Pieces to woo the ladies

[mikeyg]

Hey, what's a good piace to woo the ladies (or guys, i guess, anthough I think they like different things), and how hard is it.  realize that most of the people on this forum are probably around level 7 or 8 (i think) so don't go too crazy i.e. Mephisto Waltz.

gracias
     Mike

[pianonut]

i think your question is funny because our society isn't that 'romantic' anymore.  are you thinking about some 20th century music to impress intellectual women?  (those are the kind that go to piano concerts anyway, and probably the ones you'd date, right?)  well, i'd say something halfway modern halfway romantic.  i REALLY like the Barber nocturne now.

actually, so many people like so many different things, that you have to hone down the particular women or group that you want to impress. maybe you should find music you love (because that's what we usually play the best) and just play it for yourself...then when women hear you--they will think 'he plays from his heart.'

i think schuman was a very 'romantic' composer because he thought musically and poetically as though he was singing through the piano.  i don't know why, but when i hear his music, i have to stop and just listen.  when i was younger what stopped me was technique.  now, it has to be the formation of a line that starts and stops without you hardly noticing.

a person's ability to transcribe one of their favorite orchestral or vocal pieces in a musical way shows more than just the ability to play piano.  also, the selections you use and the order that you put your recital in gives people a taste of who YOU are.  if you enjoy being you, others will enjoy you, too.

[fianist]

Although i do agree that most women arn't romantic as they were before, a good attempt to try would be 'to a wild rose' by mcdowell

[hodi]

any piece by chopin

[Torp]

Compose your own...seriously. 

Picture this:
You've just got done rippin' off some bombastic, hair raising, hell-fire diabolical piece. The focus of your conquest is sitting near and happens to say, "Wow, that was a cool song.  Who wrote it?"
You pause dramatically, and very casually say, "Oh, that?  Uh, I composed that the other day."
Be prepared to catch her as she swoons into your arms.

Worked for me in college....though that was 20 years ago.  Times, and women, have definitely changed since then.  So proceed at your own risk!

Jef

[Will Millar]

I assume by woo - you mean

Work without opus? 

Will

[ted]

I agree with Pianonut. What on earth is the end object of such an exercise ? If it's nothing more than a ruse to get somebody into bed then I couldn't be bothered. For one thing I'm more straightforward than that and secondly I've never cared for sex as an end in itself anyway. Even if the reason is deeper - love romance, what have you - in that case music is just one of hundreds of issues which need sorting out. In the case of musically obsessed people such as ourselves we have to be careful NOT to misrepresent our devotion to our art, and to be open about the fact that somebody we love and intend to live with has to be at least tolerant of our music.

Such a "flowers and box of chocolates" representation of  music I find rather childish - the sort of thing we see in Hollywood films about musicians. Surely it is better to let any commonality of musical spirit evolve naturally without game-playing. 

 

[mikeyg]

No, my goal is not to be a promiscuous little player, but to get a girl who appreciates classical music and the poino. 

[ted]

In that case just be yourself, and the right one will be impressed without your having to do very much.

[mikeyg]

I am not a very verbose person i.e. "I Hate the United Nations"  I'm too blunt, and not many people can appreciate that

[apion]

No, my goal is not to be a promiscuous little player, but to get a girl who appreciates classical music and the poino. 

Three words for you: LISZT, LISZT, and LISZT

Liebestraum No. 3 In A Flat Major
Consolation No. 3
Réminiscences de Don Juan

I'd also recommend some Schubert, such as his impromptus.

[Awakening]

Three words for you: LISZT, LISZT, and LISZT

Liebestraum No. 3 In A Flat Major
Consolation No. 3
Réminiscences de Don Juan

I'd also recommend some Schubert, such as his impromptus.

Add Un Sospiro to that list. 

I'd say that Chopin is the most romantic, in particular his nocturnes.   

[apion]

I'd say that Chopin is the most romantic, in particular his nocturnes.   

Yeah, but Chopin is the best for just about everything ...... so maybe some alternatives to Chopin from time to time ...... 

