How to choose a romantic piece of music for your loved one

Romantic music on Valentine’s Day – make the right choice

OK, so the candles are lit, the wine has been poured, the coq au vin is bubbling away quite nicely. Your beloved will be knocking at the door any moment. Now is the clincher. Make or break. Your choice could either make the evening complete or deliver some early trade to the taxi firm round the corner.

How to decide on the perfect piece of music for your loved one

There’s no shortage of what have been termed ‘romantic classics’ out there. But, just as you will have tailored your choice of dish around your partner’s desires, the same is necessary for what’s going on the stereo.

It is vital you put yourself in their mind – that in itself shows consideration – and ask what kind of evening it is you’re trying to create. Is it one that is a bit silly, upbeat and fun, or is it one that has rather deeper meaning. For sure, you don’t want to be proposing marriage to the background sounds of AC/DC.

A few suggestions for romance

While the traditional Valentine’s image is of a flamenco guitarist down on one knee crooning to the nearest balcony, this is unlikely to be the scenario you are creating. If nothing else, it’s Britain and it’s February.

Best let someone else do the hard work for you – and who better than some of the world’s finest composers. Here’s a few starters to be going on with.

• Ludwig van Beethoven: Sonata in D minor
• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Fantasia in D Minor
• Claude Debussy: Préludes for Piano
• Frédéric Chopin: Ballade No. 4 in F Minor
• Maurice Ravel: Jeux D’eau

Let the music flow

Truly beautiful music such as the above needs to flow with the evening. It needs to be an accompaniment rather than overbearing. Turn it down low and allow it to sooth into every pore.

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

He didn’t get much wrong!