Music that moves you to tears? - Page 2 - Classical Music Forums

CampOfTheSaints · #16 (**permalink**) Dec-11-2007, 03:06

I agree with most of what is already listed, however, I don't think anyone has listed Bach's Mass In B Minor. This is one of the most moving works ever written, and has been going strong for almost 300 years.

Chi_town/Philly · #17 (**permalink**) Dec-11-2007, 03:30

I recognize that I'm repeating myself here, but...

1) The conclusion of Wagner's Tannhäuser. Invariably.

2) Passages from the final 2 movements of Schoenberg's Verklärte Nacht. In addition to the "subject matter," I have the feeling that it "closes the door" to the 19th century. It's an overstatement to say that music would never be written the same way again... but Schoenberg would never write music like this again.

Edward Elgar · #18 (**permalink**) Dec-11-2007, 12:15

I find Elgar's Chanson d'Nuit to be very moving. It pushes melody to its emotional limit.

ChamberNut · #19 (**permalink**) Dec-11-2007, 14:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by fool on the hill

Beethoven: "Holy Song of Thanksgiving by a Convalescent to the Divinity, in the Lydian Mode" (3rd movement from String Quartet No. 15)

Ohhhhhh yes indeed!

Also, from Beethoven:

Cavatina 5th mvt. from SQ# 13, Op. 130

2nd mvt. of Piano Sonata # 23 Appassionata

2nd mvt. of Piano Concerto No. 2 (this one gets to me somehow)

Mahler

Symphony No. 5, 4th mvt. Adagietto

Brahms

Piano Concerto No. 1, 2nd mvt.

Barber

Adagio for Strings

Bruckner

Symphony No. 5 Adagio

Ephemerid · #20 (**permalink**) Dec-12-2007, 01:21

Oh, this is another Samuel Barber piece that gets to me-- but partly for extra-musical reasons because of the story: Medea's Meditation and Dance of Vengeance. The rage of a mother driven to this point of jealousy, descending into madness and ultimately evil-- and the terrible fate of the children-- this is expressed so powerfully that by the end I am overcome with tears... This is another instance of rather violent music that has this effect on me...

~ josh

AmericanPop · #21 (**permalink**) Dec-14-2007, 04:41

Marjan Mozetich - Affairs of the heart

World Violist · #22 (**permalink**) Dec-15-2007, 19:48

Definitely these:

Elgar: Cello Concerto, first movement
Bach: Partita No. 2 for Solo violin in D minor, Chaconne (must be Menuhin, though!)
Bruch: Kol Nidrei
Brahms: 1st Symphony, last movement (especially when the brass theme comes at the end, Karajan conducting)
Vitali: Chaconne (has to be Heifetz's recording with the organ, though)

ChamberNut · #23 (**permalink**) Dec-16-2007, 20:39

I need to add to this list Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 29 Hammerklavier, the immense 3rd movement.

MJTTOMB · #24 (**permalink**) Dec-17-2007, 13:21

Although not entirely classical, I'm deeply in love with the Ashoken Farewell

anon2k2 · #25 (**permalink**) Dec-18-2007, 07:54

There are a few pieces that have brought me to tears: the Urlicht from the Mahler 2nd, the 2nd movement of the Mendelssohn violin concerto, the Pie Jesu from the Durufle Requiem, the 2nd Movement from the Honneger 3rd Symphony, and just about the entire Messiaen Quatuor pour la Fin Du Temps.

Each is such amazing beauty and if well done (or sometimes not even well done) I feel that familiar lump rising in my throat.

ChamberNut · #26 (**permalink**) Dec-19-2007, 14:17

Well, ok, this movement doesn't necessarily move me to tears, but sends definite shivers up my arms.

It is the Andante con moto of Schubert's Death and the Maiden String Quartet No. 14 in D minor, D810, specifically in between the 2 and 3 minute mark variation....the pleading violin.

World Violist · #27 (**permalink**) Dec-21-2007, 05:19

The third movement of Mahler's first sends shivers up my spine also. I've felt tears in my eyes from it's utter resignation... it's just so sad.

sirder · #28 (**permalink**) Dec-27-2007, 19:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by fool on the hill

A long time ago when I was a teenager and I was first getting seriously into classical music, there was a radio programme I used to record onto cassette on Sunday evenings and they played a variety of classical music. One time they played that Shostakovich concerto and I was so thankful I got it on tape! I wore that tape out to death! I was so delighted when a few years later I got it on CD. There's a section close to the end of the first movement that is really thrilling too, where the brass join in at the end.

Regarding Stravinsky's Rite-- there's something about certain loud dissonant pieces that get to me (though certainly not all!)... Britten's Sinfonia da Requiem or Holst's Mars is one thing-- at least it is connected in my mind to the savagery of war (I think of them as strongly anti-war music-- it is hardly glorified in these two pieces). I can't help but make the connection with the music with what it represents (this is true with much Shostakovich as well).

The dissonance of Sinfonia da Requiem is connected (in my mind) with the death and suffering and deumanisation of so many people. The Holst piece is simply inhuman (a terrifying "march" in 5/4) and also represents (in my mind) how soldiers are dehumanised (all the more remarkable because Holst write this BEFORE WWI). Though even without those extra-musical associations, I think they would still move me like they do. But with the Rite I don't even associate it with the basic storyline of the original ballet.

I can't explain why I react to the Rite that way-- the ferocity of it is just so overwhelming. (I have similar odd moments like this with certain movies, crying in some of the most unexpected moments)

~josh

I know the Programme you mean ......Your 100 Best tunes presented by Allen Keith and then by Richard Baker .........Yes I'm sure there were many that were captivted by the tremendous variety of Music putout from that Radio Show.
and now in my mind I'm trying to remember the Shostakovich concerto ..(it was the 2 nd was'nt it ?).can only remember the main theme ........At one time I'd ring my Brother and humm or sing ;-))) the tune for him to tell me the Title .........But now he's gone .I "ain't got no one "........How're yer fixed ? ;-)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

Happy listening Josh

Ephemerid · #29 (**permalink**) Dec-27-2007, 19:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirder

I know the Programme you mean ......Your 100 Best tunes presented by Allen Keith and then by Richard Baker .........Yes I'm sure there were many that were captivted by the tremendous variety of Music putout from that Radio Show.
and now in my mind I'm trying to remember the Shostakovich concerto ..(it was the 2 nd was'nt it ?).can only remember the main theme ........At one time I'd ring my Brother and humm or sing ;-))) the tune for him to tell me the Title .........But now he's gone .I "ain't got no one "........How're yer fixed ? ;-)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

Happy listening Josh

Oh yes, it was the second concerto-- the outer movements are wonderful but the second movement is sooooo gorgeous! :-)

~josh

QuestionMark · #30 (**permalink**) Dec-31-2007, 20:35

I have to second CampOfTheSaints. Bach's B-Minor Mass is tops in my book, but unfortunately (or fortunately for its devotees), it's also a very long work.

To make it easy for 1st time listeners, I'd recommend the "Kyrie eleison", which has three parts (Kyrie/Christe/Kyrie). And of course the gorgeous "Dona nobis pacem", which is the final part of the Agnus Dei, and closes out the Mass. But don't stop there! Dedicate a couple of hours of focused listening now and then to the entire work, and you'll discover many other gems of your own.

This is one of the truly great masterpieces of western music. I don't play it unless I'm stocked up on Kleenex.