Classical music question

[clairecloutier]

Question for classical music fans: Can anyone recommend some classical music that is good, but relatively quiet/restrained, for bedtime listening?

My daughters listen to a music CD every night when they go to bed. The goal is to help them calm down, relax, and go to sleep. So nothing too dramatic, dark, or exciting.

So far, they have a 2-CD set of Chopin nocturnes, and a couple sets of Greatest Relaxing Classical Hits.

Any other ideas? Thanks!

 

[Ageless]

There are some interesting recordings of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata out there. I found this one on youtube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2k5D-oq2hM

Another of my favorites is Pachelbel's Canon in D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVn2YGvIv0w

 

[TheGirlCanSkate]

Have you looked at different youtube channels? Like https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orxBffA2pk8 Be aware that there are ads, so if you have chrome, install adblock or fast forward the whole thing and then play.

Brahms, beethoven, bach all have great unwinding pieces.

 

[Sylvia]

Some of my favorite "relaxing" classical pieces are listed here: http://www.allmusic.com/album/sleep-111-pieces-of-classical-music-for-bedtime-mw0002484663

Yo-Yo Ma playing The Six Suites for Unaccompanied Cello by Johann Sebastian Bach: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcR6j_JNwQs

Edward Elgar's Enigma Variations | BBC Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Leonard Bernstein: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMLnoe957Ls

ETA: Found this slower version of J.S. Bach's Goldberg Variations (solo piano): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15ezpwCHtJs

 

[snoopy]

This is pseudo classical but Ludovico Einaudi. Super soothing music.

 

[maatTheViking]

I just realized that none of my favorite classical music are relaxing

I find a lot of Mozart very calm though.

 

[TheGirlCanSkate]

Oh, my daughter loves to play Yiruma.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7maJOI3QMu0 River Flows Through You for one example. He makes beautiful music and she thinks playing it is relaxing too.

 

[Prancer]

Does New Age qualify? Because I don't think most classical music is soothing at all, while there is a LOT of soothing, relaxing New Age music.

 

[agalisgv]

Does New Age qualify? Because I don't think most classical music is soothing at all, while there is a LOT of soothing, relaxing New Age music.

Yeah, George Winston is pretty relaxing, but not sure I'd classify him as classical.

 

[Garden Kitty]

Check out some of the "For . . . . ." themed classical cd's. Mostly light classical pieces designed around a mood such as "For A Quiet Evening", "For a Rainy Day", "For Book Lovers" , "For Your Dreams" etc. If you look at one of the cd's on Amazon, the other options will likely show up in the "Customers who bought this item also bought. . " suggestions lower in the page.

Even if you don't like those cd's, they could give you suggestions for some pieces of music that fit the mood.

 

[meggonzo]

I was going to suggest George Winston too. I love the December album.

 

[A.H.Black]

I'll start a list and come back later.

Lots of Ralph Vaughan Williams
Fantasia on Greensleeves
To a Lark Ascending
Dives and Lazarus

The second movement of many of the great piano concertos
Tchaikovsky's #1
Rachmaninoff #2

Second movement of Dvorak's New World Symphony (Going Home)

Chopin's Etude Op. 25 No. 1 Aeolian Harp (a gorgeous orchestral version was used in the movie "The Turning Point")

Debussy
Claire De Lune
Reverie

Saint-Saens
The Swan (Carnival of the Animals)

Ravel
Pavane Pour une Infante Defunte

If you use the same one on a regular basis, they will automatically calm down when they hear it. Only problem is - when they are adults the same piece will make them fall asleep in the middle of a concert.

 

[Vagabond]

I've been listening to a lot of Palestrina and Orlande de Lassus recently. Pre-classical, but very soothing.

 

[Vash01]

Vocalise - Rachmaninoff
Rachmaninoff on a theme by Paganini
Peer Gynt morning
Bach - Air on a g string

 

[Wyliefan]

I just realized that none of my favorite classical music are relaxing

I find a lot of Mozart very calm though.

I had much the same experience! I was going to suggest Mozart's Flute & Harp Concerto, but it moves a lot faster than I remember. I think it's very peaceful and beautiful, though.

 

[smurfy]

I play 'Enya' radio on iheart radio when I want some soothing music, plays obviously enya, lorenna mckennit, new age music, secret garden, all very nice and soothing, helps me relax.

 

[katmari]

Here are some of my favorites and samples of their music:

Eric Whitacre

The River Cam

Alan Hovhaness

Symphony #2 (Mysterious Mountain)

Gabriel Faure

Pavane

 

[Spun Silver]

I tend to agree that classical music is NOT soporific, but dozing audience members across the world would suggest otherwise.

