Happy Christmas Harmonies
Niall Breslin brings you a calming selection of seasonal music to help you relax into the evening.
Three hours of calming classical Christmas harmonies, designed 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 seasonal blend of radiant music from the likes of Holst, Elgar, Debbie Wiseman and Margaret Bonds. Plus, a chance to Press Pause, and some Wind Down Wisdom from science podcaster Caroline Steel, all about the relaxation of writing Christmas cards.
To listen on most smart speakers just ask BBC Sounds to play Classical Wind Down.
Last on
Music Played
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Adolphe Adam
O Holy Night (Arr. Lawson for Guitar & Cello)
- Decca Music Group Ltd..
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Paul Noble
The Colours of Christmas
Composer: John Rutter.- Arabesque Recordings.
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Eric Whitacre
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
- Decca Music Group Ltd..
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Giuseppe Torelli
Concerto grosso in G Minor, Op. 8 No. 6 "Pastorale per il Santissimo Natale": II
- Naxos.
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Edward Elgar
The Snow, Op. 26, No. 1
Composer: Sarah Field.- Saxophone Records.
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John Francis Wade
Adeste fideles (Arr. for Orchestra by Peter Breiner)
Music Arranger: Peter Breiner. Orchestra: Slovak State Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Peter Breiner.- Naxos Special Projects.
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Georgy Sviridov
The Snowstorm: IV. Romance
- JA.
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Trad.
Bright Morning Stars Are Rising (Arr. for piano by Jacqueline Schwab)
- Sono Luminus.
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Trad.
El noy de la mare (Arr. for Guitar, Percussion & String Quintet by Krzysztof Mei
Ensemble: Meisinger Soloists.- Chandos.
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Leslie Bricusse
Somewhere In My Memory (from 'Home Alone')
Composer: John Williams.- Decca (UMO) (Classics).
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Barnaby Taylor
Winter
Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra. Orchestra: UK Chinese Ensemble.- Parlophone UK.
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Trad.
Nos Galan (Deck the Halls) [Arr. Huws for Harp]
- Decca Music Group Ltd..
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Debbie Wiseman
The Milky Moon (Orchestral Suite 2)
- Silva Screen Records.
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Augusta Holmès
Noël (Trois Anges Sont Venus Ce Soir)
- Masterworks.
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Thomas Hewitt Jones
Child of Bethlehem
Performer: vivum orchestra. Choir: St Martin's Voices. Conductor: Andrew Earis.![]()
Robert Wells
The Christmas Song
Composer: Mel Tormé. Performer: Vince Guaraldi Trio.- Decca Records US.
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Trad.
Gabriel's Message
Performer: Ola Gjeilo.- Peaceful Christmas.
- Decca Music Group Ltd..
- 5.
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John Ireland
The Holy Boy
- Rubicon.
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Alexander Glazunov
Jour de Fête: Les Chanteurs de Noël
- Analekta.
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John Lennon
Happy Xmas (War is Over)
Composer: Yoko Ono. Music Arranger: Robert Thurston. Music Arranger: Jake Shimabukuro.- Sony Classical.
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Catherine McMichael
On a Snowy Evening for Horn, Soprano Saxophone & Piano
- Albany Records.
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Peter Warlock
Bethlehem Down
Conductor: Gavin Sutherland. Orchestra: RTÉ Concert Orchestra.- Heritage Records.
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Margaret Bonds
The Ballad of the Brown King: VIII. That Was a Christmas Long Ago
Conductor: Malcolm Merriweather. Orchestra: The Dessoff Orchestra.- AVIE Records.
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Helen Keeling-Marston
A Winter Lullaby
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Andy Quin
Until The End of Time
- De Wolfe Music.
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Benjamin Britten
Corpus Christi Carol
- Sony Classical.
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Marco Galvani
On Christmas Morn
Conductor: Benjamin Cunningham. Ensemble: Sansara.- Resonus Classics.
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Israel Golani
Noel: Une jeune pucelle - Arr. for Lute Solo by Israel Golani
- Israel Golani.
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Jay Livingston
Silver Bells (arr. P. Breiner for string quartet)
Composer: Ray Evans. Ensemble: Albrecht String Quartet.- Naxos.
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Carl Gustav Sparre Olsen
Når jola kjem (Arr. P. Grainger in E-Flat Major for Saxophone Ensemble)
Music Arranger: Percy Grainger.- Naxos.
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Lewis Henry Redner
O Little Town of Bethlehem (Arr. L. Strand for Flute, Guitar & Choir)
Conductor: Leif Strand. Choir: Leif Strands Damkör.- Naxos.
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Claude Debussy
Children's Corner, L. 113: iii. Serenade for the Doll; iv. The Snow is Dancing
Music Arranger: André Caplet. Orchestra: Orchestre national des Pays de la Loire. Conductor: Pascal Rophé.- BIS.
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Bo Holten
Nowell We Sing Now (Holten)
- Signum Records.
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Trad.
Auld Lang Syne (Arr. Feuillâtre for Guitar)
- Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
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Florence Price
Song for Snow
Composer: Elizabeth Coatsworth. Conductor: Jessica Cottis. Orchestra: Academy of St Martin in the Fields.- Popsical Music Group.
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Franz Xaver Gruber
Silent Night (Arr. Aragón)
- Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
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Träd
What Child is This?
Performer: Chad Lawson.- Hillset records.
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Anthony Holborne
Heigh Ho Holiday (Arr. for Guitar by Gerard Cousins)
- Prima Classic.
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Takashi Yoshimatsu
White Landscapes, Op. 47a: II. Stillness in Snow. Moderato
- Chandos.
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Daniela Mars
Snow on the Spinney
Performer: Daniela Mars. Performer: Paul Smith.- VOCES8 Records.
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Sven Helbig
Bell Sound Falling Like Snow
- Pocket Symphonies.
- Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
- 9.
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Irving Berlin
White Christmas (Arr. Simon for Piano)
- Decca Music Group Ltd..
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John Eric Copeland
Still Still Still (inst)
- Get It Done Music.
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Virginio Aiello
Winter Snow
- Andante Piano.
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Franz Schubert
Winterreise, D. 911: No. 24, Der Leiermann (Arr. for Mandolin & Harp)
Composer: Wouter Muller. Composer: Muller.- Pentatone.
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Träd
The Sheep Under the Snow
- Oak Leaf Records.
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Gustav Holst
Holst: In The Bleak Midwinter (Arr. Amy Crankshaw for Solo Cello and Strings)
- Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
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Frederick Delius
North Country Sketches: II. Winter Landscape (Arr. P. Warlock for 2 pianos)
- Naxos Music UK Ltd.
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Jonathan Rathbone
The Oxen
- Hyperion.
Broadcasts
- Sat 13 Dec 202517:00BBC Radio 3 Unwind
- Sun 21 Dec 202517:00BBC Radio 3 Unwind
- Christmas Eve 202517:00BBC Radio 3 Unwind
