The Beatles’ recording catalog covers a wide range from the likes of “Love Me Do” (1962) to the multipartite medley that ends the album Abbey Road (1969). With this in mind, write an essay in which you describe in some detail several of the ways in which the Beatles expanded the range of stylistic references in pop music to include intersections with, for example, various incarnations of Western classical music, Hindustani music, and avant-garde music. You should focus on the period from Rubber Soul forward, but you should include at least some discussion of the earlier music. Be sure to include discussion of the change The Beatles helped to spur in pop music from being functional dance music and something simply to be enjoyed to being something to be listened to and taken seriously as art. Be sure to illustrate your arguments with reference to specific stylistic aspects of a number of relevant recordings.
As always, you should also make an attempt to relate the Beatles’ musical activity to some of the leading social issues of the time as discussed in lectures and the textbook.\
Sample Solution
