by Susan Klatz Beal

Created on: January 19, 2012   Last Updated: January 21, 2012

Classical music is known for many the many positive ways it impacts the brain. It can relieve stress, calm the mind, promote creativity, innovation, productivity, and aid the memory.  When thinking of classical music that helps people fall asleep, one should understand that the term is a loose one, and therefore, should not restrict the choice of sleep-promoting music to music of the classical period. 

Merriam-Webster dictionary defines classical music as “of, relating to, or being music in the educated European tradition that includes such forms as art song, chamber music, opera, and symphony as distinguished from folk or popular music or jazz.” 

• Eric Satie (May 17, 1866 - July 1, 1925)

Satie was one of the great French composers of the 20th century. Three of his most famous, and perhaps familiar compositions are ideally suited to aiding in sleep. They are the three or Trois Gymnopédies. The reason these pieces are the ideal choice for people wanting to sleep is because they have beautiful, lilting melodies that beckon people to a more relaxing state.

• Hector Villa Lobos (March 5, 1887 - November 17, 1959)

Villa Lobos is arguably Brazil’s most famous composer. Brazilian classical music of the 20th century would be nothing without his wonderful compositions. The most famous of his works is a collection known as the Bachianas Brasileiras. This suite of pieces was written for varying instruments and voice, but incorporates Brazilian folk with classical music harmonies and Baroque counterpoint that is seen in composers such as Johann Sebastian Bach.

• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (January 27, 1756 - December 5, 1791)

Some people refer to Mozart as the greatest composer of all time. There is no shortage of beautiful music by Mozart that could lull a person to sleep. Slow movements of sonatas are an excellent choice. But anything of Mozart is beautiful enough to calm a restless mind. Mozart symphonies are brilliantly orchestrated and many contain simple theme around which entire movements are built. Choral music is also an excellent choice to lull a person to sleep. Eine Kleine Nachmusik - or A Little Nightmusik is an excellent chamber work to choose for enticing sleep. The Clarinet Quintet is another excellent choice.

• Franz Joseph Haydn -  (April 1, 1732 - May 31, 1809)

A contemporary of Mozart, Haydn is another composer of the classical period who wrote a huge amount of music during

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