Bach's Flute concerto. If that doesn't ache try any of Coltranes' mid-sixties innovative work. If that don't hurt I don't know what will. |
Stan Getz and Bill Evans cut: "The Peacock" by Jimmy Rowles, on the CD "But Beautiful" |
If you like classical guitar try Joaquin Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez or the Fantasia para un gentilhombre. |
Bob Dylan, Tom Waits and Joni Mitchell. |
Gotta keep this thread going, it's given me all sorts of music to listen to, many I would never have thought of or tried. Here's some more for your consideration:Brahms, Intermezzi in A major (Op. 118, no.2) and B flat minor (Op. 117, no. 1), I particularly like Pogorelich's interpretations on DG; Rachmaninoff, Vespers (toward the latter portion, you'll see where he came up with one of the themes for the final movement of his Symphonic Dances, but the most beautiful parts are in the 3rd through 6th pieces); Rachmaninoff Corelli Variations, particularly Ashkenazy's earlier, analog recording; Mendelssohn's Verleigh' uns Frieden, which I had the pleasure of singing with the Leipzig University choir, who got a kick out of my German; Vaughn Williams, 5 Mystical Songs, particularly the fourth, The Call; Durufle, Ubi Caritas from his four motets; and two that used to move me back in my college days and haven't listened to in a while, Morning Glory by Tim Buckley and Comin' Back to Me by the Jefferson Airplane (from the Surrealistic Pillow album). Outlier, do you have a favorite recording/performance of the Enigma Variations? |
(1)Bach: Chaconne (must be the full orchestral arrangement by Stokowski - beyond belief!) (2) Elgar: Enigma Variations (Nimrod Variation) (3) David Gray, White Ladder CD |
Having just returned from a performance of it by the NJSO, I'd like to add the "Nimrod" variation from Elgar's Enigma Variations. Any preferred recordings of this piece for any of you? |
Debussy's Quartet in G minor, opus 10; Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata or various moments in his Ninth Symphony, especially the Chorale crescendo; Samuel Barber's Adagio For Strings. |
If you haven't heard the Bobo Stenson Trio on ECM yet this is the epidomy of gorgeous music! His most recent one "Serenity" is truely fabulous. Pick it up soon! |
Do I notice an ECM theme in this thread towards the end? Not surprising, I think my CD collection is probably 25% ECM, and it sure is achingly beautiful- from all the etherial jazzers, to the 'new series' gorgeous 20th c. orchestral composers- too many to mention. M.E. sure has some sweet ears. |
Ethnicolor - Jean-Michel Jarre pretty much the entire _It's My Life_ album - Talk Talk That short instrumental track right before Danchiva on the album _French Kiss_ - Bob Welch The final few tracks of _The Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking_ - Roger Waters Echoes - Pink Floyd Piano Trio in E flat, 2nd movement - Schubert Kuiama - Electric Light Orchestra Love this thread (it's the Russian in me) please, more, more |
Keith Jarrett's "Koln Concert", Jimmy Scott's "All The Way", and anything by Nina Simone! |
Bartok string 4et #1, any John Abercrombie ballad, David Gilmour solos from Pink Floyd albums. Hows that for variety, me in a nutshell, very moving stuff IMO. P.S. I like the term "achingly beautiful", very nice. |
Ennio Morricone is one of the greatest composers for movie soundtracks alive. He is renown for theme song of "The good, bad and the ugly" nevertheless, that is just a grain of sand in comparison to the range of sounds he is able to produce. Sarah Brightman sings a song based on his melody, "Lady Caliph" on her new album. The lyrics are terrible, but if you can get a two volume copilation of his songs relesed in VIRGIN labels, back in 1987-1988, you will see what is hearthbreaking. |
Jan Gargarek "rites" Terje Rypdal "odyssey" Eberhard Weber "Fluid Rustle" |
One More. Louis Armstrong's What a Wonderful World |
Unchained Melody, I Will Always Love You, Sibelius: Karelia Suite |
Srama - I wholeheartedly endorse all your sentiments. Which is why I initiated this thread, but never expected it to germinate in this way. It is very heartening to discover, that, although many of us obsess over our gear, the beauty of music (I believe) is what spurs us to chase after the "holy grail" of life-like musical reproduction. And that is why I feel that audio-lunacy is such a forgivable obsession! (Forgive me if I've sounded too preachy). Again, thanks a ton to all who have continued to share all their musical treasures with the rest of us (and make this such an addictive website). Mark |
