I love sad music


I'm talking about music that when you're feeling down will make you feel worse. I don't want uplifting or inspirational. Some of Chopin's more melancholic works can do it for me.  I don't listen to country, but George Jones singing "It's a good day for the roses" is about as sad a song as you will find. Leonard Cohen's "Alexandra leaving" is another sad song. I have everything Davis and Coltrane recorded, so I'm looking for recommendations for the most beautiful but depressing music you've ever heard. I want to hear a violin, my favorite instrument, that will bring tears to your eyes. I know this is a strange request but some of the best music comes from dark places. Thanks
cal91

Showing 1 response by yeti42

Peter Warlock - The Curlew.  Particularly the Ian Partridge recording but that sounds rather dated. Mark Padmore’s recording is much more recent and you get Vaughan Williams On Wenlock Edge and some William Blake songs too.

Peter Hammill (solo and with Van der Graaf Generator) has some fine moments of misery. The tract “Out” from Out of Water, inspired by the death of his brother for instance and “My Room” from Still Life (VDGG) come to mind and the album Over (once you get past the first track). He can be something of an acquired taste though.

Another swan piece, this time Sibelius The Swan of Tuonela from the Lemminkäinen Suite  - play this at my funeral.