I know that Gary Vaynerchuk’s guest, the great guitarist Billy Penn,  is not a classical musician or composer, but he totally rocks on the guitar, loves wine, and is passionate about their pairing. And since I myself am a Vayniac, I wanted to share this with you all:

Billy’s website is 300 Guitars, so all you musicians, check him out!

photo credit: PiezComing to know and love classical music has been a wonderful journey for me. Coming to know and love the beauty of wine has been an equally enjoyable trip. But as they say, “the more you think you know, the less you actually do know” – and that’s a true statement. Mozart’s music can be intimidating for some, and thought of as music for the affluent. But that is simply not the case people!

Once I learned to appreciate the extraordinary sounds of a Mozart composition as played by an orchestra – wow did I get turned onto it in a big way! I’ve been told it’s because I’m a self taught musician (I play guitar peeps), that I can pick out the subtleties of the arrangements, and therefore am a classical music fan. But I don’t think that has more to do with it than this: Clarinet Concerto in B flat major (K622) it speaks to me in a way that today’s popular music simply can’t – and it’s created a passion in my heart for it, just like the ‘08 Crios De Susana Balbo Torrontes I’ve had about 4 months ago…man oh man!

So, how does this all tie in with wine? Because, like the classics, wine has its subtleties that are just begging to be appreciated. From the first “sniffy sniff” you take to learn of its nose (the smell, or bouquet, that a wine has) to the textures, weight, and other cool “technical terms” wine peeps are heard to have said. So…

So, I’ve found this video staring John Cleese from Monty Python fame (thanks @damntragic and @alawine) that explains wine in very simple terms. The video is called, “Wine For The Confused”, and here it is. Please note that there is a 30 second advertisement before the video starts:

photo credit: emdot
In part one of our article series, ” The Finer Things In Life”, it was brought to my attention (hats off to Rick Bakas!) that the article itself didn’t contain any info on wines relationship to music - their symmetry. So for that I apologize. My motive was to write about my experiences with both subjects combined, but the video of JessJust’s very own Jessica Altieri distracted me (as I lol).

So, let me start off by first saying that I am in no way, shape, or form – a wine geek. I am just a man who knows what he likes, and doesn’t apologize for it. And I know you folks are the same way – you love classical music, and are passionate about … whatever your passionate about! Myself, I am passionate about a few things, including music and (more and more) wine. You see, for me – music can take me to a place of calmness, a place that allows my inner man to stop working, and start listening and living. Then, with a change up in the tempo, I can be elevated to a high place where all that exists is… the music. And when I play my own music on my guitar – I feel like I’m not the one playing the instrument, but that I’m being played – by the melody, the strings, the sounds…

And then…here comes a nice German Riesling. Dry and delicious. Mine was a 2006 Pfeffinger. It tasted “playful” in my mouth. Dancing with my pallet like a ballet dancer. I paired it tonight with Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik - as the stringed instruments from that composition dance with my emotions like a warm, breezy Sunday. Then as the song rides up into what I like to call, the  “head-banging” part, it’s the same exhilaration of expression that the wine has in it’s finish.  And so in my reality, those two were a great pairing.

photo credit: John-Morgan

When I sit down to dinner, and have in front of me, a grilled New York steak – I want my Pinot Noir, a hardy Cabernet Souvignon, or a California Merlot (those three are red wine varietals) to complement the meal. And again to pair Mozart, I would have to use “Serenade No. 10 for 12 Winds & Contrabass in B-flat major, K. 370a/361 “Gran Partita”: III. Adagio” as my dinner “song”. Why? Because of the flowing, feather-lofting-in-the-air-like-quality of that composition. It’s subtle in it’s initial attack, but very full. Beauty! Beautiful sounds of clarinets as they loft into the air their waves of melody. I personally like a very heavy mid-pallet for these specific red wines, and Mozart did such a tremendous job at arranging the Gran Partita’s “mid-pallet”, so to speak – in that it’s very intricate/delicate, but so much is there for the listener to hear – if you are really hearing the music…

Again, I am no certified sommelier (aka: Wine Geek) like JustJess’ Jessica Altieri of WineChannelTV, but I do know what I like, and I am passionate about my likes. And in our next article, The Finer Things In Life – Part III, I’ll get the opinions of real wine peeps on their pairing of wines and music. It may not be classical music with wine, but let’s see how many peeps I admire in the wine world are really into the classics, such as Mozart. After all,that is why I run this site, to honor Mozart as I see and feel his music. So, in part III, I hope to ask Rick Bakas, Gary Vaynerchuk, and of course, Jessica Altieri – who’s video was featured in our first article…Stay Tuned!!!

Great wine and great classical music go together like Wolfgang Amadeus and Konstanze Weber Mozart! As a matter of fact, I’m enjoying a German Pfeffinger 2008 Riesling, paired with a Pesto Jack cheese from Hilmar Cheese, (a local cheese factory) on stone ground wheat crackers. Good pairing, ya think?

Anyway, I have recently discovered a real beautiful gem! She’s so talented and personable – a Social Media Diva, and also a certified sommelier (aka: Wine Geek). If that weren’t enough, she’s the host of WineChannelTV. And I bet she likes Mozart (doesn’t everyone who has taste?)!

