Timelessly beautiful classical masterpieces. Recommended classical music.

Seaside at Dusk, H.128: No. 3 “The Stormy Seashore”Bohuslav Martinů

Martinů: At the Seaside at Dusk, H.128: No. 3 [Stormy Seashore] [Naxos Classical Curations #Chic]

This piece depicts waves breaking on a seaside at dusk and the sweep of a blustery wind through deft piano arpeggios.

Composed by Bohuslav Martinů in 1921, it is a short work for solo piano included on the album “Evening on the Sea-shore, H.128 and 3 other pieces.” Within its richly resonant, impressionistic colors, a classical framework—the rondo form—breathes, creating a striking dialogue between nature painting and structural elegance.

Its dynamic development evokes the subtitle “Storm,” and the design, which regains calm after a virtuosic cadenza, leaves a strong impression.

It is a gem for anyone who, in a summertime moment, wishes to immerse themselves in piano music that is both dramatic and refreshingly cool.

The Carnival of the Animals, No. 13: The SwanCamille Saint-Saëns

Dai Miyata / Saint-Saëns: The Swan (Le Cygne)

A celebrated work by Camille Saint-Saëns, based on a melody from the suite Le Carnaval des animaux.

Originally conceived as one of the pieces in a suite intended as entertainment for Carnival in early 1886, it was the only movement the composer allowed to be published during his lifetime.

The flowing melody played by the cello evokes the elegant figure of a swan gliding over the water and conjures the dreamlike imagery of the legendary “swan song.” The ballet The Dying Swan, created by Anna Pavlova in 1905 to this music, is renowned worldwide, and figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu’s exhibition performance to the piece also moved many audiences.

This is a piece for those who want to immerse themselves in the beautiful tone of the cello—a sound that seems to make you forget the summer heat and refresh the spirit.

Suite ‘Mirrors’: A Boat on the OceanClaude Debussy

Ravel: Suite “Miroirs”: A Boat on the Ocean

How about a piano piece that carries a cool breeze on a summer afternoon? The opening movement of Claude Debussy’s Petite Suite for piano four hands offers a gentle, beautiful melody that evokes a small boat gliding gracefully across the water and sinks deep into the heart.

Sparkling light and the rippling of water seem to come into view, as if enjoying an Impressionist painting rendered in sound.

First performed in February 1889 in a piano four-hands rendition with the composer himself participating, the work is said to have been influenced by the poetry of Paul Verlaine.

It was later arranged for orchestra in 1907, which has its own distinct charm.

Rich in poetic atmosphere that helps you forget the heat, this piece is perfect for those who wish to enjoy music quietly or add a beautiful accent to everyday life.

The gentle resonance of the piano is sure to bring a most pleasant time.

At the seaside at nightHeino Kasuki

Kaski: By the Seaside at Night, Op. 34-1

How about a short piano piece that seems to turn the shimmering specks of light along a Nordic night shore into sound? This Finnish work lets the piano’s high register ring with clarity, making you feel as if you’re gazing at twinkling stars in the night sky.

Its allure stands out in the recording left by pianist Izumi Tateno in April 1999, where the delicate tones seep deep into the heart.

The piece’s gentle, dreamlike melody—its hallmark—will help you forget the swelter of summer.

Recommended for those who wish to spend a cool, tranquil moment, listening to beautiful piano sonorities in the stillness.

Water MusicHenderu

Handel: Suite “Water Music”

A work in which majestic and resplendent orchestral melodies resound with beauty.

Composed by Handel for a boating party on the River Thames in July 1717, this piece musically depicts the gentle flow of the river.

The rich sonorities woven by a variety of instruments—such as horns, oboes, and strings—create an elegant, soothing atmosphere, like light shimmering on the water’s surface.

Even today, its universal appeal is evident in its use as the theme music for NHK-FM’s “Enjoying Early Music” and as the departure melody at Kyoto Station.

It is a recommended piece for tasks or study that require concentration, or whenever you wish to quietly calm your mind.

Barcarolle No. 2 in F-sharp minor from Songs Without Words, Book IIFelix Mendelssohn

Mendelssohn / Venetian Boat Song — from Songs Without Words, Book 2

Felix Mendelssohn, a German composer who left behind many delicate and graceful works, is especially known for his collection of short piano pieces called Songs Without Words.

The collection is divided into eight volumes, and the melancholy melody of Venetian Boat Song No.

2 in F-sharp minor, included in the second volume, is a celebrated piece that brings tears to the eyes.

Although all 48 pieces have titles, Mendelssohn himself named only five of them.

Venetian Boat Song No.

2 in F-sharp minor is one of those and is cherished as an exceptionally beautiful and striking work among the Songs Without Words.

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Symphony No. 2, Movement IIISergei Rachmaninov

Tadaaki Otaka (conductor) · Tokyo Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra / Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 2, Movement III / Orchard Hall Subscription Concert, July 21, 2014

A moving melody woven from beauty and melancholy seeps into the heart.

Beginning with a clarinet solo and expanding to the full orchestra, the sonic world shakes the listener’s soul.

Its lyrical line, which evokes nostalgia and distant memories, feels as if it were singing of a beloved person.

It is also featured in the film “Bridget Jones’s Diary,” known as a classic that colors romantic scenes.

Recommended for those who wish to heal the pain of heartbreak or to bask in memories with someone dear.

Premiered in January 1908 to great success, it is also famous as a work that symbolizes the composer’s rebirth.