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Bach to the beach The Baronics' surf-soaked symphonies by RUPERT BOTTENBERG
The Baronics suffer from no delusions of grandeur although guitarist Patrick Kelly does admit to a healthy dose of classical schooling in his formative years. "I studied pop music, but that was in CEGEP, so all my other classes were classically oriented. I even had to learn classical piano. But all this just made me aware of those compositions and who the artists were. The music we have chosen for Get Bach!, if you gave it to your aunt for Christmas, would be titled 'Classical's Greatest Hits.' Everybody knows them." Not by name, maybe, but pieces such as Mozart's "Rondo alla Turca" and Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata" are instantly recognizable upon being heard. The disc has garnered accolades for the Baronics from surf scenesters around the world. For instance, Phil Dirt of the popular Reverb Central Web site referred to their disc as "magnificent." And the novelty angle has its selling points, too, having earned the lads an appearance on CBC's Midday. But what about the classical crowd? "Maybe some people are offended," says Kelly, "but I have yet to meet them. I tested this material with the most difficult people, people who teach classical and know the music. I played it for a musical director and a retired music instructor and a number of other people. They all smiled." Kelly knows exactly why the disc works. "Because it's fun," he says. "If you did this with heavy metal or heavy rock, it wouldn't be fun. It has to be light." Or leggiero, if you prefer. The Baronics hook some classics on Wednesday, June 18 at L'Inspecteur Épingle, 4051 St-Hubert. 9:30pm Symphony for the devil The Mirror asked Professor Wolfgang Bottenberg to share his thoughts on three recent releases that fuse pop and classical music. Bottenberg teaches music theory and composition at Concordia, and includes among his achievements the publishing of the collected compositions of Friedrich Nietzsche on CD, scoring an opera and spawning Mirror music writer Rupert (or Meine kleine Butse as he sometimes calls him). 1. London Symphony/Royal Choral Society Symphonic RockThe British Invasion (Claude Hopper/Polygram) Well-known British rock tunes ("Lucy in the Sky," "Stairway to Heaven") arranged and performed by the London Symphony and the Royal Choral Society. It's a bit like being served junk food at Buckingham Palace, with lush romantic orchestral sounds, rousing choruses, as well as heavy percussion and synthesized sounds. What is missing is the genuine spirit of popular music. This seems to be calculated to appeal to listeners who, in the comfort of their middle-class existence, like to rekindle memories of their rebellious youth, but without taking risks. It's not good rock and it is not good symphonic music. 2. Björk and the Brodsky Quartet "Hyperballad" (Electra) In this duet with Icelandic rock star Björk, the well-known Brodsky String Quartet show a good sense of refrain from using their usual sound. Instead, the four instruments are used sparingly and are sharply personalized, entering into an equal partnership with the singer. Also, they produce some very unusual and imaginative sounds derived from avant-garde classical music. By any standard, this is a good composition and good music. 3. Apocalyptica Melallica (Mercury/Polygram) This group of four cellists from Finland use their instruments to perform heavy metal rock. One is not used to hearing cellos in this context; the minimalist scores of Glass or Reich come to mind in performances where a very small array of rhythmic and melodic motives drive relentlessly forward. The absence of usual percussion instruments associated with metal makes this a new listening experience. Music of this quality would have a place of honour on any contemporary concert stage. A CD well worth having. |
Once upon a time, back in the mid-'80s heyday of Montreal's garage rock scene, there was a band known as Ralph and the Baronics. While many thought the band had disappeared, it turns out that's not the case. A decade later (and one Ralph less), they're back with a rather unusual project. The title of their new disc, Get Bach!, should give a clue as to the contents: bouncy instrumental surf versions of cornerstone classical compositions by the likes of Vivaldi, Beethoven and ol' Johann Sebastian himself.