I'm listening to the saddest classical piece I have.

[Archae]

Barber's "Adagio For Strings."

I can't imagine what was going on in Barber's head while he wrote it.

[JohnKleeb]

1. Ive heard that

I got two versions of it on iTunes, one with a chorus and one without. Personally when I hear it right now, it makes me think of all those poor people who have died in Iraq.

[nytemare]

2. That was in the movie "Elephant Man" at the end

Such a great song to use at that time in the movie, what a tearjerker.

It was also in "Platoon" from what I remember.

[kiraboo]

3. I agree. Remember when they used it in "Platoon"?

That scene where Willem Dafoe is running after the helicopter and is being shot as he runs? The music was absolutely perfect.

[hippiechick]

12. It was so haunting !!!

:(

[hatredisnotavalue]

4. I feel that way about Clair de lune

I knew I was going to mis-spell it.

[kiraboo]

5. Debussy? I agree, that's a beautiful piece. n/t

[WarNoMore]

9. I love that!

It moves me unbelievably. I thought my Mom and I were the only 2. Lol She had planned to have it played at her funeral, Thank God, she has changed her mind.

[bermudat]

6. I think that piece was played at Kennedy's funeral.

[JohnKleeb]

7. Yes and FDR's too I think

Sigh both of those guys died before they could see the true wonders they created.

[MamaBear]

8. It's part of a larger work

I'm not remembering which one, but I think it might have been one of three or four movements. It is wonderful. I also like Albionini's Adagio and the second movement of Beethoven's Seventh Symphony, among others.

Sad music is so wonderful; it gives you permission to open up and feel it. I love it. :loveya:

[gtp1976]

10. What a beautiful piece

do you have any more recommendations?

[Lydia Leftcoast]

11. For sad music?

How about

Ralph Vaughan Williams "Variations on a Theme by Tallis"

Heinrich Schütz "Heu Mihi Domine" from Cantiones Sacrae?

[Merope215]

14. I have a couple

Eighteenth variation on "Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini" (Rachmaninoff)

One slow movement of "The Tender Land" (Copland) - I don't know which part of the opera it's in, but it's so beautiful that I actually like it better than Barber's Adagio

Second movement of Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony - the opening chords are incredible

"Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen" and "Um Mitternacht" from Mahler's Rueckert Lieder

"Nimrod" from the Enigma Variations (Elgar)

Third movement of Brahms's Third Symphony

"I Know That My Redeemer Liveth" from Handel's "Messiah" - it's not actually a very sad song, but I tear up every time I hear it

...anyway, those are some of my favorites. :hi:

[CubsFan1982]

13. I have that

It's on a CD I got from a friend called An American Salute: Spirit of the Nation. It also has the version of the Star Spangled Banner that was used during the Athens Olympics, which I really liked.