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Any relaxing classical, or instrumental album recommendations please.


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Old 03-01-2008, 10:46
minimalistmatt
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I just really wanted to throw this one out because there are a lot of people on here who like classical stuff.

I would really like to find something really relaxing, maybe a bit minimalist that I could listen to either at night or in the day to wind down from stress.

I know almost nothing about classical music, and find a lot of it quite showy, and it tends to give me a headache. Also whenever I've bought an album just picking something off the shelf, it's usually been the wrong sort of stuff.

I have some meditation CD's and chants etc all of which are okay, but at the moment I'm really enjoying Sigur Ros, so I was thinking of gentle piano/ violin type music.

I've picked up some good idea's from the minimalist music and chill out threads, but I think I'd like to see if there is more classical stuff that I could try. I'd be grateful for any advice
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Old 03-01-2008, 11:20
ihatemarmite
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can't find the specific site, but if you like Indian classical music, google Ghazal.
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Old 03-01-2008, 11:30
Inkblot
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can't find the specific site, but if you like Indian classical music, google Ghazal.
Not exactly similar but... the album Passages featuring the music of Phillip Glass and Ravi Shankar is very pleasant.

For piano music, maybe check out the works of Eric Satie?
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Old 03-01-2008, 12:14
minimalistmatt
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I downloaded 5ths by Philip Glass off emusic last night (I saw him mentioned in the minimalist music thread). I've not listened to it yet (or heard any of his stuff). But some of the comments on emusic show people either love or hate it ! I have some technical problems with my computer so I'll have to listen to it later - I am wondering what I'm in for though

Thanks for the Ghazal tip, I'll look for that one too.
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Old 03-01-2008, 13:38
Trollheart
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There's loads of beautiful classical music you can listen to. Try Antonin Dvorak's Symphony no. 9 "From the New World" (it's the Hovis music), or Khachaturian's adagio from "Spartacus" (Onedin Line), not to mention Canon in D Major by Pachelbel.
Your best bet is to buy one of those "classical greats" or "classical chill" CDs, which normally have really nice pieces on them. Holst's "Planets" Suite is great too, but some of it is too uptempo if you want to relax. Also film soundtracks can be good resources for classical or classical-like relaxing music.
One I also really like is Vangelis's "Oceanic". A lot of Vangelis's music is very laid-back and relaxing. You might also want to try a guy called Gandalf, who has about 30 albums, all instrumentals. There are also some truly beautiful relaxing instrumentals in rock music --- Fleetwood Mac's "Albatross", Elton John's "Song for Guy" and "Paseo de Garcia" by the Alan Parsons Project, to name but three....
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Old 03-01-2008, 13:49
The Spoon
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Rick Wakeman - the Sea
(classic-ish)

Enya - orinoco flow

Yes - tales from topographic oceans
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Old 03-01-2008, 14:20
gomezz
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Solo guitar, Spanish or classical - look for John Williams and/or Julian Bream.
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Old 03-01-2008, 15:36
iain
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Philip Glass sounds a possibilty - it's usually very repetitive, but if you're in the mood can be enjoyable.

of a similar ilk, but less well known is Andrew Poppy

from that collection i've just got the object is a hungry wolf, cadenza and the impossible net, and would be a good three to start. definitely tracks you need to be in the mood for, and listen to from start to finish (they're pretty long).

whilst possibly not quite what you're after, i can't recommend the KLF's chill out album.

or maybe something like the cocteau twins -

victorialand is probably their most chilled album. lazy calm is gorgeous.

or maybe try their album with Harold Budd (the moon and the melodies). ghost has no home is my favourite.

and if you like Siguir Ros, you might want to check out a band from the early 90s, Slowdive - souvlaki was probably their most successful album.

Iain
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Old 03-01-2008, 16:58
Dark Drums
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whilst possibly not quite what you're after, i can't recommend the KLF's chill out album.
Are you sure?
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Old 03-01-2008, 17:04
itviss
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Brahms. Can't recommend him enough. Really awesome!

You might also want to try Board of Canada. They're all relax-y.

Or Amnesiac by Radiohead. Although it's not really very relaxing. You might have a seizure.
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Old 03-01-2008, 19:28
minimalistmatt
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Philip Glass sounds a possibilty - it's usually very repetitive, but if you're in the mood can be enjoyable.

of a similar ilk, but less well known is Andrew Poppy

from that collection i've just got the object is a hungry wolf, cadenza and the impossible net, and would be a good three to start. definitely tracks you need to be in the mood for, and listen to from start to finish (they're pretty long).

whilst possibly not quite what you're after, i can't recommend the KLF's chill out album.

or maybe something like the cocteau twins -

victorialand is probably their most chilled album. lazy calm is gorgeous.

or maybe try their album with Harold Budd (the moon and the melodies). ghost has no home is my favourite.

and if you like Siguir Ros, you might want to check out a band from the early 90s, Slowdive - souvlaki was probably their most successful album.

