Writing neoclassical stuff

[Jimmy]

Kyoga, maybe you can help me out here.
(Seeing how you wrote this masterpiece I figure you know a little bit more than I do. http://soundcloud.com/kyoga-1/perils-of-the-petty)

So I've been listening to a lot of Rhapsody of Fire lately and their symphonic metal sound is pretty amazing, combining epic choruses with blazing guitar solos, and a thrashing riff-based power metal sound with that of the likes of Mozart, Bach and Verdi, and I'd love to write my own stuff in that sort of vein. The thrashy, power metal stuff I can sort of do, but it's getting those neoclassical elements in my music that I think I might need some help with. I don't listen to a lot of classical music overall, and I certainly haven't been learning how to play any of it. My improvisation techniques are crude at best when it comes to generating something sounding even vaguely classical-sounding.

Is anyone here more in the know than I am of how classical music gets that unique, evocative sound? You know what I mean, the chords just play off each other effortlessly - the majors, minors, diminished, augmented and sevenths all have their own separate roles within the construction of the piece, and it's all fairly complex, but the result is a timeless and unforgettable musical achievement.

I suppose one way to incorporate that element into my music is to literally take famous passages from already-existing classical works and just adapt them for guitars and keyboards, but I'm not sure if I'm okay with this. Symphony X did this quite a lot on some of their earlier albums... but it is sort of plagiarism, isn't it? (Regardless of whether the artists are dead or not.)

Can anyone recommend me the pieces (or artists) I definitely need to hear if I want to go down this route? And maybe have some advice for how to start composing like those artists?

For the record, here's a RoF song I'd very much like to imitate:

[Peak Freak]

Okay, first about plagiarism: It always occurs, it always occured and it will always accur:
Bach did it (sometimes from himself, sometimes from others), Beethoven did it, Mozart did it: ALOT did it.
Listen to Rachmaninoffs Etude Tableux Op. 33 Nr. 8, the g-minor harmonic scale and the following g minor chord - and then to the end of Chopins Ballade No. 1 in G minor: Also g-minor scale and following g minor chord -> plagiarism?
Well, Rachmaninoff at least changed the scale into the harmonic scale instead of the aeolic one Chopin used. Everyone notices it somehow, but there was never a real complaint about that.
Moreover, due to the harmonic and the movement rules in classical music, you will often find similarities: the only different thing often is the flow of the melodies and the motifes. It now and then occurs, that you find something new, but these are steps of progress made in classical music, leading to the new period of romanticism later: The rules were easied, and the musician could express himself in a better way -> the music doesn't sound similar, less allegedly plagiarism.

What I would recommend you: Learn music theory (mainly harmonics): If you then use this knowledge analyzing classical pieces, you will find these rules, and can use them for your own, or change them however you want.

[natsukashi]

pls don't accuse Alot of plagiarism

Look how sad he is.

[Peak Freak]

pls don't accuse Alot of plagiarism

Look how sad he is.

Oh no, I didn't wanted that D:
I am sorry, Alot, can you forgive me? *huggles Alot*

[Dr_Dissonance]

I'm not sure if Power Metal is considered neoclassical...but whatevs!

Classical music is difficult to explain, because it is a lot to do with theory, but composers don't think about the theory actively when composing...
Myself and many others don't go "Hurr, I'm going to go here, then here, then here!" We tend to just let the chord progression and harmonies come to us.
HOWEVER, theory is invaluable, because you'll use it at the subconscious level when composing. If you know how music works, you're more likely to work out where and what needs to happen to get the sound you want, just by listening.
For example, Beethoven was an ultra genius and he knew his theory. But he wrote what he liked and people then picked out the theory once it was written. Same rule applies with close to all classical music. You should do the same!

So in short, learn music theory! And as a bonus, listen to other works and find out what makes them tick!

[WavesOfParadox]

Oh, I thought this was about neoclassical, not neoclassical metal...

But contributing to this thread and concerning plagiarism, look at the quote in my signature.