Introduction

Classical vs Western Pop

Franz Liszt (left) and Pentatonix (right)

This musical links investigation will cover the similarities and differences of musical styles between a Western Pop work and a Classical work. In this case, I will use Pentatonix’s rendition of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah and Franz Liszt’s piano composition of Paganini’s Violin Concerto No. 2, La Campanella.

Pentatonix is a 21st century American a cappella group consisting of 5 vocalists - Scott Hoying, Mitchell (or Mitch) Grassi, Kirstin (or Kirstie) Maldanado, Avi Kaplan, and Kevin Olusola. Given that they do not use instruments, these aspects are created using their mouths. Scott is the baritone, Mitch is the alto, Kirstin is the soprano, Avi is the bass, and Kevin is the tenor - however, primarily, Kevin is the group’s beatboxer. Together, the group performs covers of various hit pop songs and a few of their own compositions.

Franz Liszt is a Hungarian piano virtuoso and composer who has been a prominent figure of the Romantic era of the 19th century. He based his music on the technique of thematic transformation. Examples of such transformations can be by varying the melodic outline, harmony, rhythm, dynamics, or registers (from low to high or high to low). Liszt inherited Chopin’s legacy and implemented his own style on modern piano technique, writing highly virtuosic, technically difficult works.

The aspect that stands out in this musical investigation is the fact that both Pentatonix’s Hallelujah and Liszt’s La Campanella follow a theme and variations type of pattern. To clarify, theme and variation is a special form in which the piece begins with the main melody. This is followed by variations of the main theme. Basically, both pieces introduce a theme 1 and theme 2, and then as both themes are revisited, new musical elements are brought in, such as different harmonies and accompaniments . The melody, however, is still present as the principal melody in both works.