Exploring the Beatles Strings Arrangements: Maybe Blog Series, A Slight Detour - Part 5.1 The Greatness of George Martin

Recently, I became aware of some people saying, 'I look forward to each post,' which has given me a boost. It seemed like this blog was reaching its climax. However, this time, let's take a slight detour from the actual work and talk about George Martin. He is the person who wrote the string parts for 'Yesterday,' essentially the person who 'completed' the song.

George Martin, CC BY-SA 3.0 DEED (Quoted from Wikipedia)

Although the song 'Yesterday' was composed by Paul McCartney, when you listen to the original version, you can see that Paul sings it surprisingly straightforwardly. George Martin likely didn’t feel that something was missing, but rather, upon hearing the song, the string part probably fully formed in his mind. He must have jotted it down on the spot, likely finishing it within a few minutes. This can be imagined by looking at the original handwritten score, which appears multiple times.

There is a vast amount of related material available, with Wikipedia being just the tip of the iceberg, along with numerous blogs and articles by experts. Therefore, I will briefly summarize it in a chronological format.

Beatles and George Martin in studio 1966, public domain (Quoted from Wikipedia)

By the time he met The Beatles, he was already a professional with a solid career as a musician and producer. Interestingly, rather than being strictly classical, he approached music with a more modern, creative stance and had a broad perspective.

Without exception, people know George Martin through The Beatles, and he was the talented producer who essentially 'completed' them.
Even during The Beatles era, George Martin had a significant influence on their music.

In 'In My Life,' for instance, despite some tricks with the playback speed, he showcased his impeccable piano skills (around the 1:28 mark).

He effortlessly wrote the string parts for 'Yesterday,' which is the main topic of this blog.

The exquisite trumpet solo arrangement in 'Penny Lane'

The list of his work is endless. Each project combines innovative approaches with beautiful sounds, achieving an indescribably high level of music. This, along with the quality of The Beatles' songs, proves that he was no ordinary person.

Now, while The Beatles have countless masterpieces, are you aware of the Beatles record that is said to be 'George Martin's solo show,' with none of The Beatles members participating?

The Beatles “Yellow Submaline” in 1968

This LP, released in 1968, serves both as the soundtrack for the animated film of the same name and as an official Beatles album.
The B-side features orchestral tracks composed by George Martin, which were used as the soundtrack in the film.
The album's music is based on the theme song 'Yellow Submarine' (from the 1966 album 'Revolver') and includes tracks used in various scenes of the movie.

The title track is 'PepperLand.' Though a short piece, it might not be an exaggeration to call it the epitome of Western music as crafted by George Martin's generation, who were likely influenced by teachers born in the 19th century during the early 20th century.

Listening to this LP after watching the movie brings back scenes from the film, reminding us of the nostalgic feeling soundtracks are meant to evoke.

Reflecting on the timeline mentioned earlier, one can sense the refined, effortless creativity, possibly influenced by the film music work George Martin did before The Beatles in the 1950s.
Such a pleasant atmosphere is, in reality, the result of continuous high-pressure work and the tension of seasoned musicians. It wouldn't be an overstatement to count this as one of the peaks of George Martin's career.

Lastly, a track I want to highlight due to personal sentiment is 'Diamond Dust,' from Jeff Beck's 1975 release 'Blow by Blow.'"

This beautiful track, which concludes the album, is an over eight-minute long composition by Max Middleton, who was working with Jeff Beck after the disbandment of the Jeff Beck Group.
The producer of 'Blow by Blow' is George Martin, who elevated this work to a biblical level for rock guitar enthusiasts.

The string part in 'Diamond Dust' follows the last note played by Jeff Beck, transitioning into another gem of a solo on the Rhodes Piano by Middleton. The final minute of the album features an orchestral performance alone, perfectly concluding the piece.
This seamless transition, where the orchestra ends the track without feeling out of place, is another example of George Martin's exceptional work.
I can even imagine Jeff Beck listening to this in front of the studio mixing console, quietly whispering, 'It's OK, George.

The saying 'A wise man recognizes another' holds true. This miraculous song seems like an inevitable creation. This might also be said of 'Yesterday.'

• George Martin：Passed away at his home in Coleshill on March 8, 2016, at the age of 90.
• Jeff Beck：Passed away on January 10, 2023, at the age of 78.

All we can do is bid farewell to the souls of these wise men. As a mere mortal, I am grateful for the continued efforts of Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, and I can only hope for their visit to Japan.