classical music and a good wine to go with it

barbilarry · Oct 12, 2009

I know absolutely nothing about classical music, I was wondering if someone could give me some guidance on a peice of classical music that would have a calming effect on my MC will she soaked in a bubblebath, sipping wine, surrounded by candles? I no nothing about fine wine either? I'm afraid I am a country music and beer girl. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Jane

backslashbaby · Oct 12, 2009

I like a little Prokofiev with a Cotes Du Rhone. Although I'm a tequila and salsa gal, too

http://www.imeem.com/saintbrent/music/fND5Wc6J/sergei-prokofiev-romance-from-lieutenant-kije/

http://www.terroir-france.com/wine/wines_rhone.htm

JoNightshade · Oct 12, 2009

Try Brahms.

mscelina · Oct 12, 2009

Mozart (either the Requiem or one of his concertos try the Adagio from Mozart's Piano Concerto # 23) and a White Bordeaux.

Or, perhaps, The Planets by Elgar Holzt and a spicy red zinfandel.

hmmm...

that sounds good actually. I think I have a red zin around here somewhere. But let me add that there's nothing wrong with using country music (maybe some Garth Brooks back in the day) and a nice local brew (Sierra Nevada Pale Ale) either for some bathtime reflection, especially if that's what you're used to and personally more comfortable with.

Sarpedon · Oct 12, 2009

Bach's Cello suites are magical.

Chopin's Piano music is also a favorite.

Maybe some opera? Try Offenbach's "tales of Hoffman." Contains a very famous piece who's specific name escapes me.

If you want something a little more contemporary, you could try Philip Glass.

As far as the wine goes, there's nothing much to tell. Just be sure that if you describe the flavor of the wine, be sure it matches the kind that you identify. Try a Riesling. That tends to be popular with girls. (white, German, semi-sweet, flowery smelling)

By the way, if you choose to use anything I say, be sure to check it on Wiki at least.

JoNightshade · Oct 12, 2009

Check out George Winston as well, he's very relaxing.

Wayne K · Oct 12, 2009

Pachelbel canon in D is pretty popular and a wonderful piece.

Here you go http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOA-2hl1Vbc

Wayne K · Oct 12, 2009

Le Nozze di Figaro - Sull'aria. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLtqZewjwgA

Wayne K · Oct 12, 2009

Even if you don't use either. Listen.

backslashbaby · Oct 12, 2009

Wayne K said:
Pachelbel canon in D is pretty popular and a wonderful piece.

Here you go http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOA-2hl1Vbc

Everybody loves this one, yes

And if you need any descriptions of a wine you choose, give a holler. Basically, I think people just think of maybe red or white and dry or sweet. Fruity, smoky. It depends on the wine for how you'd think of it, but there's rarely a need to go into all the nuances you might have heard of just for bathtub wine

waylander · Oct 12, 2009

'Jupiter' from The Planets by Holst with an Alsation gewurztraminer

Rowan · Oct 12, 2009

Joshua Bell - The Romantic Violin CD or Voice of the Violin CD
or Debussy Claire de Lune

And a bottle of Bordeaux (Chateau Gigault Cuvee Viva Cotes Blaye - 2003)

[so many to choose from!]

ETA: I should point out that Joshua Bell is the violinist; music (composers) = everything from Brahms to Kreisler to Paganini, etc.

barbilarry · Oct 12, 2009

Thank you all very much for your assistance. I had my heart set on classical music and fine wine. You help is much appreciated.
Hugs,
Jane

StephanieFox · Oct 12, 2009

Here's more info than you want or need;

You'll really need to get specific. Composer don't write one kind of piece, they wrote, dozens, somethimes hundreds which could range from delicate to fast and loud.

Perhaps Eric Satie, French, Impressionist, not my cup of tea, but then, I don't like relaxing in the bathtub.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSxDjW9bLCQ

Vivaldi's The Seasons is always a hit, and you can choose from Spring, Summer, Winter or Fall.
Here's Spring:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSw7CcAXPWk
or try Summer,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yY2Ugpst9VY
or, Winter,
http://www.last.fm/music/Antonio+Vivaldi/_/Winter
or autumum
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tHgtzAJePo

One of my favorites is Rhaposody on a Theme of Paganini, kind of an old war horse of a piece and not for snobs, since everyone seems to like this. (Actually, I love it.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90MuPqYtV_k

Also remember that classical pieces, like synphonys, have more than one movement (section) and while one part may be relaxing, another might be exciting.

Maybe Elgar's Serenade for Strings (the Allegretto)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GjggrJE9No

Then there's Tchaikavsky's None but the Lonely Heart. Tchaikovsky is one of the kings of overly romantic music, but he's hard to resist. (He wrote The 1812 Overture, the piece that includes cannons.

Or, there's Brahms, who wrote a quintet piece or two. A lot of people find these pieces for smaller groups relaxing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ju7jb1rkyK0

There's Schubert;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWBpvN0GQTk

Or Bach (you'll recognize the next one from commercials)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU_QR_FTt3E
or the old stand-by
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOVwokQnV4M&feature=related
Actually,most of Bach is old stand-bys
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZ9qWpa2rIg&feature=related

And finally, the most relaxing classical piece EVER WRITTEN!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlvUepMa31o&feature=related

StephanieFox · Oct 12, 2009

Sarpedon said:
Bach's Cello suites are magical.

