wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

Soundcheck

Friday, June 06, 2008
  • wine
    (angelocesare/flickr)

    Wine and Music: It's a Matter of Taste

    The right bottle of wine makes a good meal even better. But to boost your opinion of the wine, you may want to turn on some Jimi Hendrix. Today we explore the link between music and the taste of Chardonnays and Merlots. Also: robots undertake one of the great curiosities of 20th-century music, "Ballet Mécanique."

The Right Music for the Right Wine

The style of music we listen to while having a glass of wine dramatically affects our opinion of how it tastes. Test subjects rated the change in taste by up to 60%. Researcher Adrian North of Heriot Watt University in Scotland, made the link between wine and song and he joins us today. Also joining us is Lettie Teague, the executive wine editor of Food & Wine magazine; she’s also the author of several books on wine including Educating Peter.

Our blog: John Schaefer on the days of wine and (Guns 'n') Roses

Music Recommendations (from Montes Premium Wines in Chile)

Cabernet Sauvignon: All Along The Watchtower (Jimi Hendrix), Honky Tonk Woman (Rolling Stones), Live And Let Die (Paul McCartney and Wings), Won't Get Fooled Again (The Who)

Chardonnay: Atomic (Blondie), Rock DJ (Robbie Williams), What's Love Got To Do With It (Tina Turner), Spinning Around (Kylie Minogue)

Syrah: Nessun Dorma (Puccini), Orinoco Flow (Enya), Chariots Of Fire (Vangelis), Canon (Johann Pachelbel)

Merlot: Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay (Otis Redding), Easy (Lionel Ritchie), Over The Rainbow (Eva Cassidy), Heartbeats (José González)

London Telegraph article on Adrian North's findings

Ballet Mecanique, Performed by...Robots

One of the great curiosities of 20th-century music is "Ballet Mécanique," a 25-minute percussion-and-piano extravaganza featuring 16 player pianos, electric bells, airplane propellers, an alarm clock and a siren, by Trenton-born composer George Antheil. The groundbreaking work is now being staged in a performance...by robots. Charles Amirkhanian, the music executor of Antheil's estate, and Eric Singer, the director of the League of Electronic Musical Urban Robots, join us with a preview.

"Ballet Mecanique" premieres with an automated orchestra as part of the performance Antheil's Legacy on Jun. 7 at 9:30pm at 3LD Art & Technology Center.

"Antheil's Legacy" Website
League of Electronic Musical Urban Robots
Video: "Ballet Mecanique" (film by Fernand Léger, Part 1)
Video: "Ballet Mecanique" (Part 2)

Best Live Performances of 2008

Soundcheck

We revisit memorable in-studio performances from Toumani Diabaté, Cat Power, Regina Spektor, and others.

The Year in Music and Branding

Soundcheck

Pop music and advertising go together like peanut butter and jelly. Grey Group music director Josh Rabinowitz shares his picks for the best song picks and ad campaigns of 2008.

Critics Week

Soundcheck

Music writers look back at the year's best pop, rock, hip hop, classical, jazz, Latin and world albums. Plus: the worst music of the year and the best online music. Read our critics' lists here. And don't forget to cast your vote in our best-albums poll.

Noteworthy New York

Soundcheck

We have invited musicians and artists to help us select their favorite cultural destination in the neighborhood where they live. From parks and coffee shops to bowling alleys and museums, the options are as diverse as our group of contributors.