Please recommend me some beautiful classical music for my labour playlist

[HeffalumpsAndGoldenWoozles]

I've got a playlist of my favourite songs set up already. Some might call it an eclectic mix but I've just chosen songs I love rather than focussing on them having to be especially relaxing. I've also got my hypnobirthing cd ready to go, now I'm thinking I'd like to have a classics playlist as well.

Has anyone got any suggestions for a lovely 'drift away' type playlist. I like mostly mainstream, well known pieces but am open to discovering new ones too. To give you an idea my favourite ever piece is Air on the G string by Bach.

Any suggestions would really be appreciated, I have induction booked for Saturday and reckon I'll need all the help relaxing that I can!

The Intermezzo from Cavelleria Rusticana perhaps?

I had both of the Rachmaninov piano concerti on my list.

How about investigating one of those Classic FM "relaxing classics" type collections?

Hans Zimmer, the Composer who did the music for The Simpsons Movie

I've got this album which has some great relaxing classical music

www.amazon.co.uk/Classical-Chillout-Various-Artists/dp/B00005OBTF

Pachabel - Canon in D - predictable but lovely all the same!

Einaudi

Thank you all there's some really beautiful suggestions, I'm off to raid amazon & iTunes and fill up my iPod before Saturday. :)

Massenet's is quite soothing.

Also try

Oh, don't go yet! is just the most beautiful peace of music. Turn it up as loud as you can and let it wash over you. Absolute bliss.

Miserere, full name "Miserere mei, Deus" (Latin: "Have mercy on me, O God") by Italian composer Gregorio Allegri is one of my all time favourites, hauntingly beautiful.

The Flower Duet from the opera Lakmé, also a beautiful piece.

"Für Elise" and The Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven are classic piano pieces.

Vaughan Williams Fantasia On Greensleeves, lovely well known relaxation piece.

Enjoy!!

Tis wonderful.

Mozart's clarinet concerto

I can't imagine giving birth to any of these! (Well, vaughan-williams at a stretch)
I recall my births being more Tchaikovsky's 1812 or Beethoven's Ode to Joy

Paul Mealor "Ubi Caritas et Amor" - sung at Royal Wedding.

Done :) Thank you for all your suggestions, I've got a nice long playlist now which even if I never get to use it in labour after all will certainly get played lots anyway. Now I've just got to convince this baby to come tonight of its own accord so I can avoid induction tomorrow!

Pick something you hate as you will never be able to listen to it again. I chose Abba (pregnancy psychosis) and even now have to leave the room when Dancing Queen comes on. Also dont do what my friend did and faff about with your music choices whilst in early labour thinking you have ages thereby delaying your trip to hospital thereby having the baby in the back of a cab delivered by your DH and the driver.

Oh my gosh, in the back of a cab?! That's certainly not the nice relaxing birth pool I had in mind!

I didn't listen to anything when in labour with DD and wish I had been a bit more prepared, this time no doubt now I'm all prepared I still won't buy at least in my mind I'm ready!

Corelli Christmas Concerto for strings.

Night on Bald Mountain by Mussorgsky. Not exactly relaxing but might be better for you. :)

Hope all went well heffalumps!

It was fantastic I was so very lucky, waters broken at half 6 in the pool by 8 and DD2 arrived at 9! I used loads of your suggestions ladies and it was wonderful to be able to float away to a beautiful soundtrack, definitely helped keep me calm so thank you all for your input! :)

How lovely and calm! Many congratulations

Congrats heffalumps! Sounds wonderful xoxo