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Start the day with wonderful harmonies

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 focussing music from Clementi, Henriette Renié, and Tan Dun, Sian meets a farrier while out to Take a Breath. Plus, Professor Catherine Loveday explains why some people find it easier than others to hold melodies in their mind.

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3 hours

On radio

Saturday09:00
BBC Radio 3 Unwind

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Music Played

  • Camille Saint‐Saëns

    Suite Algerienne, Op 60 (3rd mvt, 'Reverie du soir')

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

  • Muzio Clementi

    Keyboard Sonata in A major, Op 1 No 5 (1st mvt)

    Performer: HyeJin Kim.
    • Naxos.

  • Johann Wenzel Kalliwoda

    Symphony No 1 in F minor, Op 7 (2nd mvt)

    Conductor: Frieder Bernius. Orchestra: Hofkapelle Stuttgart.
    • Carus.

  • Dobrawa Czocher

    Forgive

    Performer: Dobrawa Czocher.
    • Modern Recordings.

  • Michael John Trotta

    Requiem (No 8, 'Lux Aeterna')

    Choir: Tenebrae. Conductor: Nigel Short.
    • Hampton Roads.

  • Florence Price

    Dances in the Canebrakes (Tropical Noon)

    Conductor: Mei-Ann Chen. Orchestra: Chicago Sinfonietta.
    • Cedille.

  • Peter Wishart

    Serenata Concertante (3rd mvt, 'Choral')

    Performer: Peter Cigleris. Conductor: Ben Palmer. Orchestra: BBC National Orchestra of Wales.
    • Signum.

  • Joseph Haydn

    String Quartet in F minor, Op 20 No 5 (3rd mvt)

    Ensemble: Chaos String Quartet.
    • Solo Musica.

  • Tan Dun

    Buddha Passion, Act IV "Zen Garden" - Zen Dream

    Choir: Internationale Chorakademie. Orchestra: Orchestre national de Lyon. Conductor: Tan Dun.
    • Decca.

  • Helen Habershon

    Peace

    Performer: John Anderson. Conductor: Anthony Halstead. Orchestra: London Primavera Orchestra.
    • Divine Art.

  • Gerald Finzi

    Violin Concerto, Op Posth (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Ning Feng. Conductor: Carlos Miguel Prieto. Orchestra: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • Channel.

  • Alexander Scriabin

    Prelude No 5 in D major (24 Preludes, Op 11)

    Performer: Mao Fujita.
    • Sony.

  • Edward Elgar

    The Wand of Youth, Suite No 1, Op1a (No 5, 'Fairy Pipers')

    Conductor: Mark Elder. Orchestra: Hallé.
    • Halle.

  • Maria Hester Park

    Piano Sonata in C major, Op 7 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Betty Ann Miller.
    • Centaur.

  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    The Tempest, Op 18 (4th mvt)

    Conductor: Alpesh Chauhan. Orchestra: BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
    • Chandos.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Keyboard Suite No 5 in E major, HWV 430 (No 4, Air with 5 Variations, 'Harmonious Blacksmith')

    Performer: Philip Edward Fisher.
    • Naxos.

  • Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson

    Sinfonietta No 2, 'Generations' (2nd mvt)

    Ensemble: Sphinx Virtuosi.
    • DG.

  • Henriette Renié

    Harp Concerto in C minor (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Emmanuel Ceysson. Conductor: Samuel Jean. Orchestra: Orchestre Régional Avignon Provence.
    • Naive.

  • Mel Bonis

    Meditation in F major, Op 33

    Performer: Raphaela Gromes. Performer: Julian Riem.
    • Sony.

  • Ermanno Wolf‐Ferrari

    Jewels of the Madonna (Intermezzo)

    Conductor: Gianandrea Noseda. Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • Chandos.

  • Joanna Marsh

    Arabesques (3rd mvt, 'Fading')

    Choir: BBC Singers. Conductor: Owain Park.
    • Signum.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    French Suite No 5 in G major, BWV 816 (1st mvt)

    Performer: Bruce Liu.
    • DG.

  • Hubert Parry

    Suite moderne (3rd mvt, Romanza)

    Conductor: Rumon Gamba. Orchestra: BBC National Orchestra of Wales.
    • Chandos.

  • Emilie Mayer

    Violin Sonata in F major, Op 17 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Émeline Pierre. Performer: Sabine Weyer.
    • CPO.

  • Claude Debussy

    Petite Suite (Menuet)

    Music Arranger: Henri Büsser. Conductor: Jun Märkl. Orchestra: Orchestre national de Lyon.
    • Naxos.

  • Lucy Walker

    There will come soft rains

    Ensemble: St Martin's Voices. Director: Andrew Earis.
    • Resonus.

  • Hayato Sumino

    Nocturne II, 'After Dawn'

    Composer: Frédéric Chopin. Performer: Hayato Sumino.
    • eplus music.

  • Jean Sibelius

    2 Pieces for Violin & Orchestra, Op 77 (No 1 'Laetare anima mea')

    Performer: Mikaela Palmu. Conductor: Leif Segerstam. Orchestra: Turku Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • Naxos.

  • Alexis Ffrench

    Picturesque Pattern

    Performer: Alexis Ffrench.
    • UPPM.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    String Quartet No 2 in D major, K155 (2nd mvt)

    Ensemble: Hagen Quartett.
    • DG.

  • Belle Chen

    Closer (Extended Version)

    Performer: Belle Chen. Conductor: Ben Palmer. Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • Belle Chen.

  • York Bowen

    Symphony No 1, Op 4 (2nd mvt)

    Conductor: Andrew Davis. Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • Chandos.

  • William Grant Still

    American Suite (3rd mvt, 'Lament')

    Conductor: Avlana Eisenberg. Orchestra: Royal Scottish National Orchestra.
    • Naxos.

  • Bob Chilcott

    Thou My Love, Art Fair

    Choir: The King’s Singers.
    • SIGNUM.

Broadcasts

  • Last Monday09:00
    BBC Radio 3 Unwind
  • Saturday09:00
    BBC Radio 3 Unwind