What is a "pocket" symphony?

[Black Tiger]

I've never really understood what Brian meant by this phrase...does he mean it in the sense that it's a "little" symphony, like something small enough to fit in one's pocket? Or is it something more than this? 

[petsite]

I forget who said pocket symphony to Brian, but I think it means a symphony were there are different movments that transpire over a short time. 3:35 is a short time.

[The Heartical Don]

'Symphony' in the classical sense means that there are different movements, that are somehow linked to a 'main theme' that is given a different 'work through' in the various parts, ending in a finale. But this is not dogma (luckily enough!), see for instance the works of Charles Ives, esp. the 'little symphonies' like 'Central Park In The Dark'. If you want to know more, you could do worse than simply consult 'Classical Music For Dummies' or the standard textbook by Grout & Palisca.   

I would say that BWPS offers three movements that are thematically linked but are no symphony in the sense as described above, although mr. Ives would have been delighted had he had the chance to hear it.

I would not rack my brain with trying to define exactly what a 'pocket symphony' is; as far as I know Brian was heavily influenced by Gershwin's 'Rhapsody In Blue', which isn't a classical symphony either.

Some SMiLE blegs are by chance or expressly sequenced so that for instance the 'Bicycle Rider' theme crops up numerous times in unexpected places, and that endears these efforts to me, because this is more in the tradition of old.

So: I'd say that BWPS is a symphony, but no classical symphony in the strict sense. Call it a Ivesian or Parksian symphony, if you like. Sometimes the 'free form' is much more appropriate than the scholarly form.

[Black Tiger]

I know what a symphony is, it's the word "pocket" that I'm confused by.

[Aegir]

I think petsite got it right. Symphonies tend to be much longer than pop songs - many are over an hour long.

[the captain]

It's a made-up term intended to get across that it's a little symphony.

[Andreas]

It's a made-up term intended to get across that it's a little symphony.

Condensed to make it fit in a pocket.

[the captain]

You put sound in your pockets?

[Andreas]

You put sound in your pockets?

Only Pet Sounds.

[punkinhead]

I wanna say Derek Taylor coined that phrase but I could be wrong; I think pocket symphony could mean a whole symphony in 3 minutes.

somebody called it his 'Satisfaction, You've Lost that Loving feeling,' and something else, all in one song....anyone remember?

[Pretty Funky]

From Brians bio on BW.com

"Good Vibrations” was a record that the legendary publicist Derek Taylor called a “pocket symphony”; given its kaleidoscopic movements

[petsite]

Good old Derek. THAT'S who that was. It was killing me! Thanks!

[pixletwin]

I always took to mean a lesser form of a symphony. A pop song in movements with a typical sonata type format: ie Exposition, developement, and recapitulation... all of which are present in SMiLE. 

Basically a term to convey the ambitiousness of the project without any hint of pretension. 

[The Heartical Don]

I always took to mean a lesser form of a symphony. A pop song in movements with a typical sonata type format: ie Exposition, developement, and recapitulation... all of which are present in SMiLE. 

Pretty well put, cheers.

[Bill Tobelman]

David Leaf's book says that "pocket symphony" was Brian's term.

[sofonanm]

Brian Wilson (a crazy person) used to imagine that inside his breast pocket on his shirts there was a tiny orchestra of eighteen people who would start playing if he opened his pocket. These were the real creators of his most famed music. Often times Brian would forget how a part should go and he'd sneak off to the bathroom and ask the conductor in his pocket for some help. Then he'd return to the control room with everything in control. No one found out about Brian's pocket friends until 1971 when he was seen sprinkling bits of a chocolate chip cookie into his pocket and talking about paychecks.