This week I'm going to pass the baton to Tess. Tess, you might remember is BloggerRhythm's resident classical 'expert'. She's been taking some time to think about the Mason Williams tune 'Classical Gas' - an essential, classically based work which has permeated all levels of popular music. You've heard it, you might not know what it is, but you're about to get a lesson. Read on!
My latest blog for Jon, aimed at extending classical music written for the guitar, and it's relatives, to a wider audience, eluded me for some time.
Apart from Rodrigo's 'Concierto de Aranjuez', very little classical guitar music reaches Radio 3 or Classic FM although Sean Shibe, Milos Karadaglic and Craig Ogden grace the radio waves from time to time. The opportunity for music lovers to hear live classical guitar performance compared to other stringed instruments is far more limited. So for those unfamiliar to this genre, squeezing through a narrow doorway into this different sound world is not easy, despite a new generation of composers writing interesting and contemporaneous music for the guitar.
Beginnings
In April 1968 the American composer and classical guitarist Mason Williams, diverted his writing skills away from the comedy programme 'The Smothers Brothers comedy hour' to composing, releasing and performing the hit 'Classical Gas'. The original title 'Classical Gasoline' was inadvertently shortened by a music copyist but the intention behind the title was to 'add some fuel to the composing of new works for the classical guitar.' The piece was performed by Mason Williams, with instrumental backing by 'Wrecking Crew' and reached number 1 in the US Billboard easy listening chart in 1968. Eric Clapton has often erroneously been credited with writing and performing 'Classical Gas' because he performed in and directed the feature film 'The Story Of Us' in which William's own recording from his album 'Handmade' appeared.
American composer Doug Helvering, in a quest to become more acquainted with music he previously had overlooked, welcomed suggestions from listeners of his radio show 'The Daily Doug'. 'Classical Gas' was a popular choice. The more recent version by the Australian guitarist Tommy Emmanuel was voted in but the producer suggested that the original by Mason Williams was also played. The show can be found on YouTube where Doug vividly describes the piece as having 'Lots of personality, ripe for development and exploration'. I too was late to the 'Classical Gas' party but fell in love with its soulful melody, syncopated rhythms, and general upbeat feel on performing this piece with the West Sussex Guitar Orchestra at one of our concerts.
The definition of 'classic' is 'Simple and long lasting in style, rising above changing fashion''. Since the inception of 'Classical Gas' in 1968, almost every genre of music, from Chet Atkins finger picking to classical violinist Vanessa Mae's reggae version, has taken this composition and reworked it to its own style.
Structure
The structure of 'Classical Gas' is very similar to that of a classical sonata with three sections; exposition, development and recapitulation. However, there is also a grand opening to the first section, rather like an overture to an opera. Here follows some basic theory on the key changes, although I can't promise that they are 100% correct! In the exposition there is the well known opening tune in the key of the piece, A minor.
Ascending chords of C major, F major, D major and G major heralds the entrance of a variation of the theme, again in A minor which flirts with D major. This section ends with a wonderful D minor sus9 chord. In the development section, the new musical idea is modulated through different keys starting in D flat major, followed by a chord in the subdominant of G flat then back to D flat. This idea is repeated in E major plus subdominant chord of A major.
A variation of the original theme in A minor follows, ends in D minor and then we are back to the original tune or theme in A minor in the third section. Like all joyous music the piece ends in a Tierce de Picardie or a major chord of the home key, in this case A major. Well, I think that's right! The addition of brass and string sections in the Mason Williams version really makes it into an all embracing orchestral performance.
Enough chat, let's explore some of the versions that exist!
The Ventures, Rick Wakeman and The Shadows all made their own versions in the 1970's. 'The Ventures' were an American instrumental rock band formed by Don Wilson and Bob Bogle in 1958, best known for 'Walk don't run' and 'Hawaii five O'. Their music saw a resurgence when Quentin Tarantino used several classic surf songs in the soundtrack of 'Pulp Fiction'. This version demonstrates their mastery and virtuosity on the electric guitar.
Rick Wakeman's recording demonstrates his prodigious talent as a pianist, musician and composer. Rick, being a casual student, crammed two years of musical study into ten months and obtained the necessary grades to study piano, clarinet and orchestration at the Royal College of Music. He dropped out after one year and became a session musician notably for David Bowie, Elton John and Al Stewart, before joining the Prog Rock band 'Yes'. His version of 'Classical Gas' can be heard on the album 'Piano Vibrations', resplendent with a brass section and a metronomic drum beat.
Glaswegian progressive rock band 'Beggars Opera' recorded their own excellent arrangement which can be found on the rather unusually titled album 'Get Your Dog Off Me '. The use of a Hammond organ and maybe even a Minimoog and Mellotron offers a full orchestral experience. The slightly alternative piano introduction is followed by sounds similar to a harpsichord, then a synthesiser, such that the melody starts with the texture of Scarlatti and ends with all the drama of Pink Floyd.
Beggars Opera-... Brilliant all the way through!
Back on the other side of the Atlantic, Glen Campbell often played the composition on his TV show 'The Glen Campbell Good Time Hour' with the orchestra 'The Boston Pops'. Those who join Jon's Blues group on a Tuesday will no doubt be wistfully comparing our efforts of 'Country Road ' to Glen's effortlessly energised performance.
Chet Atkins was known as the 'Guitar Man' or 'Country Gentleman' and along with Owen Bradley and Bob Ferguson helped create the Nashville sound culminating in a string of 'country hits' in the pop field. Djando Reinhart was a major influence for his guitar playing but Chet's finger picking style was inspired by Merle Travis. He pioneered and mastered this style by using his thumb and all three fingers rather than just the index finger. This technique allowed him to encompass jazz and classical guitar, proving him to be a guitarist that could work across the board. Youtube video clips can be found of Chet performing 'Receurdos de la Alhambra' and Chopin piano waltzes transcribed to the guitar. As one astute admirer commented ' Chet was a cool dude and could play whatever he wanted'. Chet performed 'Classical Gas' on Nashville TV show in the late 1980's. This quietly understated and unassuming performance with its smooth and gentle riffs and colourful improvisations reflect his sensitive personality. Later on in life he lightheartedly gave himself, Jerry Reed and Tommy Emmanuelle the honorary degree 'C.G.P' meaning 'Certified Guitar Player”
Australian guitarist Tommy Emmanuelle, after hearing Chet Atkins on the radio, was greatly inspired to become a guitarist. Chet described Tommy as a 'Fearless Finger picker' and the two released an album in 1997 entitled 'Finger Pickers Took Over The World'. His adaptation of 'Classical Gas' has fragments of 'Walk Don't Run' by The Ventures and 'Saturday' by Elton John mingling with the classical tune and the performance is packed to the brim with exuberance and joy.
Classical Gas has inspired musicians from every genre to re- work the musical themes, adding their own finger print to this timeless piece. The list of arrangements and performers is all encompassing; Dave Edmunds, Neil Young, classical violinist Vanessa Mae, and even the cartoon 'The Simpsons' features Lisa Simpson playing the piece to Mr Burns.
Having spent quite some time listening to various artists performing their own interpretation, my favourite is 'Beggars Opera' for sheer drama and mystique!
I'd like to thank Tess for putting this exhaustive 'Classical Gas' playlist together for us. If you've got a favourite version here, or can suggest one that hasn't been mentioned, please let us know!
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