I can get stir-crazy on a plane – the longer the flight, the worse it can get. I need something to do – listen, read, do something. However, I also struggle to fall asleep on a plane. That experience can be particularly frustrating – when you need to sleep but can’t quite get there due to the airplane noise, uncomfortable seats, and pressurized environment. I’m also not one for chemical sleep aids. In this post, I explore music for sleeping on an airplane, as I have discovered particular tracks that can help me do the trick.
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Types of Music For Sleeping on an Airplane
When looking to drift into a peaceful slumber on an airplane, certain genres and styles of music can be particularly conducive to relaxation and sleep.
Ambient music, with its soothing and unobtrusive soundscapes, is often ideal for creating a tranquil atmosphere. Artists like Brian Eno, known for his pioneering work in ambient music, offer compositions that can help ease tension and promote restfulness.
Similarly, classical music, specifically the works of composers such as Johann Sebastian Bach and Claude Debussy, is renowned for its calming qualities. Pieces like Bach’s “Goldberg Variations” or impressionist music from the likes of Debussy deliver gentle melodies that can lull listeners into a serene state.
For something more modern, instrumental jazz, especially soft piano pieces, can offer a rhythmic complexity that soothes without demanding focus, making it perfect for an in-flight nap.
Find the right genres and composers that can enhance your chances of catching some restful sleep amid the hum of an airplane cabin.
A few of my personal choices follow below:
Philip Glass: Einstein on the Beach
A few years ago, I stumbled across a recording that worked wonders for me. Einstein on the Beach. This one lasts around 3 hours, depending on the version selected. If you’ve not heard this work, you are in for an experience. It was, and remains, a revolution in sound. If you don’t venture beyond mainstream music, trust me, you’ll never have heard anything quite like this. Challenging, pulsating, boundary pushing stuff this is. And I have found that on a plane, if I’m sufficiently tired, the music can help me fall asleep before the end of track two. It has since become my accompaniment when travelling in hotel rooms. Loaded on my iPad, ready for sleep, I’ll push play, and wah-lah, next thing you know, I am out.
This one almost begs to be taken on the airport ride. There are a few ambient recordings from Brian Eno that work well. This is a good one – I also like his “Discreet Music.”
Max Richter: Sleep
“Sleep” by Max Richter is an extraordinary eight-hour opus meticulously crafted to accompany listeners on their journeys into slumber.
This ambient composition is imbued with a tranquil, minimalist soundscape that envelops the senses with gentle harmonies and lullaby-like tonalities. Its soothing pace and repetitive motifs create an ideal sound environment for relaxation, making it a particularly apt choice for those seeking rest on an airplane. The subtle interplay of strings, piano, and electronics in Richter’s work fosters a serene ambiance, effectively drowning out the hum of aircraft engines and helping to ease the mind into a peaceful state of sleep. “Sleep” provides a comforting auditory cocoon that aids in achieving restful sleep amidst the hustle and bustle of air travel.
Feldman: String Quartet #2
Three hundred sixty-eight minutes, my friends. You won’t feel like dancing, you won’t be tapping your feet. A revolution in string quartet composition – this one will get you from coast to coast on an airplane ride. Recommended only with good noise-cancelling headphones on the airplane. I use
Bose Quiet Comfort Headphones for long airplane rides.
Messiaen: Complete Organ Works played by Olivier Latry
Sometimes I need some pipe organ on the playlist. Messiaen stretches boundaries. His music also works well as an accompaniment for an airplane ride. With the complete works downloaded to my listening device, I am all set.
Closing Thoughts
If you have travel music suggestions, especially for getting through an airplane ride, I’d love to hear your selections. If you haven’t heard any of the works above and are intrigued, you can sample a few selections from the Spotify links above.
Thanks for stopping by to read this article about music for sleeping on an airplane.
Happy Travels.
Arthur Dobrucki
Azure Hills Music