's Best Relaxing Classics 100 should work as a satisfactory chill-out collection, at least theoretically, because it is full of slow, soft, and atmospheric music that most people will find very tranquil and pleasant, if played at a moderate-to-low volume. However, this six-disc set of recordings from
's extensive backlist has one obvious feature that seems to work against its calming qualities, and that is its striking variety of genres, instrumentation, and performance styles, which may be too changeable for the average person's relaxation needs. While most tracks are indeed peaceful -- especially the Baroque pieces on Disc 1 that favor small forces, uniformity of textures, and steady dynamics -- there are enough Classical and Romantic pieces that rely on sudden contrasts of mood, tone, and volume to make relaxation a bit more challenging. And if all six discs are lined up in a CD changer for continuous play, the stylistic variety of the thematically arranged programs may be sufficiently diverting to make one sit up and take notice, rather than kick back. Furthermore, there are a few vocal selections included, which some may find appealing for their beauty, though most listeners probably would favor instrumental music for rest, leisure, or meditation. ~ Blair Sanderson, All Music Guide
| Johann Sebastian Bach |
Cantata No. 208, "Was mir behagt," (Hunt Cantata), BWV 208 (BC G1, G3) (Sheep may safely graze) |
4:37 |
| Johann Pachelbel |
Canon in D major, instrumental arrangement |
5:01 |
| Johann Sebastian Bach |
Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV 1068 (Air 'on the G string') |
3:33 |
| Antonio Vivaldi |
Violin Concerto, for violin, strings & continuo in F minor ("L'inverno," The Four Seasons; "Il cimento" No. 4), Op. 8/4, RV 297 (2. Largo) |
2:10 |
| George Frederick Handel |
Serse (Xerxes), opera, HWV 40 (Largo. Ombra mai fu) |
2:40 |
| George Frederick Handel |
Concerto Grosso in B minor, Op.6/12, HWV 330 (3. Larghetto e piano) |
4:14 |
| Johann Sebastian Bach |
Cantata No. 147, "Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben," BWV 147 (BC A174) (Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring) |
3:32 |
| George Frederick Handel |
Suite for keyboard in D minor, HWV 447 (Sarabande) |
3:02 |
| Johann Sebastian Bach |
Concerto for harpsichord, strings & continuo No. 5 in F minor, BWV 1056 (2. Largo) |
3:26 |
| Antonio Vivaldi |
Double Mandolin Concerto, for 2 mandolins, strings & continuo in G major, RV 532 (2. Andante) |
2:49 |
| Johann Sebastian Bach |
Concerto for 2 violins, strings & continuo in D minor ("Double"), BWV 1043 (2. Largo ma non tanto) |
6:52 |
| George Frederick Handel |
Rinaldo, opera, HWV 7 (Lascia ch'io pianga) |
4:35 |
| Christoph Willibald Gluck |
Orfeo ed Euridice (Italian version), opera in 3 acts, Wq. 30 (Dance of the Blessed Spirits) |
6:19 |
| Johann Sebastian Bach |
Cantata No. 140, "Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme," BWV 140 (BC A166) (Zion hört die Wächter singen) |
3:28 |
| George Frederick Handel |
Water Music Suite No.1 for orchestra in F major, HWV 348 (Air) |
4:45 |
| Antonio Vivaldi |
Lute (Chamber) Concerto, for lute (or guitar), 2 violins & continuo in D major, RV 93 (2. Largo) |
6:08 |
| Johann Sebastian Bach |
Sonata for viola da gamba & keyboard No. 3 in G minor, BWV 1029 (2. Adagio (Opening)) |
2:32 |
| Tomaso Albinoni |
Adagio, for violin, strings & organ in G minor, T. Mi 26 (composed by Remo Giazotto; not by Albinoni) |
5:49 |
| Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart |
Serenade No. 13 for strings in G major ("Eine kleine Nachtmusik"), K. 525 (2. Romance: Andante) |
5:46 |
| Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart |
Concerto for flute, harp & orchestra in C major, K. 299 (K. 297c) (2. Andantino [Extract]) |
4:00 |
| Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart |
Così fan tutte, opera, K. 588 (Soave siail vento) |
3:21 |
| Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart |
