Dinner Music

[cobalt_18]

Hi. I recently got hired to play the piano at a fine dining restaraunt starting in March. I was just wondering if you could help me out by listing a few pieces that could be considered "dinner music." I'm having some trouble finding the right pieces. A few that I found are:

Moon River - Henry Mancini
Clair de Lune - Debussy
Ballade Op. 10 No. 1 - Brahms
Prelude (1913) - Ravel
Fantasie K. 397 - Mozart

-What are your thoughts? Thanks

Alex

[amanfang]

Slow movements from Mozart and Haydn sonatas work well, as do some Beethoven. 

Mendelssohn - some of the Songs without Words

Schubert - some of the impromptus would work, waltzes

Lighter mood Chopin pieces - mazurkas, waltzes, etc.

Debussy - Reverie

Canon in D

Even some arrangements of Broadway things, like Phantom of the Opera or something would work

[gonzalo]

One word: Muzak!

This may dismay you. On the other hand there is some good quality muzak out there (he he )

Satie  - Gymnopedies and Gnossienes.
Debussy – La fille aus cheveux de lin, Arabesque no. 1, Clair de lune, Reverie
Chopin – Nocturnes & Waltzes, Fantasie Impromptu
Mendelssohn – Songs without words no. 1, no. 18  & no. 25.   
Field Nocturnes
Myers – Cavatina
Grieg – Arietta
Schumann – Reverie, Strange lands, Drei Stucklein (op. 99 no. 1), Schlummerlied (op. 124 no. 16)
Liszt – Consolations, Liebestraum
Bach prelude 1 of the WTC1
Beethoven 1st movement of moonlight, 2nd movement of Pathetique, Fur Elise
Schubert Impromptus Op, 90 no. 3 and op, 142 no. 2 (without the f and ffs).
MacDowell – To a wild rose
Standards like “As time goes by”, Cole Porter, etc.

You can also try Ludovico Einaudi. His music is a big hit at the UK at the moment. It is just ideal for this sort of environment.

You get the idea.

All of those of course played softly and without too much dynamics, In short: Background music.

[molto-marcato]

You list Brahms Ballade op.10 No1 as dinner music. I cannot agree. It has a very deep and somewhat disturbing atmosphere (think it is about a mad king or something like that). Better heed gonzalos/amanfang's words. Many Mozart pieces will fit perfectly imo.

[gonzalo]

Mozart:

1rst movement from sonata K 282 in Eb major
2nd movement from sonata K.311 in D major
2nd movement from sonata K 332 in F major
2nd movement from sonata K 545 in C major

Haydn:

Sonata Hob XVI nº 12 mov.1 ( this is actually a sonata-divertimento)
Sonata Hob XVI nº 35 mov.2
Sonata Hob XVI nº 27 mov.2

I'm sure there are more.

Gonzalo

[sue81]

Hi,

Congrats on the job!

I like the classical choices that have been voiced so far and the idea of Broadway arrangements and standards are also good ideas. If you are not opposed to contemporary piano music, Jim Brickman is a favorite of mine.  Not too difficult to play and pleasing to the ear.

Best of luck!

~Sue

[rach n bach]

Wow, talk about at dream job!

I would like to add a few pieces I have used for the same purpose, though I didn't get paid... 

Solace by Joplin
Impromptus by Shubert (agree with gonzalo)
Adieu to the Piano (disputably by Beethoven)  very simple but effective
2nd movement of Beethoven's Pathetique
Shubert Sonata in B flat (various movements...)
Intermezzo Op. 118 no 3 (I think) by Brahms
Traumerei
Arragement of Jesu, Joy of Man by Bach
Simple Gift/Going home (can't remember who wrote it...)
Rachmanninoff's Lilacs (op 38 no 3) and Daisies (op 38 no 3)
You could look at some Scarlatti...

I wish you all the best!
RnB

[gonzalo]

Baroque:

Scarlatti:
Sonata K 208
Sonata K 380
Sonata K 132
Sonata K 213
Sonata K 150
Sonata K 9

Jacques Duphly:
Allemande from book 1

Bach:
Prelude in B from WTK I
Prelude nº 9 in Emajor from WTK I
Prelude nº3 from WTK II ( with lots of pedal)
2 part invention in Bb
2 part invention in E ( slowly)
3 part invention in Eb
Prelude nº 1 from keyboard Partita I
Allemande from French suite nº5

Handel:
Prelude from Suite nº 1
Allemande from Suite nº1
Prelude from Suite nº5 in E major( slowly and with pedal )
The air from suite nº5 ( only the air)

Telemann:
Fantasia nº7 in G major
Fantasia nº9 in A major

Rameau:
Pieces de Clavecin book from 1724 Allemande in e minor.

F. Couperin

From 6th Ordre :

Les Barricaes misterieuses
Rondeau: Les moissenneurs ( really good for a dinner, specially for receiving guests)
Le moucheron

H.Purcell:

Lilliburlero- A new Irish Tune Z.646 (really easy)

I'm sure there are so many more ,especially by Scarlatti, but those are the ones I can think of right now.

Gonzalo.