What a GREAT thread - I can't believe I only just stumbled upon it. Some things that come to mind - 1) American Tune by Simon & Garfunkel - almost always leaves me all choked up. 2) Diamonds and Rust by Joan Baez - which is the most beautiful love song I have ever heard (particularly poignant when you consider that the subject is Bob Dylan) 3) The 2nd movement from Beethoven's 7th Symphony...heck, the whole damn symphony!! (as well as his 5th and 9th) 4) The Funeral March from Mahler's 1st Symphony 5) Several songs from the Getz/Gilberto album - Joao Gilberto can turn the most mundane song into an expression of pure beauty - the phrase "achingly beautiful" may just as well have been invented to describe his voice I am sure I have left out several that have moved me at one time or another. There is so much beautiful music, so little time. All this agonizing we do over components, and cables and room anamolies!! Sometimes I honestly cannot tell whether any of this music moves me more now with several thousand dollars of equipment than it did when I was a poor graduate student with a crappy stereo. So many of us audiophiles sometimes overlook the fact that the "Holy Grail" is mostly in the music and less so in the gear. Happy Listening! Shiv. |
Khrys -- ROTF! "Presenile" is just about right -- sheesh, who cares if my remnant of sanity lasts, as long as my ears do!?! Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto is beeyooteefull to me, but I admit that some find the dissonances and sheer, pyrotechnic technique hard to cuddle up with. My favorite version (oh, boy, here we go...) is Heifetz with the Chicago Symphony, Reiner conducting, on RCA, LSC 2129 (and re-released on vinyl by Classic Records). One site states: "Heifetz delivers a now-thought-to-be unequaled performance of Tchaikovsky’s beloved violin concerto, Reiner and the CSO, in top form, provide the perfect context for Maestro Heifetz’s dazzling performance." I couldn't agree more -- a performance that gives me chills and tears simultaneously. |
Mjm, you presenile goose. You mean Schubert didn't write Four Last Songs? I certainly did not know that and was already looking for them!!! I don't know the Tchaikovsky. Can you suggest a recording? |
Aspirations by Gentle Giant from The Power and the Glory White Winds by Andreas Vollenweider The song ICE by Camel..... (best Guitar song ever !!) |
Vaughn Williams Tallis Fantasia; second movement of the Barber violin concerto; tie between the final movement of the Mahler Second ("Ressurection") and the Mahler 9th. And how can I leave out the Faure and Duruffle Requiems? There's a lot more of them out there, too, as these posts attest. These are some of my current choices. |
Oooops! Thinking STRAUSS, typing Schubert -- I'm not senile...yet! |
Mjm, thanks for mentioning Schubert's Four Last Songs. You reminded me that Richard Strauss's Vier letzte Lieder are also worthy of consideration. |
Schwartzkopf singing Shubert's Four Last Songs; the blues riff Jimi plays right after Purple Haze on the Woodstock soundtrack; anything by Kate Bush, but especially her earliest works, including "The Man With The Child In His Eyes," "Wuthering Heights," "L'Amor Looks Something Like You".... I share many of the prior choices as well, but what's the point of mentioning yet again Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto? :-) |
Chopin, Piano Concerto #2, 2nd movement. Keep it going. |
Sibelius' Swan of Tuanela |
"Lark Ascending" by Vaughn Williams |
"Where is the sixty horses in my herd? where is the "all" of my tribe? Where is the hiching post where I can tie my horse? Where are the seven "kojuun" of my homeland?" From the song "kongerei" sung by Tuvan expatriates who live in outer Mongolia and yearn for their homeland, heard on Kronos Quartet album "Night Prayers".I listened this particular song on NPR. And if you have a chance to heare it, i DARE you to stay indiferent! |
John Cage's In a Landscape (perhaps intellectually beautiful as opposed to achingly so). Also Barber's Adagio for Strings (as many have said) and parts (at least) of the Rutter Requiem. Also that brief passage of music the Grateful Dead played coming out of the first-ever Wharf Rat on 2/18/71, which appears on the So Many Roads boxed set as Beautiful Jam. And Ramblin' Jack Elliott's 912 Greens (the original recording). |
