SATURDAY 11 JANUARY 2025
SAT 00:30 Sleep Tracks (m0024r1l)
Dive into ocean depths
Dive into the deepest sleep with a mix of subaquatic sounds and ebbing classical music. Doze to whale song and hypnotic waves - a perfect soundtrack to help guide you to a peaceful state of slumber.
Sleep Tracks on BBC Radio 3 Unwind combines soothing classical music and calming nature sounds to help you relax into sleep. Search 'Sleep Tracks' on BBC Sounds to enjoy more episodes.
Produced by Alice Boyd and Joy Nkoyo.
A Peanut & Crumb production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind.
SAT 06:00 Mindful Mix (m0026txj)
Gentle classical music for inner calm
Find a sense of inner calm with this collection of gentle classical tunes. Featuring peaceful piano melodies, glowing choral harmonies, and flowing orchestral movements. This mix is curated to help you settle into a more peaceful state of mind.
With pieces from Ennio Morricone, Gustav Mahler, Rebecca Dale and more.
Produced by James C Taylor
And Overcoat Media Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind, MM
SAT 09:00 Classical Unwind (m00269zh)
Inspiring classical music to boost your day
Calming classical music to help you focus and set you up for the day ahead. Presented by broadcaster, author and psychologist Dr Sian Williams.
Featuring relaxing and uplifting melodies from Margaret Bonds, Maurice Ravel and Caroline Shaw, and Sian takes a breath of fresh air by some water. Plus, Professor Catherine Loveday explains why music is so good at triggering memories.
SAT 12:00 Piano Focus (m0024r19)
Soothing piano to soundtrack your studies
Tune out the noise and soundtrack your study time with this soothing piano mix. Amongst the selections are timeless piano classics from the likes of Frédéric Chopin and Cécile Chaminade alongside new music from young British composers including Eamonn Watt, Alexis Ffrench and Patrick Yeboah.
Produced by Jamie Green
A Reduced Listening Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind, MM.
To listen on most smart speakers just say “ask BBC Sounds to play Piano Focus”
SAT 14:00 Mindful Mix (m0024qyt)
A soothing mix for classical relaxation
Embrace stillness and sink into the classical sounds of this calming music mix.
Featuring well-known classics from Johann Pachelbel and Edward Elgar, alongside new discoveries by Sarah Class and Valgeir Sigurðsson.
Produced by Katie Hill
An Overcoat Media Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind. MM
SAT 17:00 Cinematic Soundtracks (m0026txl)
Discover immersive musical realms with Doctor Who and Stranger Things.
Discover the immersive musical realms of film and TV with Edith Bowman. Featuring Murry Gold's Doctor Who, Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein's Stranger Things and Scoop by Anne Nikitin & Hannah Peel.
Produced by Lucy Winter
A Granny Eats Wolf Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind
SAT 18:00 Classical Wind Down (m0024r1f)
Relax to a classical evening soundtrack
Three hours of calming classical music to help you release the stresses of the day, recharge and prepare to rest - presented by Irish musician and mindfulness expert Niall Breslin.
This episode features a rich blend of music from the likes of Philip Glass, Holst and Mars Smith – plus some essential Wind Down Wisdom from science podcaster Caroline Steel on a simple but effective way to prepare for a restful night.
To listen on most smart speakers just ask BBC Sounds to play Classical Wind Down.
SAT 21:00 Ultimate Calm (m001fx0n)
Ólafur Arnalds: Series 1
Calm music for stormy weather feat. Arooj Aftab
Join Icelandic composer and pianist Ólafur Arnalds for another hour-long musical journey that seeks to find that elusive feeling of calm.
In this episode, Ólafur puts his head into the clouds to look for the calm within the storm, with a selection of music inspired by rain, wind and thunder. He shares music from Chopin, Eydís Evensen and Chihei Hatakeyama, and talks about the comforting effect that the sounds of bad weather can have on you when you’re tucked up inside.
Plus the composer Arooj Aftab transports us to her Safe Haven, the place where she feels the most calm, with a recording from a thunderstorm outside her apartment in New York.
Produced by Katie Callin
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 3 and BBC Sounds
SAT 22:00 Night Tracks (m001zmz5)
Sublime sounds for nightfall
Sara Mohr-Pietsch presents an adventurous, immersive soundtrack for late-night listening, from classical to contemporary and everything in between.
