The Majickal Garden

There is really no such thing as “ambient” classical music. In fact, some classical music enthusiasts might consider such a term demeaning to the genre. What do you mean by this classification? Are you equating those pieces you listed as “muzak?”

Your definition of ambient is quite ‘stretched’ and not accurate. Here is the definition from wikipedia,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambient_music#Notable_musicians_and_works_in_chronological_order
“Ambient music is a musical genre that focuses largely on the timbral characteristics of sounds, often organized or performed to evoke an ‘atmospheric’, ‘visual’ or ‘unobtrusive’ quality.”

Certainly the Barber Adagio does not ‘qualify’ as ambient?

The concept was first made manifest by Eric Satie with his three sets of “Furniture Music” form 1917, 20, 23. Furniture music was background music which was not meant to be noticed. Like wallpaper in a room, you might notice it if you paid attention, but it was otherwise present but nearly invisible.

Ambient music was named/claimed by Brian Eno, with the release of his piece “Ambient 1 – Music for Airports.” His earlier “Discreet Music” was music using a similar procedure.

By a stretch of the definition to ‘Ambient-like’ I would add:

Charles Ives: The Unanswered Question
Morton Feldman: Piano and String Quartet
John Adams: Common Tones in Simple Time
Robert Moran: Chant du Cygne, (a Requiem)
David Lang: Slow Movement / The Passing Measures.

best regards.