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Find focus and calm with soothing 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.

Today's musical choices featuring soothing, and rewarding pieces from composers including Bax, Pauline Viardot, and JS Bach, and a chance to find your focus with a hypnotic trio from composer Luke Faulkner. Sian explores the idea of patience, waiting for the morning fog to clear while out to Take a Breath, and Professor Catherine Loveday explains how music can effect our serotonin levels.

29 days left to listen

3 hours

Last on

Yesterday 09:00
BBC Radio 3 Unwind

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Music Played

  • Edward Elgar

    Symphony No 1 in A flat major, Op 55 (3rd mvt)

    Conductor: Edward Gardner. Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra.
    • Chandos.

  • Samuel Coleridge-Taylor

    5 Fairy Ballads, No. 2, Alone with Mother

    Performer: Tom Poster. Performer: Amy Harman.
    • Chandos.

  • Frank Bridge

    Suite for Strings, H 93 (2nd mvt, 'Intermezzo')

    Conductor: Richard Hickox. Orchestra: BBC National Orchestra of Wales.
    • Chandos.

  • Vicente Lusitano

    Sancta Maria

    Ensemble: The Marian Consort.
    • Linn.

  • Luke Faulkner

    Through the Grey Mists (Piano and Strings)

    Performer: Alix Vaillot-Szwarc. Performer: Ozgur Kaya. Performer: Luke Faulkner.
    • DODO.

  • Fela Sowande

    African Suite (2nd mvt, 'Nostalgia')

    Conductor: Paul Freeman. Orchestra: Chicago Sinfonietta.
    • Cedille.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Piano Concerto No 26 in D major, K 537, 'Coronation' (2nd mvt, 'Romance')

    Performer: Jean‐Efflam Bavouzet. Conductor: Gábor Takács‐Nagy. Orchestra: Manchester Camerata.
    • Chandos.

  • Arnold Bax

    Variations on the name Gabriel Faure (1st mvt, 'Idyll')

    Conductor: Martin Yates. Orchestra: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • Dutton.

  • Chiquinha Gonzaga

    As Pombas

    Performer: Karin Fernandes.
    • Azul.

  • Paul Lewis

    Norfolk Suite (2nd mvt, 'Wymondham Abbey')

    Conductor: Gavin Sutherland. Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra.
    • EM.

  • Giacomo Puccini

    3 Minuetti,adapted for string orchestra (No 1)

    Music Arranger: John Wilson. Conductor: John Wilson. Orchestra: Sinfonia of London.
    • Chandos.

  • María Luisa Escobar

    Noche de Luna en Altamira

    Performer: Antonio Oyarzabal.
    • Pixaudio.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Orchestral Suite No 1 in C major, BWV 1066 (2nd mvt, 'Courante')

    Conductor: Helmut Müller‐Brühl. Orchestra: Kölner Kammerorchester.
    • Naxos.

  • Catrin Finch

    Angels

    Performer: Catrin Finch.
    • ARC.

  • Florence Price

    Snapshots (Lake Mirror)

    Performer: Samantha Ege.
    • Lontano.

  • Judith Weir

    Still, Glowing

    Conductor: Dalia Stasevska. Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra.
    • Platoon.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Schaffe in mir, Gott, ein rein Herz, Op 29 No 2

    Ensemble: Windsbacher Knabenchor. Conductor: Martin Lehmann.
    • Sony.

  • Uuno Klami

    Sea Pictures (1st mvt, 'A Foggy Morning')

    Conductor: Jorma Panula. Orchestra: Turku Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • Naxos.

  • Alexander Scriabin

    7 Preludes, Op17 (Prelude No 3)

    Performer: Anthony Hewitt.
    • Champs Hill.

  • John Foulds

    Miniature Suite, Op 38 (3rd mvt, 'In the Forest: The Mocking-Bird')

    Conductor: Ronald Corp. Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra.
    • Dutton.

  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    Symphony No 2 in E minor, Op 27 (3rd mvt)

    Conductor: Cristian Măcelaru. Orchestra: WDR Sinfonieorchester.
    • Outhere.

  • Frédéric Chopin

    Nocturne No 17 in B major, Op 62 No 1

    Performer: Sir Stephen Hough.
    • Hyperion.

  • Fritz Kreisler

    Caprice viennois, Op 2, arr for violin and guitar (2nd mvt)

    Performer: María Dueñas. Performer: Raphaël Feuillâtre. Music Arranger: Antoine Fougeray.
    • DG.

  • Igor Stravinsky

    Apollon Musagete (Second tableau: Pas de deux)

    Conductor: Julian Azkoul. Orchestra: United Strings of Europe.
    • BIS.

  • Henri Vieuxtemps

    Cello Concerto No 1 in A minor, Op 46 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Wen‐Sinn Yang. Conductor: Gernot Schmalfuss. Orchestra: Evergreen Symphony Orchestra.
    • CPO.

  • Pauline Viardot

    Sérénade (arr for harp)

    Performer: Anne‐Sophie Bertrand. Music Arranger: Anne‐Sophie Bertrand.
    • Pentatone.

  • Arvo Pärt

    Spiegel im Spiegel

    Performer: Paul Huang. Performer: Helen Huang.
    • Naive.

  • Charles Villiers Stanford

    Eight Partsongs, Op 127 (No 2, 'Veneta')

    Choir: The Sixteen. Conductor: Harry Christophers.
    • CORO.

  • Iris de Cairos-Rego

    Happy Morning

    Performer: Jeanell Carrigan.
    • Wirripang.

  • Camille Saint‐Saëns

    Suite in D major, Op 49, R 165 (4th mvt, 'Romance')

    Conductor: Jun Märkl. Orchestra: Euskadiko Orkestra Sinfonikoa.
    • Naxos.

  • Gerda Blok Wilson

    O little rose, O dark rose

    Choir: The Gesualdo Six. Director: Owain Park.
    • Hyperion.

  • Franz Schubert

    Symphony No 7 in E major, D 729 (2nd mvt)

    Music Arranger: Felix Weingartner. Conductor: Alun Francis. Orchestra: SWR Rundfunkorchester Kaiserslautern.
    • CPO.

  • Zeltia Montes

    Sunrise (Sad Hill Unearthed OST)

    • Nacional Records.

Broadcast

  • Yesterday 09:00
    BBC Radio 3 Unwind