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.

Playlist

Recommended classical masterpieces for BGM. Soothing classical music.
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	Morning Mood from Peer GyntEdvard Grieg		Grieg’s Morning – a masterpiece for a peaceful awakening
2	Symphony No. 2, Movement 3Sergei Rachmaninov		The success and fulfillment of Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 3
3	CanonJohann Pachelbel		The charm of Pachelbel’s famous piece, Canon
4	Nocturne Op. 9 No. 2Frederic Chopin		Chopin’s nocturne that expresses the stillness of the night
5	Pictures at an ExhibitionModest Mussorgsky		A famous piece from Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition
6	Divertimento in D major, K. 136, I. AllegroWolfgang Amadeus Mozart		A lively and cheerful piece composed by Mozart
7	Minuet from L’Arlésienne Suite No. 2Georges Bizet		The Captivating Tone of L’Arlésienne Suite No. 2
8	Siegfried IdyllRichard Wagner		Wagner’s heartwarming short piece, Serenity
9	Je te veuxErik Satie		Satie’s sweet and sensual love song
10	Piano Sonata No. 14 “Moonlight,” First MovementLudwig van Beethoven		A beautiful piano piece that heals the heart, with the lake surface reflecting the moonlight
11	Joy of LoveFritz Kreisler		Fritz Kreisler’s Joy of Love
12	Variation 18 from Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini for Piano and OrchestraSergei Rachmaninov		Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, a masterpiece
13	Beautiful RosemaryFritz Kreisler		Kreisler’s Violin Miniature “Schön Rosmarin”
14	Pavane for a Dead Princess (Orchestral Version)Claude Debussy/Joseph Maurice Ravel		Ravel’s elegant masterpiece “Jeux d’eau” (Fountains/Play of Water)
15	“Music for the Royal Fireworks” Alla HornpipeGeorg Friedrich Händel		Splendid royal pieces of Baroque music
16	Air on the G StringJ.S.Bach		Bach’s aria “Air on the G String,” a famous masterpiece.
17	Piano Quintet “The Trout,” Movement 4Franz Schubert		Schubert’s refreshing chamber music masterpiece
18	Sonatine, M. 40: II. Mouvement de MenuetMaurice Ravel		The Appeal of Maurice Ravel's “Sonatine”
19	Ave verum corpusWolfgang Amadeus Mozart		Mozart’s moving choral piece
20	Divertimento in D major, K. 136 – Movement IWolfgang Amadeus Mozart		Mozart's Bright Symphony
21	The Blue DanubeJohann Strauss II		Viennese waltzes encourage the people
22	Piano Sonata No. 8 “Pathétique,” Second MovementLudwig van Beethoven		A masterpiece that soothes the heart with its graceful melody
23	The Nutcracker “March”Pyotr Tchaikovsky		The classic winter ballet music “The Nutcracker”
24	Pavane for a Newborn PrincessCharles-Henry		A graceful and soothing delicate piano piece
25	Petite Suite I. En bateauClaude Debussy		A piano piece with gentle waves, an elegant melody
26	Suite bergamasque, No. 3: Clair de LuneClaude Debussy		Debussy’s famous piece that quietly and beautifully evokes the moon
27	GavotteFrançois-Joseph Gossec		Gavotte: From French peasant dance to the court
28	Enigma Variations ~ NimrodEdward Elgar		Elgar’s masterpiece “Enigma,” a profound inspiration.
29	ZigeunerweisenPablo de Sarasate		A shocking opening with an emotionally moving tone
30	Pachelbel’s CanonJohann Pachelbel		Pachelbel’s Canon is a masterpiece.
31	Jesu, Joy of Man’s DesiringJ.S.Bach		Bach’s chorales bring peace to the heart
32	Tufted puffinHakasé Tarō		Moving music depicting an auk (tufted puffin)
33	Adagio, 2nd movement from the Alaphense ConcertoJoaquín Rodrigo		A prayer for peace for the Spanish Civil War, a concerto of melancholy
34	Ode to Joy from the NinthLudwig van Beethoven		Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, the song of hope for the year’s end
35	Gold and SilverFranz Lehar		An elegant and magnificent piece in gold and silver
36	Barcarolle from The Tales of HoffmannJacques Offenbach		Operetta composer Offenbach
37	SerenadeFranz Schubert		A passionate serenade is difficult for Japanese men.
38	Waltz of the FlowersPyotr Tchaikovsky		A pleasant melo... woven by the graceful rhythm of a waltz
39	Brandenburg Concerto No. 3J.S.Bach		Striking for its splendid string timbres and rich inflection…
40	Water MusicHenderu		The majestic, resplendent strains of the orchestra resounded beautifully…
41	Scenes from Childhood, Op. 15 No. 7 “Träumerei”Robert Schumann		Scenes from Childhood, a beautiful melody that resonates in the heart
42	In a Persian marketAlbert Ketèlbey		An exotic Persian market scene
43	swanCamille Saint-Saëns		Carnival of the Animals, the swan ballet piece is famous.
44	Trumpet VoluntaryClark		The charm of an elegant march without any sense of intimidation
45	GymnopédiesErik Satie		Satie’s graceful, emotionally resonant masterpiece
46	La CampanellaFranz Liszt		Liszt’s famous bell etude
47	Farewell SongFrederic Chopin		Chopin’s Farewell Song—the poignant melancholy resonates in my heart.
48	Etude Op.10 No.3 “Farewell”Frederic Chopin		Chopin’s famous piece “Farewell Etude” soothes the heart.
49	TurandotGiacomo Puccini		A masterpiece that conveys the beauty and power of the classics
50	Swedish Rhapsody No. 1 “Midsummer Vigil”Hugo Alfvén		A bright and cheerful Swedish folk song
51	Harp ConcertoGeorg Friedrich Händel		A masterpiece that brings out the charm of the harp
52	Wedding Dance from CoppeliaLéo Delibes		A ballet tale of a young man who falls in love with a doll
53	The Skaters’ WaltzModest Mussorgsky		A beautiful waltz piece popular for skating
54	Kinderszenen, Op. 15, No. 7: “Träumerei”Robert Schumann		Scenes from Childhood, a beautiful melody that heals the heart
55	Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major, Op. 97 “Rhenish”Robert Schumann		Schumann's heroic and brilliant music
56	The Moldau – From My HomelandBedrich Smetana		The famous symphonic poem “The Moldau,” which depicts Czech landscapes
57	Cello Concerto No. 2 in D majorFranz Joseph Haydn		Haydn’s Cello Concerto and Life in the Orchestra
58	Dance of the Sugar Plum FairyPyotr Tchaikovsky		The delightful music of The Nutcracker
59	“Spring” from The Four SeasonsAntonio Vivaldi		Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons: Spring Concerto