Soothing instrumentals?

[Siege]

Hi everyone, i'm a big fan of instrumentals but I never really got into classical music simply because I don't really know how to go about searching for stuff I like.

I really enjoy calm and soothing instrumental/classical music but I never know how to find it. An excellent example of what I like is a song entitled Goodnight Julia from the Cowboy Bebop soundtrack. If you want to hear what i'm talking about download the file from http://gh.ffshrine.org/song/2116/2

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated! Thanks everyone!

[shakran]

bit different from the song you posted, but if you want a nice instrumental album, try William Ackerman's "Returning"

[SecretMethod70]

"A Warm Place" and "La Mer" both by Nine Inch Nails.

Might be a little different than what you're used to, but don't let the fact it's by NIN keep you from checking them out. They're both very soothing.

EDIT: Someone created a video on youtube which uses "A Warm Place" as the background music. (Note, the music in the last ~20 seconds is NOT "A Warm Place" )

[JustJess]

"Bedtime for the Beatles" - all instrumental versions of Beatles stuff that doesn't suck at all (NOT elevator musak style). We listen to this one all the time. Plus, super soothing: Hilary Stagg. Yeah, it's harp music. Just give it a listen anyway!! I guarantee your eyes will be driftly slowly closed within seconds.

[jth]

This track (that you gave us t download) would be considered Smooth Jazz which is pretty easy to find. However in looking for it online don't just search on Jazz. Most jazz musicians and fans (such as me) detest Smooth jazz (I don't detest it) and you could get some heat off the boards. Google search some smoothjazz forums and you'll get loads of great selections you might really like.

[Randerolf]

I've never had a real taste for classical music, but the piano works of Erik Satie are amazing - his Gymnopédies in particular. Go to you public library and check them out (or there are plenty of legal recordings on the internet).

[vanblah]

You could try Last.fm and use "mellow instrumental" as a keyword search on tags. I just did it and came up with a bunch of cool stuff.

www.last.fm

[roachboy]

persian classical music.
check out radio darvish

http://www.radiodarvish.com/

i am one of those people who would rathre drive nails into themselves than listen to smooth jazz: but rather than pursue this, i'll recommend persian classical as an alternative--alot of it comes out of sufi communities and it has a meditative feel to it. radio darvish plays exclusively that kind of stuff.

[snowy]

Some of the songs on the Naruto original soundtrack fit your description. So does "Evenstar" from "The Two Towers" soundtrack, as well as others on the Lord of the Rings soundtracks.

I also really like the "Lost in Translation" soundtrack and other music by the group Air, who has a song on the soundtrack. I would recommend their song "La Femme D'Argent".

There's also always Samuel Barber's "Adagio For Strings".

[Jetée]

Oh, I have plenty of soothing calssical music, accompanied by soothing ocean sounds as well.

I have Satie, Beethoven, Mozart, Bach, and personal fav Chopin on different CDs.
If you would like me to upload them for you to try out an listen for which songs suit you best, I can do so in the next day or so. Believe me when I say that these tracks by the artists on these CDs are VERY soothing, especially the ones by Satie and Chopin.
I'll see if I can upload them and post the links here for all to enjoy.

[Challah]

Pelican
Explosions in the Sky
Godspeed You! Black Emperor

[Siege]

Originally Posted by Jetstream

If you would like me to upload them for you to try out an listen for which songs suit you best, I can do so in the next day or so. Believe me when I say that these tracks by the artists on these CDs are VERY soothing, especially the ones by Satie and Chopin.
I'll see if I can upload them and post the links here for all to enjoy.

That would be awesome, thanks!

Snowy: I've heard some of the Naruto OST and I agree, some of those tracks are really up my alley.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone.

[snowy]

Originally Posted by Siege

Snowy: I've heard some of the Naruto OST and I agree, some of those tracks are really up my alley.

