. It has both classical and modern flavor, gorgeous but not gaudy, romantic but not frivolous, lyrical but not lingering, easy to understand and approachable, elegant style and extraordinary demeanor. Classical music lovers don't think it is vulgar, but pop music lovers can accept it, which can be described as appealing to both refined and popular tastes.

This feature of light music makes it widely welcomed as soon as it appears. Founded in the late 1930s, mantovani Band is a symbol of the birth of light music. The band's extremely soft, beautiful and intoxicating performance made light music quickly establish its own unique image and temperament and established its position in the field of pop music. The 1960s and 1970s were the heyday of light music, and a large number of distinctive light music bands were established one after another, such as James Hong Lin, Paul Moria, Henry Mancini, Percy Faith, Stanley Black, Bertken Pforte, Werner Miao Lei, Alfred Hauser and Frank purcell. These bands held light music concerts in Europe and America, and recorded a large number of beautiful records, which sold well all over the world. This small and exquisite music makes classical fans feel brand-new and different, just like wearing a formal suit for a long time and putting on a casual and natural casual dress. Light music is like a cool drink after pop music lovers have experienced the shock of screaming.

Walking into a Warm and Romantic Poetic Country —— A Random Talk on Light Music (Ⅱ)

Old wine in new bottles ―― Old wine with new labels

Most of the tracks of light music are adapted. Among them, European and American pop songs account for a large proportion, and many of them are popular songs on British and American charts, such as Yesterday, The Rhythm of Rain, I Love Paris, Love is Blue, Lily Marlene and so on. After these songs were adapted into light music, they played down the popular factors in the original music, highlighted the beautiful melody, and changed the artistic conception of music, making it more beautiful and pleasant. Today, many popular songs have been forgotten by people, but the arrangement of light music has remained in people's minds.

European and American movies, especially Hollywood movies, musicals and stage plays, are another important source of light music adaptation. Music such as Moon River, Time Passes, Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head, Three Coins in Spring, Say You, Say Me, Love Story, Godfather, doctor zhivago, Argentina, Don't cry for me, Memories, etc. , has become a classic of light music.

The interpretation of classical songs in popular music language is very popular in many light music bands. Good adaptation and performance not only retains the classical spirit of the original music, but also incorporates a distinctive modern atmosphere, so that classical music lovers will not be too shallow and feel unique; People who are far away from classical music find that their distance from classical music has been shortened and their interest in appreciation has increased. Bach's Ode to Notre Dame, Schubert's Serenade, Mozart's Piano Concerto No.21, Adagio in Beethoven's Sonata Moonlight and Sorrow, Liszt's Dream of Love, Bedrich Smetana's vltava river, Masnier's Meditation, Chopin's Van Tessie-Impromptu, etc.

Folk music all over the world is also the object of light music adaptation. For example, The Last Rose in Summer in Britain, Return to sorrento and Saint Lucia in Italy, Hora Dance in Romania, red river valley in Canada, Home on the Ranch in the United States, Pigeon in Cuba, Song of the Wanderer by Gypsies and Latin music. Besides, some popular romantic tunes, such as "A Girl's Prayer", "Romance of Love" and "greensleeves", are often played by light music bands.

Walking into a warm and romantic poetic country —— Talking about light music (3)

Unique charm and beauty

The charm and aesthetic feeling of light music are different from classical music and pop music. Moving melody, beautiful harmony, novel orchestration, rich timbre and rich romantic mood all give people a brand-new feeling and produce a unique aesthetic feeling of light music. The music "Charm" played by mantovani Band embodies this aesthetic feeling. Extremely pleasant sound, like intoxicating aromatic liquid, flows into people's hearts, making people cry in their hearts: "It's so beautiful!" The beauty brought by the band's music, such as Over Time, Autumn Leaves and Yesterday, is also difficult to express in words.

Listening to Paul Moria's band makes people feel that every note is filled with the unique romantic sentiment of the French nation, reminding you of the fragrance of wine, roses and tulips. Mediterranean sunshine, lovers' laughter and tears. He showed all kinds of romantic feelings and poems in life, which caused a strong voice. His famous work "Love is Blue" has been a sensation in Europe and America since the 1960s, and it has been enduring for a long time, and it has become a track played by light music bands.

