Just reviewed many of the posts and all have so much merit.
Notationally the length of the piece plays a good bit of what is so beautiful about classical music or baroque for that matter -- but in reality the feeling and sensations of vocals delivered with pure emotion compress that feeling and drive it into you in such a short span that I fully understand the votes for these as well. The lyrics have to reach and touch in order for this to work, thus the subjectivity of the vocal votes presented is likely greater than those for classical, instrumental offerings.
All of that said -- I think for me the candidates come from a variety of sections but there is one -- particularly when reproduced on my system that for me does it all -- Woman of Heart and Mind by Joni Mitchell. Should I ever find the woman who exists in those lyrics -- well -- that would be my ideal. But that speaks only for me. |
Whispering Pines-The Band |
Chopin's nocturne op9 no.2 performed by Arthur Rubinstein, Schubert's Ave Maria, and Hot For Teacher by Van Halen.
Sorry, but the last one is very dear to me...... |
"Motherless Child".
I'm thinking of the Van Morrison version in particular.
Or is "gut wrenching" a better term? |
1. "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face." Roberta Flack version 1969. Written in 1957 by Ewan MacColl for his wife.
2. "Forever Autumn" from Jeff Wayne's 1978 album "War of The Worlds"; sung by Justin Hayward (Moody Blues).
3. "I'm Goin' Back To Harlan" Emmy Lou Harris from "Wrecking Ball" album 1995.
4. "Its Only Make Believe" Conway Twitty 1958.
5. "Scarborough Fair/Canticle" Simon and Garfunkle 1966. SF is a tradional English ballad. The counterpoint "Canticle" was written by Simon and Garfunkle later altered lyrics to include anti-Viet Nam War stuff. |
I keep on promoting this Øystein Sevåg:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTeWo83I-_A&feature=related |
Several years back on this thread, someone mentioned "Terrapin Station" by the Grateful Dead.
I happened to be re-visting this work for the first time in a while. It had caught my attention years ago and I hear why. It is a most interesting piece. Lots of progressive rock and classical elements (the Dead really did that?) with quite poetic lyrics. Very unique + very enjoyable. Achingly beautiful? Well, yes I suppose so in the Dead's typical low key manner though..... |
Allegri's Miserere performed by The Tallis Scholars (listening to it as I write this) certainly fits the bill. 'The Great Bear and Pleides' from Britten's Peter Grimes (and much more from that work too). 'Marche Funebre' from Beethoven's 3rd. John Dowland's 'In Darkness let me Dwelle'.
For me 'achingly beautiful' describes classical, choral and opera, but in a different way, Van Morrison's Astral Weeks, Tom Wait's 'Alice' and some Joni Mitchell stuff (try 'A Case of You' from her album 'Blue'). |
1) Maurice Ravel's "Daphnis and Chloé", especially the second set (lever du jour/ pantomime/ danse générale) takes longing, yearning, tension and release to an extreme. Choose a recording where they did not leave out the choir! The Furtwaengler recording from March 1944 (label: Archipel) carries more energy than all the others I have heard. I can compare its unbelievable crescendos only to, er, an erotic encounter. Furtwaengler teaches everybody a thing about interpretation and even makes you forget the permanent coughs from the audience and the heavy overdrive of the recording equipment at the climaxes when the concert hall seems to come down. But do yourself a favour and buy a good contemporary recording, too, e.g. Kent Nagano's. Daphnis and Chloé makes you want to put flowers onto Ravel's grave. Quelle beauté! Quelle tendresse! Merci, monsieur Ravel!
2) Max Reger's very short song (or lied) "Aeolsharfe" (aeolian harp) opus 75 no. 11, sung by Fischer-Dieskau. A tiny little gem, German romantic sentiment triple concentrated.
3) The third ache generator is a tie between a) "Wind on Water" by Robert Fripp and Brian Eno (album "Evening Star") with its unforgettable, inspired e-guitar line; b) "Mirage" for cello, keyboards and e-guitar by Terje Rypdal and David Darling (album "Eos", label ECM) which is an idyll with focused energy and plenty of space; c) "Mannelig", an ancient Swedish song, sung by the great Lena Willemark on the album "Nordan"; d) "O sacrum convivium" for mixed choir by Olivier Messiaen (e.g. on the label Catalyst) with one final 45-second "aleluia" that floors even an agnostic like me; and e) some recurring moments of LaMonte Young's special version of the Raga Sundara, regrettably not published yet. Awesome and deeply moving just with its beauty.
Sorry for writing so much, but these are the gems from my 20 years of collecting music. Sharing them is important to me. |
try..Vassilis Tsabropoulos[piano] either solo or with Anja Lechner[cello]
on the album "chants,hymns and dances". preview a song at.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbYkHjSERsI |
Lately, Patricia Barber's "Persephone" from Mythologies has been slaying me -- there's ache for you.
