Classical Music Meets Dubstep in this Playlist
Contents
A collection of songs that have the best of both worlds- the soothingness of classical music with the upbeat energy of dubstep.
Introduction to the Playlist
This playlist is a perfect blend of classical music and dubstep. It features well-known pieces of classical music, such as Bach’s “Toccata and Fugue in D minor”, that have been given a modern twist by adding dubstep elements. If you’re a fan of both classical music and dubstep, you’re sure to enjoy this playlist!
What is classical music?
Classical music is art music produced or rooted in the traditions of Western culture, including both liturgical (religious) and secular music. While a more precise term is also used to refer to the period from 1750 to 1820 (the Classical period), this article is about the broad span of time from before the 6th century AD to the present day, which includes the Classical period and various other periods. The central norms of this tradition became codified between 1550 and 1900, which is known as the common-practice period.
Western staff notation is used by composers to indicate to the performer the pitches (which include melody and harmony), tempo, meter and rhythms for a piece of music. This can be done using a range of notation styles includingeren intangibility and open-endedness, and through its capacity to elicit an emotional response. Music can be divided into genres (e.g., country music) and subgenres (e.g., country blues and pop country), although the dividing lines and relationships between music genres are often subtle, sometimes open to individual interpretation, and occasionally controversial. Within “the arts”, music may be classified as a performing art, a fine art or as an auditory art.
What is dubstep?
Dubstep is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in South London in the late 1990s. It is generally characterized by sparse, syncopated drum and percussion patterns with bass lines that contain prominent sub-bass frequencies. Dubstep rhythms are often based on 2-step garage, grime, and dub reggae patterns. The style emerged as an offshoot of UK garage, drawing on a lineage of related styles such as 2-step and dub reggae.
The name “dubstep” is derived from the term “dub”, which originated in Jamaican music culture. In Jamaican music, the dub is a central component of the sound, providing a rhythmic foundation over which other instrumentation and vocals can be added. The term “step” refers to the staccato or “stepped” nature of the basslines in dubstep tracks.
How the Two Genres are Similar
The use of instruments
A defining factor in both genres is the use of instruments. In classical music, there is a greater focus on acoustic instrumentation such as the piano, violin, and cello. There is often a conductor who leads the orchestra in playing the score which has been previously composed by a composer. In dubstep, there is also a focus on acoustic instrumentation, but with a greater emphasis on electronic instrumentation such as synthesizers and drum machines. The music is often composed by a DJ or producer using software such as Ableton Live or Logic Pro.
The tempo
The tempo of a piece of music is the speed of the underlying beat. Beats per minute (bpm) is a unit typically used as either a measure of tempo in music, or a raw material for deriving tempo related musically.
Humans have a natural edge over machines when it comes to pace because we can change tempos relatively effortlessly and continuously throughout a performance, whereas machines are generally confined to repetitive, unchanging speeds, or they must make discrete changes from one tempo to another. Even within the limits of human tempo change, we do not usually change tempos so drastically that the new tempo would be unrecognizable as related to the old one. When we do make such changes, they are usually for specific purposes such as emphasizing particular beats in the measure or shifting gears in order to bring greater intensity to the music.
In general, however, we expect that the tempo of a piece will remain pretty much constant from beginning to end. This is not always the case, however. Some pieces intentionally vary the tempo for musical effect; these are usually marked with Italian terms such as “allegro” (fast), “adagio” (slow), or “moderato” (moderate). Others incorporate gradual speeding up or slowing down within themselves; these are called “accelerando” (speeding up) and “ritardando” (slowing down).
The structure
In both dubstep and classical music, the composer creates a work with a specific structure in mind. This can be anything from the basic song format of verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-chorus to the four-movement format of a symphony. The key is that the composer has a plan for how the piece will progress, and each section is designed to serve a specific purpose in moving the music forward.
Both genres also make use of repetition, though they do so in different ways. In classical music, you’ll often hear themes stated and then developed over the course of a piece. In dubstep, DJs will often loop a section of a track so that they can layer new sounds on top of it or play around with it in mixing. But in both cases, repetition is used as a way to create interest and keep listeners engaged.
And finally, both genres place a high value on technical skill. Classical composers must have a thorough understanding of musical theory in order to write effective works, while dubstep producers need to be able to create intricate soundscapes using only a few simple tools. either way, the better your skills are, the better your music will be.
How the Two Genres are Different
If you’re a fan of both classical music and dubstep, then you’ll love this playlist! The two genres may seem like they’re worlds apart, but they actually have a lot in common. Both genres are known for their complex structures and intricate melodies. But there are also some big differences between the two.
The use of instruments
A common misconception is that all classical music is orchestra based. In fact, a lot of famous classical pieces were written for solo instruments, or a group of soloists with an accompanying piano. The piano became increasingly popular in the late 18th century as it allowed composers to create complex pieces with rich harmonies. This led to the development of classical piano repertoire that is still performed today.
On the other hand, dubstep is largely electronic and production-based, with heavy use of synthesizers and samplers. Dubstep tracks often have distorted bass lines and time-stretched percussion, giving them a driving, aggressive sound.
The tempo
Classical music is usually quite a bit slower than dubstep. The average tempo for classical music is around 80 beats per minute (bpm), while the average tempo for dubstep is around 140 bpm. This means that, in general, classical pieces have longer phrases and take more time to develop than dubstep tracks.
The structure
When it comes to classical music and dubstep, the biggest difference is in the structure. Classical music is typically much more complex, with multiple instruments playing different parts that come together to create a cohesive whole. Dubstep, on the other hand, is typically built around a single lead melody with other elements (such as basslines and drumbeats) being added in to support it. This can make dubstep songs sound less “busy” than classical tracks, which can be a good or bad thing depending on your taste.
Conclusion
If you’re a fan of classical music, but you’re looking for something with a little more edge, then this playlist is for you. It features classical pieces that have been remixed with dubstep elements, resulting in a unique and interesting sound.