Piano Sonata No. 11 in A major ("Alla Turca") K. 331 (K. 300i) (1. Andante grazioso (Theme)) |
1:59 |
| Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart |
Così fan tutte, opera, K. 588 (Un'aura amorosa) |
4:45 |
| Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart |
Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor, K. 466 (2. Romance [Extract]) |
6:16 |
| Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart |
Le nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), opera, K. 492 (Canzonetta sull'aria) |
3:06 |
| Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart |
Clarinet Quintet in A major ("Stadler"), K. 581 (2. Larghetto) |
6:30 |
| Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart |
Ave verum Corpus, motet for chorus, strings & organ, K. 618 |
3:26 |
| Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart |
Serenade No. 10 for winds in B flat major ("Gran Partita"), K. 361 (K. 370a) (3. Adagio) |
6:04 |
| Ludwig van Beethoven |
Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor ("Moonlight"), Op. 27/2 (1. ADagio sostenuto [Extract]) |
3:57 |
| Ludwig van Beethoven |
Minuet for piano in G major, WoO 10/2 |
2:53 |
| Ludwig van Beethoven |
Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat major ("Emperor"), Op. 73 (2. Adagio) |
7:01 |
| Ludwig van Beethoven |
Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor ("Pathétique"), Op. 13 (2. Adagio cantabile) |
5:34 |
| Ludwig van Beethoven |
Bagatelle for piano in A minor ("Für Elise"), WoO 59 |
3:20 |
| Ludwig van Beethoven |
Symphony No. 6 in F major ("Pastoral"), Op. 68 (5. Allegretto (Shepherds' Hymn after the Storm)) |
6:41 |
| Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart |
Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major ("Elvira Madigan") K. 467 (2. Andante) |
6:48 |
| Vincenzo Bellini |
Norma, opera (Casta Diva) |
5:36 |
| Johann Sebastian Bach |
Goldberg Variations, for keyboard (Clavier-Übung IV), BWV 988 (BC L9) (Aria) |
3:04 |
| Gregorio Allegri |
Miserere mei Deus (Psalm 51), motet for chorus (vv 1-4 & 17-20) |
5:46 |
| Giovanni Pergolesi |
Stabat mater, for soprano, alto, strings & organ in F major |
3:57 |
| Franz Schubert |
Quintet for 2 violins, viola & 2 cellos in C major, D. 956 (Op. posth. 163) (2. Adagio [Opening]) |
4:38 |
| Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart |
Clarinet Concerto in A major, K. 622 (2. Adagio) |
6:38 |
| Sergey Rachmaninov |
Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18 (2. Adagio sostenuto [Opening]) |
4:31 |
| Stanley Myers |
Cavatina (from "The Deer Hunter") |
3:17 |
| Gustav Mahler |
Symphony No. 5 in C sharp minor (4. Adagietto [Conclusion]) |
3:09 |
| Samuel Barber |
Adagio for strings (or string quartet; arr. from 2nd mvt. of String Quartet), Op. 11 |
6:24 |
| Michael Nyman |
The Piano, film score (The Heart asks Pleasure First / The Promise (Original film soundtrack version)) |
3:14 |
| Thomas Newman |
American Beauty, film score (Any Other Name) |
4:07 |
| John Williams |
Schindler's List, film score (Main Theme) |
5:04 |
| Ennio Morricone |
Gabriel's Oboe, theme from the film "The Mission" |
2:15 |
| Francisco Tárrega |
Recuerdos de la Alhambra, for guitar |
3:56 |
| James Horner |
Titanic, film score (My Heart Will Go On) |
4:20 |
| Georges Bizet |
Carmen, opera (Entr'acte to Act 3) |
2:36 |
| Jules Massenet |
Thaïs, opera in 3 acts (Méditation) |
5:05 |
| Gabriel Fauré |
Cantique de Jean Racine, for 4-part chorus & organ (or orchestra), Op. 11 |
5:48 |
| Felix Mendelssohn |
A Midsummer Night's Dream, incidental music, Op. 61 (Nocturne) |
5:52 |
| Gabriel Fauré |
Requiem, for 2 solo voices, chorus, organ & orchestra, Op. 48 (In Paradisum) |
3:47 |
| Camille Saint-Saëns |
The Swan (from "Carnival of the Animals"), original (for 2 pianos & ensemble) and arrangements |
3:18 |
| Edward Elgar |
Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85 (3. Adagio) |
5:18 |
| Max Bruch |
Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 26 (2. Adagio [Opening]) |
4:24 |
| Edvard Grieg |
Peer Gynt Suite for orchestra (or piano or piano, 4 hands) No. 1, Op. 46 (Morning) |
4:17 |
| Gabriel Fauré |
Pavane, for orchestra & chorus ad lib in F sharp minor, Op. 50 |
6:50 |
| Felix Mendelssohn |
Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64 (2. Andante [Extract]) |
4:30 |
| Léo Delibes |
Lakmé, opera (Dôme épais (Flower Duet)) |
3:30 |
| Antonin Dvorák |
Symphony No. 9 in E minor ("From the New World"), B. 178 (Op. 95) (first published as No. 5) (2. Largo [Opening]) |
4:49 |
| Jacques Offenbach |
Les contes d'Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts (Belle nuit (Barcarolle)) |
4:23 |
| Edward Elgar |
Enigma Variations, for orchestra, Op. 36 (Nimrod) |
3:58 |
| Antonin Dvorák |
Rusalka, opera, B. 203 (Op. 114) (Song to the Moon) |
5:55 |
| Pietro Mascagni |
Cavalleria rusticana, opera (melodramma) in 1 act (Intermezzo) |
3:41 |
| Sergey Rachmaninov |
Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini (Introduction and 24 Variations), for piano & orchestra in A minor, Op. 43 (Variation 18) |
3:01 |
| Gabriel Fauré |
Dolly, suite for piano, 4 hands or orchestra, Op. 56 (Berceuse) |
2:37 |
| Frédéric Chopin |
Nocturne for piano No. 2 in E flat major, Op. 9/2, CT. 109 |
5:19 |
| Franz Liszt |
Liebesträume, notturno for piano No. 3 in A flat major ("O Lieb, so lang du lieben kannst"), S. 541/3 (LW A103/3) |
4:31 |
| Frédéric Chopin |
Berceuse for piano in D flat major, Op. 57, CT. 7 |
4:29 |
| Edvard Grieg |
Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16 (2. Adagio) |
6:32 |
| Robert Schumann |
Kinderszenen No. 7 ("Träumerei"), for piano, Op. 15/7 |
2:41 |
| Frédéric Chopin |
Etude for piano No. 3 in E major, Op. 10/3, CT. 16 |
4:16 |
| Johannes Brahms |
Liebeslieder waltz No. 15 for piano, 4 hands in A flat major, Op. 52a/15 |
1:39 |
| Frédéric Chopin |
Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11, CT. 47 (2. Romance: Larghetto [Opening]) |
3:52 |
| Claude Debussy |
Préludes (12) for piano, Book I, L. 117 (La Fille aux cheveux de lin) |
2:37 |
| Frédéric Chopin |
Prelude for piano No. 15 in D flat major, Op. 28/15, CT. 180 |
5:53 |
| Lucio Dalla |
Caruso, for voice & orchestra |
4:47 |
| Erik Satie |
Gymnopedie for piano No. 1 |
3:35 |
| Erik Satie |
Gnossienne for piano No. 1 |
3:27 |
| Claude Debussy |
Clair de lune, for piano (Suite Bergamasque No. 3), L. 75/3 |
4:57 |
| Dmitry Shostakovich |
Piano Concerto No. 2 in F major, Op. 102 (2. Andante) |
6:07 |
| Karl Jenkins |
The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace, for soloists, chorus & orchestra (Agnus Dei) |
3:40 |
| Carl Orff |
Carmina Burana, scenic cantata for soloists, choruses & orchestra (In trutina) |
2:46 |
| Ralph Vaughan Williams |
Fantasia on Greensleeves, for harp, flute & strings (arranged by R. Greaves; from the opera "Sir John In Love") |
4:40 |
| Joseph Canteloube |
Baïlèro, folksong for voice & orchestra (Chants d'Auvergne, Series 1, No. 2) |
6:43 |
| Jay Ungar |
Ashokan Farewell |
5:09 |
| John Rutter |
Requiem for chorus & orchestra (Pie Jesu) |
3:33 |
| Joaquín Rodrigo |
Concierto de Aranjuez, for guitar & orchestra (2. Adagio) |
10:54 |
| Andrew Lloyd Webber |
Requiem for soloists, chorus & orchestra (Pie Jesu) |
2:51 |
| Dmitry Shostakovich |
The Gadfly, film score, Op. 97 (Romance) |
3:15 |
| Anne Dudley |
The Crying Game, film score (Love Theme) |
3:39 |
| Joseph Canteloube |
Brezairola (Berceuse), folksong for voice & orchestra (Chants d'Auvergne, Series 3, No. 4) |
3:46 |
| Ralph Vaughan Williams |
The Lark Ascending, romance for violin & orchestra (Opening) |
6:24 |
| John Lennon & Paul McCartney |
Michelle |
3:22 |
| Ralph Vaughan Williams |
Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, for 2 string orchestras (Opening) |
6:12 |
| Gustav Holst |
The Planets, suite for orchestra & female chorus, Op. 32, H. 125 (Venus (Conclusion)) |
6:13 |