As far as the wine goes, there's nothing much to tell. Just be sure that if you describe the flavor of the wine, be sure it matches the kind that you identify. Try a Riesling. That tends to be popular with girls. (white, German, semi-sweet, flowery smelling)

By the way, if you choose to use anything I say, be sure to check it on Wiki at least.

Riesling??? I'd rather drink MD20/20. I'm a girl and I like my whites, crisp and dry and my reds substantial (but not chewy). My real drink, though, is an icy martini or a single malt scotch with a splash.

Generally, the younger the person, the sweeter the choice of wine. Perhaps your character would like a cognac instead of a glass of wine.

backslashbaby · Oct 12, 2009

Oh, yeah, yeah. My suggestion is from Romance (the linked page has the details). Romeo & Juliet would do, too, imho, but that one's a bit more stirring.

Edit: OMG, cognac and classical. Yeah, that's a comfy, comfy thought!

SirOtter · Oct 12, 2009

Ravel's Bolero
Almost anything by Saint-Saens, expect perhaps Omphale's Spinning Wheel
Beethoven's Sixth Symphony, The Pastorale
Tchaikovsky's Sixth, although I personally find it a little too sweet & lite.
If you're looking for relaxation, I'm not sure I'd recommend many operas. Most are either boisterous or depressing as hell. Puccini's Turandot might not be too bad, plus it contains the gorgeous aria, Nessun Dorma. BTW, the familiar tune from Tales of Hoffman is generally called the Can-Can.

And I second the cognac suggestion.

barbilarry · Oct 12, 2009

Thank you all again. I must be the only one on AW that doesn't drink wine. (I got very, very sick on wine, once) I have listened to the music on the links. Wow you
'all may have converted me. I know for sure my MC will thank you.

Sir Otter,
Does cognac have a distinct taste? How would you describe that.
Hugs to you all,
Jane

Izunya · Oct 12, 2009

There's a piece that I always see labeled "Air in D" by Bach—a quick search reveals that it's from Orchestral Suite 3. I'm also fond of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, but other people might find that more melancholy than soothing. Similarly, I like quite a lot of Debussy, but people who are more into Baroque sometimes don't. You should probably give a piece a quick listen before you decide on it.

Pachelbel's Canon, though . . . everyone who has a passing interest in classical music knows that one, and almost everyone finds it soothing. (The only group who don't like it, in my experience, is cellists. The piece is beautiful, but the cello part—how should I put this—lacks variation.) So if you're going for something instantly recognizable, that's one I would pick.

Izunya

Rowan · Oct 12, 2009

barbilarry said:
Thank you all again. I must be the only one on AW that doesn't drink wine. (I got very, very sick on wine, once) I have listened to the music on the links. Wow you
'all may have converted me. I know for sure my MC will thank you.

Sir Otter,
Does cognac have a distinct taste? How would you describe that.
Hugs to you all,
Jane

Here are the Joshua Bell links:

http://www.joshuabell.com/music/voice-of-the-violin

http://www.joshuabell.com/music/romance-of-the-violin

Debussy Claire de Lune:
http://www.last.fm/music/Claude+Debussy/_/Clair+de+Lune

And there are some fantastic Rieslings out there and that is no reflection on my age...

StephanieFox · Oct 12, 2009

Cognac is fancy schmacy brandy. It's warm going down.

Whiskey is to beer as cognac is to champagne.

What ever she drinks in the tub will say a lot about the character.

Summonere · Oct 12, 2009

More musical 2-cents...

OPERA

Sarpedon sez:
Maybe some opera? Try Offenbach's "tales of Hoffman." Contains a very famous piece who's specific name escapes me.

Perhaps you're referring to Offenbach's “Barcarolle” from Tales of Hoffman?

Puccini's “Humming Chorus” from Madame Butterfly is pretty low key.

OTHER MUSIC

Joaquín Rodrigo Vidre's “Concierto de Aranjuez”

Mozart's “Piano Concerto No. 21: Andante”
Clarinet Concerto in A Major, K. 622: II Adagio

Beethoven's Piano Sonata, No. 14, aka “Moonlight Sonata” -- first part, the Adagio Sostenuto

Fauré's Pavane

SirOtter · Oct 12, 2009

Anything by Turlough O'Carolan is pretty relaxing, too.

And a really good moonshine made by a bootlegger who truly knows his craft can be a wonderful potable to unwind with. Make sure you know your source well, though, at least enough to be sure you won't go blind imbibing his wares. I get mine from a friend of a friend in Alabama. Failing that, I prefer rye to bourbon - similar body, but not as sweet.

StephanieFox · Oct 12, 2009

You don't have to like only one kind of music. I like classical, I think Patsy Cline was wonderful, I love Dolly Pardon. I like Cosby Stills,Nash and Young, I like AfroCelt, I like The Temptations, I even like:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qga5eONXU_4

(Not good bath tub music, the last one....)

Rufus Coppertop · Oct 12, 2009

You could just describe the music without naming it.

classical music and a good wine to go with it

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