The saddest music

[pastoralguy]

For me, the saddest music is Mozart's. I would nominate these three: the slow opening of the last movement of the G minor string quintet K516, the Masonic Funeral Music K477, and Pamina's aria from the Magic Flute. Heartbreaking all.

For me, the Adagio from Mozart's 23rd piano concerto. Very lonely music.

[ahinton]

Shostakovich (again!); Quartet No. 15...

[french frank]

For me, the saddest music is Mozart's. I would nominate these three: the slow opening of the last movement of the G minor string quintet K516, the Masonic Funeral Music K477, and Pamina's aria from the Magic Flute. Heartbreaking all.

I was just going to nominate the Masonic Funeral Music -- the Requiem in miniature.

[Roehre]

For me, the Adagio from Mozart's 23rd piano concerto. Very lonely music.

The slow mvt from Bartok's 1st piano concerto, for the same reason

[MrGongGong]

Very lonely music.

What in the sound of the music makes you associate being lonely with this piece ?

[mercia]

saddest music? is this a Breakfast question? do we text and tweet our suggestions ?

[Mary Chambers]

Dido's Lament is pretty obvious, I suppose, which doesn't make it less sad.

Schubert, Die Schöne Müllerin.

Handel, Thy Rebuke hath Broken his Heart, from Messiah.

Arvo Pärt, Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten. I'm not sure whether it's the actual music or the associations in this case. I'm not usually a fan of Pärt.

[ahinton]

Arvo Pärt, Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten. I'm not sure whether it's the actual music or the associations in this case. I'm not usually a fan of Pärt.

I find that work sad all right but not in the sense that you or the OP intended, I fear...

[cocolinmichela]

Julian Lloyd Webber's Return to Paradise:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBQ8731R0G4\

also Bruch's Kol Nidrei

and Mozart's clarinet concerto (2nd mov)

[amateur51]

Julian Lloyd Webber's Return to Paradise:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBQ8731R0G4\

also Bruch's Kol Nidrei

and Mozart's clarinet concerto (2nd mov)

Hello cocolinmichela! Welcome aboard

[Mary Chambers]

I find that work sad all right but not in the sense that you or the OP intended, I fear...

I'm not at all surprised by that.

[Ferretfancy]

Julian Lloyd Webber's Return to Paradise:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBQ8731R0G4\

also Bruch's Kol Nidrei

and Mozart's clarinet concerto (2nd mov)

Welcome !

Are we talking a comfortable sadness, which is where I'd place the Mozart, or grief? I'd put the Shostakovich Viola Sonata in that category.

Again, why do I prefer to listen to sad music when I feel low ? Cheerful music just irritates in that circumstance.

[cocolinmichela]

Yes, I also like the Ravel piece, though very sad.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Hello cocolinmichela! Welcome aboard

Ditto

[Mary Chambers]

Again, why do I prefer to listen to sad music when I feel low ? Cheerful music just irritates in that circumstance.

Michael Berkeley said that his guests on Private Passions very rarely choose cheerful music. Sad music helps us in some way.