The beauty of james last's "Night on the outskirts of Moscow" is irreplaceable by the original music: with the guitar plucking several broken strings, the grand piano gently pops out the main theme of the song against the bright rhythm of percussion instruments. Then the beautiful mixed chorus sounded gently with the extension of the strings, sometimes strong and sometimes weak, sometimes far and sometimes near, bringing people into a distant and romantic night in Russia. The whole music is dreamlike and beautiful. If listening to a symphony is like watching a drama, then listening to light music is like reading a beautiful poem and watching a landscape with elegant colors, which is pleasing to the eye and refreshing.

Walking into a warm and romantic poetic country —— Talking about light music (4)

Novel and unique adaptive technology

Most conductors of light music bands are proficient in classical music and can play a variety of musical instruments. They are both the conductor of the band and the arranger of music. The unique charm of light music is largely attributed to their creative arrangement of the original music. Among them, the most commonly used technique is to reprocess the rhythm, speed, strength, beat and other musical elements of the original music. It is more common to endow classical music with the rhythm of Latin dance and jazz, rock and disco music, and to strengthen the rhythm characteristics and beat stress of the original music with percussion instruments, so that the form and content of music have a strong contrast. For example, Mozart's serenade is played in disco rhythm, Brahms' Hungarian dance music is played in tango rhythm, dvorak's Slavic dance music and offenbach's boat song are played in samba, cha-cha and rumba rhythm, which sounds passionate and infectious. Some popular songs with intense rhythm are "softened" with slow rhythm, thus generating new hearing.

Colorful and unique orchestration is another main method of light music adaptation. First, I like to use some unpretentious folk musical instruments, such as mandolin, Spanish guitar, harmonica and accordion. And often let them play the main theme, thus creating a special artistic conception and atmosphere of music, which forms a tone contrast with traditional orchestral instruments and makes the sound colorful. Secondly, I like to use various percussion instruments, such as xylophone, snare drum Jr., jazz drum, tambourine, triangle, bell and sand hammer. Some distinctive folk percussion instruments are also used to make the sound vivid and emotional. Third, by adding electro-acoustic instruments to enrich the timbre of the band and increase the modern flavor of the sound. Electronic instruments are perfectly integrated with percussion instruments and traditional stringed instruments to create bright, light and vivid sound effects. Fourthly, the beautiful musical atmosphere is set off by the humming of people without words. In this respect, Zhan Mu Tu Hong Lin is a pioneer, and his band has a mixed chorus. During the performance, with the rhythm of modern atmosphere, moving humming without words and the beautiful melody played by the band appear alternately, one after another, which is extremely beautiful and beautiful. For example, Beethoven's "To Alice" and offenbach's "Song of the Boat" played by the band all added mixed voices of men and women without words, which sounded unique and beautiful.

Walking into a Warm and Romantic Poetic Country —— Talking about Light Music (5)

Light music recording products

Since the 1980s, the performance of light music has gradually developed to individualization. The core of the band is not the conductor, but the playing star of a certain instrument. The band has also changed from the original lead singer to a supporting role. Some light music bands are eclectic, blending symphony, pop music, jazz, rock music and new age music, which is very different from traditional light music bands. There are many such records that can be called "new light music", but most of them have a strong "salon flavor" except those of Richard Clayderman (piano), Kenneth (saxophone), Bill (clarinet), Modia and Odin (Tao Di and cello), Zanfir (flute playing), Yani and others and bands, which cannot give people high-level aesthetic enjoyment.

To listen to authentic light music, the first choice is the three major light music bands. In fact, the records of these three bands have occupied the mainstream position in China. Most of mantovani's records were made by Decca, mainly in the 1950s and 1960s. Last year, Dika released a two-part collection of mantovani's golden songs, which included 29 of the most wonderful golden songs played by mantovani. It is a treasure in the collection. Some small European and American record companies and Japanese record companies have also released many bands' records. James Hong Lin is the exclusive band of Universal Pictures (formerly Polaroid). For decades, he has recorded a large number of exquisite records, and only 30 kinds can be seen in China, making him the light music band with the most recorded products. Paul Moria's records are all recorded by Philips, and there are many newly recorded records in recent years, with high recording level and excellent sound effects. Many records of other famous light music bands, such as Henry Mancini, Alfred Hauser, Stanley Black, Kurt Edeler Hagen and Hesse, have also entered China, but they are not easy to see at present.