Classical Music for Summer: A Selection of Cool and Refreshing Masterpieces

In the ForestAlbert Ketèlbey

Ketèlbey: In the Woodlands [Naxos Classical Curator #Cute] / Albert, William Ketèlbey: In the Woodlands

How about a piano piece that conjures up a tranquil forest scene with shafts of sunlight filtering through the trees? This work by Albert Ketèlbey brings a sense of calm, as if you’re taking a deep breath in the woods.

The piano’s gentle melody seems to depict the whisper of the trees and the chirping of little birds.

Included in the piano collection “A Dream Picture,” it is sometimes described as “cute” for its charm.

Rosemary Tuck’s 1993 recording is also deeply moving.

In just three to four minutes, it distills the breath of nature.

It’s perfect for forgetting the heat, spending a quiet moment, or accompanying your reading.

Listen to this piece, and you’ll surely feel at peace.

dreamClaude Debussy

Debussy 'Reverie' Haneda Kentaro

What we introduce here is a beautiful piano miniature by Claude Debussy from 1890, as if drifting through a dream.

It is characterized by a gently sweet melody and arpeggios that weave a fantastical atmosphere, inviting the listener into a pleasant doze.

Close your eyes quietly, and you can almost see a cool, serene scene—like dozing in the shade on a summer day.

The piece was later given lyrics by Larry Clinton and became a hit in 1938 as “My Reverie,” sung by artists including Bing Crosby.

It’s highly recommended for those seeking a musical experience that makes you forget the summer heat, or for times when you want to soak in a calm mood—you’re sure to have a lovely time listening.

Impromptu of the WindNakata Yoshinao

Yoshinao Nakada: Improvisation of the Wind / Shitaku Hara (43rd Prizewinner Commemorative Concert, A1 Division [Gold Prize])

One track included in the album “Children’s Dream” is striking for its refreshing melody that feels as if a breeze were blowing through.

Its light, flowing, and freely unfolding line is pleasing to the ear, and the use of glissando adds an appealing touch for recital performances.

This 1-minute-20-second miniature blends flowing phrases with delicate touch, fully drawing out the expressive power unique to the piano.

Selected as a required piece for the C Category of the 2011 PTNA Piano Competition, it is not only suitable for piano recitals, but also evokes the image of a fresh summer wind.

Seaside at Dusk, H.128: No. 3 “The Stormy Seashore”Bohuslav Martinů

Martinů: At the Seaside at Dusk, H.128: No. 3 [Stormy Seashore] [Naxos Classical Curations #Chic]

This piece depicts waves breaking on a seaside at dusk and the sweep of a blustery wind through deft piano arpeggios.

Composed by Bohuslav Martinů in 1921, it is a short work for solo piano included on the album “Evening on the Sea-shore, H.128 and 3 other pieces.” Within its richly resonant, impressionistic colors, a classical framework—the rondo form—breathes, creating a striking dialogue between nature painting and structural elegance.

Its dynamic development evokes the subtitle “Storm,” and the design, which regains calm after a virtuosic cadenza, leaves a strong impression.

It is a gem for anyone who, in a summertime moment, wishes to immerse themselves in piano music that is both dramatic and refreshingly cool.

The Carnival of the Animals, No. 13: The SwanCamille Saint-Saëns

Dai Miyata / Saint-Saëns: The Swan (Le Cygne)

A celebrated work by Camille Saint-Saëns, based on a melody from the suite Le Carnaval des animaux.

Originally conceived as one of the pieces in a suite intended as entertainment for Carnival in early 1886, it was the only movement the composer allowed to be published during his lifetime.

The flowing melody played by the cello evokes the elegant figure of a swan gliding over the water and conjures the dreamlike imagery of the legendary “swan song.” The ballet The Dying Swan, created by Anna Pavlova in 1905 to this music, is renowned worldwide, and figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu’s exhibition performance to the piece also moved many audiences.

This is a piece for those who want to immerse themselves in the beautiful tone of the cello—a sound that seems to make you forget the summer heat and refresh the spirit.

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.

The Carnival of the Animals, No. 7: AquariumCamille Saint-Saëns

[068] Saint-Saëns: Aquarium (from The Carnival of the Animals)

The seventh movement of The Carnival of the Animals by French composer Camille Saint-Saëns is a piece that beautifully evokes the fantastical world of an aquarium.

The shimmer of high-register piano and glass harmonica, the pure tone of the flute, and the restrained resonance of the strings combine to depict a mysterious underwater landscape.

Its gentle tempo, flowing arpeggios, and glissandi are distinctive, exquisitely conveying the sensation of drifting through water.

Owing to its dreamlike quality, this piece has been featured widely across various media, and it is even said to have inspired certain scenes in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.

Enjoy this cool, refreshing piece that will help you forget the summer heat!