Most achingly-beautiful music

Roger that; Samba pa ti.

For something off the beaten path, but definitely in the achingly beautiful category, try the track 'Theme From Harry's Game' on Clannad's 'Past Present' album. It is a deeply melancholy, but soaringly melodic dirge, sung in Gaelic by Enya, before she was known as a one-name new- age solo act. A fitting lament for the Irish troubles, as portrayed in the excellent, little known British film: 'Harry's Game'.

Back to the classics; Song of India, Rimsky-Korsakoff, (lonely stevedore working on the Volga river in Russia pines for his homeland) and the penetrating (in a good way) violin solos from Scheherezade, 3rd and 4th movements, same composer.

Classical choice would be Puccini's La Boheme but it has to be Beecham's version on EMI, with Jose Bjorling and Vittoria
De LosAngeles. If you hate opera listen to this, both have sublime voices.
Contempory and not that contempory, Joni Mitchell's "Blue" my theme songs in my years of teenage angst

Just in time for Xmas...

"Over the Rhine"'s classic album "Good Dog Bad Dog"
and their latest double CD called "Ohio"

PeAK

1) Cat Stevens- Sad Lisa
2) Bob Seeger- Turn the Page
3) Jethro Tull- Christmas Song

Barber's Adagio For Strings!, of course!