SAT 23:30 The Sleeping Forecast (p0jqc0xm)
A soundtrack for cosy nights
Get cosy and welcome in the changing seasons with this relaxing soundtrack of serene ambient and classical compositions from BBC Introducing artists, alongside excerpts from weather reports and forecasts from the Shipping Forecast.
Produced by Cat Gough
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Sounds
SUNDAY 12 JANUARY 2025
SUN 00:30 Sleep Tracks (m002559j)
Voyage across the frost
Slip off to sleep with a mix of crisp natural sounds and cool, calming classical music. Immerse yourself in icy frost and peaceful music - a restful soundtrack to help your slumber.
Sleep Tracks on BBC Radio 3 Unwind combines soothing classical music and calming nature sounds to help you relax into sleep. Search 'Sleep Tracks' on BBC Sounds to enjoy more episodes.
Produced by Alice Boyd and Joy Nkoyo.
A Peanut & Crumb production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind.
SUN 06:00 Mindful Mix (m0024r0g)
Soothing classical sounds to uplift your senses
Take a moment to take a step back with this calming mix of serene classical sounds. Featuring orchestral warmth from Pietro Mascagni and Howard Skempton, plus solo piano from Maurice Ravel and Rachel Portman.
Produced by Steven Rajam
An Overcoat Media Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind. MM
SUN 09:00 Classical Unwind (m0024qx7)
Focus for the morning with stress-busting music
Calming classical music to help you focus and set you up for the day ahead. Presented by broadcaster, author and psychologist Dr Sian Williams.
Featuring uplifting and peaceful melodies from Fauré, Caroline Shaw, and Samuel Barber. Plus we learn why sad music might just lift our mood, and Sian explores the delights of walking barefoot.
SUN 12:00 Piano Focus (m0024qzv)
Calming piano sounds for enhanced focus
Stay motivated and centred with this peaceful and atmospheric mix of piano music. With iconic piano pieces by composers Fanny Mendelssohn, Clara Schumann and Florence Price alongside neoclassical sounds from British pianists Becky Ainge, Arelius and Simeon Walker.
Produced by Alexa Kruger
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind. MM.
To listen on most smart speakers just say “ask BBC Sounds to play Piano Focus”
SUN 14:00 Mindful Mix (m0024qw3)
A classical meditation to inspire calmness
Peaceful classical melodies to accompany your journey to calmness and relaxation, no matter the time of day.
Allow the soothing music of Johannes Brahms, Claude Debussy and Franz Schubert to whisk you off to a place of serenity and enjoy the hidden gems of this 3 hour calming classical mix.
Produced by Katie Hill
An Overcoat Media Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind, MM
SUN 17:00 The Music & Meditation Podcast (m001x7f8)
Series 3
Release body tension with Alex Howard
Izzy and Alex Howard explore how to use meditation to help release tension and break the cycle of stress and pain using elements of body scan technique. Alex is passionate about making physical and emotional healing accessible to everyone through his clinic, online platforms and books, inspired by his own journey with chronic fatigue syndrome as a teenager.
The music that soundtracks Alex's guided meditation was composed by Misha Mullov-Abbado and recorded by the BBC Concert Orchestra exclusively for this episode.
Whether you're just starting to meditate or you're a seasoned meditator, this is the perfect podcast for you.
Music you'll hear in this episode:
Beethoven: 7 Variations On "Bei Männern, welche Liebe fühlen" WoO 46, Variation vi Adagio
Misha Mullov-Abbado: The Stage Hand
Chopin: Nocturne No. 8 in D flat Op. 27 No. 2
JS Bach: Double Violin Concerto in D Minor BWV1043, ii Largo
SUN 17:30 Classical Mixtape (m00253pl)
Classical music for your journey
A relaxing half hour of back to back classical music to ease the mind. Music includes works by Rachmaninov, Yoshimatsu, Corelli and Debussy.
To listen on most smart speakers just say “ask BBC Sounds to play Classical Mixtape”
Producer: Helen Garrison
SUN 18:00 Classical Wind Down (m0026w29)
Relax from your day with calming harmonies
Three hours of calming classical music to help you release the stresses of the day, recharge and prepare to rest - presented by Irish musician and mindfulness expert Niall Breslin.
