Soundtrack your evening with soothing festive music
Niall Breslin brings you calming classical music to get you in the Christmas spirit.
Three hours of calming classical music to help you release the stresses of the day, recharge and prepare to rest - presented by Irish musician and mindfulness expert Niall Breslin.
This episode features a rich blend of festive music and carols from the likes of Anna Lapwood, John Rutter and Debbie Wiseman – plus some essential Wind Down Wisdom on how to keep your holidays as peaceful as possible.
To listen on most smart speakers just ask BBC Sounds to play Classical Wind Down.
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Music Played
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Franz Xaver Gruber
Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht
Lyricist: Josef Mohr. Music Arranger: Peter Hope. Conductor: Colin Davis. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra.- Decca Music Group Ltd..
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Ryuichi Sakamoto
Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (Transcr. for Piano & Strings)
- Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
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Gustav Holst
In the Bleak Midwinter (Arr. Kanneh-Mason)
- Decca Music Group Ltd..
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Valentin Silvestrov
Sleep, Jesus (From "2 Christmas Lullabies") [Arr. Tsupryk for Saxoph
Performer: Jess Gillam. Performer: Natalia Tsupryk. Ensemble: Jess Gillam Ensemble.- Decca Music Group Ltd..
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Howard Blake
Walking in the Air
Performer: Vladimir Ashkenazy.- Decca.
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Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
The Snow Maiden, Op. 12, Act II: No. 10, Melodrama (Andantino, quasi Allegretto)
Conductor: Alpesh Chauhan. Orchestra: BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.- Chandos.
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Träd
The First Nowell
Performer: Asya Fateyeva. Ensemble: Boulanger Trio.- Berlin Classics.
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Trad.
Dona Nobis Pacem
- Sony Classical.
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Sally Beamish
In the Stillness
Ensemble: ORA. Conductor: Suzi Digby.- harmonia mundi.
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Jules Massenet
La vierge: The Last Sleep of the Virgin
- Naxos Music UK Ltd.
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Claude Debussy
The Snow is Dancing (Children's Corner)
Performer: Noriko Ogawa.- BIS.
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William Grant Still
Christmas in the Western world "Las Pascuas" - A Maiden was Adoring God
Ensemble: Toledo Clarinets.- CAMBRIA.
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Howard Goodall
Frozen Light (The Seasons Suite, Winter)
Performer: Božidar Vukotić. Performer: Marianne G. Nielsen. Ensemble: Tippett Quartet.- Warner Classics.
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Trad.
Traditional: O Tannenbaum, du trägst ein' grünen Zweig (Arr. Hoffmann & Grabe fo
- Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
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Carducci String Quartet
The Wexford Carol
- Carducci Classics.
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John Rutter
All the Stars Looked Down
- Kings College Cambridge.
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Trad.
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
- XXIM Records.
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Leroy Anderson
Suite of Carols: V. Coventry Carol (Version for woodwinds)
Conductor: Leonard Slatkin. Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra.- Naxos.
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Trad.
El Noi de la Mare (Transc. for Guitar by Miguel Llobet)
- Decca Records US.
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Florence Price
Song for Snow
Performer: Libby Burgess. Choir: BBC Singers. Conductor: Benjamin Nicholas.![]()
Lars‐Erik Larsson
A Winter's Tale, Op 18 (1st mvt)
Orchestra: Stockholm Sinfonietta. Conductor: Jan‐Olav Wedin.- BIS.
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John Tavener
The Lamb
Ensemble: 12 Ensemble.- Sancho Panza Records.
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Trad.
I Saw Three Ships
Music Arranger: James Morgan. Music Arranger: Juliette Pochin. Choir: BBC Singers. Performer: Piano Hands. Conductor: James Morgan.- Warner Classics.
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Henry Purcell
Behold, I Bring You Glad Tidings, Z. 2: Interlude II
Lyricist: Anon.. Conductor: Alun Francis. Orchestra: Northwest Chamber Orchestra.- Hyperion.
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Ludovico Einaudi
Lento
- Decca (UMO) (Classics).
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Adolphe Adam
Cantique de Noël: Andante Maestoso
- Sony Classical/Sony Music.
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Javier Navarrete
Christmas Memories (a)
- KPM Music.
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Tim Whitelaw
One Christmas Morning
Performer: Tim Whitelaw.![]()
Nat King Cole
The Christmas Song
Performer: Fergus McCreadie.![]()
Leopold Stokowski
Traditional Slavic Christmas Music
Conductor: José Serebrier. Orchestra: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.- Naxos.
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Anna Lapwood
Winter Time
Composer: Pembroke College Girls' Choir. Conductor: Anna Lapwood. Choir: Pembroke College Girls' Choir.- Sony Classical.
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John Francis Wade
O Come, All Ye Faithful (Arr. Simon for Piano)
- Decca Music Group Ltd..
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Rebecca Dale
Winter (Arr. for Violin and String Ensemble by François Vallières and Angèle Dub
- Groupe Analekta, Inc.
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Trad.
It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
Conductor: Nigel Hess. Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.- Decca (UMO).
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Antonio Vivaldi
Largo From Winter
- Mercury Classics.
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Debbie Wiseman
The Lull from Jack Frost
Performer: Debbie Wiseman.- Silva Screen Records.
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William James Kirkpatrick
Away in a Manger (Arr. Taylor Scott Davis)
Lyricist: Anon.. Music Arranger: Taylor Scott Davis. Conductor: Barnaby Smith. Orchestra: VOCES8 Foundation Orchestra. Ensemble: VOCES8. Choir: VOCES8 Foundation Choir.- Decca Music Group Ltd..
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Alexis Ffrench
Northern Lights
- Sony Classical.
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Nils Frahm
Wintermusik - Arr. by Stephane Gassot & Christian-Pierre La Marca
- Believe International.
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Rui Fujishiro
Winter is Coming
Performer: Rui Fujishiro.- Subenoana.
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Kethaki Prathivadi
On Christmas
Conductor: Anna Lapwood. Ensemble: Pembroke College Chapel Choir. Ensemble: Pembroke College Girls' Choir.- Signum Records.
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Walter Kent
I'll Be Home for Christmas (Arr. by David Campbell)
- Sony Classical.
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Richard Blackford
Canticle of Winter
Ensemble: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Gavin Carr. Performer: Amy Dickson.- Nimbus Alliance.
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Peteris Vasks
Lidzenuma ainavas (Plainscapes)
Conductor: Sigvards Kļava. Choir: Latvian Radio Choir.- Ondine.
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Mykola Leontovych
Carol of the Bells (arr. piano)
- Decca (UMO) (Classics).
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Karl Jenkins
Lullay (Stella natalis)
Choir: Polyphony. Conductor: Stephen Layton.- DG.
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Ralph Blane
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (Arr. Chen & Leong for Violin & Piano)
Composer: Hugh Martin.- Decca Music Group Ltd..
Broadcasts
- Mon 23 Dec 202418:00BBC Radio 3 Unwind
- Christmas Day 202418:00BBC Radio 3 Unwind
- Sun 14 Dec 202517:00BBC Radio 3 Unwind
- Christmas Day 202517:00BBC Radio 3 Unwind