Iain
Thanks for the suggestions. Andrew Poppy is on emusic which is fabulous, as my subscription refreshes tomorrow. I know what the first thing I'll be downloading will be! They also have the cocteau twins too.

Thanks for the advice to try Brahms too. I was looking for a way into classical music so I'll look out for his stuff.
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Old 03-01-2008, 21:22
Frank Chickens
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Mezzoforte - Crystal Rain
Landscape - Wandsworth Common
British Electric Foundation - Decline of the West

Always found these to put me in a floppy happy mood though the last may well be personal preference.
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Old 04-01-2008, 09:17
iain
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sorry - i meant can't recommend highly enough!

Iain
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Old 04-01-2008, 10:55
Inkblot
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How about the North Sea Radio Orchestra ?

Or Amiina , whose collaboration with the late Lee Hazlewood is lovely.
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Old 05-01-2008, 18:18
Babe Rainbow
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Ommadawn by Mike Oldfield

I often put it on at night if I can't sleep - it is very mellow
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Old 05-01-2008, 18:58
Baggiesfaninuk
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Ommadawn by Mike Oldfield

I often put it on at night if I can't sleep - it is very mellow
Great choice. Also worth checking out Incantations by Mike Oldfield.

Others I recommend are:

The Desert Music - Steve Reich
Jesus Blood Never Failed Me Yet - Gavin Bryars
Lughnasad - Andy Pickford
Novus Magnificat (Through the Stargate) - Constance Demby
Aerie Faerie Nonsense - The Enid
The Photographer - Philip Glass
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Old 05-01-2008, 20:06
Reaperville
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I find Gorecki's 3rd Symphony quite relaxing, but I know it's way too slow and melancholy for some people.

My ultimate chillout/relaxation instrumental album is still the Blade Runner soundtrack by Vangelis though.
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Old 05-01-2008, 20:10
Babe Rainbow
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I find Gorecki's 3rd Symphony quite relaxing, but I know it's way too slow and melancholy for some people.
This is one of the most beautiful pieces of music I have ever heard - I have the Dawn Upshaw version and her voice is just sublime Absolutely stunning and yes, I often listen to that in bed too.

I love slow and melancholy music generally. I love Stabat Mater by Rossini

Also The Lamb by John Taverner although it is probably too short for the OPs needs.
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Old 14-01-2008, 19:03
Ricardodaforce
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Discreet Music by Brian Eno is beautiful and so very relaxing.
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Old 14-01-2008, 19:54
Croissantlover
 
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Music has the right to children- Boards of Canada
Opening/Closing- Philip Glass
Gymnopedies-Erik Satie
Apollo-Brian Eno
Music for Airports-Brian Eno
Future sound of London-Lifeforms
David Sylvian-Gone to earth
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Old 14-01-2008, 21:53
TeenOfSteel
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"Twentytwofourteen" by The Album Leaf
"Under The Sea" by Digby Jones
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Old 15-01-2008, 10:31
WatershipBrakey
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Chi Mai - Ennio Morricone; Absolutely gorgeous piece of music
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Old 15-01-2008, 10:35
WatershipBrakey
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Ommadawn by Mike Oldfield
A lot of Mike Oldfield works - my nighttime music of choice for a long, long time has been Tubular Bells II, I rarely get to the end of the opening track.

It's difficult to recommend tracks though because the early stuff was long pieces of music, like TB and Ommadawn and then he started to make "song length" tracks and started to mix the mellow stuff up with single releases (like Five Miles Out and To France etc.). His latest stuff has gone very chill out too.
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Old 15-01-2008, 14:09
Nlogax
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Music has the right to children- Boards of Canada
Opening/Closing- Philip Glass
Gymnopedies-Erik Satie
Apollo-Brian Eno
Music for Airports-Brian Eno
Future sound of London-Lifeforms
David Sylvian-Gone to earth

Have you been raiding my CD collection?

Would add the following (although Gone To Earth and MHTRTC take some beating)

Robert Fripp: A Blessing of Tears
Boards of Canada: In a Beautiful Place Out In The Country EP
David Sylvian: Approaching Silence
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Old 30-01-2008, 18:55
plimmy
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You might want to look at our site.......

http://www.myspace.com/novagiger

Try the blofeld track!!!!!
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