This episode features a rich blend of music from the likes of Florence Price, Philip Glass and William Grant Still. Plus, a chance to Press Pause with meditation teacher Maude Hirst, and some essential Wind Down Wisdom from science podcaster Caroline Steel on how singing can help you de-stress from the pressures of your day.
To listen on most smart speakers just ask BBC Sounds to play Classical Wind Down.
SUN 21:00 Soundwaves (m0026w2c)
An immersive soundtrack of soothing new music
Afrodeutsche hosts an hour of escapist and immersive new music from the UK’s brightest contemporary composers and performers.
Featuring an escapist mix of music from the likes of Rachel Portman, Portico Quartet and Peter Gregson, plus music from BBC Introducing emerging artists.
To listen on most smart speakers just ask BBC Sounds to play Soundwaves.
SUN 22:00 Night Tracks (m001znzv)
Harmonious music for nighttime listening
Sara Mohr-Pietsch presents an adventurous, immersive soundtrack for late-night listening, from classical to contemporary and everything in between.
SUN 23:30 The Sleeping Forecast (m00269fq)
Go on a sleepy voyage to the Antarctic
Excerpts from Ernest Shackleton's 1902 expedition journal with dreamy music from BBC Introducing and the Shipping Forecast. First broadcast in November 2021.
To listen on most smart speakers just say “ask BBC Sounds to play The Sleeping Forecast."
MONDAY 13 JANUARY 2025
MON 00:30 Sleep Tracks (m002559q)
Sleep beside summer crickets
Slip into warm slumber with atmospheric summer sounds and breezy classical music. Zone out to that familiar, reassuring song of the cricket - an immersive soundscape to drop you into a peaceful state of rest.
Sleep Tracks on BBC Radio 3 Unwind combines soothing classical music and calming nature sounds to help you relax into sleep. Search 'Sleep Tracks' on BBC Sounds to enjoy more episodes.
Produced by Alice Boyd and Joy Nkoyo.
A Peanut & Crumb production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind.
MON 06:00 Mindful Mix (m0024qwn)
Find celestial calm with soothing classical music
Float off to another world and sink into tranquillity with this three hour mix of soothing classical music.
With ethereal pieces from Tomaso Albinoni and Gustav Holst as well as the floating melodies of Alexis Ffrench and Francis Poulenc.
Produced by Katie Hill
An Overcoat Media Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind. MM
MON 09:00 Classical Unwind (m0026tcm)
Fill your day with comforting classical music
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 beautiful and enriching melodies from William Grant Still, Edward Elgar, and Anoushka Shankar. Professor Catherine Loveday explores how music can influence the way we interpret characters in a film, and Sian takes a breath as she stops midway up a hill to take a look around.
MON 12:00 Piano Focus (m0024qyf)
Switch on your focus with this immersive piano mix
Switch on your focus and keep your creativity flowing with this meditative piano mix. Featuring Debussy’s Préludes pour piano performed by Bulgarian master pianist, Marietta Petkova, Vivaldi’s Lute Concerto in D Major, arranged by Andrew Gentile and performed by Jeffrey Biegel, as well as modern piano pieces by Duval Timothy, Salenta + Topu and Lubomyr Melnyk.
Produced by Cat Gough
A Reduced Listening Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind, MM.
MON 14:00 Mindful Mix (m0026tcp)
Classical sounds to help you retreat into calm
A collection of classical tunes to ease the mind and soothe the soul.
Slide into warm instrumental sounds by Mozart, Anna Clyne and Lauri Porra, glowing choral textures from William Byrd and Christopher H. Harris, and soothing chamber music by Fela Sowande, Toru Takemitsu and Alexander Tsafman.
Produced by Steven Rajam
An Overcoat Media Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind. MM
MON 17:00 Cinematic Soundtracks (m0026tcr)
Discover tranquil musical worlds with Avatar and Gone With The Wind
Discover tranquil worlds of music from film and TV, with Edith Bowman. Featuring True Grit by Cater Burwell, Rob Lane's Merlin and Steven Price's emotional music from The Swimmers.
Produced by Lucy Winter
A Granny Eats Wolf Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind
MON 18:00 Classical Wind Down (m0024qym)
Switch off with tranquil classical melodies
Three hours of calming classical music to help you release the stresses of the day, recharge and prepare to rest - presented by Irish musician and mindfulness expert Niall Breslin.
