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Welcome calm with relaxing classical music

Niall Breslin brings you calming classical music to help you release the stresses of the day, recharge and prepare to rest.

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 music from the likes of Vaughan Williams, Snorri Hallgrímsson and Doreen Carwithen. Plus, a chance to Press Pause with meditation teacher Maude Hirst, and some essential Wind Down Wisdom from science podcaster Caroline Steel on how an aromatic bath can aid relaxation.

To listen on most smart speakers just ask BBC Sounds to play Classical Wind Down.

3 hours

Last on

Fri 14 Nov 202517:00
BBC Radio 3 Unwind

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Music Played

  • Ernest John Moeran

    Air (Serenade in G major)

    Orchestra: Ulster Orchestra. Conductor: JoAnn Falletta.
    • Naxos.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Chorale prelude, Op 122, No 5 arr. Busoni for piano

    Performer: Samson Tsoy.
    • Linn Records.

  • Mary Finsterer

    Lumen Prime Aurore

    Orchestra: Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Benjamin Northey.
    • ABC Classic.

  • Eydís Evensen

    Helena's Sunrise

    Performer: Eydís Evensen.
    • XXIM Records.

  • Richard Rodney Bennett

    A Good Night

    Choir: Tenebrae. Conductor: Nigel Short.
    • Signum Records.

  • Joaquín Rodrigo

    Adagio from Concierto de Aranjuez

    Performer: Raphaël Feuillâtre. Orchestra: Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Gábor Takács‐Nagy.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).

  • Büşra Kayıkçı

    Bird

    Performer: Büşra Kayıkçı.
    • Warner Classics.

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Fantasia on Greensleeves

    Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Barry Wordsworth.

  • R. Nathaniel Dett

    Magnolia: IV. Mammy

    • Luke Welch.

  • George Butterworth

    English Idyll No 2

    Orchestra: BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Conductor: Krišs Russman.
    • Butterworth: Orchestral Works & Works for Voice & Orchestra.
    • BIS.
    • 10.

  • Alanna Crouch

    Waterlilies

    Performer: Alanna Crouch.
    • Piano and Nature.

  • Felix Mendelssohn

    String Quartet in D major, Op 44 No 1 (2nd mvt)

    Ensemble: Consone Quartet.

  • Adolphus Hailstork

    Kum ba yah (3 Spirituals)

    Orchestra: Virginia Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: JoAnn Falletta.
    • Naxos.

  • Dustin O’Halloran

    Arrival

    Composer: Hauschka. Performer: Dalal.
    • Warner Classics.

  • César Franck

    Panis angelicus (arranged for orchestra)

    Music Arranger: Leopold Stokowski. Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Matthias Bamert.
    • Chandos.

  • Fanny Mendelssohn

    Schwanenlied

    Performer: Mats Lidström. Performer: Leif Kaner‐Lidström.
    • Hyperion.

  • Oliver Davis

    Graceful Giants (Sea Dances, No 2)

    Ensemble: Beth & Flo. Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Paul Bateman.
    • Signum Records.

  • Julie Cooper

    Firedove

    Performer: Elena Urioste. Performer: Anna Lapwood. Choir: Pembroke College Chapel Choir.
    • Sony Music Entertainment UK Ltd.

  • Snorri Hallgrímsson

    Nowhere Again, Kinder

    Performer: Snorri Hallgrímsson.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).

  • Edward Elgar

    Symphony No 1 (3rd mvt)

    Orchestra: BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Ryan Wigglesworth.

  • Franz Schubert

    Impromptu in G flat major, D 899 No 3

    Performer: Eric Lu.
    • Warner Classics.

  • Kristina Arakelyan

    Meditation

    Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Mark Heron.

  • Grace Williams

    Elegy

    Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Owain Arwel Hughes.
    • Rubicon.

  • Gibran Alcocer

    Idea 20 (orchestral version)

    Performer: Gibran Alcocer.
    • Kurate Music.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Alle Menschen mussen sterben, BWV 262 (arr. for string quartet)

    Ensemble: Quatuor Arod.
    • Warner Classics.

  • Olivia Belli

    Sapias

    Performer: Mari Samuelsen. Performer: Julien Quentin. Ensemble: Scoring Berlin. Conductor: Jonathan Stockhammer.
    • Universal Music Operations Ltd.

  • Brian Eno, Leo Abrahams & Jon Hopkins

    Emerald and Stone

    • UMC (Universal Music Catalogue).

  • Camille Saint‐Saëns

    Aquarium (Carnival of the Animals)

    Performer: Isata Kanneh‐Mason. Performer: Konya Kanneh‐Mason. Performer: Sheku Kanneh‐Mason. Performer: Timothy Ridout. Performer: Adam Walker. Performer: Ayla Sahin. Performer: Braimah Kanneh-Mason. Performer: Alasdair Malloy.
    • Decca.

  • Doreen Carwithen

    Piano concerto (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Alexandra Dariescu. Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sakari Oramo.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Magic Flute Lullaby (I am the birdcatcher)

    Performer: Gabriele Bagnati.
    • Masterworks/Sony Music.

  • VLMV

    First Light, Early Morning, With Birdsong

    • State Of Mind Records.

  • Karen Tanaka

    Night Bird

    Performer: Gerard McChrystal.
    • First Hand Records.

  • Hildegard von Bingen

    Columba Aspexit (arr. for string quartet by A Fortes)

    Ensemble: Aizuri Quartet.
    • Azica Records.

  • Alexandre Guilmant

    Prayer in F major, Op 16 arr. for piano & accordion

    Performer: Miloš Milivojević. Performer: Simon Callaghan.
    • Nimbus Records.

  • Sarah Frances Jenkins

    Music and meditation

    Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Ben Palmer.

  • Qasim Naqvi

    Plastic Glacier

    Performer: Qasim Naqvi.
    • Erased Tapes.

  • Eleri Morgan

    The Tides Inside

    Performer: Элэри.
    • Eleri Morgan.

  • Craig Armstrong

    Balcony Scene (From "Romeo & Juliet")

    Orchestra: Czech National Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Paul Bateman.
    • Decca (UMO) (Classics).

Broadcasts

  • Wed 2 Jul 202518:00
    BBC Radio 3 Unwind
  • Sun 27 Jul 202517:00
    BBC Radio 3 Unwind
  • Sat 30 Aug 202517:00
    BBC Radio 3 Unwind
  • Fri 14 Nov 202517:00
    BBC Radio 3 Unwind