BGM for staying focused at work: a curated collection of music that’s also great for remote work

Violin Sonata No. 9 “Kreutzer”Ludwig van Beethoven

Beethoven.Violin.Sonata.No.9.Op.47.kreutzer.[Anne-Sophie Mutter.-.Lambert.Orkis]

A passionate piece by Ludwig van Beethoven in which the piano and violin spar as if striking sparks.

Composed during the period when Beethoven’s style was shifting into his so-called “heroic” middle phase, it is distinguished by an energy that powerfully stirs the listener’s soul.

Its overwhelming drama inspired the great writer Tolstoy and is known for having given rise to a novel of the same name.

Since its score was published in 1805, numerous recordings have been made, including the album “Beethoven Violin Concerto & Violin Sonata No.

9 ‘Kreutzer.’” When you want to push your concentration to the limit or need a catalyst for creative work, there may be no piece more fitting than this.

A Whole New World (from “Aladdin”)Alan Menken

A Whole New World (from “Aladdin”)

This moving ballad, loved by many, is a work by composer Alan Menken, renowned for numerous Disney film scores.

It’s a romantic piece that evokes the image of traveling through the night sky on a magic carpet.

Celebrating the freedom and hope of stepping into an unknown world, the song may free your mind from the task at hand and lead you into a realm of fresh ideas.

A signature song from the 1992 film Aladdin, it can be heard on the soundtrack album Aladdin: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack.

Its universal appeal is underscored by winning Best Original Song at the 65th Academy Awards in March 1993.

The grand, beautiful piano tones will sweep away everyday distractions and support you as you focus deeply during creative time.

Name of Life from Spirited AwayHisaishi Joe

Name of Life (from “Spirited Away”)

Many listeners have surely been captivated by the crystalline piano tones and faintly nostalgic melody.

The theme song of Studio Ghibli’s masterpiece Spirited Away evokes a bittersweet yet warm story of searching for lost memories and one’s true self.

Its message—recalling something precious and finding one’s place—reaches us with quiet emotion.

Released in July 2001 as a single performed by Yumi Kimura, the song deepened the film’s impact.

The piece originally began as an instrumental track on the soundtrack.

Its calm, dreamlike phrasing is perfect for times when you want to focus on work or study.

Letting yourself drift on its gentle waves of sound may calm your heart and clear your mind.

A Town with an Ocean View (from “Kiki’s Delivery Service”)Hisaishi Joe

A Town with an Ocean View (from “Kiki’s Delivery Service”)

This is a piece by Joe Hisaishi with a memorable, hope-filled melody that makes you feel as if a beautiful seaside town is unfolding before your eyes.

The emotions that arise at the moment of taking a new step—expectation mingled with a touch of anxiety—are brilliantly rendered through light, sparkling piano tones.

The piece accompanies the moving scene in the July 1989 film Kiki’s Delivery Service where the protagonist soars over a new town, and it is included on the classic album Kiki’s Delivery Service: Music Collection released the same year.

Its nostalgic yet liberating atmosphere is sure to refresh you when you feel stuck with work or study.

Why not spend a focused, enriching time wrapped in its gentle, forward-looking melody?

Sometimes, a tale from long ago — from Porco RossoKatō Tokiko

Sometimes, a tale from long ago — from Porco Rosso

This is a work written and composed by Tokiko Kato herself, whose warm yet faintly bittersweet worldview evokes a deep nostalgia for days of youth gone by.

As it searches for an unseen future, it conjures scenes of passionate conversations with friends—memories many listeners will find echoing their own.

The song was included on the album “MY STORY / Toki ni wa Mukashi no Hanashi wo,” released in February 1987, and is also known as the ending theme of the 1992 film Porco Rosso.

The piano arrangement used in the film, with its striking timbre, gently lets you linger in the afterglow of the story.

With its calm melody, it’s also great to play as background music when you want to focus on work.

ultramarineAyase

Gunjou / YOASOBI [Piano Performance · 1 Hour / For Work, Sleep, Reading, Studying BGM]

An epic cheer song produced by YOASOBI, inspired by the manga Blue Period.

It powerfully portrays the pain and inner conflicts that arise precisely because you’re passionate about what you love, as well as the determination to follow the path you believe in—carried by a fast-paced, driving sound.

Released in September 2020, the track was used in a commercial for Bourbon’s Alfort Mini Chocolate and was also selected as the march-in song for the 94th National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament.

To express the piece’s uplifting, supportive energy on piano, it’s key to build a strong sense of rise from the pre-chorus into the chorus.

In the grand choral sections, using the sustain pedal effectively to create a rich resonance will move listeners even more.

Hide to SeekLaura Misch

Laura Misch – Hide To Seek

Recorded in a studio surrounded by the beautiful nature of South London, this track is filled with Laura Misch’s charm.

Layered sounds evoke the whisper of trees, and a soothing saxophone melody lingers in your ears.

It’s from her debut album released in October 2023 and centers on the theme of self-discovery.

With its calm atmosphere, it’s perfect as background music for remote work or studying.

Why not make it the companion to a new day or your creative time? It’s sure to boost your focus and help you reconnect with your true self!