This episode features a rich blend of pieces from the likes of Hannah Peel, Alexis Ffrench and Ralph Vaughan Williams. We Press Pause with meditation teacher Michael James Wong and we discover some essential Wind Down Wisdom from science podcaster Caroline Steel on how gentle movement can help you prepare for a restful night.
MON 21:00 Ultimate Calm (m001g3lz)
Ólafur Arnalds: Series 1
Hopeful harmonies feat. Gugu Mbatha-Raw
Join Icelandic composer and pianist Ólafur Arnalds for another hour-long musical journey that seeks to find that elusive feeling of calm.
In this week’s episode, Ólafur looks for the silver linings in sound with a selection of songs inspired around the theme of hope. He reflects on how music can often provide the little glimmers of hope that you need to get through the toughest of times, and shares tracks by the likes of Alice Coltrane, Sigur Rós and JFDR.
Plus the British actress and UNHCR goodwill ambassador Gugu Mbatha-Raw transports us to her Safe Haven, the place she feels the most calm - her bath.
Produced by Katie Callin
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 3 and BBC Sounds
MON 22:00 Night Tracks (m0026nt6)
A bewitching night time soundtrack
Sara Mohr-Pietsch presents an adventurous, immersive soundtrack for late-night listening, from classical to contemporary and everything in between.
MON 23:30 The Sleeping Forecast (m0026tct)
Nod off with this relaxing soundtrack
The Shipping Forecast with dream-inducing music from BBC Introducing to help you sleep.
Produced by Gabriel Francis and Megan Brady
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Sounds
To listen on most smart speakers just say “ask BBC Sounds to play The Sleeping Forecast”
TUESDAY 14 JANUARY 2025
TUE 00:30 Sleep Tracks (m0025d0h)
Journey to the North Pole
Take a dreamy voyage into a world of icy landscapes and soothing classical music. Drift to the Arctic with natural sounds and cool, calming melodies - a perfect mix to soundtrack your slumber.
Sleep Tracks on BBC Radio 3 Unwind combines soothing classical music and peaceful nature sounds to help you relax into sleep. Search 'Sleep Tracks' on BBC Sounds to enjoy more episodes.
Produced by Alice Boyd and Joy Nkoyo.
A Peanut & Crumb production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind.
TUE 06:00 Mindful Mix (m0024qzx)
Classical melodies to inspire calmness and clarity
A selection of soothing classical harmonies to help you find calm in your day.
With a relaxing selection of music by Antonín Dvořák, Léo Delibes and Samuel Coleridge Taylor, along with performances from VOCES8, the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Anna Lapwood.
Produced by Katie Hill
An Overcoat Media Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind. MM
TUE 09:00 Classical Unwind (m0024qyc)
Start the day right with tranquil classical music
Calming classical music to help you focus and set you up for the day ahead. Presented by broadcaster, author and psychologist Dr Sian Williams.
Featuring warm and inspiring melodies from Franz Schubert, Germaine Tailleferre and William Grant Still. Plus, Sian heads outside to admire the beauty of letting things grow, and Professor Catherine Loveday explores the links between learning an instrument and brain function.
TUE 12:00 Piano Focus (m0024r0d)
A journey through softly focused piano reveries
Immerse yourself in this journey through softly-focused piano reveries. Blending impressionistic beauties from the likes of Maurice Ravel and Ruth Gipps with the innovative spirit of contemporary artists such as Ava Rasti and Kelly Moran, this mix elegantly portrays the shifting nuances of classical music through the decades, the perfect soundtrack to your focused work.
Produced by Áine Devaney
A Reduced Listening Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind, MM.
To listen on most smart speakers just say “ask BBC Sounds to play Piano Focus”
TUE 14:00 Mindful Mix (m0025vt1)
Chilled-out classical music to help you unwind
Pause, and take a breath, with this curated mix of calming classical tunes, combined with soothing sounds from the natural world.
Featuring vast and flowing orchestral textures from Johannes Brahms, Frederick Delius, and Patrick Hawes. Plus soothing solo piano from Margaret Bonds, Alexis Ffrench, and Alma Deutscher. And glowing choral harmonies from Ēriks Ešenvalds, Philip Stopford, and Anna Lapwood.
