Baroque Pop

Article by Alex 25 Jan 2012

Baroque pop is probably one of those sub genres where you know the artists and the songs but not the sub-genre it would be associated with. It mixed the rock n’ roll style of the mid 60s with string arrangements from the baroque and classical periods. However unlike the travesty that Metallica later inflicted on us when they tried to mix rock with classical or the more indulgent sides of prog this was pretty much all excellent.

Just check the introduction to The Byrds’ ‘Mr Tambourine Man’ which was said to be directly inspired by Bach.

The first ‘baroque pop’ song is usually thought of as The Left Banke’s ‘Walk Away Renee’ which used a harpsichord and string quartet.

During the mid 60s even The Beatles and The Beach Boys showed baroque influences in their work in songs like ‘Eleanor Rigby’ and ‘Wouldn’t It Be Nice’.

Baroque pop arguably reached its peak with Love’s Forever Changes album and tracks like ‘Alone Again Or’.

However it soon began to shift into the world of progressive rock as the Bach inspired Procol Harem’s A Whiter Shade Of Pale moved the style further away from its pop origins into the often overly-indulgent area of prog.

Tags: music