I've noticed that folks hereabouts are mixed on Barber, and on this album in particular. I think it's a flat out masterpiece. Just another one of those cases where I can't get my mind around what the "opposition" is thinking -- an apt seasonal sentiment. |
Persephone has some great vocals and feel to it. I also like the previous track and that killer guitar solo over a sparce instrumental background. Soul searing.
Enjoy,
Bob |
Man-Erg - Van Der Graaf Generator.
Beautiful in quite an aching kind of way. |
ARVO PART "TABULA RASA" get it at all costs! |
I didn't read through all these posts, but here's mine;
Wagner- "Flight of the Valkyries"
Springsteen- "Thunder Road"
Pink Floyd- "Wish You Were Here" |
White Dove by Starsailor from Silence is Easy. |
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"Let's Go Away for Awhile" - Beach Boys from Pet Sounds (That melody, those vibes and strings...always been killer to me). |
Nice to see that people like Arvo Pärt. |
Listen to Liz Carroll, most moving music I have ever heard. Crow in the Sun is an amazing piece of music. |
3) Harold Melvin "If You Don't Know Me By Now"
2) Simon and Garfunkel "The Only Living Boy in New York"
1) Leonard Cohen "Famous Blue Raincoat"
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Appalachian Spring by Copland recorded by Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Orchestra on RCA. With a great system the experience in nothing short of fantastic.
Beethoven's Piano Sonata #30 by Wilhelm Kempff on DG. The third movement seems to place us on a plateau rarely visited.
Franz Schubert's Death and the Maiden Quartet by the Takacs Quartet on Hyperion. The music is beautiful and angry, and the recording realizes the tremendous angst of the composer. |
Tons of classical pieces but, in the more modern world Jeff Buckley singing Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" The first time I heard it I was frozen on the spot and yes, crying. It's an amazingly moving song. |
Enjoyed reading this thread. Here are some additions.
1. Spanish Harlem - Rebecca Pidgeon, Leiber, Jerry
2. Harvest Moon - Cassandra Wilson, Young, Neil
3. The Priests (album) by THE PRIESTS |
Leslie Mills, "The Keeper". |
Mercedes Sosa, her powerful, musical and sweet voice, her entire career towards human justice...always Mercedes!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyOJ-A5iv5I |
Dan Fogelberg - Leader of the Band
Perfectly conceived and written from the heart.
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three diverse selections off the top of my head:
Beethoven Symphonies No. 4 & 6 (Pastorale), Bruno Walter, Columbia Symphony Orchestra
Crossing the Waters, Steve Schuch & The Night Heron Consort
and yes, Joni Mitchell's Blue (o: |
Copland, Gershwin, Louis Armstrong, Rogers & Hammerstein (and several others) should be required listening in grade school since their music is such a part of our national character. Make civics, a foreign language, and art/music appreciation (humanities) mandatory from an early age for a better America! |
Herbert Howells English Cathedral Music,especially the "Collegium Regale"(King's College) service.
Mozart's Requiem,possibly the most important piece ever.
Beethoven's 9th symphony.A turning point in history.
ahh so much music, so little time.
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Just a few personal favs from simply oodles and oodles to choose from. All music is beautiful.
Puccini- Coro a bossa chiusa (Madame Butterfly).
Puccini- O Mio babbino caro (Gianni Schicchi).
Donizetti- -Una Fortiva Lagrima-(L'Elisir D'amore).
Verdi- Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves-Nabucco.
Massenet-Meditation (mutter-tear to a glass eye).
Barber-Concerto for Violin Op14- II.Andante (Hilary Hahn- tears to both glass eyes).
Vivaldi-Gloria in Excelsis Dio in D (RV589) |
Handels Messiah - Sir Malcolm Sargent Royal Philharmonic Readers Digest
Beethovens 9th Rene Leibowitz Royal Philharmonic Readers Digest
I cannot believe these both came out on Readers Digest They are awesome.
