Gothic Rock and Classical training?

[x88x]

Over the last few years I've been getting into a lot of various different music genres, and one thing that I've noticed about Gothic Rock is that a lot of the artists have classical training in one area or another. Has anyone else noticed this? It's interesting, because there seems to be such a high percentage of people like this, much more so than in any other genre I've ever seen (well, except for classical, obviously). I'm guessing it has a lot to do with the styles of music that are commonly grouped into 'Gothic Rock', which tend to have a much more structured, classical feel, but I feel like that's just getting into a circular reasoning trap...

Any thoughts?

[slaveofconvention]

Not gothic rock specifically, but I've heard some incredible versions of classical music played by Heavy rock or Metal guitarists - it's something which just works...

[artoodeeto]

very interesting - I'd be lying if I said I had any real knowledge of anything outside the classical realm (1650 - 1940 is my rather broad area of expertise), but one thing I've found is that some of the best non-classical musicians out there have some type of classical training. It's sorta like wanting to produce a home movie, and having at least an inkling of how Hollywood scripts are structured. If you know the rules, you know how to bend and break them effectively (Bach was especially brilliant at this, Beethoven too). And hey, Billy Joel wrote a classical-style set of piano pieces in the not-so-distant past...pretty good too IMHO (and I can be REALLY snooty when it comes to music).

[Luke122]

Are you talking about "Neo-classical" music?

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[x88x]

Well, at least the second video is definitely very much in the Symphonic Metal genre, and there is a lot of overlap between Symphonic Metal and Gothic Metal. I guess I would just expect it more in Symphonic Metal, due to the instruments and techniques that lend something to being classed as Symphonic Metal.

For Gothic Metal, think more along the lines of Lacuna Coil (http://www.last.fm/music/Lacuna+Coil) and Within Temptation (http://www.last.fm/music/Within+Temptation).

Personally I love pretty much everything I've heard in the Gothic/Symphonic/Progressive Metal genres (and related). ...and thank you so much for pointing me to Jeff Loomis, he is amazing!

Another trend I've seen is that a disproportionately large number of artists in these genres are from Norway... o_^ Nothing wrong with Norway (in fact, a lot seems to right with Norway :twisted: ), it just seems...odd...

[BuzzKillington]

look up Darkseed. []m[]

...and paradise lost and sentenced.

[Luke122]

Loomis is the guitarist for Nevermore, so check out their stuff as well.

He auditioned for Megadeth at age 16 (before Friedman joined), but was rejected due to his age. (not his ability!)

[x88x]

Heheheh, him and Michael Angelo Batio need to have a riff-off :twisted:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-XfnkLdkjo

[Luke122]

No way.. Loomis actually plays music, not highspeed wankery.

[x88x]

Hahaha, you do have a bit of a point there. ;P