Music of Love

“If music be the food of love, play on.” …Shakespeare

Love songs are always popular but on Valentine’s Day they are the choice of listeners everywhere. If you’re planning an intimate, just for two, Valentine’s celebration, there is nothing more romantic than having the right music playing in the background.

A candle-light dinner, a bottle of wine or champagne and flowers and candy for your sweetheart all set the stage for a romantic evening. But, it’s romantic music that sets the mood to make the evening complete.

Romantic proclamations of love in the form of timeless love songs and ballads permeate the atmosphere surrounding Valentine’s Day. Music has the power to inspire so many feelings and emotions, especially feelings for a special person in your life. Songs can often say what is in your heart and say it with words that may not be your own but help express what you really mean.

Popular love songs:  The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, How Sweet it is to be Loved by You, and I’m in the Mood for Love, are tunes that have endured for years. Many romantic tunes come and go but Unchained Melody, You Belong to Me, And I Love Her, by the Beatles, and Can’t help Falling in Love, by Elvis, will be staples for generations to come. Love songs are always popular but on Valentine’s Day they are the choice of listeners everywhere.

The majority of romantic love songs come from the popular form of music. A myriad of composers have written love songs too many to mention. Surprisingly, Jackie Gleason (1916 – 1987) who was primarily an accomplish actor, comedian and showman, was a musician and producer of mood music. Jackie Gleason’s first and most famous album was, Music for Lovers Only. This album became so popular that it held the record for longest run on the top ten billboard charts for an astounding 153 weeks.

Earl Klugh, born in 1953, is another musical ambassador of romance. He is a master of acoustic guitar and an American composer of smooth/fusion jazz. One of his most famous albums is Music for Lovers, romantic beyond belief. The music was described as music for quiet days and quiet nights and gentle moments. “An astonishing collection of classics from the absolute master of mood music,” said writer, S. Howard, “This music is so romantic it will make you fall in love again and again.”  Klug’s album includes: Wishful thinking, Living Inside Your Love, and Long Ago and Far Away. Music changes and evolves with each generation but there is one topic that has proven to be constant: Romantic love songs.

Love is a universally understood feeling and experience. While there have been countless crooners over the years to explore the ups and downs of love, there have been a select few who stand out from the rest. Romantic songs by Frank Sinatra, who first became noticed in the Big Band era, are still popular today. Nothing says classic romance—or seduction—like a rendition of, Embraceable You, All of Me, My Funny Valentine or The Way You Look Tonight.

            Other great romantic singers whose hit songs are timeless include Tony Martin, Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, Johnny Mathis, Tony Bennett and, of course, Elvis, to name just a few.

Music of romance is not confined to the popular genre. There are numerous examples of romantic music in the serious or classical period form of music. Opera has many arias that speak of all things romantic. O mio babbino caro from Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi; Nessun dorma from Puccini’s Turandot; Vissi d’arte, vissi d’amore from Puccini’s Tosca; O giusto  cielo! – Il dolce suono from Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor and Quando m’en vo from Puccini’s La Boheme.

            Romantic music and love songs can lift the hearts and spirits of lovers throughout the world, and not just on Valentine’s Day. Have a lovely Valentine’s Day and here’s a good way to celebrate this year. Bring your sweetheart to hear romantic music performed by the Danville Community Band at their Annual Dinner Concert, Sunday, February 9, 2014. Call the Diablo Country Club for reservations 925-837-7040. Open to the public.

Please submit your questions and comments to banddirector01@comcast.net Visit our website at www.danvilleband.org for up-to-date information about the Danville Community Band.