[thierry13]

Actually, a girl who heard me play chopin's nocturne no.20 posthumous, she cryed and she was after me the rest of the summer. I wasn't interested tough, so I guess it would have been better if she didn't heard me  lol

[pianonut]

if you really want to know the truth, it's not the piece that you play. it's the way you saunter to the piano, wipe your brow, look up at the left side of the ceiling, and play your chopin/liszt/pagannini etude and then abruptly stand up (running your fingers through the front part of your hair) bowing, and then striding off.  women like matter-of-fact men.  ps. remember to leave the top three buttons undone, and to glue on some chest hair if you haven't got any.  (of course, chest hair turns some women off, so depending on the woman - you might have to rip it off later).

[dinosaurtales]

pianonut is right.  it is a style thing, but you can be prepared!  I'd vote for anything by Chopin, but if you are really focused (wanna get...  well, you know what I mean), then the sonata in b - the first 3 movements are very nice, but it's the 4th movement that'll get her!  If you can play it the way Louis Lortie played it this weekend you'll have it made! (in a manner of speaking)

[steinwayguy]

Schubert Impromptu in G-flat from Opus 90
Chopin Barcarolle or pretty much any nocturne.

[brokenagraffe]

Add Un Sospiro to that list. 

I'd say that Chopin is the most romantic, in particular his nocturnes.   

the Petrarch Sonnets would work. I made more than a dozen ladies cry (young and old - in a good way, of course) at my last recital with the Sonnet 123. idk, 104 would probably work better though.

[ted]

Top three buttons undone of what exactly, Pianonut ? Oh, chest hair, you're talking about the top half !

I frequently play the piano in my undies in the summer and my wife has not yet become uncontrollably inflamed at the sight.

[fianist]

A good piece would be any of John fields..

Although i do think that playing it for such a purpose is unjust..

[Torp]

All jesting aside...

Play the music YOU love to play.
Be you.

If you can't be yourself and your playing music for some other reason than the sheer joy of it, the person you attract will not love you for who you are.  That can make for a very long life after the two very short words of I DO.

The charade will someday collapse and both of you will be the worse for the wear.

YMMV (Your mileage may vary)

Jef

[dinosaurtales]

Top three buttons undone of what exactly, Pianonut ? Oh, chest hair, you're talking about the top half !

I frequently play the piano in my undies in the summer and my wife has not yet become uncontrollably inflamed at the sight.

ROTFLMAO Ted!

[rafant]

A good piece would be any of John fields..

Although i do think that playing it for such a purpose is unjust..

Unjust? Wow, you think Field's music is quite powerful.

Gathering here several post of mine about irresistible and unjust pieces:

i) Adagio from Chopin's 2nd concerto: It's a declaration of love.
ii) Schumann's Kreisleriana, 2nd mov.: Composed for and because Clara.
iii) Rachmaninoff's Elegy
iv) Scriabin's Etude Op 2 No 1 (composed by a 15 years old teenager!)
v) Brahms' Intermezzo Op 118 No 2.

Quite I agree about Field, Liszt and Chopin's suggestions above. Arthur Rubinstein said that Chopin's music was the best seducer he knew. Young Horowitz was not so sociable, and in parties and social meetings he preferred to go to the piano's house. It was so as, without intending to do it, he conquered his wife: the Toscanini's daughter, Wanda, impressed by his playing. Something similar did Joseph Hoffman with a diplomat's daughter. However the pianist's personality always is a decisive factor.

Once fulfilled the courting purpose, in the following more advanced stage I suggest
 the Liszt's transcription of Isolde's Liebestod, but I'll let you guess why. 

[fianist]

Unjust? Wow, you think Field's music is quite powerful.

Gathering here several post of mine about irresistible and unjust pieces:

i) Adagio from Chopin's 2nd concerto: It's a declaration of love.
ii) Schumann's Kreisleriana, 2nd mov.: Composed for and because Clara.
iii) Rachmaninoff's Elegy
iv) Scriabin's Etude Op 2 No 1 (composed by a 15 years old teenager!)
v) Brahms' Intermezzo Op 118 No 2.

