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Get set for the day with peaceful classical music

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 energising and soothing melodies from Borodin, Beethoven, and Cecile Chaminade. Sian takes a trip to the seaside and feels a cathartic release as she throws stones into the sea. Also, Professor Catherine Loveday explores if music training can improve people's ability to recognise emotion in others.

24 days left to listen

3 hours

Last on

Sunday 09:00
BBC Radio 3 Unwind

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Music Played

  • Alexander Borodin

    Nocturne (String Quartet No 2 arr for violin and orchestra)

    Performer: Stephanie Chase. Conductor: Geoffrey Simon. Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra.
    • Signum-Cala.

  • Michiru Oshima

    Memories

    Performer: Hilary Hahn. Performer: Cory Smythe.
    • DG.

  • Arthur Sullivan

    Symphony in E major 'Irish' (2nd mvt)

    Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Richard Hickox.
    • Chandos.

  • Belle Chen

    Keeping Warm

    Performer: Belle Chen.
    • Eito Music.

  • Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf

    Sinfonia in D major, 'Grave' (2nd mvt)

    Conductor: Álvaro Cassuto. Orchestra: Orquestra Metropolitana de Lisboa.
    • Naxos.

  • Nils Frahm

    Some (Live from the Paris Philharmonic Concert Hall)

    Performer: Nils Frahm.
    • Erased Tapes.

  • Eric Coates

    Idyll

    Conductor: John Wilson. Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra.
    • ASV.

  • Erik Satie

    Gnoissienne No 5

    Performer: Bertrand Chamayou.
    • Warner.

  • Libby Larsen

    Dear Love (Love Songs)

    Choir: BBC Singers. Conductor: Will Dawes.

  • Felix Mendelssohn

    String Quartet No 6 in F minor, Op 90 (3rd mvt)

    Ensemble: Calidore String Quartet.

  • Charles Gounod

    Death & Life (The Judge)

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

  • Luigi Boccherini

    String Quintet in E major arr for orchestra, No 5 Op 11, G 275 (3rd mvt, 'Minuetto')

    Music Arranger: Leopold Stokowski. Conductor: José Serebrier. Orchestra: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.
    • Naxos.

  • Charles Samuel Brown

    A Song Without Words

    Performer: Rachel Barton Pine. Performer: Matthew Hagle.
    • Cedille.

  • Julie Cooper

    ANGEL in Dark Green

    Performer: Eliza Marshall. Performer: Clio Gould. Performer: Camilla Pay. Performer: Joby Burgess. Singer: Grace Davidson. Conductor: Jessica Cottis. Ensemble: Oculus Ensemble.
    • SIGNUM.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony No 4 in B flat major, Op 60 (2nd mvt)

    Conductor: Colin Davis. Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra.
    • Decca.

  • Arvo Pärt

    Psalom

    Orchestra: collectif9.
    • ANALEKTA.

  • Cécile Chaminade

    6 Etudes de concert for piano, Op 35 (Book 1: No 5, 'Impromptu')

    Performer: Joanne Polk.
    • Steinway & Sons.

  • Frank Bridge

    The Sea (No 2, 'Sea Foam')

    Conductor: James Judd. Orchestra: New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.
    • NAXOS.

  • William Grant Still

    Vignettes (No 3, 'Inca Melody')

    Ensemble: Trio de Salón.
    • Rm Records.

  • Jonathan Dove

    In Beauty May I Walk

    Ensemble: VOCES8.
    • VCM.

  • Antonín Dvořák

    Song to the Moon arr for violin and orchestra (Rusalka, Op 114)

    Performer: Joshua Bell. Orchestra: Orchestra of St. Luke’s. Conductor: Michael Stern.
    • Sony.

  • Rosalind s Ellicott

    Second Trio (2nd mvt)

    Ensemble: The Summerhayes Piano Trio.
    • Meridien.

  • John Barry

    The Beyondness of Things

    Orchestra: English Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: John Barry.
    • Decca.

  • Sayed Darwish

    Song at Nile River's Bank (arr for piano solo)

    Performer: Lang Lang. Music Arranger: Peter Schindler.
    • DG.

  • Heitor Villa‐Lobos

    Guitar Concerto, A 501 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Rafael Jiménez Rojas. Conductor: Fernando Lozano. Orchestra: Orquesta Sinfónica Carlos Chávez.
    • NFI.

  • Roxanna Panufnik

    Kyrie after Byrd

    Choir: ORA. Conductor: Suzi Digby.
    • Harmonia Mundi.

  • Claude Debussy

    Girl With the Flaxen Hair (Préludes, Book 1, L 117: No 7)

    Performer: Víkingur Ólafsson.
    • DG.

  • Frederick Delius

    Prelude to Margot la Rouge

    Orchestra: Aarhus Symfoniorkester. Conductor: Bo Holten.
    • Danacord.

  • Toru Takemitsu

    Koi no Kakurenbo (Love Games)

    Choir: Shinyukai Choir. Conductor: Shin Sekiya.
    • PHILIPS.

  • Friedrich Kiel

    Piano Concerto in B flat major, Op 30 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Martin Roscoe. Conductor: Martyn Brabbins. Orchestra: BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
    • Hyperion.

  • Arthur Bliss

    Adam Zero Suite (No 4, 'Awakening of Love')

    Conductor: David Lloyd-Jones. Orchestra: Orchestra of Opera North.
    • Naxos.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Ave verum corpus, K 618

    Choir: Ensemble Vocal de Lausanne. Conductor: John Nelson. Orchestra: Lausanne Chamber Orchestra.
    • ICA Classics.

  • Alan Hovhaness

    Symphony No 66, Op 428, 'Hymn to Glacier Peak' (1st mvt)

    Conductor: Gerard Schwarz. Orchestra: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • Telarc.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Contemplation (Wie melodien zieht es mir)

    Performer: Nicola Benedetti. Conductor: Daniel Harding. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra.
    • DG.

  • Paul Mealor

    Ubi Caritas

    Choir: Tenebrae. Director: Nigel Short.
    • DECCA.

Broadcasts

  • Tue 22 Apr 2025 09:00
    BBC Radio 3 Unwind
  • Sunday 09:00
    BBC Radio 3 Unwind