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

Lyric Pieces No.10-2 “Summer Evening”Edvard Grieg

Grieg Lyrical Pieces, Book 10: Summer Evening (piano: Walter Gieseking)

Edvard Grieg’s masterpiece Lyric Pieces, Book 10 No.

2 “Evening in Summer.” As the title suggests, it’s a work shaped by a delicate tone that evokes a summer evening, yet interestingly, some phrases feature melodies reminiscent of jazz.

This modern flavor likely stems from the nationalist school rooted in Norwegian folk music, which formed Grieg’s musical foundation.

It’s a highly emotional piece, so I hope you’ll enjoy it—perhaps with your graduation album in hand.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Ryo

Report a problem

“The Four Seasons” No. 2 “Summer” Movement IIIAntonio Vivaldi

From The Four Seasons: Summer, Third Movement, Vivaldi

Antonio Vivaldi’s magnificent violin concertos, The Four Seasons—an iconic work known to anyone who enjoys classical music.

This piece is the third movement of No.

2, “Summer,” crafted throughout with a tragic melody.

Because each movement carries a clear narrative, if you’d like to delve deeper into the work, I recommend starting not only with Summer but from No.

1, “Spring.”

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Ryo

Report a problem

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.

Symphonic Poem ‘The Sea’ — From Three Symphonic Sketches, I. From Dawn to Noon on the SeaClaude Debussy

La Mer 1. From Dawn to Noon on the Sea / from the symphonic poem “The Sea,” First Movement: “From Daybreak on the Sea to High Noon”

A movement from Claude Debussy’s orchestral work that heralds the beginning of the day, evoking a scene of the glittering sea.

This piece paints, almost like a painting, the ocean’s transformation from the faint light of dawn to the dazzling midday sun, using the orchestra’s rich palette of colors.

Its delicate layers of sound leave listeners feeling cool and serene.

Though its first performance in October 1905 elicited a range of reactions, today it is cherished by many as one of Debussy’s masterpieces.

It’s a must-hear for anyone seeking refreshing music on a summer day or wishing to immerse themselves in beautiful melodies that spark the imagination.

Symphonic Poem “La Mer”: Three Symphonic Sketches — III. Dialogue of the Wind and the SeaClaude Debussy

Debussy: La mer – Three Symphonic Sketches: From Dawn to Noon on the Sea [Naxos Classical Curation #Chic]

This is the climactic movement from Claude Debussy’s orchestral masterpiece La Mer, a work that brilliantly renders the ocean’s grandeur and mystery in sound.

In this piece, a powerful yet beautiful natural drama unfolds as if the wind and sea are conversing.

The surging strings, the piercing timbres of the woodwinds, and the brass and percussion in unison create a vividly compelling sonic tableau.

Premiered in October 1905, the work carries a refreshing coolness that seems to make one forget the summer heat.

It is recommended for those who wish to immerse themselves in the orchestra’s rich palette of colors, as well as for listeners who want to experience the grandeur of classical music through wind band arrangements and other adaptations.

Summer MorningHeino Kasuki

Summer Morning (composed by Kaski) Pianist: Kanako Ishihara — Sommermorgen (Kaski) / Kanako Ishihara -Purenist-

This is a piano piece by the Finnish composer Heino Kaski, known as Op.

35-1 “Summer Morning.” The work features a beautifully transparent melody that seems to capture the pure air of a Nordic morning in sound.

Its delicate trills evoke the sparkle of sunlight filtering through leaves, and the gentle yet gradually broadening brightness will refresh the listener’s heart.

It has a cool, invigorating quality that makes you forget muggy heat, and it’s perfect for quietly enjoying music.

Believed to have been composed in the early 1920s, it is also included in pianist Izumi Tateno’s acclaimed album “Piano Works.”

The Carnival of the Animals, No. 14: FinaleCamille Saint-Saëns

Saint-Saëns: The Carnival of the Animals, Suite: Finale [Naxos Classical Curation #Comical]

A dazzling, exhilarating piece that feels like the grand finale of a festival—that’s the closing movement of Camille Saint-Saëns’s suite The Carnival of the Animals.

Composed in 1886 for a private performance and first made public only after the composer’s death in 1922, the work builds from the piano’s brilliant opening trills as various instruments join in, with motifs of animals from earlier movements appearing one after another—truly the climax of the celebration.

The humorous tone pervades the whole piece, and the ending, capped with playful animal imitations, adds to its delightful charm.

It is also known for its use in Disney’s 1999 film Fantasia 2000, and it’s the kind of music that can sweep away the summer heat and leave you feeling refreshed.

Even those who don’t often listen to classical music are sure to discover its joy.