Baroque pop

Baroque pop
An electric harpsichord
Other names
Stylistic origins
Cultural origins1960s, United Kingdom and United States
Derivative forms
Other topics

Baroque pop (sometimes called baroque rock) is a fusion genre that combines rock music with particular elements of classical music.[1][4][5] It emerged in the mid-1960s as artists pursued a majestic, orchestral sound[4] and is identifiable for its appropriation of Baroque compositional styles (contrapuntal melodies and functional harmony patterns) and dramatic or melancholic gestures.[3] Harpsichords figure prominently,[6] while oboes, French horns, and string quartets are also common.[5]

Although harpsichords had been deployed for a number of pop hits since the 1940s, some record producers in the 1960s increasingly placed the instrument in the foreground of their arrangements.[6] Inspired partly by the Beatles' song "In My Life" (1965), various groups were incorporating baroque and classical instrumentation by early 1966.[7] The term "baroque rock" was coined in promotional material for the Left Banke, who used harpsichords and violins in their arrangements[8] and whose 1966 song "Walk Away Renée" exemplified the style.[6][9]

Baroque pop's mainstream popularity faded by the 1970s, partially because punk rock, disco and hard rock took over; nonetheless, music was still produced within the genre's tradition.[9] Philadelphia soul in the 1970s and chamber pop in the 1990s both reflected the spirit of baroque pop,[4] while the latter incorporated much of the period's low fidelity musical aesthetic.[10]

  1. ^ a b Jackson 2015, p. 22.
  2. ^ Staff. "Chamber Pop Music Guide: 7 Notable Chamber Pop Artists". Masterclass. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d e Hawkins 2015, p. 193.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Cite error: The named reference AMBaroquePop was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b c Smith, Steve (29 November 2012). "Steve Smith: Wyman and Taylor join the Rolling Stones onstage; Coldplay takes a break" > "Now Playing". Pasadena Star-News. Archived from the original on 3 December 2012. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  6. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Boston Globe was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Gendron 2002, pp. 174, 343, various groups using baroque instrumentation in early 1966; Harrington 2002, p. 191, baroque rock inspired by "In My Life".
  8. ^ Unterberger 2014, p. 416.
  9. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Stanley2007 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference am chamberpop was invoked but never defined (see the help page).