Paul McCartney's classical/operatic works

[CRAZY-HORSE]

I guess if anyone has an interest in classical it would be Dissily but anyone can comment

1: have you listened to his classical and operatic works?

2: does he know what he is doing in that genre or is he out of his depth?

here are his releases in that area of music:


Wiki:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocean%27s_Kingdom



Wiki:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecce_Cor_Meum


Wiki:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standing_Stone_(album)


Wiki:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Working_Classical  (an album of his regular tunes reworked classically)


Wiki:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_McCar...l_Oratorio

[Dissily Mordentroge]

I guess if anyone has an interest in classical it would be Dissily but anyone can comment

1: have you listened to his classical and operatic works?

2: does he know what he is doing in that genre or is he out of his depth?

here are his releases in that area of music:


Wiki:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocean%27s_Kingdom



Wiki:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecce_Cor_Meum


Wiki:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standing_Stone_(album)


Wiki:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Working_Classical  (an album of his regular tunes reworked classically)


Wiki:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_McCar...l_Oratorio

I’ve only heard the Liverpool Oratorio which I enjoyed even if I found some of the lyrics a bit naff . However, for this listener there was at times an obvious lack of formal classical composition training.
I’m not sure that’s actually a weakness. He received criticism the orchestration was given a helping hand by someone else. Joint authorship of most of McCartney’s classical output he’s freely acknowledged
But hey, a huge percentage of supposedly genuine classical compositions strike me as vapid, pot boiling, ear candy and the older I get the more fussy I get. However I certainly don’t think McCartney’s work deserves to have critics turn their noses up at it as some have. 

Anyway there’s a large chunk of ‘ genuine’ English symphonic writing up to about 1990 I find lacking any value whatever. As to McCartney being ‘out of his depth’ I think not given with a few years of formal classical training he’d have made a lot of classical music snobs sit up and take notice.

[CRAZY-HORSE]

there are some genuinely nice parts to Liverpool Oratorio and I have no problem listening to it in its entirety

the others I can take or leave, but each of his classical works have their little bits that I like.

LOL "naff" to describe some of his lyrics, yup, I am a big fan but he has written some pretty cringeworthy lyrics over the decades.

he did always have an interest in classical music and he did learn a bit from Sir George Martin back in the day courtesy of orchestrations on Beatle tracks

thanks for the input Dissily

[Dissily Mordentroge]

One listen to ‘Ocean Kingdom’ and I’m totally convinced Mc Cartney should continue in this vein. Seriously impressive and sincere without resorting to flashy effects to grab our attention. The introduction had me in it’s spell within a minute.
Thanks Crazy Horse for pointing me in this direction.

And believe me, when it comes to classical music I’m about as hard to please an anyone. It occurs to me we’ve heard so little about McCartney’s serious works due to the inverted snobbery of conservatory educated composers who for the last century have produced a large body of intellectually pretentious and utterly vacuous crap.
OK, there are geniuses out there today like Arvo Pürt, John Tavener and Graham Sutherland but some ( in my opinion ) such as Philip Glass are as a dull as dishwater.

[CRAZY-HORSE]

no problem Dissily
I might go give Oceans Kingdom another listen this week myself now someone (you) who listens to classical says its good