Recommended classical masterpieces for BGM. Soothing classical music.
Classical music has been used in many settings: as church music for religious services, live performances at aristocratic banquets, and as operatic incidental music depicting beautiful landscapes and people.
Even with pieces I already know, when I revisit them after learning their background, I often feel they were originally close in character to background music.
This time, I’ve gathered classical masterpieces that are perfect as BGM for everyday relaxation, commuting to work or school, and lunchtime or dinnertime.
You can rediscover world-famous pieces everyone knows, as well as lesser-known hidden gems—there’s a wide variety to choose from.
I hope you find a new favorite track.
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Recommended classical masterpieces for BGM: Soothing classical music (11–20)
Joy of LoveFritz Kreisler
This is a brilliant and popular piece for violin and piano composed by the world-renowned Austrian violinist Fritz Kreisler.
Its striking feature is the ascending passage using double-stops—tilting the bow to play chords on two strings—which, true to its title, conveys a sense of joy.
Fritz Kreisler was born in Vienna and began the violin at the age of three.
Thanks to his prodigious aptitude, he was exceptionally admitted to a music school at seven and, remarkably, graduated at the top of his class at just ten.
For a time he followed in the footsteps of his father, a practicing physician, and pursued medicine, but it did not suit him, and he returned to a career in music.
‘Liebesfreud’ (Joy of Love) is also often used as entrance music at weddings.
Variation 18 from Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini for Piano and OrchestraSergei Rachmaninov
It’s a masterpiece composed for piano and orchestra.
Based on Niccolò Paganini’s 24 Caprices, it unfolds in 24 variations.
In particular, the 18th variation is a highly popular piece that captivates many listeners with its graceful, enchanting melody and harmony.
Rachmaninoff completed the work in just seven weeks during the summer of 1934 at his home in Switzerland.
It premiered in November 1934 with the Philadelphia Orchestra, and it’s said he drank crème de menthe before the performance to calm his nerves.
This piece is recommended for those who want to play gently yet romantically, while consciously bringing out the melodic line within the chords.
Beautiful RosemaryFritz Kreisler
The light, charming melody reminiscent of a Viennese ball is truly striking.
“Schön Rosmarin,” composed by the renowned Austrian violinist Fritz Kreisler, is a short piece for violin and piano that seems to paint a delicate flower in music.
Its springy, waltz-like tone naturally brightens the listener’s mood.
The score was published in 1910, and Kreisler himself recorded it in December 1912.
As one of a trilogy alongside “Liebesfreud” (Love’s Joy) and “Liebesleid” (Love’s Sorrow), it’s highly recommended to listen to them together.
It is also frequently used as background music in commercials and visual works, so do check it out as a refreshing interlude during tasks or as gentle study BGM.
Pavane for a Dead Princess (Orchestral Version)Claude Debussy/Joseph Maurice Ravel
This is a representative work by the French composer Maurice Ravel, suffused with delicate color and an air of elegance.
Composed as a piano piece in 1899, it was orchestrated by Ravel himself in 1910.
Featuring memorable solos for horn and oboe, its structure evokes a quiet melancholy and dreamlike scenes.
The piece has been recorded by many artists; the Berlin Philharmonic under Karajan and the Montreal Symphony Orchestra under Dutoit are particularly famous.
It has also been used as background music in films, commercials, and television programs, making it beloved across generations.
It’s a perfect track for everyday background music—during relaxation, commuting to work or school, or at lunch and dinner time.
“Music for the Royal Fireworks” Alla HornpipeGeorg Friedrich Händel
This is a masterpiece that unfolds the lavish, resplendent world of Baroque music.
Composed for the glittering occasion of a royal boating party on the River Thames, the piece is distinguished by the sonorous tones of trumpets and horns, brilliantly conveying royal dignity and elegance.
The anecdote that Handel dedicated it to regain the king’s favor is also well known.
Since its premiere in 1717, it has been beloved for many years and continues to be used in a variety of settings today.
Its graceful yet grand atmosphere makes it perfect as background music for relaxing moments or for lunch and dinner times.
It’s also recommended when you want to elevate the mood on a special day.