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Serene classical music to block out distractions

Find clarity and calm through centuries of classical music, from Romantic masterworks and Impressionist gems to contemporary composition, film scores, and orchestral miniatures.

Find clarity and calm through centuries of classical music curated for focus. Familiar masterworks from Clara Schumann, Claude Debussy, and Giacomo Puccini, meet contemporary compositions from Kara-Lis Coverdale and Ryuichi Sakamoto, while two of Britain's most distinctive contemporary composers, Jonny Greenwood and Mica Levi bring cinematic qualities to the mix.

Produced by Áine Devaney.

A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind.

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Music Played

  • Clara Schumann

    No. 1, Andante molto (Arr. for Clarinet & Piano by Shirley Brill)

    Performer: Shirley Brill. Performer: Jonathan Aner.
    • 3 Romances - Andante Molto.

  • Duke Ellington

    Solitude (Arr. for Orchestra by Morton Gould)

    Performer: Neeme Järvi. Performer: Detroit Symphony Orchestra.
    • Highlights from a Remarkable 30-Year Recording Year.

  • Jonny Greenwood

    For The Hungry Boy

    Performer: Jonny Greenwood.
    • Phantom Thread (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack).

  • Ruth Gipps

    Oboe Concerto in D Minor, Op. 20: II. Andante

    Performer: Juliana Koch. Performer: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Performer: Rumon Gamba.
    • Gipps: Orchestral Works, Vol. 2.

  • John Field

    Nocturne No. 1 in E-Flat Major, H. 24

    Composer: Benjamin Frith. Performer: John Field. Performer: Benjamin Frith.
    • Field: Piano Music, Vol. 1.

  • Lili Boulanger

    Prélude en Ré b/Des

    Composer: Antonii Baryshevskyi. Performer: Lili Boulanger. Performer: Antonii Baryshevskyi.
    • Hymne au Soleil. Chorwerke.

  • Maurice Ravel

    Le tombeau de Couperin: III. Menuet (version for orchestra)

    Composer: Orchestre national de Lyon. Composer: Leonard Slatkin. Performer: Maurice Ravel. Performer: Orchestre national de Lyon. Performer: Leonard Slatkin.
    • Ravel: Orchestral Works, Vol. 2.

  • Kara‐Lis Coverdale

    Cumulative Resolution

    Performer: Kara‐Lis Coverdale.
    • A Series of Actions in a Sphere of Forever.

  • Chilly Gonzales

    La Bulle

    Performer: Chilly Gonzales.
    • Solo Piano II.

  • Giacomo Puccini

    Madama Butterfly, Act II: Coro a bocca chiusa "Humming Chorus"

    Performer: Wiener Staatsopernchor. Performer: Vienna Philharmonic. Performer: Herbert von Karajan.
    • Puccini: Madama Butterfly.

  • Mica Levi

    Vanity

    Performer: Mica Levi.
    • Jackie (Original Soundtrack Album).

  • Eric Coates

    By The Sleepy Lagoon

    Performer: Sinfonia ViVA. Performer: Malcolm Nabarro.
    • Relaxing Classics by Classic FM.

  • Mary Carr Moore

    Barcarolle. Op. 75, No. 8 - Duo-Art 66357

    Composer: Ashley Pettis. Composer: Peter Phillips. Performer: Mary Carr Moore. Performer: Ashley Pettis. Performer: Peter Phillips.
    • Fireflies. Piano Evocations from the Golden Age.

  • John Rutter

    I Have a Bonnet Trimmed with Blue

    Performer: Royal Ballet Sinfonia. Performer: David Lloyd‐Jones.
    • English String Miniatures, Vol. 1.

  • Shida Shahabi

    Petula

    Performer: Shida Shahabi.
    • Homes.

  • Flaer

    Burrow

    Performer: Flaer.
    • Burrow.

  • Ryuichi Sakamoto

    A Flower Is Not A Flower

    • Playing The Piano.

  • Amy Beach

    Dreaming, Op. 15: No. 3

    Composer: Eline Marlene. Performer: Amy Beach. Performer: Eline Marlene.
    • Beach: Dreaming.

  • Paul Lewis

    Meditation

    Performer: Royal Northern Sinfonia.
    • Namaste - Classical Music for Yoga.

  • Harold Budd

    An Arc Of Doves - Remastered

    Composer: Brian Eno. Performer: Harold Budd. Performer: Brian Eno.
    • Ambient 2: The Plateaux Of Mirror (Remastered 2004).

  • Jules Mouquet

    Pan et les oiseaux, Op. 15

    Performer: Marc Grauwels. Performer: Brussels Philharmonic. Performer: André Vandernoot.
    • Flute Concertos (Romantic).

  • Arthur Benjamin

    2 Jamaican Pieces: Jamaican Song

    Performer: RTÉ Concert Orchestra. Performer: Ernest Tomlinson.
    • Miniatures (British Light Music).

  • Adam Wiltzie

    We Played Some Open Chords and Rejoiced, for the Earth had Circled the Sun...

    Composer: Dustin O’Halloran. Performer: A Winged Victory for the Sullen.
    • A Winged Victory for the Sullen.

  • Florence Price

    Piano Concerto in one movement (Adagio cantabile)

    Performer: Jeneba Kanneh‐Mason. Orchestra: Chineke! Orchestra. Conductor: Leslie Suganandarajah.
    • Florence Price: Piano Concerto in One Movement; Symphony No. 1 in E Minor.

  • Chilly Gonzales

    Gentle Threat

    Performer: Chilly Gonzales.
    • Solo Piano.

  • Thibault Ravina

    Canada Water

    Performer: Thibault Ravina.
    • Balades.

  • Claude Debussy

    Préludes, Book 2: Canope

    Performer: Tom Borrow.
    • BBC NG.

  • Alexander Scriabin

    Deux Poemes, Op. 32, No. 1 in F sharp major: Andante cantabile

    Performer: Alexander Scriabin.
    • BBC NG.

  • Rachel Leah

    Island Garden

    Performer: Rachel Leah.
    • BBC Introducing.

  • Sharon Bezaly

    Duology

    Composer: Rosey Chan. Performer: Sharon Bezaly. Performer: Rosey Chan.
    • Duology.

Broadcasts

  • Mon 28 Sep 202612:00
    BBC Radio 3 Unwind
  • Saturday12:00
    BBC Radio 3 Unwind

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    Calming music to help you get in the zone when you need to.