# Great rock versions of classical compositions **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 11, 2020, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-rock-versions-of-classical-compositions/855423 "2020-06-11T01:38:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-rock-versions-of-classical-compositions/855423/21 "2020-06-11T19:03:16Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Blood Sweat and Tears did [Variations on a Theme by Erik Satie based on Trois Gymnopedies.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APNI2CC0k6A) Sorry, wrong link. The right one is [here.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GreaN1ljqGY) ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-rock-versions-of-classical-compositions/855423/22 "2020-06-11T19:10:29Z")
Bob James… Night on Bald Mountain: [Bob James "Night On Bald Mountain" One (1974) HQ - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aW9URHShCY) In the Garden (based on Pachelbel’s canon): [BOB JAMES - IN THE GARDEN (based on Pachelbel's "Canon in D") - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzTgfqTLWPI) ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-rock-versions-of-classical-compositions/855423/23 "2020-06-11T19:27:00Z")
Before ELP, Keith Emerson did some classical pieces with The Nice. Here’s their version of Tchaikovsky’s [Sixth Symphony](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLD-45mtCWk) ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-rock-versions-of-classical-compositions/855423/24 "2020-06-11T19:37:49Z")
Brian Setzer Orchestra [Wolfgang’s Big Night Out](https://www.amazon.com/Wolfgangs-Night-BRIAN-ORCHESTRA-SETZER/dp/B000U05ITS). Don’t let the titles fool you-every track is a classical piece. ---
**Author:** ![Doyle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doyle/32/439_2.png) [@Doyle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doyle)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-rock-versions-of-classical-compositions/855423/25 "2020-06-11T20:18:47Z")
Curved Air playing Vivaldi. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8vt98yz0Q4) ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-rock-versions-of-classical-compositions/855423/26 "2020-06-11T20:57:48Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Before ELP, Keith Emerson did some classical pieces with The Nice. Here’s their version of Tchaikovsky’s [Sixth Symphony](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLD-45mtCWk) Always love Keith’s fat Hammond / Leslie sound! ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-rock-versions-of-classical-compositions/855423/27 "2020-06-11T21:34:46Z")
You may be interested in this _“Grumpy Old Rock Star Tour”_[interview](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jsjVtQekwA) with Rick Wakeman. He’s got some great stories and is an exceedingly nice bloke. He’s a stand-up comic to boot! I was lucky to see Wakeman perform in both big venues and small (with YES at JFK Stadium and the Spectrum in Philly; solo in a small theater in Florida). He’s a gifted musician and quite the showman. ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-rock-versions-of-classical-compositions/855423/28 "2020-06-11T22:00:24Z")
“Asia Minor” by Kokomo (and others - I’m sure) - based on Edvard Grieg’s “Piano Concerto in A Minor”. [Asia Minor - Kokomo - 1961 - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-7lloS2J_A) And there are numerous vocal arrangements of the classics (if opera can be included in that category), such as: “Whiter Shade of Pale” by Procul Harum - vaguely based on Bach’s “Air on the G String”. “Night” by Jackie Wilson - based on the aria “Mon coeur s’ouvre a ton voix” from the opera “Samson and Delilah” (Camille Saint-Saens). [Jackie Wilson - Night (1960) - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_ctJX8qmfM) ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-rock-versions-of-classical-compositions/855423/29 "2020-06-11T22:15:53Z")
“Cans and Brahms” on \*Fragile \*by Yes. Rick Wakeman made an arrangement of the 3rd movement from Brahms Symphony No. 4 for keyboards. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-rock-versions-of-classical-compositions/855423/30 "2020-06-12T01:49:12Z")
Eric Carmen borrowed heavily from his classical music training. Both Never Gonna Fall In Love Again and All By Myself used major parts from Rachmaninoff. Barry Manilow used Chopin for the music in Could it Be Magic. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-rock-versions-of-classical-compositions/855423/31 "2020-06-12T14:56:49Z")
Extreme’s “Play With Me” borrows heavily from Bach’s “Toccata & Fugue” for part of the guitar solo. It’s more of an interpretation rather than a recreation, but I think it still works for purposes of this thread. [![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/b/b17baecd409dcd67aada0b0f308250c156dd220a.jpeg "Play With Me - Extreme (Lyrics)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=475g0fZNywU) ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-rock-versions-of-classical-compositions/855423/32 "2020-06-12T15:39:01Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > Any such list has to include “Joy” by Apollo 100. Based on Bach’s “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring”: > > ... I don’t normally care for such things, but “Joy” is terrific. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-rock-versions-of-classical-compositions/855423/33 "2020-06-12T16:15:23Z")
I didn’t see this one mentioned with all the other ELP tracks, but they also did a cover of Aaron Copland’s “Hoedown” (which is probably most famously known as the music in the old “Beef - It’s What’s For Dinner” ad campaign). [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/_meuGhNUZyE/maxresdefault.jpg "Hoedown (2015 - Remaster)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_meuGhNUZyE) ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-rock-versions-of-classical-compositions/855423/34 "2020-06-12T16:40:52Z")
