Looking for classical music to work please?!?

I am a statistician and use my brain analytically. I need some sound in the background for me to work (even Musak) I find that the more harmonious and meditative pieces help me th most.

Basically anything by Mozart and most of Bach.

I disagree with Malcolm - a lot of classical and baroque I find to be more suited for ambiance than for listening to. Since most baroque is pretty much all the same, it becomes boring to just listen to for the sake of listening - you've heard it all before, right, so why listen? So when I want to think, I put on some baroque. There is no need to listen closely to it.

Of course, it wasn't written for the purpose of ambiance, but for entertainment, and back then it was pretty much the only big form of entertainment. My how things have changed over time. Given what I've said, I'd much rather sit and listen to baroque than most of the crap on the radio these days, so don't take what I said in a negative light - when I want to listen to something that entertains me, the more variable the music is, the more entertained I am - thus I mostly listen to late Romantic era stuff, or anything later. Even Beethoven I like to listen to, because I know all of his symphonies by heart, so it's fun to whistle along with it, since I know what is coming, and it is actually varied - unlike most baroque. You can pretty much tell when a trill is coming, because they are always in the same place.

Of course, there are exceptions, music that was so good, that it is famous even today - Vivaldi's 4 seasons, Handel's Water Music and Music/Royal Fireworks, and then the some of Haydn's symphonies.

I agree with Malcolm. I don't like classical music on when I'm working or driving or reading a book. I just get too distracted and end up making mistakes.

I could try and list off a sh*t ton of pieces and their YouTube links, but it might be easier to find an online radio station and listen through it. uwall is a good one, or so I hear.

I am not aware of ANY classical composer (in all deference to Catherine's answer) who wrote music for the sake of ambience. I think they pretty much all intended for it to be listened to.

If you want music to work to, the best would be any music that is soft so it won't distract you. Might I recommend some Debussy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5ot-88UV-Y&feature...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RJlRf5VSRE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAVyKDDsM3s&feature...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr3by6XtnjQ&feature...

Mozart! A lot of people say Mozart's music helps concentration! Some favourites:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OZCyp-LcGw&feature...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hJf4ZffkoI&feature...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zi8vJ_lMxQI

Handel..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Nvg8eQnjPs&feature...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TGKJ9MgCOQ&feature...

Chopin!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGRO05WcNDk

Liszt

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpOtuoHL45Y&feature...

Tchaikovksy piano concerto

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWerj8FcprM&feature...

Beethoven

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHd8jwXBzXE&feature...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mB4oBRsV3xI&feature...

Okay I should stop. I have tried to give you some pieces that may already have heard on in films or on television because I feel that is a good place to start when introducing yourself to classical music.