Quiet City - Aaron Copland London Symphony
Adagio for Strings Leonard Bernstein Very emotional usually too sad for me to listen to |
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"Johnny Cash Hurt"
That's a very good one! |
Only Women Bleed-Julie Covington
Buckets of Rain- Bob Dylan
Giving it all away-Roger Daltrey
16 Candles-Danielle Dax
The Promise-When in Rome
Marry me-Emilie Autumn
Pictures of you-The Cure
Music of the Night-Michael Crawford
Bad-U2
Hands to Heaven-Breathe
Celebrate-Fields of the Nephilim
Call & Answer-Bare nekked ladies
Hero-Mariah Carey
The nobodies- Marilyn Manson
The Curse-Diary of Dreams
Monsters & Angels-Voice of the Beehive
Help-Deep Purple |
there are many, but here's my selection in no particular order of emotion or mood:
Across the universe - The Beatles
Me and Bobby McGee (acoustic version/demo) - Janis Joplin
Old Man - Neil Young
Birdland - Patti Smith
Working Class Hero - John Lennon
Moonshadow - Cat Stevens
Town called malice - The Jam
At last - Etta James
Je t'aime, je ne t'aime plus - Patricia Kaas
Love grows - The Siddeleys
For What It's Worth - Buffalo Springfield
America - Simon & Garfunkel
Blackbird - The Beatles
Death Singing - Patti Smith
Only A Hobo - Rod Stewart
Immigrant Song - Led Zeppelin
Bang Bang Bang - Tracy Chapman
Testament - Boudewijn de Groot
Freebird - Lynyrd Skynyrd
London Calling - The Clash
Milord - Edith Piaf
Green Onions - Booker T. & The MG's
I can't give you anyhting but love - Duke Ellington
Love the one you're with - Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Highway 61 revisited (live) - Johnny Winter
and just for laughs:
Ca plane pour moi - Plastic Bertrand
Mama Looka Boo Boo (Shut Your Mouth - Go Away) - Robert Mitchum |
River of Sorrow, painfully beautiful. |
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Delirium and their song Kharma. |
Glenn Gould's music for Vonnegut's movie, Slaughterhouse Five.
Pink Floyd's Shine On You Crazy Diamond, parts 1-9
Donny Osmond-Little Lover Boy (ok, that's a joke!)
Frank Zappa-Watermelon in Easter Hay |
THIS IS A MUST HEAR!!
Procol Harum In Concert with the Danish National
Orchestra and Choir performing A Whiter Shade of Pale
My Absolute Current Favourite!! |
Has anyone else caught up with this Version?? |
I have heard the Procul Harum. Did you like the epic "In Held Twas I"?
Listening tonight to Hyperion Vaughn Williams and Howells choral music.Playing it direct connection bypassing the line stage. What a fantastic recording and to hear it like that makes me want to deliver pizzas to get a passive.
Also just got Christy Moore's "Voyage" on vinyl.Very low sound floor,incredible bass and mid range texture.Finding old records of guys you have only heard on CD is a lot of fun.
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Hi Emorrisiv,The Version of Whiter Shade of Pale I'm talking about was recorded in late 2006 and released on CD in 2008 it does not have "In Held Twas I" on the album but it is just so dramatic you have to hear it!!!
Regards Bigpond
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Bigpond, thanks for the correction. I must be thinking of the old live recording they did with full orchestra.
Which I have to say had moments of great drama and most certainly was very dynamic. |
Love Procol Harum, Gary Brooker, + co.
I'll have to check that out.... |
Allegri's Miserere Mei, Deus. |
Bryon: That is a uniquely fantastic piece.Which version do you like? I have Kings College Cambridge doing it in Latin on CD and in English on Vinyl.I also have the Tallis Scholars on Nimbus CD.
Does everyone know that this piece was Papal property under threat of excommunication and was only sung on Ash Wednesday in the Sistine Chapel by the Papal choir? Until Mozart went there, memorized it and put it to paper.
Written for schola (men)including "imbellementi" sections where the castrati sings a high C several times in a very ethereal tonality. Magical
I prefer the vinyl of course, though the Latin text is more correct.Being a Kings College fan, the Willcocks/English version is a historical recording;since Kings also does this piece every Ash Wednesday.Kings chapel may be one of the few spaces that can compare with the Sistine chapel,which makes the recording all the better.
This one is a real treasure. |
Emorrisiv - I have at least three versions of the piece. The Kings College version in latin is my favorite. I didn't know all the history you mentioned. That's fascinating. Can you recommend other choral pieces with a similar ethereal quality? |
Bryon, IMHO the companion piece found on the old Willcocks/Kings Allegri recording; Palestrina Stabat Mater is even better.
Actually if you like this kind of music, any of the english cathedral and collegiate choirs doing renaissance music will please you. Byrd,Tallis,Pallestrina,Vittoria,Thomas Tomkins,Orlando Gibbons (my favorite),Thomas Shepherd,Robert White, and a host of others.
You should also listen the the Vaughn Williams Mass in G minor.A 20th century piece written in the style of Byrd or Tallis and a real beauty.
Also, look for mixed groups such as;Tallis Scholars,The Sixteen,The Scholars,The Clerks of Oxenford,Corydon Singers,
these groups are often ex members of the collegiate choirs and are early music specialists.It is in these groups that you will find the most esoteric pieces.
I have had the good fortune of singing countertenor in a very good American cathedral choir for most of my life, and I am well steeped in the tradition and these composers and their works.I have done the Allegri several times.
If you are looking for vinyl versions, there are many to choose from. If you need specific help, send me a email and I would be glad to discuss this at length.
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