Working Classical: Orchestral and Chamber Music by Paul McCartney

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Working Classical might just be the perfect outlet for the composing skills of Sir Paul McCartney. Here, the former Beatles (and, let's not forget, Wings) member scales things down from his previous classical-music endeavors--the overweight works Liverpool Oratorio and Standing Stone. In the hands of the Loma Mar Quartet chamber group and the London Symphony Orchestra, McCartney's shorter compositions sound all the more intimate (and effective). Album opener "Junk" is a simple waltz dating from the composer's days with the Fab Four, performed here by the Quartet with short-but-sweet results. "A Leaf" is another waltz motif, this one performed with a full orchestra. McCartney pop favorites "Warm and Beautiful," "Somedays," "She's My Baby," and "The Lovely Linda" all get chamber-music treatments that bring out their compositional beauty. And, while influences seem to range from Janácek to Morricone, there's no doubting that McCartney knows how to write a convincing ditty--pop or otherwise. --Jason Verlinde

Tracks:

Junk
A Leaf
Haymakers
Midwife
Spiral
Warm And Beautiful
My Love
Maybe I'm Amazed
Calico Skies
Golden Earth Girl
Somedays
Tuesday
She's My Baby
The Lovely Linda

Amazon.com

Working Classical might just be the perfect outlet for the composing skills of Sir Paul McCartney. Here, the former Beatles (and, let's not forget, Wings) member scales things down from his previous classical-music endeavors--the overweight works Liverpool Oratorio and Standing Stone. In the hands of the Loma Mar Quartet chamber group and the London Symphony Orchestra, McCartney's shorter compositions sound all the more intimate (and effective). Album opener "Junk" is a simple waltz dating from the composer's days with the Fab Four, performed here by the Quartet with short-but-sweet results. "A Leaf" is another waltz motif, this one performed with a full orchestra. McCartney pop favorites "Warm and Beautiful," "Somedays," "She's My Baby," and "The Lovely Linda" all get chamber-music treatments that bring out their compositional beauty. And, while influences seem to range from Janácek to Morricone, there's no doubting that McCartney knows how to write a convincing ditty--pop or otherwise. --Jason Verlinde

Customer Reviews:

nice string music.......2007-07-13

Wow, these are nice arrangements. Very good to put on the CD player late at night and relaxing with. Very good.
Macca continues to amaze. As Ringo said in reference to "Let it Be...Naked":"(Paul) ,You were right all along."
I think when the history is written many years from now, it'll be seen that while John Lennon was the heart of the Beatles,Paul McCartney was their musical brain. I feel Mac will stand tall with other notable composers from the Western musical tradition.
AS soon as the classical snobs make themselves admit it.
Melodically,Mac can't be beat.
W/out Mac,there would've not been the Beatles as we know them today.
This CD is well worth buying.

Perfect Format to Present Paul's Genius.......2006-11-20

Confused recent reviews have argued about whether this is classical or MUZAK. Whatever you want to call the form, the music itself is brilliant and inspired. We would not give two shakes about these tunes that are in some cases thirty-six years old if they had no draw to our hearts and no merit. This album would have been released and forgotten and that definitely has not happened.

I have just listened to the broadcast of Paul's most recent classical work Ecce Cor Meum from Carnegie Hall in New York (Nov. 14, 2006) and prior to the main piece, the soprano Kate Royal and another vocalist sang these songs accompanied by the same quartet that appears on Working Classical. It was essentially a live version of this album with vocals and it was brilliant as is the original Working Classical CD. My Love, Warm and Beautiful, Calico Skies and Junk come off as extraordinarily brillant as they do on this recording. These songs, whether in this form or closer to their original form, will live forever and no amount of "orchestration" can kill them.

The same reviewer wrote: "it is a sign of the decline of serious culture that so many people actually believe that this MUZAK is classical music". How pompous some classical music fans are that they cannot conceive of any important music being written in modern times. Another reviewer wrote: "an orchestrated pop song is still a pop song". Perhaps, but that is not a fatal critcism that would obviate the joy these melodies give and emotions they hold. On the contrary, this is not elevator music. Elevator music is not compelling, its not memorble and its not written by a genius named Paul McCartney.

If you were to take a sonata by a well-known classical composer and play it among 'elevator music' with an overblown song like "Feelings", for example, would that turn it into elevator music? The discerning among us know the difference. An orchestrated pop song is not just MUZAK. That is just simple-minded. This idea comes from John Lennon's song "How Do You Sleep?" during which he idenifies Paul's music as MUZAK. John later denounced and rejected the sentiments of that song.

It turns out Paul is the coolest Beatle because he is the least affected, the least afraid to worry about what people would think about his doing something like this recording. He is not worried about the posturing associated with the tough guy rock and roll image. He is first and foremost an artist and musician--one of rare quality and talent.

This is NOT classical music.......2006-11-07

It is a sign of the decline of serious culture that so many people actually believe that this MUZAK is classical music. As another reviewer wrote: an orchestrated pop song is still a pop song. It's so funny: in the 1960s, kids used to laugh at their parents for being so square for listening to 'elevator music'(i.e., orchestrated pop songs) and not being cool and listening the Beatles...and now those kids are adults and they are listening to...elevator music written by one of the Fab Four!!

one of my favoirte cds.......2006-08-05

sir paul writes such beautiful melodies. found this in the library and just loved it. it is such a peaceful pleasure to listen to. you will find some familiar tunes and other new ones. i find it moving and lovely.

Is it possible to wear out a CD?.......2006-03-26

I first heard the song "Tuesday" on my "wake-up" radio station. I was amazed and thrilled when I found Paul McCartney as the truly gifted composer, proven by this glorious work. Some of the tracks are reminiscent of old Beatles songs.
His music possesses a gentle whimsy and include orchestral or chamber versions of some of his recognizable songs such as "Junk," "My Love" and "Maybe I'm Amazed."
I'd read all the reviews and have included a snippet from one which I am happy to share... this just says it all...

Gerald R Steele
"An extension of an event, begun in the sixties, called, "The Beatles", Paul McCartney has confirmed the importance of the original Phenomena. Some of us realized that from "I Want to Hold Your Hand" a culmination of music, from Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Gershwin, and Vaughn-Williams, was emerging.
One can only hope for more. This tribute to Linda may begin something that will reference a "pop-culture" that included "The Beatles" as the beginning to music that truly responds to "the inner-ear" of, at least, three generations. This is the stuff that lives for thousands of years." Thank you Gerald. Imagine, touching the hearts of THREE generations?

My own love for this album is enhanced by my friendships as I compare my feelings, during listening, to them. A dear friend, Linda, rides her mechanical steed every morning and I think of her as I listen to "The Lovely Linda". I can see her in the morning dawn, peddling along and enjoying the morning and life. "Calico Skies" is reminiscent of all my Mitford pals! So dignified and serene! I'll probably wear out this CD from playing it so much.

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