The beatles’ psycheclassical synthesis: Psychedelic classicism and classical psychedelia in Sgt. Pepper
Naphtali Wagner
March 29, 2018 DOI: 10.4324/9781315608532-7 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Citations | 1 |
| Key points | Argues that in the Beatles' music, and especially on Sgt. Pepper, "classical" and "psychedelic" are not separate entities but interactive ones, with the album representing a "psycheclassical synthesis" at its best, building on the psychedelic-classical mixture of Revolver. |
Abstract
This chapter assumes that many fans who had been waiting impatiently for the Beatles&s; new album thought for the first few seconds that the clerk had accidentally wrapped up a classical album. Classical and psychedelic music delimit the eclectic, multistylistic and multigenre nature of Sgt. Pepper. Psychedelia, in contrast, is associated with altered states of consciousness – hallucinations, dreams, or the supernatural. The Beatles used musical instruments and ensembles associated with the classical world. The selection of instruments and the presence of classical soloists in the Beatles&s; recording studio have led to an abundance of oft-repeated anecdotes; this is not the place to mention them. If the songs on Revolver constitute a sort of psychedelic-classical mixture, on Sgt. Pepper the psycheclassical synthesis is already at its best. The chapter suggests that in the Beatles&s; music &s;classical&s; and &s;psychedelic&s; are not separate entities but interactive ones.