Need to relax? Carrying too much stress? Here is a compilation of music titles (a playlist) that will drain your stress away and bring you the peace you need.
I needed peace. Driving to work, I heard a piece on classical radio that relaxed me so much, I nearly had to pull over to be safe behind the wheel. I had been carrying lots of stress, and I later decided to compile music together that would help me relax and be quiet. This is what I came up with.
These are pieces that I love. They are pieces that say to me, “Be still and know that I am God...” (Psalm 46:10)
SAMUEL BARBER (1910-1981) Agnus Dei
A choral version of Adagio for Strings and set to the Agnus Dei from the traditional mass by Barber himself.
CARL ORFF (1895-1982) In Trutina from Carmina Burana
A quiet, gentle respite in the middle of Carmina Burana. This recording features Barbra Streisand on the Classical Barbra album.
D. SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) 2nd Movement of Piano Concerto No. 2
Written for his son, this concerto rests and changes mood in the second movement, bringing serene enjoyment reminiscent of Rachmaninoff.
FRANCIS POULENC (1899-1963) Videntes Stellam (1951)
French composer Francis Poulenc set to music this Christmas text depicting the magi viewing (videntes) the star (stellam) at Christ's birth. It struck me as a very quiet, sacred experience for them as illustrated in this moving setting. This and the following track are taken from Poulenc, The Sacred Music For Unaccompanied Choir.
FRANCIS POULENC (1899-1963) Ave Verum (1952)
Through women's voices, Poulenc intricately crafts a setting of the traditional Ave Verum text, Hail, true Body of Christ, born of the Virgin Mary. Truly did suffer and was sacrificed on the Cross for us men.
TOMAS LUIS DE VICTORIA (1548-1611) Ave Maria
An ordained priest in Italy, Victoria wrote only music for the church. This setting of Ave Maria speaks peace to me with its contemplative extension of the syllable “ri-” of Maria and the final resolution of “-a.” Renaissance music is characterized by a cooperative endeavor of voices working independently and in unity. That cooperation, rendered so exquisitely in this piece, inspires me with its symbolism of those who render service. Each individual uses a unique gift from God to bring peace to those who need it.
J.S. BACH (1685-1750) Air from Orchestral Suite No. 3
This piece is commonly heard, but it still moves me as if with sacred influence. I first heard this particular recording one morning on the radio by happenstance when I needed relief and relaxation. The human voice conveying the melody carried special meaning for me as it seemed it spoke, “He,” which to me referred to the Savior, Jesus Christ. It had a very healing effect as only “He” can heal. This recording is from the CD Hush and features Bobby McFerrin and cellist, Yo-yo Ma.
J.S. BACH (1685-1750) 2nd Movement from Concerto No.2 for 2 Violins
Incredible magic pours forth with two violins each singing their own song in perfect cooperation so that the whole is much greater than the sum of the two.
FRANZ BIEBL (1906- ) Ave Maria
I first heard this piece on the radio when a substitute host got to play it. He described it as one of his most beloved pieces and repeatedly emphasized how it moved him tremendously. It does the same for me. It is performed here by the group, Chanticleer, a group of 14 men.
MORTEN LAURIDSEN O Nata Lux
I know nothing of Lauridsen or this piece other than “lux” is Latin for “light,” and this piece brings light to me. [I have since learned that Mr. Lauridsen is a music professor at USC in Southern California and I've come to greatly enjoy much of his beautiful music.]
EDWARD ELGAR (1857-1934) Lux Aeterna (Light Eternal)
This is my favorite piece in this collection. Knowing little of Elgar or his work prior to attending a concert given by the Brigham Young University Singers, I was moved beyond words by the performance of this piece. John Cameron arranged here a portion of Elgar's Enigma Variations set to this Latin text: Let eternal light shine upon them, o Lord, with Thy saints forever, for Thou art merciful. Eternal rest grant them, o Lord: and let perpetual light shine upon them.
As text for those who have progressed past this life, it brings hope, comfort, and joy to me as this performance by the BYU Singers conveys a glimpse of the eternal reward prepared for us. With my mortal blinders on, I cannot imagine it getting much better than this, but the hope the Spirit conveys grants me the assurance that it can.
GABRIEL FAURE (1845-1924) Cantique de Jean Racine
Written in his last year of college for a composition contest, this piece is set to a poem by Jean Racine wherein he seeks the Savior's blessings. The repetition of musical themes in each section of the choir brings emphasis and grandeur to the praise and petitions offered to the Savior.
GABRIEL FAURE (1845-1924) In Paradisum from the Requiem
Assigned to me for a research paper in college, Faure's Requiem remains for me a beacon of peace and comfort amid musical works. “In Paradisum,” (In Paradise) is a departure from the traditional text of the Requiem. Chosen by Faure himself, In Paradisum depicts the characteristic serene consolation of this work.
MAURICE DURUFLE (1902-1986) Ubi Caritas
Having only produced around a dozen compositions in his lifetime, we are grateful for what we have by Durufle. The Latin text proclaims, Where charity and love are, there God is. I put this piece in the latter portion of the collection because it leaves one with a natural, cleansing close to meditation.
AARON COPELAND (1900-1990) From Appalachian Spring
Nothing conveys for me a sense of rest and confidence as the quiet portions of Copeland's ballet, Appalachian Spring. This selection combines the first, sixth, and eighth portions of Copeland's suite. Each time I listen, I am left without regret that it is over, just peace and appreciation for the beauty.
Since compiling and writing this list, editors have added the YouTube videos for examples of the music. That's real nice, but in only one example have they chosen the specific recording I'm talking about (I think they actually have Chanticleer singing the Beibl AVE MARIA). The Bach AIR is clearly NOT Bobby McFerrin, the Shostakovich Piano Concerto is a terrible recording, the Elgar LUX AETERNA is a completely different composition than what I wrote about (nothing compares to the BYU Singers' version of the O NATA LUX and the LUX AETERNA), and the APPALACHIAN SPRING video offers completely different sections of the suite than what I refer to in my list.
Enjoy the list; ignore the videos!
#3 by Liane Schmidt, Aug 9, 2007
Wow, what a wide array of choices! I wish that my speakers worked, but I do know that the power of music is infinite. Studies have been done on how music can affect us positively and negatively.
