What Graham said! For as much as a score may have large sections of calm or relaxing tracks, you'll also find one or more that are more action-oriented, or tense or otherwise breaking up the mood. Playlists is the way to go.
Or listen to Enya! I have lately, and practically all her albums are consistently relaxing and gorgeous throughout.
Also, depending on how relaxing you want it, do check out Max Richter's SLEEP album.
Richter's 8 hour Sleep album is essential.
I'd also check out Steve Roach. Start with his Quiet Music series.
I know it's non-film music related but it would be great to have a thread dedicated to relaxing/stress relieving music recommendations and discussion. Much of the music I listen to is for sleep and mediation.
-staying on Barry, his non-film music albums Beyondness of things & Eternal Echoes are pretty laid back.
-Morricone's Cacciatori di navi is quite hypnotic & soothing, even if a bit repetitive.
-Christopher Young's Bright Angel
-though not soundtracks, the minimalist works of artists such as Nils Frahm, Jóhann Jóhannsson, Ólafur Arnalds, Max Richter, etc are quite effective for unwinding.
Classical, symphonic, jazz, New Age... Does your friend have a preference for - or an aversion to - any particular style of music? Does he enjoy listening to soundtracks in general but needs guidance in finding (or your choosing) the right ones?
Good luck! I hope you find some things which do the trick.
Thank you, I appreciate the kind words and advice. I do recognize that some genres of music are more obviously suitable for relaxing (particularly New Age), but considering my friend is a film buff and I have so many soundtracks, I thought I would explore that direction. And some of the aforementioned suggestions are certainly good ones..!
A friend who is staying with me has been experiencing anxiety and is trying to calm his system (he also has high blood pressure). I happen to have a massive soundtrack collection, so I'm trying to come up with some soothing scores that I could share with him. At the moment I'm playing Herrmann's THE GHOST AND MRS. MUIR, which seems to be working well - but I'm sure there are countless others that would do the trick. Any thoughts would be most welcome!
"The Sandpiper" Johnny Mandel. Minus the "Bird Bath" track from the LP and first CD release. "Summer of '42" Michel Legrand. Not much music but what is there is beautiful. Most of John Barry's later scores.
