[Classical] Classical music BGM. Recommended classical music as background music for work and study.

Nocturne No. 2Frederic Chopin

NobuyukiTsujii / Chopin: Nocturne Op.9 No.2 May 16th, 2022

This piano piece features a gently flowing, beautiful melody and delicate ornaments that seep into the heart along with the stillness of the night.

Composed by Chopin in 1831, it masterfully captures dreamlike, fantastical scenes and inner emotions.

The world woven by the elegant right-hand melody and the harmoniously balanced left-hand accompaniment evokes the beauty of an Italian opera’s singing voice.

It has also been widely used in media—for example, it was arranged as the theme song “To Love Again” in the 1956 American film The Eddy Duchin Story, and it appears in the anime ClassicaLoid.

It’s a perfect piece for quiet concentration or calming the mind, making it an ideal, soothing classic to accompany studying or reading.

Suite “L’Arlésienne”Georges Bizet

Bizet: L'Arlésienne – complete suites / all movements

Bizet’s L’Arlésienne was composed as incidental music and is ideal as background music for work or study.

This suite was written by Bizet in 1872 to accompany Daudet’s short story of the same name.

It has also been used in commercials for ice cream and energy drinks.

The suite consists of 27 pieces in total, but orchestras customarily select a few of them to perform.

Its straightforward, unadorned writing lets you enjoy simple music that conveys a gentle, heartwarming atmosphere and offers a soothing quality.

Famous numbers include the Farandole and the Minuet—you’ve probably heard them at least once.

Since the suite has a wide range of moods, it’s perfectly fine to keep repeating only the pieces you like!

Air on the G StringJ.S.Bach

J.S. Bach / Orchestral Suite No. 3, BWV 1068 “Air on the G String”

A Baroque masterpiece woven from gentle melodies and graceful harmonies.

Composed by J.S.

Bach in the 1720s, this piece grew out of secular music that was performed in churches and palaces.

The delicate resonance of the strings and the deeply reverberant bass blend beautifully, guiding listeners into a state of calm.

In the 19th century, it was arranged by the German violinist August Wilhelmj, which helped it spread in a more accessible form.

The work has also gained renewed attention after being featured in the TBS drama “G-senjou no Anata to Watashi” (You and I on the G String).

It’s a recommended track when you want to focus in a tranquil setting or soothe the mind.

Brandenburg Concerto No. 3J.S.Bach

J.S. Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 BWV 1048 / J.S. Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G major, BWV 1048

This is a quintessential work by Bach, one of the foremost musicians of 18th-century Germany, distinguished by its brilliant string sonorities and rich expressiveness.

The joyful melodies woven by the three groups of strings are perfect for a study break.

Its intricate counterpoint and lush harmonies are pleasing to the ear and help sharpen concentration.

Presented in March 1721 to the Margrave of Brandenburg, this piece, scored solely for strings, conveys a nobility that feels almost celestial.

Ideal as a companion for long periods of study or reading, it is recommended when you wish to quietly center your mind.

Waltz No. 15 in A-flat major, Op. 39 No. 15Johannes Brahms

Brahms: Waltz No. 15 in A-flat major, Op. 39 No. 15

The gentle sound of the piano always soothes the heart.

This is a gem left by the 19th-century German composer Johannes Brahms.

Among the set of waltzes for piano four hands published in 1865, it is one of the most popular pieces.

It is known for its graceful, approachable melody and affectionately nicknamed the “Waltz of Love.” While valuing the formal beauty of Classicism, Brahms built a unique musical world interwoven with the sensibilities of Romanticism.

This work distills his delicate sensitivity and artistry.

It is a highly recommended piece for those just becoming interested in classical music, as well as for anyone seeking music that brings peace to the soul.

Academic Festival OvertureJohannes Brahms

Brahms: Academic Festival Overture

Here’s a recommendation for classical music that makes great study BGM.

The orchestral overture composed in 1880 is a work that showcases Johannes Brahms’s musical brilliance and playful spirit.

Written as a token of gratitude for being awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Breslau, the piece expresses fond memories of student days through music.

Skillfully weaving together four student songs, it fuses Brahms’s classical craftsmanship with Romantic expression into a dazzling, roughly 10-minute musical panorama.

It’s a perfect pick for those looking to get into classical music or anyone feeling nostalgic for their own student years.

Like a melodyJohannes Brahms

Peter Schreier – Brahms Lieder, Op.105 – Wie Melodien Zieht Es Mir

Classical art songs are also recommended as background music for work or study.

The song composed in 1888 is one of the representative works from Johannes Brahms’s mature period.

Known as one of the three great Bs of German music alongside Bach and Beethoven, Brahms inherited the Classical tradition while pursuing his own distinctly Romantic expression.

This piece sets words by the poet Klaus Groth and depicts a melody flowing quietly through the heart.

Though a short, roughly two-minute work in A major, it features a dialogic structure between piano accompaniment and voice, highlighting Brahms’s introspective emotional expression.

It’s a great choice even for those just beginning to take an interest in classical music.