The latest video from JustJess’ website finds Jessica Altieri on the hunt for the perfect bloody mary. Check her out:

So enjoy your Sunday Funday, and crank up the Mozart!

photo credit: paaliaLUDWIG NOHL.

MUNICH, October 1, 1864.

FIRST PART
ITALY, VIENNA, MUNICH.
1770 TO 1776.

PART I.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Salzburg on the 17th January,
1756. His father, Leopold Mozart, belonged to a respectable
tradesman’s family in the free city of Augsburg. Conscious of
being gifted with no small portion of intellectual endowments, he
followed the impulse that led him to aim at a higher position in
life, and went to the then celebrated University of Salzburg in
order to study jurisprudence. As he did not, however, at once
succeed in procuring employment in this profession, he was
forced, from his straitened means, to enter the service of Canon
Count Thun as valet. Subsequently, however, his talents, and that
thorough knowledge of music by which he had already (according to
the custom of many students) gained some part of his livelihood,
obtained for him a better position. In the year 1743 he was
received into the band (Kapelle) of the Salzburg cathedral by
Archbishop Sigismund; and as his capabilities and fame as a
violinist increased, the same Prince shortly afterwards promoted
him to the situation of Hof-Componist (Court Composer) and leader
of the orchestra, and in 1762 he was appointed Hof-Kapellmeister
(conductor of the Court music).

In 1747 Leopold Mozart married Anna Maria Pertlin, a foster-child
of the Convent of St. Gilgen. The fruits of this marriage were
seven children, two of whom alone survived,–Maria Anna, (the
fourth), called Nannerl, born in 1751; and the youngest, Wolfgang
Amadeus Johannes Chrysostomus. The daughter at a very early age
displayed a most remarkable talent for music, and when her father
began to give her instructions in it, an inborn and passionate
love of this art was soon evident in her little brother of three
years old, who at once gave tokens of a degree of genius far
surpassing all experience, and really bordering on the
marvellous. In his fourth year he could play all sorts of little
pieces on the piano. He only required half an hour to learn a
minuet, and one hour for a longer movement; and in his fifth year
he actually composed some pretty short pieces, several of which
are still extant.

photo credit: -heureux-It was because of my son that began my love for the classical music genre. You see, for his good grades at school, I purchased him a video game from an online store. Unknown to me, as a free gift for the purchase, they shipped me a CD from The Classic Composers collection. It was titled, “Mozart Musical Masterpieces” which included 11 of his “greatest hits” so to speak.

Well, that CD has been played over and over, and I have really begun to appreciate the music and talent that is classical music. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is my favorite composer. And his Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K550; 1st movement is one of my favorites. I can really feel the music on that one. I can see why God loves music so much.

Anyway, please feel free to make this site your home, and comment on any of the blog posts, or fill out the contact form if you would like to contribute in any way to this site via article submission or even if you’d like to create a new page dedicated to the maestro or classical music in general.

Mozart – Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (played on period instruments)

Here’s a great Mozart performance of his “A little Night Music” (or “A Little Serenade”). Mozart wrote this particular piece in 1787 in Vienna, during the time he also was working on his Don Giovanni opera. History does not tell us why – or for whom – he wrote “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik”, but I’m so glad he did. It is one of my personal Mozart favorites.

What I really like about this performance by the New Trinity Baroque (2006) is the fact that they are playing on authentic period instruments from Mozart’s time.
Simple click on the Play Button to begin. Once you’re done, please click on the menu button within the player to view other great Mozart music videos:

With so much information (and mis-information) on the internet about historical figures, websites about Mozart and other classic composers are everywhere. And while most sites are entertaining, I’ve found that there is wrong information on many sites.And so I come to a point here. I would like you, classic music lover, to engage on this website. Please feel free to comment on the blog, as well as submit your articles on the contact form.

Comedy Central is a UK based comedy network providing its visitors with lots of stuff. The stuff available on this website is for almost every age. For example the kids can go to the games section to play the latest flash games. The games also get updated almost every day. The teens are always interested in different type of comedy shows like South Park, so they can also visit this website and watch South Park and other TV shows for free.

To entertain the visitors this website also provides a section called Daily fix, which is updated daily and contains lots of stuff like Pic of the Day, Comedy news and fun facts. Almost all the award winning comedy shows including South Park and Rules of Engagement are available on this website. The video quality of each show is perfect and you won’t feel a difference whether you are watching on comedy central or on a DVD.

The most interesting thing about this website is that it is a complete entertainment website. You don’t have to go somewhere else when you have comedy central right in front of your eyes. You can spend your whole day by watching South Park on this website.
So stop looking for other websites allowing you to watch South Park and other TV shows online. Most of these kinds of websites are never free and they will charge you few bucks for every South Park episode you will watch. There is no need to waste your money and time on these websites when you can get all that stuff for free on comedy central. Comedy central also sends you email when there is an update on their website like an addition of a South Park episode or joke of the day.

I have been wondering what Amadeus would think about today’s pop music. From rock, alternative, country, reggae, etc. Do you think he’d like what “we” listen to?

photo credit: Pinc Floit

photo credit: marfis75
So I just picked up a real fantastic bottle of Maso Canali’s 2007 Pinot Grigio. Great with the snapper I made! Not to mention the fact that Mozart’s music was playing in the background. Stellar night!