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Calm your day with gentle classical melodies

Calming classical music to inspire focus and set you up for the day ahead. Presented by broadcaster, author and counselling psychologist Dr Sian Williams.

Calming classical music to help you focus and set you up for the day ahead. Presented by broadcaster, author and counselling psychologist Dr Sian Williams.

Featuring refreshing, and revitalising music from John Foulds, Amy Beach, and Arvo Part. Sian ponders what to do when she finds her garden full of molehills, and Professor Catherine Loveday explores whether classical music can makes a visit to the dentist any more bearable!

11 days left to listen

3 hours

Music Played

  • Sergey Prokofiev

    Lieutenant Kijé Suite, Op 60 (2nd mvt, 'Romance')

    Conductor: Paavo Järvi. Orchestra: Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.
    • Telarc.
  • Athenais Paulian

    La Biondina

    Performer: Annette Kruisbrink.
    • Alma Classique.
  • John Foulds

    An Arabian Night

    Performer: Cynthia Fleming. Conductor: Ronald Corp. Orchestra: ѿý Concert Orchestra.
  • Ethel Smyth

    Sonata for Violin and Piano in A minor, Op 7 (3rd mvt, 'Romanze')

    Ensemble: Trio Chagall.
    • Meridian.
  • Orlando Gibbons

    The Silver Swan

    Choir: The Sixteen. Director: Harry Christophers.
    • CORO.
  • Roger Eno

    The Turning Year

    Performer: Roger Eno. Orchestra: Scoring Berlin.
    • DG.
  • Kevin Day

    Cello Sonata (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Thomas Mesa. Performer: Michelle Cann.
    • Navona Records.
  • Alexander Glazunov

    Symphony No 3 in D, Op 33 (3rd mvt)

    Conductor: José Serebrier. Orchestra: Royal Scottish National Orchestra.
    • Warner.
  • Joseph Haydn

    String Quartet in E flat major, No 6 Op 64 (2nd mvt)

    Ensemble: Elias String Quartet.
  • Rachel Portman

    The Cider House (The Cider House Rules)

    Performer: John Lenehan. Conductor: David Snell. Orchestra: Studio Orchestra.
    • Sony Classical.
  • Alexander Borodin

    String Quartet No 2 in D major (3rd mvt, 'Nocturne')

    Ensemble: Dragon Quartet.
    • Channel.
  • William Byrd

    Justorum Animae

    Choir: ѿý Singers. Conductor: David Hill.
  • Samuel Coleridge-Taylor

    Romance in G major for violin & orchestra, Op 39

    Performer: Rachel Barton Pine. Conductor: Daniel Hege. Orchestra: Encore Chamber Orchestra.
    • Cedille.
  • Arvo Pärt

    Spiegel im Spiegel (Mirrors in the Mirror)

    Performer: Viktoria Mullova. Performer: Liam Dunachie.
    • Onyx.
  • Isobel Waller-Bridge

    The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse (ѿý)

    Performer: Isobel Waller-Bridge.
    • Masterworks.
  • Rued Langgaard

    Symphony No 1, 'Klippepastoraler' (2nd mvt, 'Mountain flora')

    Conductor: Sakari Oramo. Orchestra: ѿý Symphony Orchestra.
  • John Rutter

    Requiem (6th mvt, 'The Lord Is my Shepherd')

    Choir: The Cambridge Singers. Conductor: John Rutter. Conductor: Quentin Poole. Orchestra: City of London Sinfonia.
    • Collegium.
  • Augusta Holmès

    Molto lento

    Performer: Luigi Magistrelli. Performer: Claudia Bracco. Ensemble: Il Cenacolo della Chimera.
    • VDE GALLO.
  • Claude Debussy

    Préludes / Book 1, L 117 (8th mvt, 'The Girl with the FLaxen Hair')

    Performer: Víkingur Ólafsson.
    • DG.
  • Erich Wolfgang Korngold

    Rose Garden (The Sea Hawk, Film Score)

    Conductor: Rumon Gamba. Orchestra: ѿý Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • Chandos.
  • Florence Price

    Resignation

    Choir: London Voices.
    • OUP.
  • Jean Françaix

    Concerto for 2 Pianos (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Mona Bard. Performer: Rica Bard. Conductor: Ariane Matiakh. Orchestra: Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland‐Pfalz.
    • CapriccioNR.
  • Charles Gounod

    Death & Life (The Judge)

    Conductor: Richard Hickox. Orchestra: Richard Hickox Orchestra.
    • Decca.
  • Bright Sheng

    Black Swan (after Brahms' 6 Piano Pieces, Op 118: No 2, 'Intermezzo' in A major)

    Conductor: Gerard Schwarz. Orchestra: Seattle Symphony.
    • Naxos.
  • Amy Beach

    Piano Concerto in C sharp minor, Op 45 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Danny Driver. Conductor: Rebecca Miller. Orchestra: ѿý Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
    • Hyperion.
  • Joe Hisaishi

    The Castle of Time

    Conductor: Joe Hisaishi. Orchestra: New Japan Philharmonic World Dream Orchestra.
    • Universal.
  • Leopold Koželuh

    Symphony in G major, No 3 Op 24, P I:8 (2nd mvt)

    Conductor: Marek Štilec. Orchestra: Czech Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Pardubice.
    • Naxos.
  • Alessandro Marcello

    Largo (arr for harp ensemble & chamber orchestra)

    Performer: Aristid von Wurtzler. Ensemble: The New York Harp Ensemble. Orchestra: New York Pro Arte Symphonica.
    • Orfeo.
  • Philip Glass

    The Poet Acts (The Hours)

    Ensemble: The Lyric Quartet. Conductor: Nick Ingman.
    • Nonesuch.
  • Trad.

    Viens par le pre

    Music Arranger: Bob Chilcott. Choir: Tenebrae. Conductor: Nigel Short.
    • Signum.

Broadcasts

  • Tue 10 Jun 2025 09:00
  • Sun 6 Jul 2025 09:00