Quite I agree about Field, Liszt and Chopin's suggestions above. Arthur Rubinstein said that Chopin's music was the best seducer he knew. Young Horowitz was not so sociable, and in parties and social meetings he preferred to go to the piano's house. It was so as, without intending to do it, he conquered his wife: the Toscanini's daughter, Wanda, impressed by his playing. Something similar did Joseph Hoffman with a diplomat's daughter. However the pianist's personality always is a decisive factor.

Once fulfilled the courting purpose, in the following more advanced stage I suggest
 the Liszt's transcription of Isolde's Liebestod, but I'll let you guess why. 

I meant unjust as in 'Using music too get girls is erm.. a bit too seductive' But i change my mind now. Maybe girls do want seductive music..

[pianonut]

where were you guys when i was younger?  oh well, no matter, now i am married to a vocalist (maybe it's better when a pianist doesn't marry another pianist).  we have lots of fun because he never practices on my piano (just bangs away on the keys to get his notes) and i can't sing.  viva la difference, right!

Ted, you are a striking individual (bold actions taken - experimentally) and i'm surprised that it doesn't immediately affect your wife.  maybe you should just take it all off and see if that makes a difference?  of course, maybe it's like guys when they're watching a ball game.  they only see the plate of nachos.  she might think that when you sit at the piano, you are setting aside time for practice, whereas if you sat on top of the piano it might let her see a different side of you.  (or get her to sit on top, and you play to her).

i think it's great to have music in common with a loved one.  then you can make music together.  one of my piano teachers married a piano tuner.  they seemed to have lots fun doing what they liked, going to concerts, teaching, tuning, chamber music, etc.

[ted]

Pianonut, the prospect of my balding, ursine figure being on top of anything at all is an scarifying image I shall not enquire further into at this hour of the morning.

On the serious side, yes, making music together is a wonderful shared activity. My wife has a lovely voice, especially for singing blues and I used to write a lot of them. The few recordings we tried together, in the early years of our marriage, were very promising but I couldn't get her to work at it, or to practise.   

[mikeyg]

I guess this question was more adressed to the girls.  (In Austin Power's voice):  "What pieces make you randy , baby, yeah!"

[pianonut]

ok play beethoven's emperor piano concerto and see if you don't have a few women throwing themselves at your feet.

[donjuan]

Réminiscences de Don Juan

ummmm as the one and only donjuan here, I have to say no no NO!  This is not the kind of piece you should play if you want to win the ladies.  Consolations, maybe.  Liebestraume, maybe, if they like overplayed super sappy music. Don juan, NO! Robert the Devil, No! Mephisto Waltz......er..umm..actually, quite possibly.  Un Sospiro, perhaps. Rigoletto - NO!

My pick:
Schumann-Liszt: Widmung (Dedication).  Those chicks will be all over you! 

in the following more advanced stage I suggest
 the Liszt's transcription of Isolde's Liebestod, but I'll let you guess why.

an excellent, EXCELLENT choice!!
donjuan

[Muzakian]

I have a different perspective on this. So many people seem wound up believing men are from Mars and women from Venus that they forget how similar we truly are. We are more alike than many would dare to think. There is oftentimes a great deal more different between a man and another man, or between two women than between a man and a woman. Considering the millions of variables that separate us all as individuals, there is absolutely NO WAY 50% of the population can have so little variance to allow comments like "Women like composer Y" or "If I play piece X will a girl want to go out with me?". If you wish for a female audience to perceive the music you are making as romantic, then my suggestion is play something that makes you feel the same way. It is only a perverted media stereotype that says men can't be romantic or can't feel romance, so if it feels right to you then it may just feel right for her. There isn't any better option in my opinion.

Oh, there is one other issue though - the most important point here is, I think, not the listener's gender but their listening ability. If the girl you are playing for isn't familiar with classical music she may get overwhelmed by complexities or a lack of singable melodies et cetera.

