The great impact classical music has had 

on The Beatles' music

The Beatles were inspired by many different musical styles. The most important of these were classical music. A lot of Beatles songs have instruments, ideas and elements from music written by for instance Bach and Beethoven.

By Per Wium, music journalist

Baby it's You

Many people think that the classical influence of The Beatles started with "Yesterday".

But in the early Beatles days, they used classical instruments on two songs.

The first one is from the very first album "Please please me". The song is "Baby it's You". A few weeks after the group had recorded the song, George Martin added a celeste. The celeste is sometimes used with the symphony orchestra. The hungarian composer Bela Bartok wrote a huge work called "Music for strings, percussion and celeste"!
The celeste doubles the guitar theme on "Baby it's You".

Every little thing

The Timpani (very big percussion instrument) is used on "Every little thing".
Many orchestra recordings were done in the Abbey Road studies. So it was a natural thing, to leave the big instruments in the studio after recording sessions. A timpani is very heavy, You don't  bring it home.
The Beatles were curious to use the instrument. Ringo plays it in-between the vocals in the chorus of the song.

Yesterday

George Martin suggested the string quartet on "Yesterday". A little music revolution. And very far away from the "normal" instrumentation within the Beatles songs.

Paul agreed - though he was a pop-musician.

John, George and Ringo accepted not to perfom on the song! 
The four of them were extremely open-minded and not afraid of new things.

In my life

John asked George Martin to play a theme that sounded like early baroque on the song "In my life".
Martin composed and played it - and the group liked it a lot. Again: They were open-minded. As four musicians - as a band.

Eleanor Rigby

After "Yesterday" Paul got interested in exploring the possibilities of classical instruments. So he asked George Martin to arrange for at double string quartet on "Eleanor Rigby". Martin’s arrangement is not only background and repeats.
The strings develop within the song.

Penny Lane

Paul saw and heard baroque music of Johann Sebastian Bach on TV. In one of the "Brandenburger concertos" he was thrilled by the piccolo-trompet. Hence, he  asked George Martin to arrange a little solo for this instrument.
Martin booked trumpet player Dave Mason. He had his "15 seconds of fame", but was not mentioned on the cover.

She's leaving home

On "She's leaving home" we are totally into the sound and instruments of classical music. Listening to the harmonies we are closer to Robert Schumann than to Chuck Berry.

The only thing that is NOT classical is the way John and Paul are singing.
Mike Leander did the arrangement. George Martin produced and conducted the little orchestra.

Within You without You

Classical music is not only western classical music. It can also be indian classical music.
George Harrison was fascinated by the indian sitar. He learned to play it and his teacher was Ravi Shankar.
"Within You without You" is not your typical classical indian music. But it is certainly very inspired by indian music. 

Because

Yoko Ono played first movement from Beethovens "Moonlight"Sonata for piano for John.

He loved it - and used it as  inspiration for the harpsicord playing on "Because"

Abbey Road suite

On the suite from Abbey Road, Paul went further than the normal pop format of 3 - 4 minutes.

He adapted the classical tradition of longer works.

We have also strings in the "Golden Slumbers"-part.

Among other songs with classical influence:
For noone, I am the Walrus, All You need is love, A day in the life, Good night etc.

Consultancy support: www.hallkom.com