You know the sort of thing, music that just caresses the ear and leaves you moved by the sheer beauty of it? I ask because I'm listening to the slow movement of Beethoven's Emperor and it's definitely on the list. Ditto the slow movement of Chopin 1st PC, some parts of Fantastia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis by Vaughan Williams, the beginning of the slow movement of the Saint-Saens Organ Symphony and loads more I can't think of at the moment. Any other suggestions?
Re: Most heart-meltingly gorgeous piece of music?
Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2012 9:22 pm
by Jared
oooh... Simon. I'm struggling to know where to start!!
Here are 6 choral pieces off the top of my head, which made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on edge...
Purcell: D&A... when I am laid in Earth.
Pergolesi: Stabat Mater.
Rossini: Stabat Mater, Finale.
Handel: Dixit Dominus.
Dvorak: Mass in D.
Victoria: more Tenebrae Responsories than you can shake a stick at....
Re: Most heart-meltingly gorgeous piece of music?
Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2012 10:51 pm
by Seán
Almost everything written by Gustav Mahler.
And Schubert's Death and the Maiden, what an extraordinary piece of music that is, the Andante is spine-tingling and heart warming at the same time. The Quartetto Italiano are the real masters of this music, avoid the Tákacs.
Brahms Piano Quintet in F Minor, (thanks Jared) and
Beethoven's Seventh Symphony and
Smetana's Má Vlast (Kubelik/CPO 1990) and
Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique as performed by the BSO under Charles Munch (1962) and
Bach's Magnificat with Collegium Vocale Ghent, La Chapelle Royale under the direction of Philippe Herreweghe, they even have me believing that there is a God after all.
Re: Most heart-meltingly gorgeous piece of music?
Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2012 10:54 pm
by fergus
Seán wrote:....Bach's Magnificat with Collegium Vocale Ghent, La Chapelle Royale under the direction of Philippe Herreweghe, they even have me believing that there is a God after all.
Well, well, well....who would have thought!!!!
Re: Most heart-meltingly gorgeous piece of music?
Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2012 11:01 pm
by fergus
Just a few off the top of my head....
The slow movement from Beethoven 9....
The slow movement from Sibelius 3....
R Strauss, Beim Schlafengehen from Four Last Songs (particularly sung by Schwarzkopf).
Re: Most heart-meltingly gorgeous piece of music?
Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2012 7:56 am
by jaybee
hmmmm a trend.... lots of lovely ladies singing
Gorecki Symphony 3
Vivaldi Stabat Mater
Beethoven Piano sonata 3, movement 3
Dvorak Serenade for Strings
Chopin prelude in e minor
Elgar, Cello Concerto opening movement
Re: Most heart-meltingly gorgeous piece of music?
Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2012 9:17 am
by Diapason
Interesting selections so far, and lots of music I don't know so well, so this is good!
Seán wrote:they even have me believing that there is a God after all.
Ah Seán, let's not go nuts!!! :)
Re: Most heart-meltingly gorgeous piece of music?
Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2012 9:37 am
by Jared
Diapason wrote:Interesting selections so far, and lots of music I don't know so well, so this is good!
Ah, I get it now... this thread should be subtitled 'The Building Simon's Library Thread' !
well, I've said this before... the poignancy of this folksong always brings a lump to my throat (Butterworth reflected on such pointless loss of life here, shortly before being killed at the Somme himself)