What is the most relaxing song or piece you have ever heard?
What piece can take you from wound up tighter than spring to lying limply in your chair, like a puppet without its strings?
Mine would be Debussey's Claire de Lune.
I come home after spending over 10 hours at school, slog through another 4-6 hours of homework, look at colleges, and then I work for whatever time I have left...
And I just turn on my computer, play that piece, and I am clean, refreshed, and ready to begin again.
Posted by HesterGray (Member # 7384) on :
I go through phases of listening to a certain song on repeat over and over. It's usually a very relaxing song. At the moment, it's "Theme" from the Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind soundtrack.
In the past, it's been "Buon Giorno Principessa" from Life is Beautiful, "Fairy Dance" from Peter Pan, the theme song from Voices of a Distant Star, usually something from a soundtrack, now that I think about it. Posted by Jasmine (Member # 7370) on :
i like the first track "a way of life" on the last samurai soundtrack. The second track's good too, but it'll make you jump after you heard the first. played it while reading CotM. feels nice Pearl Harbor's first 4 tracks help me relax after school
Emma Bunton's Free Me CD is real nice too.
Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
Yeah, movie soundtracks are great for relaxing. My favorites are Meet Joe Black, Glory, and Return of the King.
For a killer classical piece though, there are several that you must have for your relaxation collection:
Meditation from Thais by Massenet
Symphony No. 5, 4th movement by Mahler
Symphony no. 9, 2nd movement by Dvorak
Air on a G String, by JS Bach
Posted by Cashew (Member # 6023) on :
"Embraceable You", Ella Fitzgerald. And any ballad played by Keith Jarrett. Especially "It's All in the Game". And virtually his whole album, "The Melody at Night, With You".
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Unfortunately the sample cuts out before the best part of the song. But try "Soft Green Seas" and "Welina O'ahu" as well. I love these guys.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
I will, cashew. I think Hawaiian music in general is the most soothing I can think of. The Hapa album "Hapa" ws my choice when I was in the hospital having my son. (Stephen Stills was also on that album)
Posted by Cashew (Member # 6023) on :
I agree. I spent eight years in Hawaii in the 70s, and grew to love the music.
Posted by Jonathan Howard (Member # 6934) on :
quote: Air on a G String, by JS Bach
There's one who knows BWV 1068! From my well-favoured Orchestral Suites.
I think that the unquestionable leader would be "Mache Dich Mein Herze Rein" (sp?) from the St Matthew's Passion by the same JS Bach.
Although, come to think of it, the Passion also has "Wenn Ich Einmal Sohl Schleiden" (sp?). That's a pretty calm version of "O Haupt".
Beethoven, it kills me to say, has the Moonlight Sonata, which is every bit as calming as Air, but played on piano.
Or, possibly, "Watermark" and "Angels" by Enya?
JH
Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
I like to listen to recordings of humpback whales.
Posted by UofUlawguy (Member # 5492) on :
For me it's Barber's Adagio for Strings. It's so slow. And then it gradually worked itself into a spot of quite exquisite tension, but that tension is resolved so absolutely and satisfyingly, that the denouement leaves me completely relaxed. The release is delicious.
Posted by Book (Member # 5500) on :
Goin out West by Tom Waits. Posted by HesterGray (Member # 7384) on :
Has anyone ever heard the music of Yuhki Kuramoto? I was introduced to his music through our Japanese exchange student back in high school. She had a piano book. Now I only wish I had made copies of those songs. I've tried to find a book to buy online, but all of the sites are in Japanese so I can't find one. I did find a few mp3s online, and they are wonderful. Very relaxing.
Posted by advice for robots (Member # 2544) on :
"Raindrops" by Chopin "These Foolish Things" played by Dave Brubeck
Posted by IdemosthenesI (Member # 862) on :
You are Free album by Cat Power Our Endless Numbered Days album by Iron and Wine () album by Sigur Ros
Those three albums are all mixed together in one playlist in my iTunes entitled "Relaxing Music"
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
The song "Safe at Anchor" by Kate Wolf. (Listen to a few bars from it here, although the quality's not great.) Actually, most of the album is relaxing.
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