リラックスな生活 It is a genre of music, but for many people, it may still feel a little unfamiliar.
Today, I would like to introduce post-classical music in a simple and approachable way, even for those who have never come across the term before.
Original Japanese article
This English page is based on the original Japanese article published on relakatsu.
Read the original Japanese version here
目次
Table of Contents
What Is Post-Classical?
Post-classical is a genre with a very loose definition, and it can be difficult to draw a clear line around it. Put very simply, it is music that blends traditional acoustic classical music with electronica, a more modern form of electronic music.
That said, some works are still described as post-classical even when they do not include electronica at all, and are made only with solo piano or orchestra.
For people who are not especially familiar with classical music, it may sometimes feel difficult or intimidating. Contemporary classical music in particular can seem challenging, and there are certainly pieces built around long stretches of dissonance.
Of course, classical music itself is wonderful, and I would love to write about it in more detail someday.
But post-classical is created by contemporary artists, with a sense of sound that feels closer to modern listeners. Because of that, I think it is often easier to approach and easier to understand.
At the same time, many of these artists have a deep knowledge of classical music theory, so this is not shallow or lightweight music by any means.
Personally, I think of post-classical as a new kind of classical music made by modern people, for modern people.
A Signature Post-Classical Track
To get a feel for what post-classical sounds like, I would like to begin with one representative piece.
This is a live performance of A Symphony Pathetique by A Winged Victory for the Sullen.
How does it feel?
The piano, strings, and ambient-like electronic textures melt together into a very beautiful melody. The fusion of classical music and electronica is both quiet and intense, and it moves the heart in a very deep way.
I hope this helps give a clearer sense of what post-classical music can be.
It also shares something in common with ambient music and ECM Records, both of which I have written about before. If you are interested, please take a look at those as well.
Recommended Post-Classical Albums
Here are some post-classical albums that I personally recommend.
Max Richter / The Blue Notebooks
If you talk about post-classical, this is one of the first names that comes up. Max Richter, a German-born British composer, released this as his second album.
It is a masterpiece that expanded the world of music by bringing classical music and electronica together in a deeply expressive way.
The music sounds beautiful and fragile, and it leaves a lasting emotional impression.
If you are going to listen to post-classical, this is the first album I would want you to hear.
Max Richter is also known as the person who coined the term “post-classical.”
Recommended track
・On The Nature Of Daylight
It was used memorably in the film Arrival.
A Winged Victory for the Sullen / A Winged Victory for the Sullen
A Winged Victory for the Sullen is a unit formed by Adam Wiltzie of Stars Of The Lid, whom I also mentioned in my ambient music article, and pianist Dustin O’Halloran.
I introduced them earlier with a representative video, but this album feels so complete that it almost seems like the final form of post-classical.
The piano melodies and gently resonating electronic sounds are endlessly beautiful and deeply moving.
Recommended track
・A Symphony Pathetique
Jóhann Jóhannsson / IBM 1401: A User’s Manual
Alongside Max Richter, the Icelandic composer Jóhann Jóhannsson is often regarded as one of the central figures of post-classical. This was his fourth album.
It is based on the unusual theme of an IBM computer manual, and yet it features the 60-member Prague Philharmonic Orchestra.
The combination of orchestra and floating electronic sound makes every piece feel beautiful and deeply affecting.
Sadly, Jóhann Jóhannsson passed away suddenly on February 9, 2018.
Recommended track
・Part 1: IBM 1401 Processing Unit
Ólafur Arnalds / Island Songs
This is a work by the Icelandic post-classical artist Ólafur Arnalds.
The album was created as a project in which he traveled through his home country of Iceland and collaborated with artists he encountered along the way.
Ólafur Arnalds plays piano and synth, and the music also features narration, chorus, strings, and many other sounds. Every piece feels fragile, beautiful, and deeply human.
The track Particles may also resonate with listeners who usually come from a pop music background.
Recommended track
・Doria
Ludovico Einaudi / I giorni
This work was composed by the Italian composer Ludovico Einaudi.
Even within post-classical, he belongs to a slightly earlier generation than figures like Max Richter and Jóhann Jóhannsson, and this album contains no electronic elements at all. It is a more straightforward classical piano work.
Every track is gentle on the ears, and the album is filled with piano pieces that are easy to listen to.
Recommended track
・I Giorni
Nils Frahm / Felt
This is a 2011 work by the German pianist Nils Frahm.
All of his works are known for their delicate piano playing, but I especially love this one for its ambient quality, as if it had captured silence itself.
It is the kind of music I want to sit with alone on a quiet night.
Recommended track
・Less
Goldmund / Occasus
This is a recent work by the American artist Goldmund.
Goldmund is a versatile musician who has written commercial music for companies such as Apple and Google, while also working under different names including Helios, Mint Julep, and Keith Kenniff.
His solo piano works are beautiful, but on this album he goes beyond piano, using synthesizers and deep reverberation to create a richer and more immersive sound.
The ambient feeling is even stronger here, and the music seems to draw the listener into a deep and quiet world.
Recommended track
・Before
Yaffle / After the chaos
Yaffle is one of Japan’s leading young producers, composers, and arrangers, known for his work with artists such as Fujii Kaze, Nariaki Obukuro, Ko Shibasaki, and aiei.
The post-classical work he created was released on Deutsche Grammophon, the prestigious classical label.
At first, it felt a little surprising to hear him take on post-classical music, but considering his past work in film music, it may have been a natural step.
This is a work that reaches the heart beyond the boundaries of pop and classical music.
Summary
How did you find post-classical music, this meeting point between classical music and electronica?
It has something in common with ambient music and ECM Records, but it also offers a different kind of beauty of its own.
If you clear your mind and simply listen to these beautiful, deep melodies, I think they can bring a profound sense of relaxation.
There are still many more works I would love to introduce, and I hope to share a second post-classical selection another time.
For today, let post-classical music guide you into a deeper kind of relaxation.