Influences

Tributes being paid today to Punk guru Malcolm McLaren who's death was announced yesterday at the age of 64! Where's the classical music link? Remember Madam Butterfly? He may have been a cultural annarchist, but he was content with the building blocks of our musical heritage. And see what Bobby McFerrin is doing now! Best known for his iconic Reggae number Don't Worry, Be Happy - he's been busily reinventing himself musically, drawing on his childhood study of musical theory from the age of 6. Both his parents were Classical singers. He's just released a new album Vocabularies containing the most extraordinary range of styles and influences - and yes of course Classical is among them. Read more here. Is this the right way to see it? Classical music as the building blocks of today's popular music? Or part of a progression? Manchester Camerata's upcoming Night & Day concerts (Stafford 23rd April, RNCM 24th April and Ulverston 25th April) contains Debussy's Prélude à l’après midi d’un Faune! For some clearly a revolutionary piece - presaging Jazz or a much more free form 20th century style of music? Reggae? Don't worry, be Happy!