The first thing that comes to my mind is the piano trios of Haydn. He wrote a lot of them, and you could get a complete set, or at least a couple of discs. That way there would be both calming regularity and pleasing variety, and you would be giving your daughters a marvelous foundation for their music education. They are very profound, inventive pieces, but the beauty of the melodies and harmonies is right there for all to hear, and if they have dark sections, they don't stay that way. I would especially recommend the performances by the Beaux Arts Trio. It is partly the acoustics and partly that they played together for so long that they were unbelievably mellifluous. I especially love the jewel-like piano playing of Menahem Pressler.

Certain other pieces come to mind too, if you felt like making a compilation:

Chopin's Barcarolle (note: the genre of barcarolle imitates the sensation of rowing, or of water lapping on a boat (barca) ... the essence of soothing!): https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fuoJVB-waC4

[Schubert, Piano Sonata in A major, 4th movement (NOT the whole sonata, the slow movement is fabulous but chilling):
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6TXIBCNqIUw
ETA: Never mind about this recommendation, I forgot about all the inner drama and just remembered that heavenly theme. Such a wonderful sonata though!]

Schubert, the Trout Quintet:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zTk_Eh_L8JA

Mozart, slow movement of the Clarinet Concerto:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BxgmorK61YQ

A Schubert male chorus on the theme of night:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wIyXA1TovaA

Chopin, slow movement of the piano concerto in E minor:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FSSx9Z7-dJQ

Bach, slow movement of the double violin concerto in D minor:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=H9V0Pr0aTi4

Bach, violin sonata in E minor (wow, hard to find a complete or good performance on YT... I don't like early music approaches and they're not soothing):
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=66tE4I6iROM

ETA: Mozart -- a compilation of the slow movements of his piano and violin concerti should work well. Too many to link.

 

[FiveRinger]

Is Pandora an option? It is free, but more importantly you can program specific classical music stations. I listen to Ballet classical quite often, but there are lots of options.

 

[clairecloutier]

Thanks everyone for all the ideas!! I'm going to poke around on Amazon and check out all the suggestions.

 

[Jubak]

For really gentle, Erik Satie's "Gymnopedies." I also agree w/Ralph Vaughn Williams. Resphigi's "Ancient Airs & Dances" and, Grieg's "Holberg Suite."

 

[Vash01]

I love Gymnopedie.

How about Lullaby by Brahms? May be someone has mentioned it already?

Jupiter - By Holst

I would also recommend some of YoYo Ma's work

 

[Vash01]

I recently made a donation to the local PBS station and received a gift of 7 CDs of classical music. I am enjoying them. I know a lot of the music on them but there is some that I had not heard before.

 

[A.H.Black]

A couple of additions - not exactly classical but appropriate for your use, I think.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EK-fYzWRms0 great opening video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqU-_04Oa5g A more complete version of the music. Love both.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoi2vx3iegw Maybe a bit suspenseful for your needs, but wonderful. (eta - fixed the link)

 

[Twilight1]

Chopin Prelude in E Minor- Usova & Zhulin skated to this piece and I loved it. (1992-3 World's)

Adagio by Albinoni- Grishuk & Platov skated to it in 1995 Exhibition

 

[kwanfan1818]

Satie's "Gymnopedies" are lovely, as are the "Gnossiennes":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DR2DbU5Uq-4

Gluck's "Dance of the Blessed Spirits":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TDnv4CMRX0

Pretty much any slow movement of any Bach concerto, except Brandenberg #3, which is about half a minute long.

Most of Joshua Bell's "Romance of the Violin" album, here excerpts in live performance:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKTs2Bmy9WA

ETA: The album renditions are a bit calmer.

I've always wanted skaters to use his version of a ubiquitous Chopin Nocturne instead of the crappy arrangements they choose.

 

[skatesindreams]

Bela Fleck - "Perpetual Motion"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ych7SiJ1pjg&list=PLNQJBkCLsth4kYZPYJ0GK_jtxNldp7B0J

Joshua Bell, and other great artists, offer support.

 

[madm]

Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings

 

[millyskate]

I was going to suggest Satie but others have been quicker

 

[Tinami Amori]

I was going to suggest Satie but others have been quicker

Same here, Satie came to mind right away.

If "classical" is not mandatory, Japanese instrumental music is good for sleeping...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJI5gaWuf6w
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLbrci545YU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXctvwCPJf4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyieFu7BnHE