Yngwie Malmsteen - 'Cry no more' classical theme

BAROQUE 'N' ROLL...!! No slow down software necessary for this Yngwie part....that's a first ! :-)

This was one of two songs (the other one being No mercy) from the Fire & Ice album where Yngwie got to work with a real classical string section and while the No mercy classical break is definitely an adaptation of J.S. Bach's Badinerie (from the Orchestral Suite No.2) there seems to be some doubt as to wether the classical theme in Cry no more is also actually a Bach piece or just Bach inspired.

Now I listen to a lot of Bach but I haven't come across this melody yet.
Can anyone clarify...?

It sure sounds more like Bach than Malmsteen.Why?
Well, a typical Bach piece is far more complex than any original Yngwie composed baroque part. So taking into account the fairly complex harmonies and especially the development of the melody I'd say Bach (also, the often awkward fingerings for guitar suggest keyboard writing).

I have the same feeling whenever I hear that 3/4 classical break in Icarus dream suite: that fingering does not seem something Yngwie would play. I always assumed this part was keyboardist Jens' doing (although Yngwie would never admit to that of course ;-)

This is not to criticize Malmsteen. Quite the contrary actually: I think a big part of his genius lies in the fact that he ingeniously incorporated typical baroque style melodies and harmonies into his rock playing and in doing so he kept all the melodic sounding bits and left out the more complex elements (elaborate modulations, chromaticism in melodic lines etc.) in the end making it easier digestible for the (hard)rock crowd. Fuckin' brilliant !

I chose to play the melody in the lower octave the first time to create some contrast with the repeat an octave higher. Also, probably not Yngwie's fingerings but certain passages felt awkward so I kinda stuck to fingerings that work for me.

I also posted a second clip where I'm playing and analyzing the chords underneath this exquisite melody. Check it out.

For me Fire & Ice (1992) was Yngwie's last great album ending a ten year streak that started in 1983. Production, singers, songwriting, even his guitar playing...everything deteriorated after that.

Never cared for Yngwie's lead sound on F&I though, sounds squashed and small....certainly when compared to the mighty Eclipse album!

Sayonara Shredders !
P.

Yngwie Malmsteen - best albums (in order of personal preference) :
1. Yngwie Malmsteen - Eclipse
2. Yngwie Malmsteen - Odyssey
3. Yngwie Malmsteen - Trilogy
4. Yngwie Malmsteen - Marching out
5. Yngwie Malmsteen - Rising force
6. Yngwie Malmsteen - Fire & ice
7. Alcatrazz - No parole from rock 'n' roll
8. Alcatrazz - No parole from rock 'n' roll : live sentence
9. Yngwie Malmsteen - Trial by fire : Live in Leningrad
10. Steeler - Steeler