Postscript: George Martin, 1926-2016

George Martin, who died yesterday, is one more in the sadly collapsing line of musicians who changed the culture in the nineteen-sixties—a change, for once, entirely for the better. As the discoverer and early producer of the Beatles, and the most important arranger for them, he played a role deeper than an average arranger, more essential than a normal producer ever could. By acting as the wise grownup, deep in musical roots, he showed, unconsciously but by example, that grownup musicians and old music could be as much part of that revolution in sensibility as the young musicians who made it. He was the genial overseeing adult of a beautiful children’s crusade, who helped keep it from chaos.