Eclecticism in music

In music theory and music criticism, the term eclecticism refers to the use of diverse music genres. A musician might be described as eclectic if different parts of their output can be ascribed to different genres such as folk, rock, electronic, classical, or jazz.

Eclectic musicians may also use historical references in their work. A song can reference historical forms and methods through its composition, arrangement, or production.

Classical theory

The term can be used to describe the music of composers who combine multiple styles of composition; an example would be a composer using a whole tone scale variant of a folk song in a pentatonic scale over a chromatic counterpoint, or a tertian arpeggiating melody over quartal or secundal harmonies.

Eclecticism can also occur through quotations, whether of a style,^{[n 1]} direct quotations of folk songs/variations of them—for example, in Mahler's Symphony No. 1—or direct quotations of other composers, for example in Berio's Sinfonia.^[1]

See also

• Polystylism
• Progressive music

Notes

1. For example, Shostakovich's Symphony No. 9 calls back to Haydnesque classicism.