Iain Simons wrote: >I would still argue that it does have a place in society, and it would >probably expand the listening repertoire of many so-called *heavy-metal* >fans. After all, the Moody Blues bridged the gap between the *classical* >and the contemporary pop for my generation. I wasn't going to contribute to this thread, because I think that the mix of heavy-metal and orchestra is ridiculous. But, Iain's reflections are so different from mine that I felt the need to chime in. I have to make a distinction between "pop" and "rock" music. Until the early to mid-sixties, pop and rock were one and the same. Then came the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Yardbirds, Bob Dylan, Led Zepplin, Jimi Hendrix, etc. These artists created "hard" rock; no longer did the themes revolve around love, but sex, drugs, and political and social issues. Pop music did continue to live through folks like Diana Ross, the Carpenters, Tony Orlando and Dawn - themes still revolved around love and syrup, etc. If the Moody Blues bridged any gap, it was the one between rock and pop music, and many rock fans were very disenchanted with the Moody Blue's use of orchestral back-up. Someone mentioned Nights in White Satin which is a good example. Here was a rock song with a mysterious "edge" which was diluted and nearly ruined by the use of orchestra. I think that Iain does not give sufficient credit to heavy-metal fans. They are no 'so-called' fans, they are real and want their music without the smoother and mainstream sounds of an orchestra. So, I do not believe that heavy-metal and orchestra will expand their repertoire at all, just turn them off (appropriately). I'm sure that Iain's daughter knows what I'm talking about. You see, those of us who feel that this mix and match business is a good thing still think of the rock end as not as good or worthy, and when those rock fans hear how good the music sounds with orchestra, they will be at least somewhat converted. That premise has nothing to recommend it. With little exception, heavy metal fans will be turned off by this mix - it's not what they want no matter how much *we* say otherwise. As I've said before, young persons want and demand their own music, written and performed for them. So, my opinion is that heavy-metal + orchestra = junk music. It's a silly gimmick which always ends in nothing as it has in the past. Now that I'm a strong classical music advocate, I'm personally embarrassed for those elements of the classical music world which get involved in these wasted endeavors. Riding the coattails of rock music to increase the appeal of classical music has no viabilty. Don Satz [log in to unmask]