Recommended classical masterpieces for BGM. Soothing classical music.

Tufted puffinHakasé Tarō

Taro Hakase - Etupirka (OFFICIAL)

A beautiful instrumental piece inspired by the image of an auk swooping through the sky.

Taro Hakase’s emotionally rich violin weaves a grand melody that brilliantly captures the breath of nature and the pulse of life.

It was also used as the ending theme for the MBS/TBS program Jonetsu Tairiku, leaving a deep impression on many listeners.

The piece is notable for its structure: it begins in the calm of morning and unfolds as if depicting powerful, soaring wingbeats.

It’s a song to listen to when you’re about to take a new step forward or when you need courage.

Ode to Joy from the NinthLudwig van Beethoven

A girl gives money and is surprised by a grand orchestra performance.

In Japan, Beethoven’s symphonies are so famous that there’s hardly anyone who doesn’t know them.

His Ninth Symphony is performed almost without fail at the end of the year—so much so that “the Ninth means year’s end, and year’s end means the Ninth” is a familiar saying.

The tradition began after the war, when orchestras in Japan, struggling with low income, started performing the ever-popular Ninth at year’s end to ensure audiences.

True to its title, the piece is full of hope and welcomes the New Year.

While the fourth movement is immensely famous, the opening of the first movement has the feeling of emerging, wandering out of darkness, and the third movement can be listened to calmly at a relaxed pace.

Listening from the first movement through to the fourth anew reveals a grand tale of joy that sets the heart in motion!

Enigma Variations ~ NimrodEdward Elgar

[Tugan Sokhiev] Elgar: Nimrod — Edward Elgar: Nimrod, from “Enigma Variations” [Bolshoi]

One of the signature works by British composer Edward Elgar—also known for “Pomp and Circumstance”—is his orchestral set of variations, the Enigma Variations.

The piece is notable for its unique origins: it was inspired by Elgar’s interactions with his friends and grew out of an improvisation.

The Ninth Variation, dedicated to deep friendship, begins with a quiet string harmony and gradually builds to a grand emotional climax that deeply moves listeners.

This solemn and beautiful melody has been cherished as music emblematic of ceremony and visual storytelling, having been performed at the 1997 funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, and quoted in the film Dunkirk.

Its dignified, reverent tone makes it an ideal choice for focused work or as calming nighttime background music.

Pachelbel’s CanonJohann Pachelbel

Pachelbel Canon

This is a work by Johann Pachelbel in which three violins play as if chasing a beautiful melody.

Its hallmark is the way the lines are layered upon one another.

Although there are no lyrics, the gentle, harmonious sonorities feel like a tender conversation, softly enveloping the listener’s heart.

Composed in the late 17th century, it became internationally famous after a June 1968 recording conducted by Jean-François Paillard.

It also gained wider recognition through its use in the 1980 film Ordinary People, and it’s now well known as wedding background music.

Its soothing, steady rhythm and seemingly endless, beautiful melody make it perfect for focusing on work or study.

It may be just the piece for those who want to clear their minds and approach things with calmness.

Jesu, Joy of Man’s DesiringJ.S.Bach

Bach: Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring

Johann Sebastian Bach, known as the “Father of Music.” The chorale that closes his church cantata Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, composed in 1723, is likely something everyone has heard at least once.

Its warm yet majestic sonorities evoke a deep sense of peace and unwavering hope.

Beloved as a staple at celebrations such as weddings, it is also widely known in the piano arrangement by Myra Hess.

Its quiet, refined harmonies won’t disrupt your thoughts; rather, they gently enhance your concentration.

Give it a listen as background music to clear your mind while studying or doing desk work.

Adagio, 2nd movement from the Alaphense ConcertoJoaquín Rodrigo

Adagio from the Concerto de Aranjuez, Second Movement (Rodrigo / arr. Kevin Bolton)

Among classical works, this is a relatively new piece: a guitar concerto composed in 1939.

It is imbued with prayers and a longing for peace in the wake of the devastation of the Spanish Civil War.

Consisting of three movements, the first is in a classical style, while the second is said to express prayers to God for the composer’s lost child and gravely ill wife.

It carries a sense of melancholy, so it might work well as background music for flashback scenes in dramas or films.

Kinderszenen, Op. 15, No. 7: “Träumerei”Robert Schumann

Tomoharu Ushida – Schumann: Träumerei

A bewitching masterpiece by Robert Schumann whose dreamy, beautiful melody is impossible not to swoon over.

Composed in 1838 as part of the piano suite Scenes from Childhood, Op.

15—a work for adults that evokes the spirit of childhood—this piece is the seventh in the collection.

Among the set, it is especially famous and is performed not only on piano but also on a variety of instruments such as violin and cello, captivating not just classical music enthusiasts but a wide audience.

You can savor it by listening closely, or immerse yourself in its melodic and harmonic beauty by playing it on the piano.

Why not spend a peaceful moment accompanied by its soothing melody?