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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
kitch29
316 posts
 
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.
kitch29
316 posts
 
oops, un bel di from Madame Butterfly, now too common to get achy over, I was thinking of "visi d'arte" from Tosca.
jayboard
301 posts
 
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.
rcprince
3,082 posts
 
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.
joe_coherent
130 posts
 
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.
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