Calm classical music. Updates every Wednesday with popular tracks in West Asia.

Classicalm

02 - Gift of Shuritashi

This is a track we help promote because we find it pleasant! https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0J7EFptNh6K6Qebrsrcx8d?si=ae32df247fdd4a1d


Idlewild

Prelude

Bouquet of Notes

62425

River Flows In You - YIRUMA

"Intermezzo," 1969, by Jeraldine Saunders Herbison, b. 1941, USA, Piece No. 13 from Music by Black Composers, Flute Volume 1.

Created in partnership with the National Flute Association. (https://www.nfaonline.org/)

Music by Black Composers is a project of the Rachel Barton Pine Foundation. For more information, please visit www.musicbyblackcomposers.org/ and www.rbpfoundation.org/.

Dr. Paula Gudmundson, flute
Dr. Diana Shapiro, piano

Donald Schraugnagel, post-session producer and engineer

MBC Flute 1-13, Herbison - "Intermezzo" (FLUTE AND PIANO)

"In Thoughts of All Those We Love" - A quiet musical tribute — composed for piano, cello, clarinet, and orchestra.

The piano opens gently, like an inner reflection. The cello responds with deep warmth, a voice drawn from memory. The clarinet adds a touch of light — a fragile spark between sorrow and solace. The orchestra unfolds with restraint, offering space and support, never overwhelming.

This piece is a tender greeting to those who have shaped our lives — near or far, present or remembered. A soundscape that doesn’t seek closure, but carries us forward. Between loss and connection, music emerges that remains.

In Thoughts Of All Those We Love

Beautiful and evocative, "Behold The Virgin Approaching" was written for chorus and later transcribed for piano trio.  It is part of a  larger work entitled Duan Nollaig, a collection of five carols for SATB chorus and piano. 


Davidson:  Behold the Virgin Approaching

Aurora Introitus

Eternal Ascent for Reed Quintet

Eternal Ascent portrays the Greek myth of Sisyphus, who was punished by the Gods and sentenced to roll a large boulder up a hill every day, only for it to fall back down when it neared the top.

This constant and arduous task symbolizes the more frustrating side of learning to play an instrument, the stretches of time where no progress is being made or even periods of regression. The music reflects this anguish through its dark and somber tone, with moments of ascending hope anticlimactically returning to the same introductory material, starting this relentless journey over once more.

Though this myth can be a daunting one, we can all be hopeful that we have the ability to push the metaphorical boulder to the top of the mountain with enough work and persistence.


Eternal Ascent

Wistful Spirit

Recorded at Zion Community Commons, August 21, 2025

Laura Harada, violin
Aaron Kerr, cello
Rebecca Hass, piano

About “Ad Parnassum” (Ad Parnassum, 1932)
The dark outline of a pyramid-shaped mountain glows beneath a warm orange sun while an open archway invites the viewer to take the first step on their journey towards enlightenment. Inspired by the pyramids and temples of Egypt, Paul Klee’s pointillistic masterpiece from 1932 is built from contrasting blocks of color built up brick by brick in a style that he called “divisionism.” In the same way, the music takes the form of a rondeau as repeated musical progressions are developed through textural variations. In Greek mythology, Mount Parnassus is associated with Orpheus and the home of the nine muses and “a step towards Parnassus” (gradus ad Parnassum) came to define the gradual process of pursuing mastery in scholarship or the arts through diligent, repeated practice. The climb towards any summit begins with a single step and although that journey can be defined as a series of steps towards a goal, there is no guarantee that the path will be straightforward. The path may be winding, or may double back on itself, or seem to disappear altogether – it is built from small victories, epiphanies, frustrations and defeats – and by the end you have come full circle, stepping through the door towards Parnassus once again, both an exit and an entrance.

Ad Parnassum (1932) - No. 144.1 from Paul Klee : Painted Songs

In 2006 I composed this setting of a Christmas hymn written by Michael Perry (1942-1996). I had seen the words set to 'Ar hyd y nos/All through the night', a great Welsh tune but not, I would say, very Christmassy.  in my setting there is a short bridge between verses which also serves as an introduction. The words are:

1. Come and sing the Christmas story
          this holy night!
   Christ is born: the hope of glory
          dawns on our sight.
   Alleluia! Earth is ringing
          with a thousand angels singing -
    hear the message they are bringing
          this holy night.

2.  Jesus, Saviour, child of Mary
          this holy night,
     in a world confused and weary
          you are our light.
    God is in a manger lying,
   manhood taking, self denying,
   life embracing, death defying
        this holy night.

3.  Lord of all! Let us proclaim him
          this holy night;
     king of our salvation name him,
          throned in the height.
    Son of Man - let us adore him,
   all the Earth is waiting for him;
   Son of God - we bow before him
        this holy night.

Prelude

Oh Eight

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