Gymnopédie No. 1

Who it's for

The piece is marked to be played slowly and painfully, and its unhurried triple-time pulse invites the listener's breathing and heart rate to settle toward its pace, a common rationale for slow instrumental music in wind-down routines.

Feelings it meets

• Stress
• Overthinking
• Sensory Overload
• Depression
• Loneliness

What it is

Gymnopédie No. 1 is the first of the Trois Gymnopédies, a set of short solo piano pieces by French composer Erik Satie, completed in 1888 and published that year. Written in 3/4 time and lasting about three minutes, it is marked to be played slowly and painfully, and is known for its melancholy, wistful character and mild dissonances.

Where to find it

Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music (widely available) (many recordings; choose a solo-piano performance).

Before you start

Age: All ages

Our life is frittered away by detail.Henry David Thoreau, Walden, “Where I Lived, and What I Lived For”