Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Refresh your morning with glowing classical sounds

Calming classical music to inspire focus and set you up for the day ahead. Presented by broadcaster, author and counselling psychologist Dr Sian Williams.

Calming classical music to help you focus and set you up for the day ahead. Presented by broadcaster, author and counselling psychologist Dr Sian Williams.

Featuring peaceful, enriching melodies from Rachel Portman, Sibelius and 脫lafur Arnalds. Professor Catherine Loveday explores why music can help us sleep, and Sian muses on the importance of looking out for your neighbours.

3 hours

Music Played

  • Frederick Delius

    3 Small Tone Poems (No 1, 'Summer Evening')

    Conductor: David Lloyd鈥怞ones. Orchestra: Royal Scottish National Orchestra.
    • NAXOS.
  • Catharina Josepha Pratten

    Songs Without Words (Eventide)

    Performer: Heike Matthiesen.
    • Vienna2day.
  • George Whitefield Chadwick

    Intermezzo

    Conductor: Reuben Blundell. Ensemble: Gowanus Arts Ensemble.
    • NEW FOCUS RECORDINGS.
  • Ilse Weber

    Wiegala (arr for violin and string quintet)

    Music Arranger: Esther Abrami. Ensemble: Esther Abrami Ensemble.
    • SONY.
  • Edward Elgar

    Serenade for Strings in E minor, Op 20 (2nd mvt)

    Conductor: Edward Gardner. Orchestra: 麻豆社 Symphony Orchestra.
    • CHANDOS.
  • Gabr铆el 脫lafs

    Salmur

    Performer: Gabr铆el 脫lafs. Performer: Steiney Sigur冒ard贸ttir.
    • DECCA.
  • Hubert Parry

    Symphony No 1 in G major (2nd mvt)

    Conductor: Matthias Bamert. Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • CHANDOS.
  • Joseph Haydn

    String Quartet in A major, Hob III:24, No 6 Op 9 (3rd mvt)

    Ensemble: Aeolian Quartet.
    • THE CLASSICAL LABEL.
  • Rachel Portman

    Eventide

    Performer: Rachel Portman.
    • SONY.
  • William Grant Still

    Swanee River (Old Folks at Home)

    Ensemble: VocalEssence Ensemble Singers. Choir: VocalEssence Chorus. Conductor: Philip Brunelle.
    • CLARION.
  • Gerald Finzi

    Five Bagatelles, Op 23 (3rd mvt, 'Carol')

    Performer: Michael Collins. Performer: Michael McHale.
    • CHANDOS.
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Concerto for Flute and Harp In C major (2nd mvt)

    • ULTIMATE CLASSIX.
  • Erno Dohnanyi

    Piano Concerto No 2 Op 42 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Martin Roscoe. Conductor: Fedor Glushchenko. Orchestra: 麻豆社 Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
    • HYPERION.
  • Fernande Decruck

    Deux berceuses (1st mvt, 'Mouvement calme et souple de berceuse')

    Ensemble: Quatuor Ellipsos.
    • NOMADMUSIC.
  • Jean Sibelius

    Violin Concerto in D minor, Op 47 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Hilary Hahn. Conductor: Esa鈥怭ekka Salonen. Orchestra: Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra.
    • DG.
  • Alberto Giurioli

    Nightfall

    Performer: Alberto Giurioli.
    • PIAS NOTES.
  • Stephen Paulus

    The Road Home

    Choir: VOCES8.
    • VOCES8 RECORDS.
  • Clarence Cameron White

    Bandana Sketches (No 1, 'Chant; Nobody knows the trouble I've seen')

    Performer: Mela Tenenbaum. Performer: Richard Kapp.
    • BRILLIANT CLASSICS.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    O Mensch, bewein' dein' Sunde gross (arr of BWV 622)

    Music Arranger: Max Reger. Conductor: Leonard Slatkin. Orchestra: 麻豆社 Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • CHANDOS.
  • Anoushka Shankar

    Flight

    Performer: Nitin Sawhney. Performer: Ian Burdge. Performer: Manu Delago.
    • DG.
  • Dobrinka Tabakova

    Suite in Old Style (2nd mvt, 'The Rose Garden by Moonlight')

    Performer: Vaiva Eidukaityt臈-Storastien臈. Conductor: Maxim Rysanov. Orchestra: Lietuvos kamerinis orkestras.
    • ECM.
  • Yanada Tadashi

    Rain over Jogashima (arr for flute and guitar)

    Performer: Shigenori Kudo. Performer: Shin-Ichi Fukuda. Music Arranger: Ichiro Nodaira.
    • NAXOS.
  • Debbie Wiseman

    Prophecies and Dreams (Wolf Hall OTS)

    Orchestra: Session musicians.
    • SILVA SCREEN RECORDS.
  • Bob Chilcott

    Beach

    Performer: Paul Silverthorne. Performer: Simone Rebello. Conductor: Bob Chilcott. Choir: 麻豆社 Singers.
    • SIGNUM.
  • Franz Schubert

    Symphony No 6 in C major, D589 (2nd mvt)

    Conductor: Nikolaus Harnoncourt. Orchestra: Chamber Orchestra of Europe.
    • ICA CLASSICS.
  • Amy Beach

    Sketches Op 15 (Dreaming)

    Performer: Kirsten Johnson.
    • GUILD.
  • Fr茅d茅ric Chopin

    Eyes Shut (Nocturne in C minor)

    Composer: 脫lafur Arnalds. Performer: Alice Sara Ott.
    • MERCURY.
  • Johannes Brahms

    String Quintet No 2 in G major, Op 111, 'Prater' (2nd mvt)

    Ensemble: Berlin Philharmonic Octet.
    • THE CLASSICAL LABEL.
  • Ballak茅 Sissoko

    Bamako (Chamber Music)

    Performer: Ballak茅 Sissoko. Performer: Thibault Cauvin.
    • SONY.
  • Valentin Silvestrov

    Silent Music (1st mvt, 'Waltz of the Moment')

    Conductor: Christoph Poppen. Orchestra: M眉nchener Kammerorchester.
    • ECM.
  • Anton铆n Dvo艡谩k

    4 Romantic Pieces, Op 75, arr for solo cello and cello ensemble (1st mvt)

    Performer: Kian Soltani. Music Arranger: Kian Soltani. Ensemble: Staatskapelle Berlin.
    • DG.
  • Hajime Komatsu

    4 Japanese Folksongs, Suite No 2 (3rd mvt, 'Otemoyan')

    Ensemble: Apollo Chamber Ensemble.
    • NAVONA.
  • Charles Villiers Stanford

    The Bluebird

    Singer: Bethany Partridge. Choir: National Youth Choir. Conductor: Christopher Hann.
    • NYCGB.

Broadcasts

  • Tue 3 Jun 2025 09:00
  • Sun 29 Jun 2025 09:00
  • Fri 28 Nov 2025 09:00