Ultimately, we listen to music to be moved, for example, to be elated, exulted, calmed or pained. Which are the 3 most affecting pieces of music do you find the most affecting?
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).
"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!
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? :-)
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.
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?
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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!
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.
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?
(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
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?
Jane Sibbery 'Calling All Angels' from the album entitled "When I Was A Boy'; Chris Isaak 'Wicked Game'; John Lennon 'The Dream is Over' and 'Beautiful Boy'; Faure 'Pavanne'
Kenny G plays Enya's greatest hits. One can only dream of that much aching. How about the 2nd movement(adagio) from Ravel's piano concerto in G as an alternative?
A question too difficult to answer. But I'll list a few: Middle and Late Beethoven quartets; Mahler and Bruckner adagios (adagietos); Wagner Tristan and Isolde; Schubert and Brahms Lieder; Sibelius 6 and 7, certainly the Barber adagio; Sibelius and Bruch vln. concerto; Brahms vln and clarinet sonatas; Dvorak cello con.; Brahms Requiem; Ravel and Debussy quartets; Bach cello suites; Bach violin sonatas & Partitas; Mozart Sinfonia concertante; and much much more. Also; many film scores and a number of popular songs. Picking only three would be too great a sin of omission.
Khrys; I have to agree re anything Kenny G. Thanks to your second sentence, I almost fell off my chair. Not since Clinton's testimony have I laughed so hard.(I think).
I would've mentioned Kenny G but I hate to admit to crying in elevators. Tears more acceptable with "un bel di", 3rd act of Tosca, Liu mourning the death of Calaph's father first act of Turandot, Duet by Violetta and Garmont first act of Traviata.Rcprince, I had the opportunity to hear Tim Buckley in concert just once, he sang Gypsy woman from his motel album, the audience was moving around and talking so he began to berate us with impromptu lyrics and became so intense everyone finally sat down and listened, spellbound.How sad that his genius was extinguished, sadder too that so few knew him.
For aching ee-lectric guitar: Stevie Ray Vaughan's instrumental version of Jimi Hendrix's "Little Wing" (on The Sky Is Crying) is glorious. Beats Clapton's version (Derek and the Dominoes), which isn't too shabby itself. My wedding song was Charles Mingus' very beautiful "Ellington's Sound of Love" (vocal and instrumental versions on Changes One and Changes Two). A favorite of mine is a moan from New Orleans, Allen Toussaint doing "Cruel Way To Go Down" (Southern Nights). On the folkier side, Spider John Koerner (kind of obscure) doing "I Ain't Blue" ("...I'm just a little bit lonesome for some love again") (Runnin, Jumpin, Standing Still). And the late Sandy Denny rendering "Who Knows Where the Time Goes" on Fairport Convention's album Unhalfbricking.
Kitch29: Glad to see another old Tim Buckley fan; I too miss his songwriting; I can't believe his son's tragic end as well. I went to about 5 of his concerts, and only once did he actually finish the set; sometimes he never even showed, at others he got sick in the middle of a set and walked off the stage. Very sad. My folk group in college did a number of covers of his songs, and they were always among the best-received.
Rach's 3rd piano concerto. Martha Argerich is my favorite interpreter, Performance is A-, sonics are B (somewhat distant miking, good tonal balance, ambiance). Also that Puccini aria used in A Room with a View (forget the opera, ask me again if interested), try Callas' version which is unforgettable.
I have always admired the world of Bach. Unaccompanied Violin Sonatas and Partitas along with Unaccompanied Cello suites move me without failure. Elgar's Cello Concerto is a nice piece. Sarasate's Ziegnerweisen performed by Heifetz should be heard -- only Heifetz, unlike other violinists who have tried the piece, has technical mastery to pull you into the music, sustain the tension, and ultimately drain your emotion like no other (Grumiaux recorded a fine one in an intimate setting with piano, albeit not as dramatic). Mahler's 9th. Debussy's piano pieces. On and on. For heavy metal fans, try Stargazer by Rainbow. Rainbow Eyes by Rainbow will make your ladies happy or put them in mood though a bit cheezy like their later albums. For melodic electric guitar instrumentals, Santana. For acoustic guitar, Strunz and Farah. For fun, any Deep purple MKII albums excluding the reunion albums after Perfect Stranger -- yes, I am a fan of Richie Blackmore. Any old time Chicago Blues.
Never Let Me Go (Bill Evans, Alone); Nuages (Larry Coryell and Philip Catherine, Twin House); I Loved Him (Carol Kidd, The Night we Called it a Day); Air (Swingle Singers and The Modern Jazz Quartet, Place Vendome); and Erbarme dich (Bach, from St. Matthew Passion)(Yo Yo Ma, Simply Baroque). What can I say? There's a lot of achingly beautiful music out there!
I'll only list 3 songs: Here's To Life (Shirley Horn With Strings, Here's To Life) Two For The Road (Charlie Haden & Pat Metheny, Beyond The Missouri Sky) Moonstone (Toninho Horta, Moonstone) - this is a duet with Pat Metheny. This is an excellent album!
I've noticed a few people mention Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata in this thread. I strongly recommend a CD called Stokowski Encores (BBC Philmarmonic), where, amongst other gems, there is an orchestral version of the Moonlight Sonata that takes this wonder to a new level.
Wotan's Farewell from the very end of Wagner's Die Walkure...strict audiophiles should go with Solti/Decca recording, everyone else to the Goodall/English National Opera set (in English).
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