TwoSetViolin and the Evolution of Classical Music
When you think about your favorite songs, what genres come to mind? You might be thinking of Ariana Grande’s hit single “Positions” or Porter Robinson’s EDM masterpiece “Shelter.” Contemporary music aside, classical music probably didn’t even make your top ten list. Contrary to popular belief, however, the classical genre remains relevant, and even pivotal in society, through social media and entertainment. In particular, the YouTube channel TwoSetViolin has brought the genre to a wider audience by exhibiting classical music with a modern twist.
Brett Yang and Eddy Chen created TwoSetViolin in 2014, having since gathered about 3 million subscribers. The channel possesses a diverse repertoire of content, from skits to music reviews to musician interviews. However, all of their videos include one common theme: their enthusiasm for classical music. Their channel especially stands out through their ability to metamorphose classical pieces into contemporary songs, making the classical genre more accessible to audiences without a musical background.
TwoSetViolin comments on classical music in a fun and lighthearted way, even getting into the technicalities of the genre without intimidating new listeners. Yang and Chen do this through their content—song reviews, debates, and composer biographies—all explained in an easily comprehensible manner. Furthermore, the channel makes use of recombinant culture in their YouTube videos, recreating popular songs with classical instruments and demonstrating the versatility of the genre. Their channel especially stands out through their ability to metamorphose classical pieces into contemporary songs, making the classical genre more accessible to audiences without a musical background. 
For example, one of their videos, called “If Paganini Wrote All I Want for Christmas is You,” fuses pop culture and classical pieces. By mixing popular Christmas songs with the unique violin melodies of Paganini, an eighteenth-century classical violinist, TwoSetViolin has been able to expose a larger demographic to the genre and its composers. On the other hand, the video “K-Pop That Sampled Classical Music” directly demonstrates the way classical pieces have made their way into the international pop scene, which most listeners are unaware of.
Whether the video is viewed by an experienced classical music lover or an uninformed but curious listener, there is always something new to learn from TwoSetViolin’s YouTube channel. Ultimately, the channel’s immense popularity is living proof that rather than losing relevance, classical music has simply evolved to become a perpetual and widespread influence on modern forms of entertainment.
