Baroque pop

Baroque pop is a sub-genre of pop music during the 1960's. It is also a predecessor of progressive rock since it used more classical concepts rather than rock-and-roll concepts.

The music was influenced by baroque composers between 1600 and 1750 using classical pieces of Johann Sebastian Bach, Antonio Vivaldi, and George Frederich Handel to name a few. The instruments used for baroque pop are harpsichord, violins, cellos, flute, oboe, and french horn to name a few. The songs "A Lover's Concerto" by the Toys and "Opus 17" by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons were influenced by classical compositions.

It wasn't until 1965 when The Beatles released "In My Life" which featured a sped-up piano played by George Martin that the sub-genre of baroque pop would emerge. By 1966, Pet Sounds by the Beach Boys would be a true example of baroque pop by using orchestral instruments on almost the whole album. At the same time, the Beatles' Revolver would contain two baroque pop songs "Eleanor Rigby" by using a string octet and "For No One" which uses a clavichord and french horn. The Left Banke was the first band to be baroque pop with their songs "Walk Away Renee" and "Pretty Ballerina".

By 1967, baroque pop would become part of progressive rock with bands such as Procol Harum, The Moody Blues, Flaming Youth, The Move, and The Nice, Paul Mccartney's contribution to later Beatles songs, particularly "She's Leaving Home", "Fixing a Hole", "The Fool on the Hill", "Martha My Dear", and the last part the Abbey Road medley. Other songs that was included to the baroque pop genre was the Association's "Windy", Linda Ronstadt's "Different Drum", Peter and Gordon's "Sunday for Tea", Honeybus' "I Can't Let Maggie Go", The Zombies' album Odyssey and Oracle and many of The Bee Gees' work during the 1960's.

By the end of the 1960's, baroque pop faded away and the bands that used classical pieces were absorbed into progressive rock. The genre would remain dormant until the 1990's with bands such as The Divine Comedy, Panic! at the Disco, and Vampire Weekend to name a few.