Produced by James C Taylor
An Overcoat Media Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind, MM
TUE 17:00 Cinematic Soundtracks (m0024qxz)
Dive into musical realms with The Truman Show and Casino Royale
Escape into the immersive worlds of film and TV soundtracks with Edith Bowman. Featuring current and new releases through to timeless classics, every episode will take listeners on a soothing cinematic journey. Expect music by Philip Glass, David Arnold and Rachel Portman, and from movies like Casino Royale, The Duchess and The Truman Show.
TUE 18:00 Classical Wind Down (m0026tdl)
Embrace your evening with warming classical music
Three hours of calming classical music to help you release the stresses of the day, recharge and prepare to rest - presented by Irish musician and mindfulness expert Niall Breslin.
This episode features a rich blend of music from the likes of Ryuichi Sakamoto, Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru and Hildegard of Bingen. Plus, a chance to Press Pause with meditation teacher Michael James Wong, and some essential Wind Down Wisdom from science podcaster Caroline Steel on why movement can help you de-stress from the pressures of your day.
To listen on most smart speakers just ask BBC Sounds to play Classical Wind Down.
TUE 21:00 Ultimate Calm (m001g9pb)
Ólafur Arnalds: Series 1
Music to bring calm amidst the chaos feat. Benjamin Hardman
Join Icelandic composer and pianist Ólafur Arnalds for an hour-long musical journey into the world of calm.
In the final episode of the series, Ólafur focuses on music that seeks to bring calm amidst the chaos with a selection of songs to help you escape the hectic stresses of this time of year. He shares music from Poppy Ackroyd, Voces8 and Nils Frahm, and reflects on the importance of tuning out the noise and the pressures of the everyday in order to claim back a moment of stillness for yourself.
Plus the photographer Benjamin Hardman transports us to his Safe Haven, the place where he feels the most calm, with recordings from the eruption of Icelandic volcano Meradalir where he spends a lot of his time - demonstrating the ultimate definition of calm amidst chaos.
Produced by Katie Callin
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 3 and BBC Sounds
TUE 22:00 Night Tracks (m0026nxg)
Sublime sounds for nightfall
Sara Mohr-Pietsch presents an adventurous, immersive soundtrack for late-night listening, from classical to contemporary and everything in between.
TUE 23:30 The Sleeping Forecast (m00261l4)
Your soundtrack to a peaceful sleep
Rest easy with Radio 4’s Shipping Forecast set to gentle music from BBC Introducing.
Produced by Gabriel Francis
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Sounds
To listen on most smart speakers just say “ask BBC Sounds to play The Sleeping Forecast”
WEDNESDAY 15 JANUARY 2025
WED 00:30 Sleep Tracks (m0025d6d)
Stroll through autumn leaves
Slip into sleep with a mix of autumnal natural sounds and restful classical music. Drift away to the rustle of crisp brown leaves under calming orchestral pieces - a perfect soundtrack to help guide you to a peaceful state of slumber.
Sleep Tracks on BBC Radio 3 Unwind combines soothing classical music and calming nature sounds to help you relax into sleep. Search 'Sleep Tracks' on BBC Sounds to enjoy more episodes.
Produced by Alice Boyd and Joy Nkoyo.
A Peanut & Crumb production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind.
WED 06:00 Mindful Mix (m0024qv5)
Classical sounds for moments of calm
Relax with a playlist of soothing classical music, to help transport you to place of calm.
With music by Gerald Finzi, Maurice Ravel, and Johann Pachelbel. Plus soft melodies from Florence Price, William Walton, and Eleanor Daley to gently soothe your mind and soul.
Produced by James C Taylor
An Overcoat Media Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind, MM
WED 09:00 Classical Unwind (m0026tf4)
Get set for the morning with peaceful classical music
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 refreshing and energising music from Dorothy Howell, Saint-Saens, and Haydn. Sian follows a stream as she takes a breath outside, and Professor Catherine Loveday joins the show to explore how music can help people with Parkinson’s disease.
WED 12:00 Piano Focus (m0024qwl)
Enhance your concentration with this peaceful piano mix
Fade out the noise and immerse yourself in this specially crafted mix of soothing piano music to aid concentration. Featuring new music from British composers like Luke Faulkner and Eamon Watt, alongside timeless piano classics from Claude Debussy, Florence Price and Mel Bonis.
