What are your 'Comfort blanket' works...?

[Don Petter]

Silence generally for me, but music is certainly a hand across the abyss at times. Nothing specific, it's unpredictable, I certainly recognise the palliative power of Shostakovich mentioned by others, but it can be any music I feel close to.

Edit: A memory of a recent experience of this just popped into my head - the opening of Shostakovich 10, the fragments of melody being particularly affecting against such a scoured landscape, seemed the essence of compassion and understanding at the time.

Interesting. I wouldn't argue with Howdenite's Shostakovich Preludes and Fugues, but as a generalisation (how easy to make!) I find his symphonies and chamber works an ouevre which is guaranteed to gradually 'wind me up inside' rather than relax me!

It doesn't prevent me loving his output (particularly the chamber works) but I do have to be in the right mood to dip in.

[Maclintick]

Much in common with previous replies here in Casa Pulcinella.
Depending on the nature of what I'm seeking relief from:
1: nothing
2: something reassuring, such as the Goldbergs, Art of fugue
3: something more cathartic: RVW Symphony 5, Tippett Concerto for double string orchestra (especially the middle movement)
Then, if I've cheered up: the last movement of the Tippett!

Similar pick-me-ups here -- JSB, GFH, DS keyboard suites (Domenico rather than Dimitri). Murray Perahia's effervescent Handel/Scarlatti disc never fails to lift the spirits, as does Steven Osborne's of Tippett's 1st Sonata...plus virtually any Haydn, LVB's "Pastoral" & Ravel Tombeau... Hope your work situation improves, PG, & that you find musical cheer during the "festive" season. Nil carborundum...

[Ferretfancy]

If this holds true for most people aged 80, it gives me just 10 years to come to terms with Michael Finnissy's music, then.

Worth a try ( possibly!) but on the other hand I heard a piece of Mozart the other day which I hadn't heard before, so there are still one or two gaps to fill before my sense of duty leads me to Mr Finnissy.

[pastoralguy]

Sorry to hear about the troubles, PG. Can you change jobs? Nurses are greatly in demand over here.
I have found that I am overwhelmed with dread and anxiety, there isn't any music that comforts. Fortunately this doesn't occur often. Most of the time it is a mixture of fatigue and frustration. Mahler 5, Mozart PC, and Chopin Preludes or Etudes
Fit the bill.

Many thanks, Richard. I did consider a move to the US about 8 years ago but, in the did, it didn't happen. I'm considering early retirement so the problem will solve itself.

[Daniel]

Interesting. I wouldn't argue with Howdenite's Shostakovich Preludes and Fugues, but as a generalisation (how easy to make!) I find his symphonies and chamber works an ouevre which is guaranteed to gradually 'wind me up inside' rather than relax me!

It doesn't prevent me loving his output (particularly the chamber works) but I do have to be in the right mood to dip in.

Hi, Don, actually I should have said fragments of hope in the melody, rather than fragments of melody, but there's a sort of calm in the storm quality to some of Shostakovich's more aching melodies in their settings (in both symphonic and chamber works), that I find reaches a similar spot in me when I hear them.

I'd also like add my commiserations to pastoral guy, that sounds like no fun at all, hope it's soon behind you.