The saddest music

[Stringreen]

There are so many sad tunes, but you have to listen to Mahler's "Das Lied von der Erda"... the last movement "Das Abshied" See if you can keep those tears back....

[Peter]

There are so many sad tunes, but you have to listen to Mahler's "Das Lied von der Erda"... the last movement "Das Abshied" See if you can keep those tears back....

Yes - a great deal of Mahler is sad such as the Kindertotenlieder. I don't think Beethoven even in his darkest moments hints at the despair in Mahler.

[David1770]

Being a Beethoven discussion board its only right that he should get the first suggestions! The second movement of the fourth piano concerto, especially played by Wilhelm Backhaus and the Vienna Philharmonic or the slow movement of op2no2 that is dark! I think the most depressing, without doubt is Beethovens cantata on the death of emperor Joseph II. Its atmospheric and terrifying written when Ludwig was only seventeen!

For real despair I have to opt for Mozarts requiem under the command of Sir Colin davis, I cant listen to it, its heartbreaking.Schuberts slow movement from his Wanderer Fantasy in the hands of Sviatoslav Richter. Gluck Orpheus and Euridice dance of the blessed spirits, Albinonis most famous Oboe concerto in D or Handels Largo from Xerxeus, they crack me up everytime!

aside what a depressing topic of discussion!

[Peter]

Being a Beethoven discussion board its only right that he should get the first suggestions! The second movement of the fourth piano concerto, especially played by Wilhelm Backhaus and the Vienna Philharmonic or the slow movement of op2no2 that is dark! I think the most depressing, without doubt is Beethovens cantata on the death of emperor Joseph II. Its atmospheric and terrifying written when Ludwig was only seventeen!

Beethoven's gloomiest pieces I think are the slow movement from Op.10/3 and that of the Ghost trio. Wonderfully sombre!

[Megan]

Beautiful!

Cantus in Memory of Benjamin Britten.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRZLxxR23K4&feature=kp

[Peter]

Yes I love that piece - also hauntingly sad is the well known Spiegel im spiegel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Y9RgbGLLfE

[Michael]

The second movement of the first Razumovsky quartet would be high on my list of "sad" music. The manuscript bears the curious inscription: "A weeping willow or acacia tree on my brother's grave".

No-one has been able to explain this phrase; Beethoven's two brothers were alive at the time of the composition of the middle quartets. It has even been suggested that it was a reference to the child that first bore the name "Ludwig" - that is "Ludwig Maria" who was born and died a year before Beethoven.

[Albert Gans]

I am a little surprised no-one so far has mentioned the Eroica, 2nd movement. For me, with Mahler mentioned earlier, 'ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen' is also pretty much at the peak of pain and sorrow.

[Peter]

One of the most hauntingly beautiful sad pieces has to be Mahler's - 'I'm lost to the world' (which Albert refers to above)
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTqbTP5qy7k[/YOUTUBE]

[grace65]

I think Beethoven's sonata 7. Op 10 No 3, Largo e Mesto is sad and very moving, also Mozarts piano concerto K488 No 23, which is also quite sad. I believe Mozart composed it soon after his mother passed away. Absolutely beautiful.

[Sorrano]

The 3rd movement of Bruckner's 9th Symphony comes to my mind.