A Reduced Listening Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind MM.
WED 14:00 Mindful Mix (m0024r15)
Block out the noise with calming classical music
Take a moment for yourself as you enjoy restful classical music combined with beautiful soundscapes from the natural world.
Featuring a host of orchestral and piano favourites from Gabriel Fauré, Maurice Ravel, and Claude Debussy, and gorgeous harmonies from Eleanor Daley, Christopher H. Harris, and Ivo Antognini.
Produced by James C Taylor
An Overcoat Media Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind, MM
WED 17:00 Cinematic Soundtracks (m0026tf6)
Escape into a realm of relaxation with Ratatouille and City Lights
Escape into a realm of relaxation through the music of film and TV with Edith Bowman. Featuring Michael Giacchino's Ratatouille, Hot Fuzz from David Arnold and a Charlie Chaplin classic, City Lights.
Produced by Lucy Winter
A Granny Eats Wolf Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind
WED 18:00 Classical Wind Down (m0024qws)
Embrace the evening with serene classical music
Three hours of calming classical music to help you release the stresses of the day, recharge and prepare to rest - presented by Irish musician and mindfulness expert Niall Breslin.
This episode features a rich blend of music from the likes of Marin Marais, Clara Schumann and Claude Debussy. We Press Pause with yoga and meditation teacher Rod Stryker and reveal some essential Wind Down Wisdom on how reducing exposure to 'blue light' from screens can help improve the quality of your sleep.
WED 21:00 Ultimate Calm (m001kpgy)
Ólafur Arnalds: Series 2
Music for new beginnings feat. Alice Sara Ott
Icelandic composer and pianist Ólafur Arnalds is ready to unwind. After an incredibly busy time playing concerts all over the world, he is back with a second series of Ultimate Calm - twelve unique episodes, each one a musical journey that seeks to find that all too elusive feeling of calm.
In the spirit of a new series, in this first episode Ólafur takes inspiration from the idea of new beginnings, with music related to fresh starts. He shares pieces from Ryuichi Sakamoto, Poppy Ackroyd and Philip Glass, and reflects on how music can provide feelings of escape and rejuvenation.
For each episode, Ólafur has invited a special guest to share with listeners their own sonic safe haven - the piece of music that brings them ultimate calm. This week our guest is the celebrated classical pianist Alice Sara Ott, who tells us about the piece that made her stand still when she first heard it - a composition by Arvo Pärt that she plays regularly in her own performances, leaving both her and her audience transformed every time.
Produced by Katie Callin
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 3 and BBC Sounds
WED 22:00 Night Tracks (m0026p9y)
Harmonious music for nighttime listening
Sara Mohr-Pietsch presents an adventurous, immersive soundtrack for late-night listening, from classical to contemporary and everything in between.
WED 23:30 The Sleeping Forecast (m0026tf8)
Fall asleep serenaded by strings
Peacefully drift off with serene strings from BBC Introducing and the Shipping Forecast.
Produced by Gabriel Francis
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Sounds
To listen on most smart speakers just say “ask BBC Sounds to play The Sleeping Forecast”
THURSDAY 16 JANUARY 2025
THU 00:30 Sleep Tracks (m0025c3m)
Board the night train
Drift away to the sounds of a gentle sleeper train ride and restful classical music. Lull yourself to sleep with rhythmic, rocking movement and hypnotic soft melodies - a perfect soundtrack to help guide you to a peaceful state of slumber.
Sleep Tracks on BBC Radio 3 Unwind combines soothing classical music and calming nature sounds to help you relax into sleep. Search 'Sleep Tracks' on BBC Sounds to enjoy more episodes.
Produced by Alice Boyd and Joy Nkoyo.
A Peanut & Crumb production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind.
THU 06:00 Mindful Mix (m0025d67)
Savour the moment with restorative classical music
Take some time to unwind with this calming, serene collection of classical music. With music from Franz Schubert, Stanley Myers, Margaret Bonds and Gustav Holst, alongside contemporary excellence from Sophie Hutchings and Hania Rani.