I use the second Naruto soundtrack as exercise music

[Jetée]

Alright, I have been fervently uploading my collection and it is slow-going, but I do have two classical artists for you at the moment, so enjoy

Bach - http://www.megaupload.com/?d=C8FQKTV0

Playlist   click to show 

Orchestral Suite -3 In D, BWV 1068 - Air
Cantata -147, 'Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring'
Concerto For Oboe & Violin, BWV 1060 - Adagio
The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 - Prelude -1 In C
Keyboard Concerto, BWV 1056 - Largo
Concerto For 2 Violins, BWV 1043 - Largo Ma Non Tanto

Beethoven - http://www.megaupload.com/?d=7PG93F7E
(Ode to Joy, Moonlight Sonata)

EDIT: These CDs as well as the rest that I will upload are about an hour's length in duration with ~2-8 tracks on each CD. They are mp3s at 192kb/s. The songs are light classical pieces that are recorded along with ocean sounds. They are very soothing and a great accompaniment to one's tranquil mood/day/whatever. For any and all to enjoy.

[ozahs]

Handel's "Water Music" is an essential.

Jazz violinist Jean LucPonty's "Individual Choice" is also a good bet.

[yuntang]

Originally Posted by Challah

Pelican
Explosions in the Sky
Godspeed You! Black Emperor

yup all good,
try some Fourtet or Boards of Canada as well if you like the electronic vibe.

[LoganSnake]

I can drop some names if you like New Age music. It's usually instrumental, chill-out music. Some of the pieces are beautiful to listen to.

I'll youtube some examples to give you an idea of what I'm talking about. If you like what you hear, drop me a PM or catch me on AIM and I'll give you some more info.

Yanni - Nightingale

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Loreena McKennitt - Tango to Evora

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[Baraka_Guru]

Originally Posted by Randerolf

...the piano works of Erik Satie are amazing - his Gymnopédies in particular. Go to you public library and check them out (or there are plenty of legal recordings on the internet).

Um... yes. So totally yes. Definitely get the "trois gymnopédies." You will luck out if you also get the "six gnossiennes," also "pour piano," as a part of a Satie compilation. I have it and it's one of my favourite piano CDs.

But if you like saxophone jazz and want to avoid smooth jazz, try John Coltrane. Some of his more relaxing tracks include:
"I'm Old Fashioned" from Blue Train
and most of Crescent

That should get you started there. They aren't quite relaxing in the new agey or smooth jazzy way, but they'll certainly enrich your soul. You can quote me on that.

[fightnight]

Originally Posted by Challah

Pelican
Explosions in the Sky
Godspeed You! Black Emperor

Additionally Mogwai. Their more recent stuff tends to be calmer than their older stuff. They can get heavy at times, but can be incredibly beautiful as well. Can also try Sigur Ros.

[Jetée]

BUMP

In the process of uploading the rest of classical relaxation collection for you all.

In the meantime, dig this: http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showpos...postcount=7169


and now it is groove:Zhi Yao Wei Ni Huo Yi Tian

[noodlebee]

I wonder if Steve Vai could interest you. He plays guitar extremely well.

[wavesofeuphoria]

Here are some "instrumentals" from one of my playlists ... you might find one or two that you like.

Lazy Calm - Cocteau Twins, Victorialand
Serenity - Delerium, Chimera
Tubular Belguims in my Goldfield - Departure Lounge, Too Late to Die Young
Amor de Vera - Drumagick, City of God
Sunrise, Sunset - Honeyroot, Sound Echo Location
I Sense You Fading Away - Rothko, A Continual Search for Origins
Underwater Twilight - Tangerine Dream, Underwater Sunlight
Love Theme - Vangelis, Blade Runner

[saut]

morte macabre - quiet drops

PERIOD

http://youtube.com/watch?v=7YRv41IIWU0

(just a small clip)

[jimk]

"sandusky" - uncle tupelo

"just another sucker on the vine" - tom waits

[Mith]

roachboy thanks much for the Radio Darvish link.

When I want to relax I throw on some Loreena McKennitt or Dead Can Dance. Lisa Gerrard's solo work is good too.