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Refresh your morning routine with soul-stirring melodies

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 evocative, touching music from composers including Jani, Schubert and Bach, this morning's opportunity to Find Your Focus comes courtesy of Poppy Ackroyd's Seedling and Sian is inspired by bees to think of an old friend while out to Take a Breath. Also, Professor Catherine Loveday explains how music can actually slow down biological ageing.

27 days left to listen

3 hours

Music Played

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Violin Concerto No 4 in D major, K218 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Ning Feng. Conductor: Susanne von Gutzeit. Orchestra: Potsdam Chamber Academy.
    • CHANNEL CLASSICS.
  • Jocelyn Hagen

    Beatitudes

    Composer: Timothy Takach. Choir: VOCES8 Foundation Choir.
    • VOCES8 RECORDS.
  • Cécile Chaminade

    Les Sylvains, Op 60

    Performer: Mitra Kotte.
    • GENUIN CLASSICS.
  • Zdenek Fibich

    Moods, Impressions, Souvenirs, Op 41 (Book 4: No 14)

    Performer: Esther Abrami. Orchestra: The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • SONY.
  • Robert B. Sherman

    Mary Poppins Suite (2nd mvt, 'Feed the Birds')

    Performer: Sir Stephen Hough. Music Arranger: Sir Stephen Hough.
    • Hyperion.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied, BWV 225 (No 2, 'Wie sich ein Vater erbarmet')

    Choir: SANSARA. Conductor: Tom Herring.
    • Convivium.
  • Vasily Kalinnikov

    Serenade for Strings in G minor

    Conductor: Mihkel Kütson. Orchestra: Niederrheinische Sinfoniker.
    • MDG.
  • Poppy Ackroyd

    Seedling

    Performer: Poppy Ackroyd.
    • One Little Independent Records.
  • Rudy Wiedoeft

    Cloudy Days

    Performer: Chad Smith. Music Arranger: Lenny Meyers. Conductor: John Wilson. Orchestra: Sinfonia of London.
    • CHANDOS.
  • Mark Knopfler

    Wild Theme (Local Hero)

    Performer: Kaori Muraji. Music Arranger: Paul Campbell.
    • DECCA.
  • Florence Price

    Symphony No 3 in C minor (2nd mvt)

    Conductor: Yannick Nézet‐Séguin. Orchestra: Philadelphia Orchestra.
    • DG.
  • Gordon Langford

    Colour Suite (Pastorale)

    Conductor: Rumon Gamba. Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra.
    • CHANDOS.
  • Maurice Ravel

    Prelude in A minor (upright version)

    Performer: Julius Asal.
    • DG.
  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Concerto for Violin in E flat, RV 256, 'Il ritiro' (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Théotime Langlois de Swarte. Orchestra: Le Consort.
    • harmonia mundi.
  • Robert Farnon

    Seashore

    Performer: Valentina Lisitsa. Conductor: Gavin Sutherland. Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra.
    • Decca.
  • Jiang Li

    Lake Baikal

    Performer: Xuefei Yang. Music Arranger: benjamin lim yi.
    • Platoon.
  • Jean-Benoît Dunckel

    Égérie

    Performer: Marie Laforge. Performer: Jean-Benoît Dunckel.
    • Warner.
  • William Byrd

    Afflicti pro peccatis nostris (No 2, 'Ut eruas nos a malis')

    Choir: Gesualdo Six. Conductor: Owain Park.
    • Hyperion.
  • Samuel Coleridge‐Taylor

    Violin Concerto in G minor, Op 80 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Gil Shaham. Conductor: Eric Jacobsen. Orchestra: Virginia Symphony Orchestra.
    • Canary Classics.
  • Helen Leach

    Diary of the Bee (4th mvt, 'Wild Rose')

    Performer: John Bradbury. Ensemble: Victoria String Quartet.
    • Divine Art.
  • Chiquinha Gonzaga

    Suite Chiquinha Gonzaga (2nd mvt, 'Paraguaçu')

    Performer: Gaëlle Solal. Music Arranger: Paulo Aragão. Conductor: Roberto Beltrán Zavala. Orchestra: Orchestre Royal de Chambre de Wallonie.
    • Fuga Libera.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Violin Sonata No 5, Op 24, 'Spring' (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Alena Baeva. Performer: Vadym Kholodenko.
    • ALPHA.
  • Christopher Wilson

    Suite for String Orchestra (2nd mvt, Air)

    Conductor: Douglas Bostock. Orchestra: South-West German Chamber Orchestra Pforzheim.
    • CPO.
  • Franz Schubert

    Symphony No 1 in D major, D 82 (2nd mvt)

    Conductor: Antonello Manacorda. Orchestra: Potsdam Chamber Academy.
    • SONY.
  • Ruaidri Dáll Ó Catháin

    Tabhair dom do Lámh [Give Me Your Hand]

    Music Arranger: Sam Becker. Ensemble: Jess Gillam & Friends.
    • DECCA.
  • Jean Sibelius

    Symphony No 1 in E minor, Op 39 (2nd mvt)

    Conductor: Santtu‐Matias Rouvali. Orchestra: Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra.
    • ALPHA.
  • Sophia Jani

    Andrà

    Performer: Carlos Cipa.
    • NEUE MEISTER.
  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Lieder ohne Worte VIII, Op 102 (4th mvt)

    Performer: Andreas Ottensamer. Performer: Gunars Upatnieks. Music Arranger: Andreas Ottensamer. Ensemble: Schumann Quartett.
    • DG.
  • Peteris Vasks

    Angele Dei

    Choir: Latvian Radio Choir. Conductor: Sigvards Kļava.
    • ODE.
  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Bitter Springs (Housewarming)

    Music Arranger: Stephen Hogger. Conductor: Rumon Gamba. Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • CHANDOS.
  • Joseph Bologne

    String Quartet No 2 in E flat major, Op 1 (1st mvt)

    Ensemble: Catalyst Quartet.
    • Azica Records.
  • Shreyas Murali

    Whispers of Eternity

    Performer: Shreyas Murali.
    • Karma Sounds.
  • Johannes Brahms

    Symphony No 4 in E minor, Op 98 (2nd mvt)

    Conductor: Edward Gardner. Orchestra: Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • Chandos.
  • Georg Philipp Telemann

    Fantasia in B flat major, TWV 40:14

    Performer: Timothy Ridout.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
  • Arnold Bax

    King Kojata Suite, 'Tamara' (Naiads)

    Music Arranger: Graham Partlett. Conductor: Martyn Brabbins. Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • CHANDOS.
  • Floraleda Sacchi

    Hamabe No Uta

    Performer: Floraleda Sacchi.
    • Amadeus Arte.
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Symphony No 29 in A major, K 201 (3rd mvt, Minuet)

    Conductor: Sir Roger Norrington. Orchestra: Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra.
    • SWR Classic.

Broadcast

  • Monday09:00