[Graduation Ceremony BGM] Guaranteed to move you! A comprehensive introduction to classic tear-jerkers!

String Quartet No. 2, Movement III: “Nocturne”Alexander Porfiryevich Borodin

Borodin: String Quartet No. 2: III. Nocturne [Naxos Classical Curation #Romantic]

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.

Aida ‘Triumphal March’Giuseppe Verdi

Aida: Triumphal March

A grand march that, with brilliant fanfare, colors moments of victory and glory.

Composed by Giuseppe Verdi, one of the foremost opera composers of 19th-century Italy, this piece is performed in the triumphal scene of Act II of his opera Aida and has long been cherished beyond the realm of opera.

Premiered in Cairo in December 1871, the work continues to be staged at opera houses around the world as a symbol of the magnificent spectacle set in ancient Egypt.

Played as graduates enter, it fills the venue with a dignified atmosphere, creating an appropriately elevated mood to celebrate a new beginning.

Symphonic Poem “Finlandia”Jean Sibelius

Sibelius: Finlandia (Prom 75)

Composed in 1899, during a period when Finland was under pressure from the Russian Empire, Jean Sibelius’s symphonic poem is a historic piece that expresses resistance to oppression and hope through music.

The weighty brass and low strings at the opening create a sense of tension, which gradually gives way to a powerful rhythm that brings exhilaration.

In the finale, the beauty of the hymn-like melody that rises out of the quiet is breathtaking.

This melody was later given lyrics and has since become beloved worldwide as a choral piece.

At graduation ceremonies, playing it during the procession will envelop the entire venue in a solemn atmosphere and stage the children’s new departure with dramatic effect.

ariosoJ.S.Bach

J.S.Bach – Arioso from Cantata BWV 156 – Adagio

A gentle, long-breathed melody that quietly seeps into the heart.

Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach, its singing solo line is so beautiful that, in later generations, it came to be cherished on its own as an “aria-like instrumental piece.” The melodies voiced by oboe and strings transcend words, softly stirring feelings of prayer and comfort.

A staple at weddings and memorials, this work is also perfect for diploma presentations and exit scenes at graduation ceremonies.

Its walking-paced tempo and understated yet resolute emotion quietly bless a new beginning.

CanonJohann Pachelbel

Pachelbel – Canon in D-dur

Johann Pachelbel’s Canon is a moving musical masterpiece woven from the beautiful melodic lines and harmonic progressions of the Baroque era.

Even those unfamiliar with classical music may know it as “Pachelbel’s Canon.” Composed around 1680, the piece is distinguished by its regular harmonic progression—often called the “canon progression”—and it surged in popularity after being reissued by London Records in 1974.

Frequently used in farewell scenes such as graduations and farewells, it continues to be cherished by many people today.

Etude Op.10 No.3 “Farewell”Frederic Chopin

Chopin – Farewell Etude

Frédéric Chopin’s Étude Op.

10, No.

3, “Tristesse,” with its heartrending melody, is a perfect piece for graduation ceremonies.

Among Chopin’s études—renowned for their technical difficulty—Op.

10, No.

3 stands out for its beautiful melody and gentle character, and it is cherished as a masterpiece that deeply moves listeners.

There’s even an anecdote that Franz Liszt, to whom Chopin dedicated this work, mastered it in just a few weeks! Why not incorporate this Chopin gem, beloved by Liszt as well, as background music for a moving, tear-jerking moment?

Prelude to Act I from the music drama ‘Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg’Richard Wagner

Prelude to Act I from Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg

Richard Wagner’s opera Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, composed in 1862, is Wagner’s only comic work and a grand masterpiece that took more than 20 years from conception to completion.

Among its highlights is the Prelude, a roughly 10-minute piece that showcases Wagner’s refined orchestration, featuring a brilliant array of instrumental colors.

It makes a compelling choice as background music for a moving graduation ceremony, enriching an unforgettable moment for graduates embarking on a new chapter, their families, and the teachers who send them off.