Debussy Meets the Mellotron

Something’s been pulling me toward different periods of classical music. There’s so much I’ve been missing, and honestly, I shouldn’t be. First, because the music is absolutely beautiful and inspiring; and second, because its influence is everywhere: in jazz, rock and roll, video games, films, animation, even electronic music.

To give you a glimpse of how this path began: recently, we lost one of the most innovative minds of modern music, Brian Wilson (leader of The Beach Boys). Already in a classical music mood, I asked ChatGPT if Brian Wilson were a classical composer, who would he be? The answer was quite long, not just one but several composers would fit the description, but the first name that came up was Claude Debussy.

So I looked up Debussy and found out that he wrote a piece called La Mer (The Sea). And, surprise-surprise, I started listening to this one. 🌊

While listening to it, Days of Future Passed by the Moody Blues came to my mind. It might seem unlikely the connection between a French impressionist from 1905 and a British psychedelic rock band from the 60s, but the similarities were clear, at least to me.

Both build soundscapes that move in waves. I’m not talking about theme or melody, but the texture itself: stacking up layers, growing and dissolving.

The structures also speak to each other: La Mer moves from dawn to a dialogue with the sea, while the Moody Blues’ album follows an ordinary day, from sunrise to nightfall. Both have flow, movement, vivid imagery.

Maybe it’s just the way I hear things, based on what I already know - I come from rock and roll influences, I know these bands, and perhaps that’s why this feeling has formed. But something in Jeux de vagues took me straight to The Day Begins. They share that same floating feeling, where time stretches and dissolves. Very atmospheric, as we’d say.

I looked up for some mentions of direct influence, unfortunately couldn’t find any. But it’s beautiful to recognize that, separated by decades, genres and contexts, certain musicians seem to arrive at the same waters.

It was Brian Wilson’s passing that first sparked this (re)search. With time, I hope to dive into his music and explore other connections between classical and rock, as there are many!

Interesting facts

• Days of Future Passed wasn’t supposed to be what it became. Decca Records had originally asked the band to make a rock version of Dvořák’s New World Symphony. This idea was cancelled and instead the band wrote their own material, keeping the orchestra as a full part of the album’s structure.
• It was the first rock album to incorporate a classical orchestra in its entirety, not just in certain sections.
• And it was the first concept album in rock’s history with a storyline building from beginning to end.

Want to experiment?

Listen to both works in full and let them unfold. See if you also hear the sea, the sky, or time passing through. They were both meant to be listened from beginning to end (and maybe even beyond).

Sources

• Moody Blues ‘Days of Future Passed’ doesn’t get its due - Goldmine Magazine
• Days of Future Passed - Wikipedia

Images that illustrate this post are my own creations. 🌙