The more I think about this, the more I recall of music that has really moved me going all the way back to the late 1950's. Many of Duke Ellington's songs and works define "achingly beautiful" music for me. When I am in a classical music mood and want violin, one of the best LP's of solo violin ever recorded was Kuijken's recordings of Bach's solo violin pieces, released on Harmonia Mundi in the late 1980's. Charles Lloyd also had a beautiful album released in the early 90's after many years away from the recording scene, called "Fish Out of Water". Another album that might fit this discussion is Jan Garbarek's album with the Hilliard Ensemble called "Officium". I used to be big fan of Chet Baker, and at times was deeply moved by his spare, melancholy sound. For more info about Baker and his recordings, check this Web site: http://home.ica.net/~blooms/bakerhome.html Last contribution: Stan Getz's album "People Time", with Kenny Barron. This was the last album that Getz recorded shortly before his death, and you can tell by his playing that he is reflecting on his life. Everything is stripped away, and there are some points where his playing falters slightly, almost as if were choking back tears. This is an album that you hear at night, with the lights out......... |
something i found with the help of npr (all things considered): mia doi todd, la vie en rose, from the cd "the unaccompanied voice" ; secretly canadian (ain't that a great name for an indiana indy label?). this whole disc is worth listening to, tho some of the tracks are a bit over-produced. the track noted brings to mind the song's writer, edith piaf, singing in the shower, alone, trying to stave off a hangover after a night of too much cheap red wine. |
It's nice to see a thread that is so informative and free of the bashing that is going on in the equipment threads. This is by far the most useful thread I have found on Audiogon. I was an early poster as well on this thread and will try to keep it going. Any others? Try Lauridsen's "Lux Aeterna" a modern a cappella choral work by USC's choral director. Loved Aphex Twins and Coil. *THANKS* to all. |
Sdcampbell Just listened last night to "The King of Peace Is Dead" by Nina. First time in many years. What a concidence you mention it. It is a heartfelt performance to be sure. |
I made a post early in this thread, and it's been very interesting to watch the additions. I have a few additional individual pieces or songs that clearly belong in the "achingly beautiful" category: 1. Nina Simone's song in tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, which I think was titled "The King of Peace Is Dead". 2. Mark Murphy's rendition of "Ballad of the Sad Young Men" from his album "Murphy Sings Kerouac", dedicated to Jack Kerouac. 3. John Coltrane's rendition of his song "Alabama", dedicated to the 4 girls killed in the bombing of the church in Montgomery, and his song "Naima", dedicated to his wife. 4. Most of Bill Evans' ballad performances. 5. Much of Joan Baez's early work. 6. Recordings of Billie Holiday with Lester Young and/or Ben Webster. |
Please don't miss Wagner's "Prelude to Act 1" of both "Parsifal" and "Lohengrin" operas. R Vaughn Williams' "Fantasia on a Theme By Thomas Tallis." And, for a twist, try Lyle Lovett on "She's Already Made Up Her Mind" found on the Joshua Judges Ruth album. Thanks for all the good feedback on this excellent post! |
Ejlif interesting choices, 99.9% of people here don't know who Coil is (or Pink Dots) But since I hung out at Wax Trax in Chicago, the industrial music center of the USA, I had some Coil records and LPD |
Three more... Coil's Black Light District "Refusal of Leave to Land" Legendary Pink Dot's "Sterre" Benjamin Lew's "Et tout est parti de la" |
Don't forget to include Dvorak's Cello Concerto. I particularly like Yo Yo Ma's interpretation on CBS Masterworks. |
