Most achingly-beautiful music


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?
hungryear
I'm new here and am absolutely floored by this thread, its, its, its, you know! I started to read some of the comments and them went back and started to copy and paste as much as I could, as this is a wellspring of information Thanks to all!!
Also to Terryhut, if you really want ache added to the aural add a dash of visual... Galipoli/Albinoni... we all know the scene.
As to Golfrok's nomination of Pat Metheny, allow me to specify his rendition of 'Ferry, Cross the Mersey' on the recently released 'One Quiet Night' Album.

For all you youngsters out there, that tune was originally a hit for Gerry and the Pacemakers on the first wave of the British Invasion - what would that be '64, '65? Had some of my first slow dances to that one.
There has been some achingly beautiful music written in the last 400 years. Interestingly, all of my choices are from the last century. Here goes:

Samuel Barber- Adagio for Strings
Gustav Holst- The Planets
John Coltrane- Ballads