Tool
Curated Listening by Mood
Four moods, three pieces each - search the title and composer on whatever you already use to listen.
Twelve pieces, grouped by the mood they put you in rather than by era or form - a quick way in when you know how you want to feel but not what to put on. Each entry links to the composer (and sometimes the form) behind it, so you can read up on a piece before or after you hear it.
This site doesn't host or embed recordings, but every piece here is famous enough to turn up instantly on any streaming service or video site - just search the title and composer. If you're choosing between several versions, our guide to choosing a recording explains what to listen for, and many of the older works here also have free, legal recordings through the sources in our public domain guide. Looking for background music to work to? See our guide to classical music for studying.
Calm & reflective
- Debussy - Clair de Lune
- Chopin - Nocturne in E-flat major, Op. 9 No. 2
- Rachmaninoff - Variation 18 from Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
Big & dramatic
- Beethoven - Symphony No. 5, first movement
- Tchaikovsky - 1812 Overture
- Stravinsky - The Rite of Spring
Fast & energetic
- Vivaldi - The Four Seasons, "Spring"
- Mozart - Symphony No. 40, first movement
- John Williams - Star Wars main title
Playful & light
- Tchaikovsky - "Waltz of the Flowers" (from The Nutcracker)
- Handel - Music for the Royal Fireworks
- Mozart - "Queen of the Night" aria (from The Magic Flute)