Thanksgiving Day Playlists

Peaceful Playlist: Classical picks for mealtime

By Sharon Grutzmacher

After being asked to provide a Thanksgiving dinner playlist by the Pulse, I discussed the idea with many musicians, friends and my son (a graduate of Luther College in music).

The one thing that all of us agreed on was that a list of nine to 12 pieces would span time much longer than any dinner should probably last, especially if family is involved! Symphonies and concertos last 20, 30 or more minutes and are rarely made available for purchase as a single movement.

However, variety of music adds to a meal so here is what the Peninsula Music Festival family of experts came up with to complement your dinner:

Romance of the Violin by Joshua Bell

Here you have an already assembled playlist, the great classical music album: Joshua Bell’s Romance of The Violin. Joshua Bell is a wonderful classical violinist and his album is a beautiful collection of songs that highlight his exceptional skill, as well as catering to classical music fans, and casual listeners alike!

The album is perfect for guests because it is all instrumental (no lyrics to compete with holiday conversation) and many of the songs’ themes are recognizable from their use in TV and movies. This album allows you to have exceptional music for your party with plenty of variety (including the works of heavy-hitters like Mozart, Schubert, Dvorak and Debussy) without the stress of assembling that perfect selection of songs! Joshua’s album is available on iTunes and is perfect for any party or holiday.

Time For Three by Time For Three

Another fully assembled playlist on a new album (two others to choose from) that again gives you a variety of music, but with a modern twist. The trio includes Zachary De Pue and Nick Kendall on violin and Ranaan Meyer on bass.

These young classically trained musicians bring a youthful, fun quality to their music that includes improvisation – an often taboo subject in classical music. Just enough classical to keep the traditionalists happy and just enough modern to satisfy the newbies to the genre. These guys are taking the classical world by storm and exposing a whole new generation to the live concert experience. Your guests will be impressed with your cutting edge knowledge of this group.

Rachmaninoff Symphonies

For the purists in the group, you can never go wrong with popping a Rachmaninoff symphony in the CD player. His music is romantic, soothing and highly accessible and recognizable. Perhaps the most popular would be his Symphony No. 3 in A minor. There is a wonderful recording by the London Philharmonic and it providers almost 40 minutes of music. There is also a recording of all three symphonies and three bonus tracks including his wonderful Symphonic Dances on the Decca label. Three CDs should keep the guests covered well into dessert.

Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas by Stewart Goodyear

Those who love piano and Beethoven should look into Stewart Goodyear’s recording of the complete piano sonatas. You obviously won’t need them all but Beethoven is arguably the most popular composer of all time and many melodies will be recognized. Mr. Goodyear has done an in-depth study of these sonatas and brings a fresh, young interpretation to these classics.

Classical music will set a wonderful tone for your holiday party, creating an inviting, relaxing environment that allows conversation to flow and may even help start a conversation. Happy Thanksgiving and enjoy the music!

Playful Playlist: Thanksgiving mash-up for the whole day

By Alyssa Skiba

I was born the seventh of 10 children to my parents. Over the years, my brothers and sisters have added to our family several in-laws and 13 nieces and nephews, which means the soundtrack to my holidays is usually a mix of laughter, screaming, crying, yelling of “Stop running around!” and the repeated glug-glug of wine (and sparkling grape juice for the kiddos).

This year, with a bit of extra time on my hands, I decided to compile a list of songs that will keep everyone upbeat in the chaos of setting up the kids’ table, filling dishes with green bean casserole and mashed potatoes, and helping prepare the grand turkey.

I drew a lot of inspiration from my childhood – songs that I thought would amp us up when we begin to slump mid-morning from all the pre-dinner dishwashing and food preparation, and get us through to our final tasks. Below is a sampling of my ever-growing Thanksgiving 2014 playlist – enjoy!

“Thanksgiving Theme” (from A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving) by Vince Guaraldi Trio

You will recognize this tune literally three seconds into it. A definite classic for those who make sure to catch the Charlie Brown classic every November. (FYI – A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving will be on ABC the night before Thanksgiving!)

“Cold Turkey” by John Lennon

My mom raised me on music from The Beatles and John Lennon’s solo CDs, so it’s just natural for me to throw this at the top of the list. Not a particularly happy subject, but anyone who loves Lennon will still be happy to hear him singing. This is definitely a song that gets me focused.

“Happy” by Pharrell Williams

Kids will love hearing this song again and again, because that’s how it has been playing on the radio since it came out in November 2013. Still, it’s upbeat and just might get the kids out of the kitchen to go dance in the living room.

“Apple, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie” by Jay & the Techniques

Another upbeat, happy tune that you’ll be thrilled to have pass through your stereo speakers. Speaking from experience, there is just one thing to note: Those who grew up in the 1960s will show off their 1960s dance moves. Prepare younger generations for the ensuing hilarity (not that those moves aren’t totally awesome or anything).

“Sweet Potato Pie” by Ray Charles (featuring James Taylor)

This song has that infectious beat and smooth vocals that will harken back Thanksgivings past and remind you just how special this day is. It’s an automatic mood booster for me.

“Treasure” by Bruno Mars

I can’t believe I’m actually allowing this to be printed, but Bruno Mars’ music is my guilty pleasure. Seriously. If you don’t dance when you hear this song (or at least have the urge to), you must be a robot.

“Homeward Bound” by Simon & Garfunkel

So soft and pleasant (typical Simon & Garfunkel), despite the nature of the lyrics. This one is a great introduction for the younger generations and one that is sure to have your parents (and grandparents) smiling from ear to ear. It’s a nice reminder that sometimes we all just want to be home.

“Give Thanks and Praises” by Bob Marley

By the time the pre-dinner wine has settled in and the food is finally on the table for everyone to enjoy, this song will be that little reminder of what the day is all about – mellowing out with the family. And what a better tune to do it with than the one that defines “mellow.”