At the heart of popular culture in the Sixties were The Beatles, the most successful and innovative guitar group. Their music both reflected and shaped many cultural contrasts of the Sixties: tradition and innovation, the Establishment and the counter-culture, the group and the individual, materialism and spirituality. The level of engagement with their history shows little sign of declining, as demonstrated by the success of Peter Jackson’s massive Get Back documentary and Paul McCartney’s headlining set at Glastonbury in 2022.
This day school reflects on The Beatles’ achievement and legacy sixty years from their first LP. Using audio, film and photographs, the four sessions trace the band’s recording history, delving into the factors which characterise their songs and continue to reach a global and cross-generational audience. This is an exploration of how The Beatles developed that music, from the relatively simple recordings of 1963 to the ambitious 4-track arrangements of 1967 and beyond to Abbey Road’s 8-track. New details will emerge in familiar songs to show how the group created an expressive musical vocabulary. Particular attention will be given to the artistry of such milestones as Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and the ‘Long Medley’.
The day will also consider the broader significance of the ‘psychedelic moment’ in 1967-68 when popular music touched a new frontier of consciousness. It concludes with an overview of The Beatles’ reputation and legacy since 1980, looking at significant publications and releases, and reflections on the archetypal myths and magnetism of their story.