The Rezillos - [20,000 Rezillos under the sea](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvT2ziG1Amk). Punky William Tell Overture played on a kazoo. And so on. j ---
**Author:** ![Kzbre5m](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f08c70/32.png) [@Kzbre5m](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kzbre5m)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-rock-versions-of-classical-compositions/855423/35 "2020-06-12T17:22:32Z")
Emerson, Lake & Palmer also played [**Alberto Ginastera’s the 4th movement to Piano Concerto No. 1, Op 28 “Toccata concertata”**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMVAQWTYw2A) (link to the original piano version). Emerson heard the piece, got the music and eventually [wrote his own version](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFbJQ65xJSg). ELP recorded it but had trouble getting permission from the publisher. Emerson finally met Ginastera, played the recording, but due translation difficulty thought Ginastera hated it. When told he said “diabolical” and he loved it, the rest was history. Emerson played jazzy versions of classical music, including parts of \*\*Toccata and Fugue in D minor \*\*(BWV 565, not the “Dorian” BWV 538), but then again _everyone_ plays that one (I’ve done it myself as a kid). The few live recordings I’ve seen him, he has to lay on the piano or pull his Hammon organ on top of himself so he can play it backwards. I wonder if ever learned to play it the right way around? ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-rock-versions-of-classical-compositions/855423/36 "2020-06-12T17:58:23Z")
> [@KarlGauss](#): > > I absolutely loved (and still do) [SRC’s version of Hall of the Mountain King](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sva9snQiGU). The lead guitar still sounds perfect more than 50 years later. > > Another rock take of a classical composition that still blows me away half a century later is (the long version of) [Love Sculpture’s ‘Sabre Dance’](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W04zBkz0Kqg). I was impressed back then and remain impressed today. > > Are there other great rock versions of classical stuff out there, especially less appreciated ones? I’ve liked the **Sounds Incorporated** version since 1965. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/6XK_ZtqJP1E/maxresdefault.jpg "Hall of the Mountain King") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XK_ZtqJP1E) ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-rock-versions-of-classical-compositions/855423/38 "2020-06-12T18:21:40Z")
Glen Campbell - William Tell overture, well worth a watch, unless you are a guitarist, in which case you might want to look away [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/0bhuxkzjuQc/hqdefault.jpg "Glen Campbell Plays "The William Tell Overture" (acoustic)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bhuxkzjuQc) ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-rock-versions-of-classical-compositions/855423/39 "2020-06-12T18:35:53Z")
> [@Kzbre5m](#): > > Emerson, Lake & Palmer also played [**Alberto Ginastera’s the 4th movement to Piano Concerto No. 1, Op 28 “Toccata concertata”**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMVAQWTYw2A) (link to the original piano version). Emerson heard the piece, got the music and eventually [wrote his own version](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFbJQ65xJSg). ELP recorded it but had trouble getting permission from the publisher. Emerson finally met Ginastera, played the recording, but due translation difficulty thought Ginastera hated it. When told he said “diabolical” and he loved it, the rest was history. > > Emerson played jazzy versions of classical music, including parts of \*\*Toccata and Fugue in D minor \*\*(BWV 565, not the “Dorian” BWV 538), but then again _everyone_ plays that one (I’ve done it myself as a kid). The few live recordings I’ve seen him, he has to lay on the piano or pull his Hammon organ on top of himself so he can play it backwards. I wonder if ever learned to play it the right way around? Emerson routinely performed extremely difficult pieces and almost certainly could have sight read that particular fugue, no learning necessary. Upside down the opening minute or less is more of a memorization trick than a technical challenge. Along with the **(Greig) Sounds Incorprorate**d I posted a few minutes ago, KE’s arrangements of the\*\* Ginastera Toccata, Tchaikovsky’s Pathetique, and Copeland’s Hoedown\*\* would be my four choices for this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-rock-versions-of-classical-compositions/855423/40 "2020-06-12T20:35:33Z")
The Mike Oldfield Christmas EP has In Dulci Jubilo (I have a video also) plus Vivaldo Concerto in C. I also have a version of the William Tell Overture from him, but everyone does that. The Zachariah movie soundtrack has a version with Elvin Jones playing drums to it, but the thread is about great versions, so I’m not including it. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-rock-versions-of-classical-compositions/855423/41 "2020-06-12T23:05:21Z")
[quote=“casdave, post:38, topic:855423”] Glen Campbell - William Tell overture, well worth a watch, unless you are a guitarist, in which case you might want to look away [/QUOTE] Campbell was a very talented musician, able to play multiple genres well. Roy Clark was another multi-talent. Here he is slaying the “classical” flamenco, [Malagueña](https://youtu.be/Pz2hXI7Ny9I?t=51). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-rock-versions-of-classical-compositions/855423.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-rock-versions-of-classical-compositions/855423.md?page=3)