Antonio Vivaldi's Violin Concerto, written for violin and strings in the key of F minor and taken from The Four Seasons Il Cimento No. 4, has a tranquil feeling throughout. This is due to the choice of instrumentation where violins are set against a backdrop of cellos. Unlike other suites of The Four Seasons, the II Cimento No. 4 creates and maintains a relaxing background mood with no major changes.
Johann Sebastian Bach's Orchestral Suite No. 3, written in D major, subtitled "Air on the G String," is a relaxing piece of music that remains airy and mellow throughout. It does not have the loud crescendos or interruptions often associated with many famous pieces of classical music, and therefore maintains an atmosphere of relaxation. The major key keeps the mood of the piece sounding positive.
Alan Silvestri's film score for the movie Forrest Gump is an extremely tranquil piece of music. The main piano theme is haunting and uplifting and is aided by the additional of full orchestra. Although there are variations throughout the entire piece, the music is always emotional and the recurring piano motif is relaxing, having a calming effect on the listener.
Ludwig van Beethoven 's Piano Sonata No. 14, written in C sharp minor, is often referred to as the "Moonlight Sonata." The solo piano lulls the listener into a tranquil mood as each phrase of the piece maintains a constant, steady rhythm. The minor key, although traditionally considered gloomy, has a haunting quality that sounds peaceful.
New Age composer Makoto Hirahara's piece "Crescent" is a relaxing composition which combines acoustic piano with orchestra. The movement of the piano engages the listener enough to hold his or he attention while the strings provide a tranquil backdrop. The music washes over the listener and is also useful for meditation exercises.
Kitaro, a New Age composer, blends modern synthesizer and electric piano with a more traditional orchestra. His piece entitled "Message from the Cosmos" has a pulse throughout that creates a relaxing setting. The synthesized strings are combined with piano lines, which creates an airy ,calm mood and relaxes the listener.