Morning Classics | A selection of classic masterpieces recommended for those who want to wake up feeling great

Quiet lagoonEric Coates

E. Coates: Quiet Lagoon [Naxos Classical Curation #Romantic] / Eric Coates: By the Sleepy Lagoon

How about a waltz-serenade that makes you want to listen on a leisurely summer evening? Composed by Eric Coates in 1930, this piece is said to have been inspired by the gentle seaside scenery of Sussex and townscapes dyed by the sunset.

The violin’s sweet melody will resonate pleasantly, like a gentle breeze drifting over a calm, twilight sea.

Lyrics were added in 1940, and it became a beloved standard for many.

It has long been familiar as the theme of a popular, long-running BBC radio program, and may evoke a certain nostalgia.

It’s the perfect piece for those moments when you want to forget the bustle of everyday life and sink into a tranquil mood.

Put it on, and spend some unhurried time while you listen.

Water Music: HornpipeGeorg Friedrich Händel

Handel Water Music Hornpipe

There is an orchestral suite by George Frideric Handel written to adorn a royal river outing, and one of its pieces combines a refreshing coolness with festive brilliance that suits summer perfectly.

At its premiere on the Thames in July 1717, it captivated audiences so much that King George I reportedly ordered multiple encores.

With trumpets and horns in lively motion, it lifts listeners into a bright, celebratory mood.

It’s also known for coloring a scene in the film Dead Poets Society.

For those seeking a brisk, invigorating moment on muggy days, or anyone who wants to enjoy the majestic yet light charm of Baroque music with ease, this piece is just the thing.

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.

Concerto in G minor for Strings, RV 152Antonio Lucio Vivaldi

Concerto for Strings in G Minor, RV 152: II. Andante molto e sempre pianissimo

Antonio Vivaldi, the great composer who sustained the late Baroque era.

Vivaldi favored the so-called ritornello form of three movements—fast, slow, fast—and his Concerto for Strings in G minor, RV 152, is one of those works.

Although this piece is somewhat minor in the repertoire, among aficionados it is known as a soothing masterpiece that helps one relax.

Maintaining such a calm impression while shifting between contrasting tempos is a feat achievable only through highly sophisticated composition.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Ryo

Report a problem

Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95, B. 178Antonín Leopold Dvořák

Dvořák: Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, Op. 95, B. 178 “From the New World”: II. Largo

Antonín Dvořák, the celebrated Czech composer whose talent was recognized by Brahms—one of Germany’s “Three Bs”—is best known for his Symphony No.

9 in E minor, Op.

95, B.

178.

Dvořák, a melody-maker of the classical music world, wrote this as his final symphony, and it is commonly known by the title “From the New World.” The appeal of this work lies in its floating, airy atmosphere.

While the first movement features the natural minor scale, from the second movement onward a soft, weightless mood unfolds.

It’s a highly relaxing piece—perfect for the morning.

Be sure to give it a listen.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Ryo

Report a problem

Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43, Variation 18: Andante cantabileSergei Vasil’evich Rachmaninov

Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XVIII – Andante cantabile

Sergei Rachmaninoff achieved great success not only as a composer but also as a pianist.

Among his many masterpieces, the one I especially recommend as BGM for the morning is the “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op.

43, Variation 18: Andante cantabile.” With its grand and elegant melody, this piece may be less suited as background music for a leisurely morning and more ideal as an alarm to wake up to, don’t you think?

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Ryo

Report a problem

energy flowSakamoto Ryuichi

Ryuichi Sakamoto — energy flow

This is a masterpiece whose delicate, translucent piano tones gently soothe the heart.

The clear, pristine melody played by Ryuichi Sakamoto tenderly accompanies the listener, like a breeze rippling across the surface of water.

Released in May 1999 as a theme for a Daiichi Sankyo pharmaceutical commercial, this piece achieved the remarkable feat of becoming the first instrumental work to top the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart, its simple yet deeply expressive sound resonating with many.

Its pleasant sense of weightlessness offers a moment of peace from a busy day, aids concentration, and provides a serene companion for quiet reading—creating a truly healing experience.