Produced by Katie Hill
An Overcoat Media Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind. MM
THU 09:00 Classical Unwind (m0024qvz)
Ease into your day with welcoming harmonies
Calming classical music to help you focus and set you up for the day ahead. Presented by broadcaster, author and psychologist Dr Sian Williams.
Featuring soothing and nourishing melodies from Clara Schumann, JS Bach and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor – plus learn if listening to classical music can make you more intelligent, and Sian goes on a walk to explores how embracing the seasons can be beneficial for our health.
THU 12:00 Piano Focus (m002559b)
Inspiring piano music to enhance focus
Unlock unwavering focus with this carefully crafted piano mix, the perfect accompaniment to your working day. Featuring contemporary gems from Sufjan Stephens, Jon Hopkins and Chilly Gonzales alongside the classical music of Dora Pejačević, Judith Weir and Tanya Ekanayaka.
To listen on most smart speakers just say “ask BBC Sounds to play Piano Focus”
Produced by Annie Keates Thorpe
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind. MM.
THU 14:00 Mindful Mix (m0024qzj)
Lose yourself in flowing melodies
Enjoy time to unwind with this selection of some of the most beautiful melodies in classical music - the perfect escape from the stresses of the everyday.
Featuring glowing harmonies by Jules Massenet, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and Gabriel Fauré, and gorgeous pieces from Florence Price, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Eric Whitacre and more.
Produced by James C Taylor
An Overcoat Media production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind, MM
THU 17:00 Cinematic Soundtracks (m00260rw)
Simmer down with music from Swan Song, Mothering Sunday and A Suitable Boy.
Take a moment of calm with music from film and TV with Edith Bowman. Featuring Jay Wadley's Swan Song, Mothering Sunday by Morgan Kibby and Anoushka Shankar's enchanting performance in A Suitable Boy. Plus a moment from Takeshi Furukawa's score for the video game The Last Guardian.
Produced by Lucy Winter
A Granny Eats Wolf Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind.
THU 18:00 Classical Wind Down (m0026tf2)
Slow down with a calm classical soundtrack
Three hours of calming classical music to help you release the stresses of the day, recharge and prepare to rest - presented by Irish musician and mindfulness expert Niall Breslin.
This episode features a rich blend of music from the likes of Ethel Smyth, Lara Somogyi and Edvard Grieg. Plus, a chance to Press Pause with meditation teacher Maude Hirst, and some essential Wind Down Wisdom from science podcaster Caroline Steel on how spending time with friends can help relieve the pressures of your day.
To listen on most smart speakers just ask BBC Sounds to play Classical Wind Down.
THU 21:00 Ultimate Calm (m001kvsp)
Ólafur Arnalds: Series 2
Soothing sounds of spring feat. Arlo Parks
Join Icelandic composer and pianist Ólafur Arnalds for another unique musical journey that seeks to find that all too elusive feeling of calm.
In this episode, Ólafur takes his lead from the blossoming abundance of this time of year, with music inspired by the joys of spring. He selects songs that feel like emerging from the cold of winter into the sun, with pieces from Christian Löffler, Virginia Astley and Hania Rani.
Plus, the Mercury Prize winning singer-songwriter Arlo Parks selects her sonic safe haven - the piece of music that brings her ultimate calm. Arlo shares the track that she says is her ‘brain toothpaste’ - a piece of ambient music from an old video game, that gives her the space to think.
Produced by Katie Callin
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 3 and BBC Sounds
THU 22:00 Night Tracks (m0026qrf)
Blissful sounds for night owls
Sara Mohr-Pietsch presents an adventurous, immersive soundtrack for late-night listening, from classical to contemporary and everything in between.
THU 23:30 The Sleeping Forecast (p0cmtt7f)
Sleepy sounds for restful nights
Drift off to cool music from BBC Introducing combined with Radio 4's Shipping Forecast.
Produced by Gabriel Francis
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Sounds
To listen on most smart speakers just say “ask BBC Sounds to play The Sleeping Forecast.”
FRIDAY 17 JANUARY 2025
FRI 00:30 Sleep Tracks (m0025kvj)
Cosy up by the fireplace
Doze off to a mix of comforting sounds and cosy classical music. Warm yourself by a flickering fireplace, and rest awhile with this relaxing soundtrack for slumber.
