Cool classical masterpieces. Recommended classical music.

Mephisto Waltz No. 1, S.514 “Dance in the Village Inn”Franz Liszt

Liszt – Mephisto Waltz No. 1, S. 514 [André Laplante]

8 Concert Etudes, Op. 40 No. 1: PreludeNikolay Kapustin

Prelude – Kapustin Eight Concert Etudes Op.40 No.1

Water Music, Suite No. 2 – II. Alla HornpipeGeorg Friedrich Händel

Handel: Water Music Suite No. 2 – II. Alla Hornpipe [Naxos Classical Curations #Gorgeous]

When you think of music drifting over the surface of a river, you might imagine a gentle melody; however, the section from George Frideric Handel’s Water Music is brimming with brilliance that invites listeners into a festive mood.

The piece was first performed on the River Thames in July 1717, and there is an anecdote that the king was so delighted he called for multiple encores.

With trumpets and horns resounding boldly and a buoyant, spirited character that lifts the heart, it perfectly enhances the open feeling of summer.

It is also familiar from children’s programs such as Little Einsteins, making it enjoyable across generations.

For those seeking a refreshing moment that makes you forget the muggy heat, this is a work well worth lending your ears to.

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.

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.

Cantata “The Human Face”PLANK

“Figure humaine” – Valsts Akadēmiskais koris LATVIJA / State Choir LATVIJA | Francis Poulenc

Many people were probably shocked to discover that a choral piece could be this cool.

The poem was written in Paris under Nazi occupation, and it conveys anger at the loss of humanity brought about by the war, along with a strong hope for freedom.

8 Concert Etudes, Op. 40 No. 3: ToccatinaNikolay Kapustin

Toccatina – Kapustin Eight Concert Etudes Op.40 No.3