[Chrysalis]

something dreamy.... like

... reverie ?
damn since i am ready studying that song i REALLY should play that one for some girls..

[pseudopianist]

something dreamy.... like

... reverie ?
*** since i am ready studying that song i REALLY should play that one for some girls..

In the spirit of the facist pianoforumnerds:

It's not a song 

[Chrysalis]

yes i am ashamed....
it is a piece ofcourse...

[pianonut]

ok i've listen to a lot of music lately for it's romance level (though it would be more if i saw it in concert).  'the best of liszt' by misha dichter does it for me.  he plays widmung (his own transcription) and it gets to me like mephisto and la campanella.  there's many more pieces on the cd i like too.  if someone played all those pieces in a recital - well...i'm married!

[mikeyg]

I love that CD, it was one of the first classical CDs I bought.

[fergal]

Earl Wild's transcription of Gershwin's embraceable you.  Oh such sweet lush. My how they'll swoon!

[Derek]

I've found girls will react positively to musicianship in general, regardless of how good you are at it. Usually when a girl hears me play the piano, she will be fascinated and make some sort of remark like "thats pretty, it makes me sleepy."  I'm never sure whether to take that as a compliment or an insult! I'm sure they mean well by it.

[steinwaymodeld]

Franz Liszt Reminiscenes of the Fantasy on theme of Sir-Mix-A-Lot's 'Baby Got Back'

[BoliverAllmon]

I have played Satie's simply Gymnopedie 1 and made girls cry from its beauty. flashiness is not always the answer.
they say that you are suppose to dance in the same way you make love. I wonder if piano playing should be the same way? HMMMM.... anyway have the score for the Busoni PC? LOL
boliver

[pianonut]

eek. don't play the Busoni Concerto, whatever you do!  Now Marc-Hamelin isn't bad looking, and he plays the piano well, but once i heard that concerto i wanted to puke.  it just wouldn't do it.

[steinwayguy]

I doesn't really matter what you play as long as you tell them you wrote it just for them the other night. Works like a dream.

[mikeyg]

Ah, most excelent advice SteinwayGuy.  (I'll play Fur Elise and tell her I wrote it.. She'll be like "Ohh, you're famous, lay with me") 

 

[pianonut]

ha.  that's why he said 'works like a dream.'  he's dreaming.  if you are just trying to impress unmusical tone deaf chain smokers, play fur elise. 

[puma]

   You know, some of you are busting Fur Elise, but I played it for a girl once, several years ago, and she was like, "Wow, how pretty," etc. etc. and then she told me she wished she could play like that.  It wasn't even that great of a performance, with mistakes and stops, but hey, it did the trick.  She was talented, (had a lot of raw power for drawing;  we were taking a life drawing class) and I remember playing some other tunes for her too - some popular songs, I forget exactly what I played, though.  But some of you are on the money when you say that she will appreciate the music regardless, because it wasn't that I was amazing or anything, or Horowitz the 2nd, but she just appreciated my musical talent - just as I appreciated her talent for drawing - in other words, if you play, and you've practiced even a bit, it'll be obvious to her that SOMETHING POSITIVE is there, you know what I mean? 
Come to think of it, she was an inspiration for me to continue playing the piano, precisely because I wanted to better my ability.
   Of course, if I could do it all over again, I might go showy - maybe some Tiny Dancer, She's Always a Woman, throw in a little Chopin and the Maple Leaf Rag and say "Oh, that's just practice."  Hehe.  And yes, those Hollywood stereotypes seem to affect the mass proportion of the population.  And I have had the pleasure of meeting people who fit and don't fit the gender stereotypes.  Someone even mentioned something about meeting gays in another post.  All I can say is that the ability to meet and impress these people is out there, but you may have to do a little reconnaissance to do it

[squinchy]

If you have a particular person in mind, play something that she'd recognize-if the person's a complete non-musician, play something that had a few bars in a commercial. If the person is a pianist, the options are probably greater.

On second thought...perhaps pick something slow and romantic and move a lot?

My two naive and oversimplified cents,
Squinchy