# Best Music for Relaxation? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 15, 2004, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-music-for-relaxation/240251 "2004-04-15T23:17:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Paladud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Paladud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paladud)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2004, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-music-for-relaxation/240251/1 "2004-04-15T23:17:03Z")
Please list your favorites for said purpose. ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2004, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-music-for-relaxation/240251/2 "2004-04-15T23:50:23Z")
Some of my favorites include … **Delerium** - Karma **Dead Can Dance** - Toward the Within **Orbital** - Orbital II **Loreena McKennitt** - Book of Secrets ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-music-for-relaxation/240251/3 "2004-04-16T03:24:46Z")
The first movement of Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata. On repeat. Forever. ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-music-for-relaxation/240251/4 "2004-04-16T04:45:03Z")
I have an MP3 of a thunderstorm with a panpipe being played softly in the background that’s 45 minutes long and I loop endlessly when I need some chill time or time to focus on writing. I also like to flip on one of the iTunes Electronica or Classical stations. [AfterhoursDJs.org](http://AfterhoursDJs.org)’s stream is usually the one I listen to. ---
**Author:** ![Already\_in\_Use](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@Already\_in\_Use](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Already_in_Use)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-music-for-relaxation/240251/5 "2004-04-16T05:04:38Z")
None; I only listen to music when I want to be stimulated. “Relaxing” music usually just irritates me. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-music-for-relaxation/240251/6 "2004-04-16T14:52:12Z")
Gregorian Chants. As a bonus, if you sing them in minor and have organ in the background it sound evil. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-music-for-relaxation/240251/7 "2004-04-16T15:12:15Z")
Bach Air in G ---
**Author:** ![yellowval](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/919ad9/32.png) [@yellowval](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowval)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-music-for-relaxation/240251/8 "2004-04-16T15:33:42Z")
First I should say that to me, relaxing is sitting in a lawn chair in the backyard with a cooler of beer, or sitting in the hot tub with a cooler of beer nearby. The music? Bob Marley, all the way! ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2004, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-music-for-relaxation/240251/9 "2004-04-17T01:44:40Z")
I actually hafve a few CDs – Bach for Relaxation, Beethoven for Relaxation, and Mozart for Relaxation – that I find very, ah, relaxing. The Beethoven is my fave, it does include Moonlight Sonata, Fur Elise, slow movement from 6th Symphony, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Anyanka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/43a26b/32.png) [@Anyanka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anyanka)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2004, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-music-for-relaxation/240251/10 "2004-04-17T01:51:00Z")
> [@C K Dexter Haven](#): > > I actually hafve a few CDs – Bach for Relaxation, Beethoven for Relaxation, and Mozart for Relaxation – that I find very, ah, relaxing. The Beethoven is my fave, it does include Moonlight Sonata, Fur Elise, slow movement from 6th Symphony, etc. Wow… I have to agree with Dead Can Dance, and Loreena McKennitt , also, the Cocteau Twins, and the sountrack to " The last Temptation of Christ". Oh, and " A gift of love- deepak & friends…rumi" ---
**Author:** ![Kurt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kurt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kurt)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2004, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-music-for-relaxation/240251/11 "2004-04-17T03:30:59Z")
Aphex Twin - _Selected Ambient Works II_ Boards of Canada - _Geogaddi_ Autechre - _Incunabula_ Twerk - _Living Vicariously Through Burnt Bread_ Beefcake - _Drei_ Ulver - _Silence Teaches You to Sing_ _Astrobotnia_ Cujo - _Adventures in Foam_ The Boredoms - _Vision, Creation, Newsun_ o9 - _Church of the Ghetto PC_ My Bloody Valentine - _Loveless_ Fennesz - _Endless Summer_ Four Tet - _Rounds_ Múm - _Finally We Are No One_ Savath and Savalas - _Apropa’t_ ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Girl)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2004, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-music-for-relaxation/240251/12 "2004-04-17T03:35:13Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > Bach > > Air in G Bach’s Gymnopédies [Pachelbel Ocean](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000000JWD/104-8385058-9551934?v=glance) - Canon in D, Water Music, Air in G with the sound of the ocean. Aaahhh… [The Planet Sleeps](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000002BOW/qid=1082171334/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/104-8385058-9551934?v=glance&s=music) - Lullabies from around the world. Puccini and Verdi Tomaso Giovanni Albinoni - specifically, Adagio, for violin, strings & organ in G minor (slays me peacefully). Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata. Samuel Barber’s Adagio for Strings Op11 (a bit weepy but soooo beautiful). Loreena McKennitt Enya, Only Time (much other Enya, but she got a bit overplayed) ---
**Author:** ![PsychoBabble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@PsychoBabble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PsychoBabble)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2004, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-music-for-relaxation/240251/13 "2004-04-17T03:46:17Z")
I never thought I’d say this, but my current favorite relaxation music is IZ, otherwise known as Israel Kamakawiwo’ole. My favorite of his CD’s is, _Facing Future_. My mom plays it continuously and I swore I’d never like it, but I’m hooked. ---
**Author:** ![Kid\_A\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Kid\_A\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kid_A_1)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2004, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-music-for-relaxation/240251/14 "2004-04-17T04:11:13Z")
Anything by The Smiths. I love waking up to the Smiths in the morning, it makes me feel so relaxed and set up for the day. ---
**Author:** ![spiralscratch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dfb087/32.png) [@spiralscratch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spiralscratch)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2004, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-music-for-relaxation/240251/15 "2004-04-17T12:48:45Z")
**Slowdive** : anything, but _Pygmalion_ is really good for this. **Verve** : _A Storm In Heaven_ **Aphex Twin** : _Selected Ambient Works_, volumes I and II **Lush** : _Gala_ and _Spooky_ **House Of Love** : the second self-titled album, and then some **Spiritualized** , **Red House Painters** , **Mazzy Star** , **Cocteau Twins** , **This Mortal Coil** , **Mojave 3**. Some **Massive Attack** , **Pink Floyd** , **Mogwai** , **My Bloody Valentine** , **Beta Band**. I had a good-sized playlist of this kind of stuff going for a while, but unfortunately lost it. I think I need to get around to rebuilding it… ---
**Author:** ![raz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@raz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raz)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2004, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-music-for-relaxation/240251/16 "2004-04-17T15:47:33Z")
I think the Grateful Dead have really relaxing music. Also pretty much anything by Kenney Chesney. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2004, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-music-for-relaxation/240251/17 "2004-04-17T17:23:04Z")
George Winston’s [December](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00005NNDO/qid=1082222418/sr=8-1/ref=pd_ka_1/104-1936139-2505512?v=glance&s=music&n=507846) Especially the Variations On The Kanon By Pachelbel ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2004, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-music-for-relaxation/240251/18 "2004-04-17T17:27:37Z")
Lately a couple of oldies that I had forgotten about: Spirit _Farther Along_ The Blue Nile _Hats_ ---
**Author:** ![WILLASS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/54ee81/32.png) [@WILLASS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WILLASS)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2004, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-music-for-relaxation/240251/19 "2004-04-18T02:47:27Z")
I will second ‘Selected Ambient Works’ by Aphex Twin and also add: ‘Eureka’ - Jim ‘O’ Rourke ‘Music Has The Right to Children’ - Boards of Canada ‘Moon Safari’ - Air ‘The K & D Sessions’ - Kruder and Dorfmeister ‘Frank’ - Amy Winehouse ‘Decks EFX and 909’ - Richie Hawtin Many, many more but these are my long term choices.