I was referring to Carmen's "All By Myself" (on the first side of that release), which lifts from what pianists commonly refer to as Rach 2 (the Piano concerto). You're referring, I think, to "Never Gonna Fall in Love Again", the other hit (on the second side of that release...at least on vinyl...ha ha ha). As Spinal Tap said so eloquently, "there's a fine line between clever and stupid"...citing the master from which you lift a wonderful melody is called "homage"...lifting the melody without citation is called "plagarism". I say him on the old TV show "Midnight Special" with a band that (if memory serves) had two drummers (both around 300 lbs), two guitarists and two bass players! The two drummers played everything in complete unison...completely redundant unless he was going for "separation and soundstage imaging". |
This was definitely from his 1st solo album. As a matter of fact I saw Carmen in Concert in I believe 1972 (Spectrum Philly) after he left the Rasberries in what was his 1st solo tour. That is when I first heard him perform the piece and noticed the similarities with Rach but didn't note any other pieces he performed that were similar to any of Rach or other's work. |
Thanks Hcfolm & Timwat I was always curious about those details since it was so obvious the melody was the same almost verbatim . Now Timwat you have me confused somewhat. You have stated he lifted the music from the 2nd Concerto not the Symphony. The piece I am talking about is definitely from the 3rd movement of 2nd sym not any of Rach Concerto pieces which I am intimately familiar with. Are you speaking of other pieces as well that he plagerized? |
Hcfolm: Unfortunately in Carmen's case, it's just the opposite of what it seems. Carmen was a child prodigy, Julliard trained as a concert pianist before he hit the pop stage w/ the Rasberries and demonstrated his affinity for the Beatles. So he had been inundated w/ old Sergei way before that first solo release. He lifted the melody from the Rach 2 (Piano Concerto, not symph) verbatim, and while he may have cited the source in an interview here and there, did NOT in the published sheet music at the time (early 70's, right?). Caused quite a stir in the keyboard community...as many saw it as blatant musical plagarism, much as 2nd movement of Beethoven's "Pathetique" sonata has been lifted, and other throughout pop history. |
Tubegroover, re: Eric Carmen's borrowing from Rachmaninoff, I clearly remember hearing an interview on the radio way back when, where Carmen described how he took the theme for his song from Rach's symphony. At the time, I wasn't familiar with the symphony, but I remember being impressed with the fact that Carmen had an appreciation for classical music. |
It is awesome to see Aphex Twin mentioned twice here.Psilonaut and Aphex Twin are standouts on the "Pi" soundtrack. How about Metallica's "Call of the Cthulu(sic)" and Eddie Van Halen's "Spanish Fly" as two of the great rock guitar songs. |
The most achingly beautiful music: The 1st movement of Schubert's last three string quartets. The most awe inspiring wonderful music ever composed. The Emerson Quartet's recording is my favorite. Bruckner's 9th symphony,third movement;positively ,heavenly inspired.Solti and the CSO recording is my favorite with Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonic a close second.Smokestack Lightning by the Yardbirds, a raunchy rave-up of a blues standard. The live version with Eric Clapton on lead guitar was the best. Keith Relf plays a devilish blues harp on that number. To me that song was the epitome of rock and in its own way was achingly beautiful. Led Zeppelin's first album was just a variation on that one song. |
Aphex Twin's "Selected Ambeint Works Volume II" Curve's 'Doppelganger' and 'Think & Act' on the album "Doppelganger". The classical piece Major Winchester teaches to the Korean P.O.W.s...can anyone tell me the name of it? I have embarrassingly little knowledge of classical. |
Aphex Twin's "Selected Ambeint Works Volume II" Curve's 'Doppelganger' and 'Think & Act' on the album "Doppelganger". The classical piece Major Winchester teaches to the Korean P.O.W.s...can anyone tell me the name of it? I have embarrassingly little knowledge of classical. |
Three more for an encore, .........Puccini "O Mio Babbino Caro" this song will make grown men cry, sublimely beautiful, snippets turn up in commercials constantly.............Strauss "voices of spring" 1987 New Years live performance Vienna, Kathleen Battle/Karajan, you are transported to another world/time........Tchaikovsky ballets are so beautiful they will never be surpassed, Swan Lake has so many beautiful passages and themes it is impossible to name one, the entire work is a romantic masterpiece.....regards, Sam |
