Parallel geniuses? Composer mashes up Beethoven and Kanye

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Ludwig van Beethoven and Kanye West. These two artists, who on the surface have little in common, are brought together by "Yeethoven," a musical experiment that mashes up the works of artists two centuries apart.

The orchestra recently staged the second edition of the fusion in Los Angeles. The orchestra charges into the furious opening notes from the last movement of Beethoven's String Quartet No. 14. A drum-set kicks in, giving way to a new melody.

The violins are still in charge. But suddenly the theme isn't Beethoven but a symphonic take on "On Sight," the abrasive starting salvo of Kanye West's "Yeezus" album.

Beethoven is widely accepted as one of the most influential figures in musical history, helping create the modern symphony and Romanticism, inserting his personal voice like no composer before him.

West, one of the most accoladed rappers in history, has redefined what constitutes a song or album and offered fresh takes on hip-hop form, including with the dense electronic structure of "Yeezus."

Whether in orchestral music or hip-hop, both have been controversial figures in their day who challenged convention.

Yuga Cohler leads the Young Musicians Foundation Debut Chamber Orchestra during a performance of "Yeethoven II." /AFP Photo

"A lot of classical musicians, and I'm one of them, have been interested in Kanye's music," said Yuga Cohler, conductor of the Debut Chamber Orchestra of the Young Musicians Foundation, which presents "Yeethoven."

"And that is because he uses a lot of similar devices and tools that classical composers use in making their music original and compelling," he said.

The two might also be seen as facing some similar personal struggles. Beethoven was torn by depression, while West was hospitalized a year ago after a mental breakdown.

Yuga Cohler (left) and Johan get ready to go on stage for "Yeethoven II" in Los Angeles, California, December 14, 2017. /AFP Photo

Bringing new audiences

Differences, of course, also abound between Beethoven and West.

Beethoven was known for his intense shyness and romantic failures. West, married to reality television star Kim Kardashian, is hardly known for his modesty and has likened himself, if not to Beethoven, to Michelangelo.

After premiering to an enthusiastic crowd in 2016, the second "Yeethoven" in Los Angeles expanded its scope to include music from West's last album "The Life of Pablo."

"Yeethoven," with which West is not directly involved, will also take place on January 18 in New York at Lincoln Center.

The creators of "Yeethoven" credit the mash-up with bringing an unusually diverse crowd to an orchestra performance – a constant challenge in classical music in the United States, where audiences are overwhelmingly older and white.

Jack Taylor, who witnessed "Yeethoven" in Los Angeles, said he was "taken aback" but found the mixture of Beethoven and West "amazing."

"I didn't know what to expect when I got here and it just turned out to be a really, really transformative experience for me," he said.

Source(s): AFP