Very Sad Music
 

...........No really, that's what this post is about. After a feature on haunting and sad melodies BBC Radio4 recently put up a poll to try and find which piece of music was considered to be the saddest.... I am torn between Gloomy Sunday and Barbers Addagio. You can listen to samples of 5 chosen pieces and vote in the poll at the link ;)

You can listen to the 5 chosen pieces and vote in the poll

(edited to say I decided on barbers Addagio. Sends a shiver down my spine every time I hear it

I've gotta go with "Gloomy Sunday" as long as it isn't the version with the added verse at the end where it all turns out to be a dream. What a copout.

Barber's Adagio for Strings. really set the tone for Platoon.

Tried to vote and it wouldn't let me ... something about not being able to identify my site name. I may try from work tomorrow night.

Personally I think Barber's Adagio is quite uplifting, in a melancholy, introspective kind of way. The song that most makes me want to cry is The Birdie Song or anything by NSync.

I find it interesting that I only had to listen to one of the selections, because I already knew the other four by heart!

I voted for Adagio for Strings, too. IMO, the saddest and heart-wrenching of the possible choices.

Although for sheer heartstring-tugging, a solo violin is the best. And nothing stirs me to goosebumps like a good 20+ voice pipe organ. I miss the concerts at Phila's JC Penney. That was such a nice organ...42 voices and seven keyboards!

Brian

[sarcasm] I can't believe they didn't include Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler in this group of the saddest music. It gets me every time. [/sarcasm]

leanord cohen's version of "Broken Hallelujah"

gets me every single time

-sm

Wanamakers.

That's what I said...it's just a typo ;)

Brian

Adagio for strings has the best use of strings to invoke the sad feeling into me...

There was a feature on Radio4 a little while ago where they examined Adagio and it's cultural significance. As part of the feature they asked people to tell them when and in what circumstances the pice came to their attention.
One that stuck in my mind was a guy who was listening to a classical station on his headphones in the waiting room whilst his wife was in labour ( they'd sent him out because of complications and he was using this to calm his fears) When the doctor came out to tell him he could go back in Adagio was just starting to play as he was handed his new baby son for the first time.