How Opera Has Influenced Goth Music

Goth music has been around for quite some time, and it has been growing in popularity. Many people believe that the opera has had a big influence on Goth music.

Introduction

The history of Goth music is often traced back to the wave of British post-punk bands that emerged in the late 1970s, including Siouxsie and the Banshees, Bauhaus, and Joy Division. But while those bands were certainly influential on the development of Goth music, it’s important to note that they were not the first to mine the dark and dramatic sensibilities of gothic literature and art for musical inspiration. That distinction belongs to the opera.

In particular, it was 19th-century Romantic operas like Carl Maria von Weber’s Der Freischütz (1821) and Hector Berlioz’s Les Troyens (1858) that laid the groundwork for the gothic sound and aesthetic. These operas incorporated many elements that would become hallmarks of Goth music, including haunting melodies, dark themes, and extreme emotional dynamics.

While other musical genres have certainly been influenced by opera (think of all the rock bands that have borrowed from Verdi’s Aida), Goth music has always had a particularly strong connection to this art form. Many early Goth bands, including Siouxsie and the Banshees and Bauhaus, drew explicit inspiration from specific operas, and even today’s Gothic metal bands continue to mine this rich vein of musical influence.

What is Goth Music?

Goth music is a genre that began in the late 1970s as the underground music of choice for goths. The first goth bands were inspired by the dark and gloomy sound of The Cure and Siouxsie and the Banshees. Goth music has since evolved to include a variety of subgenres, and goth bands today often incorporate elements of industrial, electronic, and even metal music.

Origins

The origins of Goth music can be traced back to the sounds of early Opera. In the 18th and 19th centuries, Operas were often seen as dark and mysterious, full of suspense and drama. Many of the characters in these Operas were “Gothic” in nature – they were haunted by their past, they were misunderstood, and they often had a tragic ending. This dark and tragic feel was something that many people related to, and it is this feel that has been carried forward into Goth music.

While Opera was certainly a major influence on Goth music, there are also traces of other genres in Goth music as well. Gothic rock, for example, is a genre that combines elements of punk rock and metal with the darkness and tragedy of Opera. This mix of genres creates a sound that is both dark and aggressive, which is perfect for the Goth aesthetic.

In recent years, electronic music has also become a big part of the Goth music scene. Many Goths enjoy the dark and atmospheric sounds of synth-based music, which can create a feeling of sadness or melancholy. This type of music often contains elements of Industrial or EBM (Electronic Body Music), which add to its dark and foreboding sound.

No matter what its origins may be, Goth music is a unique genre that has captured the hearts of many people around the world. If you’re looking for something dark and mysterious, then Goth music is definitely worth checking out!

Characteristics

Goth music is a form of alternative rock that emerged from the post-punk and new wave movements of the late 1970s. Goth music is characterized by its dark, melancholic sound and often deals with themes such as death, love, loss, and desolation. Gothic music often incorporates elements of other genres such as classical, industrial, and electronic music.

Goth music is traditionally divided into two subgenres: gothic rock and darkwave. Gothic rock is heavier and more guitar-driven, while darkwave is synth-heavy and often more atmospheric. Goth music has been influential on a number of other genres, including gothic metal, industrial metal, neo-classical metal, black metal, and symphonic metal.

While goth music initially developed as a reaction to the mainstream sounds of the time, it has since evolved into its own unique genre with a large and dedicated following.

How Opera Has Influenced Goth Music

Gothic music has been around since the 18th century, and it has been constantly evolving since then. Goth music would not be what it is today without the influence of opera. In this article, we will explore how opera has influenced goth music throughout the years.

Thematic Influences

Thematically, goth music has been greatly influenced by opera. Many goth bands use operatic themes in their songs, and some even use actual opera samples. For example, in the song “Closer” by Nine Inch Nails, Trent Reznor samples an aria from the opera Carmen. This helps to create a dark and foreboding atmosphere in the song that would not be possible without the opera sample.

Goth music often deals with dark subjects such as death, loss, and despair. These are all subjects that are commonly found in opera. In fact, many of the greatest operas ever written are about these very subjects. For example, Verdi’s La Traviata is about a woman who dies of tuberculosis after living a life of decadence and debauchery. Puccini’s Madame Butterfly is about a young Japanese woman who kills herself after her American lover abandons her. These stories are full of the darkness and despair that is often found in goth music.

In addition to the thematic influence of opera, goth music has also been influenced by the musical style of opera. Many goth bands make use of grandiose musical arrangements with sweeping melodies and dramatic crescendos. This is very similar to the style of many operas. For example, listen to the opening of Verdi’s La Traviata:

You can hear how this piece starts out very softly with just a few instruments playing before gradually building up to a huge climax with brass instruments and a full choir singing at full volume. This is exactly the kind of dramatic musical moment that you often find in goth music.

So, next time you’re listening to your favorite goth band, be sure to think about how they might have been influenced by opera!

Structural Influences

While it would be impossible to imagine goth music without the operatic influence, there are other, more specific ways in which opera has contributed to goth’s sound and aesthetic. Many of these can be traced back to one work in particular: Wagner’s 19th-century masterpiece Der Ring des Nibelungen.

Wagner was a controversial figure in his own time, and his music was often used by the Nazis to stir up emotions. However, his influence on goth cannot be understated. Gothic music often makes use of WagnerianLeitmotifs, or recurring themes associated with particular characters or ideas. This technique allows for a work to be more complex and layered, something that goth bands have taken advantage of.

In addition, Wagner’s use of unusual harmonic progressions and chromatics has been thought to contribute to the feeling of unease and suspense that is often found in goth music. His approach to instrumentation, which made use of large orchestras, also had an impact on the sound of gothic rock bands, who often seek to create a similarly grandiose sound.

Finally, Wagner’s operas often deal with dark subject matter, such as love, death, betrayal, and power. These are all topics that goth bands have been known to sing about, further reinforcing the link between the two genres.

Conclusion

In conclusion, although it cannot be said that opera has had a direct and significant influence on the development of Goth music, it is certainly true that opera has played a role in shaping the Goth subculture. From the early days of gothic rock, when bands like Bauhaus and Siouxsie and the Banshees drew inspiration from opera, to more recent times, when gothic metal bands like Lacuna Coil and Nightwish have incorporated elements of opera into their music, opera has had a subtle but significant influence on Goth music.