The ''fade'' in popular songs: a useful technique, or lazy?

[Thudlow_Boink]

@Pitchmeister

Do tell? I can’t think of a single one. Classical as in pre-20th century? How would that work?

@EmilyG

George Crumb’s “Vox balaena” and Holst’s “Neptune.” Both 20th-century works, admittedly.

I’ve heard that the Holst is/was the first piece of music to ever employ the fade technique, but I don’t have as much popular-music knowledge as I would need to confirm this.

I was wondering whether you were thinking of Haydn’s “Farewell” symphony. That’s not exactly a fade, but it’s sort of similar.