Sleep Tracks on BBC Radio 3 Unwind combines soothing classical music and calming nature sounds to help you relax into sleep. Search 'Sleep Tracks' on BBC Sounds to enjoy more episodes.
Produced by Alice Boyd and Joy Nkoyo.
A Peanut & Crumb production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind.
FRI 06:00 Mindful Mix (m0024qwg)
Uplifting harmonies for peaceful reflection
Calming musical light and shade to uplift your body and mind - to lighten the darkness and lift your mood.
Featuring warm and reflective orchestral textures from Camille Saint-Saëns, Antonín Dvořák and Ludwig van Beethoven, plus sweet instrumental sounds by Rachel Portman, Zenobia Powell-Perry and John Field.
Produced by James C Taylor
An Overcoat Media production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind, MM
FRI 09:00 Classical Unwind (m0026tdn)
Embrace the day with stress-free classical music
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 uplifting and enchanting melodies from Korngold, Chopin, and Betty Jackson King, this episode explores how music can help with talking about personal things. Plus, Sian is inspired by the sound of trees in the wind while out to take a breath.
FRI 12:00 Piano Focus (m00260ym)
Find focus and calm with this mix of soothing piano pieces
Step into a world of serene melodies with this carefully-crafted sequence of piano music. Featuring compositions by Philip Glass, Helen Hopekirk and John Tavener, alongside pieces by Hans Zimmer, Poppy Ackroyd and Tania Giannouli. We begin with a contemporary take on an iconic melody by Modest Mussorgksy.
Produced by Alexa Kruger
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind. MM.
To listen on most smart speakers just say “ask BBC Sounds to play Piano Focus”
FRI 14:00 Mindful Mix (m0026tdq)
Classical music for moments of reflection
Immerse yourself in calming classical music. From gentle piano solos to soothing orchestral arrangements, chosen to help you find small moments of peace amidst your busy day.
Featuring flowing sounds by John Rutter, Erik Satie, Ruth Gipps, George Walker, and more.
Produced by James C Taylor
An Overcoat Media Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind, MM
FRI 17:00 Cinematic Soundtracks (m00260w9)
Immerse yourself in the music of O Brother Where Art Thou and Ray.
Immerse yourself in film soundtracks with Edith Bowman. Featuring Alison Krauss' moment from O Brother Where Art Thou, and Craig Armstrong's score for the biopic, Ray.
Produced by Lucy Winter
A Granny Eats Wolf Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind
FRI 18:00 Classical Wind Down (m00260yp)
Ease into the evening with restorative sounds
Three hours of calming classical music to help you release the stresses of the day, recharge and prepare to rest - presented by Irish musician and mindfulness expert Niall Breslin.
This episode features a rich blend of music from the likes of Anoushka Shankar, Poppy Ackroyd and Rimsky-Korsakov – plus some essential Wind Down Wisdom from award-winning science podcaster Caroline Steel and a chance to Press Pause.
To listen on most smart speakers just ask BBC Sounds to play Classical Wind Down.
FRI 21:00 Ultimate Calm (m001kvtd)
Ólafur Arnalds: Series 2
Lose yourself in musical memories feat. Dustin O’Halloran
Join Icelandic composer and pianist Ólafur Arnalds for another unique musical journey that seeks to find that all too elusive feeling of calm.
Prepare your rose-tinted glasses for this episode, as Ólafur leans into nostalgia with a selection of reminiscent music. He reflects on the power that music has to transport you to the past, and plays sentimental songs from Vangelis, Yiruma and Mette Henriette.
Plus, the Oscar-nominated American composer and pianist Dustin O’Halloran selects his sonic safe haven - the piece of music that brings him ultimate calm. Dustin takes us down memory lane with a record that he always returns to as an escape.
Produced by Katie Callin
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 3 and BBC Sounds
FRI 22:00 Night Tracks (m002031w)
Blissful sounds for night owls
Sara Mohr-Pietsch presents an adventurous, immersive soundtrack for late-night listening, from classical to contemporary and everything in between.
FRI 23:30 The Sleeping Forecast (p0g6t46h)
Slip into a zone of tranquility
Sleep soundly with the Shipping Forecast accompanied by calm music from BBC Introducing.
Produced by Gabriel Francis
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Sounds
To listen on most smart speakers just say “ask BBC Sounds to play The Sleeping Forecast”