[Graduation Ceremony BGM] Guaranteed to move you! A comprehensive introduction to classic tear-jerkers!
BGM to add a flourish to a moving graduation ceremony.For teachers sending off their graduates, choosing the right music to color this milestone in the children’s lives can be a real challenge.So in this article, we’ve gathered a selection of classic, go-to pieces that are perfect for graduation ceremony BGM!We picked several tracks of different types—from orchestral works that lend a brilliant touch to the entrance scene to gentle, wistful piano pieces suited to quieter moments—so please use them as a guide for your music selection.We hope the ceremony will become a lasting memory, accompanied by music, for the children, their families, and the teachers alike.
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[Graduation Ceremony BGM] Guaranteed to Move You! A Roundup of Tear-Jerking Classic Standards (1–10)
Symphony No. 9 “From the New World,” Second Movement “Largo”Antonín Dvořák
The second movement of Antonín Dvořák’s Symphony No.
9, “From the New World,” composed in 1893.
Characterized by the poignant melody of the English horn, this work has a quiet, meditative atmosphere.
In Japan, it is well known with the lyrics “Tōki yama ni hi wa ochite” and is also recognized as music that signals it’s time to head home in the evening.
Composed during Dvořák’s stay in America, the piece reflects influences from African American spirituals and Native American music, yet his originality shines through.
It premiered to great acclaim at Carnegie Hall in New York on December 16, 1893.
With its nostalgic, unhurried character, it’s also a perfect choice for graduation ceremony background music.
Pavane for a Dead PrincessMaurice Ravel
A signature work by Maurice Ravel in which quiet elegance melds with distant nostalgia.
Composed in 1899 as a solo piano piece and premiered in Paris in April 1902, it is said to have been inspired by the image of a young princess dancing at the Spanish court.
Though suffused with sadness, it never becomes heavy; its restrained beauty is part of its appeal.
Ravel later arranged the piece for orchestra himself, adding the horn’s gentle melody and the harp’s delicate hues, which gave the work a more expansive sonority.
Featured in numerous films, including Porco Rosso and Birdman, it has long provided a quiet backdrop for scenes of parting and remembrance.
It is an ideal choice for solemn yet warm occasions, such as processions of graduates or diploma presentations.
Opera ‘Lohengrin’ – Elsa’s Procession to the CathedralRichard Wagner
In August 1850, the opera Lohengrin by the German master Richard Wagner premiered.
Because the composer himself was in exile due to political circumstances, the work was presented on the Weimar stage under the baton of his friend Franz Liszt.
The solemn processional music heard in Act II accompanies the scene in which the bride, Elsa, proceeds to the cathedral.
Rather than dazzling brilliance, it conveys a sense of prayer and dignity with its imposing sonority, weaving rich harmonies and a songlike melody into a leisurely tempo.
Its stately atmosphere makes it perfect for graduation ceremonies as well.
Why not accompany the proud entrance of the graduates with this majestic music?
Amazing GraceSakkyokusha fushō
This is a classic hymn beloved around the world and covered by many singers.
The original lyrics were written by the English clergyman John Newton and are said to have been sung for the first time at a worship service in January 1773.
The melody familiar today spread in 19th-century America as a folk tune, eventually joining with the lyrics to become a global standard.
Widely used in films, TV dramas, memorial services, and other scenes symbolizing prayer and renewal, this piece is also a perfect fit for the solemn mood of a graduation ceremony.
Why not play it, filled with gratitude and hope, for children setting out on a new path?
String Quartet No. 2, Movement III: “Nocturne”Alexander Porfiryevich Borodin
The third movement of String Quartet No.
2 in D major by Alexander Borodin, a leading composer of 19th-century Russia, was composed in 1881 as a gift to his wife, Ekaterina, and premiered in St.
Petersburg the following year, 1882.
The way the cello’s sweet melody is taken up by the violin is like an intimate conversation.
Serene yet deeply expressive, this piece is perfect for creating a solemn yet warm atmosphere at moments such as the presentation of diplomas or the recessional.
Its gently flowing lines will bring a quiet sense of emotion to the hearts of the departing children and those who watch over them.