Examining the ancestry of rock'n'roll, one finds two heritages at the trunk of the family tree: the blues and classical music. While the former has remained relevant in the thick, sexy riffing of rock and metal artists, the latter often takes a backseat, due in part to the sheer number of bows on the shoes of 19th Century composers. But the sweep and drama of classical is deeply important to good rock, giving it a cinematic quality that warms listeners' hearts and makes them feel like they're on the epic quest that is their everyday lives.
Over the years, a handful of artists have attempted to reclaim rock's classical background by teaming up with or bringing into their ranks composers and orchestras. Sometimes, this feels longwinded and ridiculous, but often it bears strangely delicious fruit.
Here are 10 times that rock has traded its steel for brass: