# A CD's worth of dark music **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 23, 2004, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cds-worth-of-dark-music/281250 "2004-12-23T00:18:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cds-worth-of-dark-music/281250/21 "2004-12-23T17:24:54Z")
> [@Paladud](#): > > Mostly looking at classical, and will probably only have two specific vocal pieces; instrumental from other genres might work. How about a vocal from another genre? I’ve found something called [A Conversation with Death](http://www.towerrecords.com/product.aspx?pfid=3094726). > [@](#): > > I’ve come for to get your soul, take your body, leave it cold. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cds-worth-of-dark-music/281250/22 "2004-12-23T18:16:48Z")
Ooh, can’t believe I’ve forgetten to mention Aphex Twin’s _Come to Daddy_. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cds-worth-of-dark-music/281250/23 "2004-12-23T22:32:51Z")
This is vocal, but for sheer despair I can’t think of anything worse than Menotti’s opera “The Consul”. Grandmother’s lullaby to the infant. Sweet music with just hints of creepiness, and the lyrics mention death a few times: “Sleep my child, sleep for me, my sleep is death”. And the nightmare sequence which immediately follows. Magda’s aria, [To This We’ve Come (lyrics)](http://www.oglethorpe.edu/faculty/~j_bohart/Menotti.htm). It does end on a triumphant note, but in the opera the triumph is not realized. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2004, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cds-worth-of-dark-music/281250/24 "2004-12-24T06:12:02Z")
At last, my chance to shine. Anyway… •_Saturn: Bringer of Old Age_ from Holst’s _The Planets_. •The main title to _The Last Valley_ (can be found on John Barry’s [“Zulu” soundtrack album](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000IIS2/qid=1103867559/sr=2-2/ref=pd_ka_b_2_2/102-1160428-7519352). The link has a sample. Try it out. How can something that uses lyrics from [Tears of the Fatherland](http://oldpoetry.com/poetry/25125) not be considered “dark”?) •There’s _Un Bel Di Vedremo_ from _Madama Butterfly_; and _Vesti La Giubba_ from _I, pagliacci_, but those are more like “songs for utter despair.” (At least, that’s what my iTunes playlist that has 'em is.) •Borodin’s _Polovtsian Dances_ •Liszt’s _Totentanz_. •They might be a little too trendy for your tastes, but some select works by Evanescence could do the trick. •A number of tracks from the soundtrack to the documentary _Trinity and Beyond_. •Dead Can Dance? •Definately Mozart’s _Lacrimosa_. •Select tracks from the _Black Hawk Down_ and _The Last Samurai_ soundtracks. •Nick Cave’s _Death is Not the End_, the lyrics of which you can read in two different ways. •The “Godzilla” theme; a few tracks from the soundtrack to _Godzilla: 1985_; and the “Requiem for Godzilla” from _Godzilla vs. Destroyah_. •_Song of the Volga Boatmen_. (“Yo-ho-HEEE-hoooo…”) •_Women of Ireland_ from _Barry Lyndon_. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2004, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cds-worth-of-dark-music/281250/25 "2004-12-24T13:51:17Z")
_Adagio in D Minor for Strings and Organ_, by Albinoni I think. They used it in _Gallipoli_. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2004, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cds-worth-of-dark-music/281250/26 "2004-12-24T16:02:52Z")
Adagio for Strings by Barber \_ the overused music you hear in _Platoon_ Air on G-String by Bach (Not as smutty as it sounds). ---
**Author:** ![ChristmasEve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/97f17d/32.png) [@ChristmasEve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChristmasEve)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2004, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cds-worth-of-dark-music/281250/27 "2004-12-25T00:41:24Z")
Mahler’s 1st symphony came to mind, but I see that’s been mentioned above. Libera Me from Faure’s Requiem has a plaintive solo baritone and an uneasy bass line, should you want another vocal piece. Or Satie’s Gnossienne No2. Like most Satie, it has some unexpected melodic twists that make it uneasy listening. This one has an instruction to the pianist to play “without pride”, and such an elegant melody played without hope or delight gives me chills each time. ---
**Author:** ![quiltguy154](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ad7895/32.png) [@quiltguy154](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quiltguy154)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2004, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cds-worth-of-dark-music/281250/28 "2004-12-25T01:17:01Z")
There’s always the ol’ reliable standby, familiarly known as “that creepy music from The Alfred Hitchcock Show.” Otherwise known as “Funeral March of a Marionette” by Gounod. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2004, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cds-worth-of-dark-music/281250/29 "2004-12-25T04:02:42Z")
A lot of Nick Cave’s stuff would be suitable (though not classical at all). Anything from “Murder Ballads”. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2004, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cds-worth-of-dark-music/281250/30 "2004-12-25T04:11:20Z")
“Trosper” by Bill Frisell (on a CD accompanying a creepy little picture book of the same name by cartoonist Jim Woodring; the CD is intended to accompany viewing the book, but stands on its own). ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2004, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cds-worth-of-dark-music/281250/31 "2004-12-25T04:46:41Z")
Just about anything from [Midnight Syndicate](http://www.midnightsyndicate.com/main.htm)–especially the stuff from “Born of the Night”–would probably fit your requirements nicely. ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2004, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cds-worth-of-dark-music/281250/32 "2004-12-25T05:20:46Z")
Just want to suggest Prokofiev’s Aleksandr Nevsky Suite, especially Battle on the Ice. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2004, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cds-worth-of-dark-music/281250/33 "2004-12-25T05:26:02Z")
Might I suggest Glenn Danzig’s experimental album, [_Black Aria_](http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/danzig1/from/indiejournal). It’s pretty good, dark, and entirely in the classical vein and devoid of vocals. Another song by Glenn’s group, Danzig, that really creeps me out all alone in a dark room is _Sadistikal_ from the album Danzig IV. ---
**Author:** ![TJdude825](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@TJdude825](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TJdude825)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2004, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cds-worth-of-dark-music/281250/34 "2004-12-25T06:26:30Z")
[/Classical] I don’t know if it’s really fair to classify Radiohead as “dark” but when I first heard them, they seemed dark to me. Google “Chris O’Riley” to find some piano-only arrangements which actually sound somewhat classical. [Classical] ---
**Author:** ![WeRSauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f19dbf/32.png) [@WeRSauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WeRSauron)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2005, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cds-worth-of-dark-music/281250/35 "2005-01-02T06:33:18Z")
You said you would include only two specific vocal pieces, so would this disqualify the “Queen of the Night” Aria (properly known as “Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen” from Act II, number 14) from Mozart’s _The Magic Flute_? [More details here.](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000041AA/002-5286100-0485642?v=glance) I love the Queen’s laugh. So . . . evil. Her Majesty sings: Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen, Tot und Verzweiflung flammet um mich her! Fühlt nicht durch dich Sarastro Todesschmerzen, So bist du meine Tochter nimmermehr. Verstoßen sei auf ewig, Verlassen sei auf ewig, Zertrümmert sei’n auf ewig Alle Bande der Natur Wenn nicht durch dich Sarastro wird erblassen! Hört, Rachegötter, Hört der Mutter Schwur! Translated as: Hell’s revenge cooks in my heart, Death and despair flame about me! If Sarastro does not through you feel The pain of death, Then you will be my daughter nevermore. Disowned may you be forever, Abandoned may you be forever, Destroyed be forever All the bonds of nature, If not through you Sarastro becomes pale! (as death) Hear, Gods of Revenge, Hear a mother’s oath! (Lyrics and translation from [this webpage](http://www.aria-database.com/translations/magic_flute.txt).) WRS/Þû - _Tot und Verzweiflung flammet um mich her!_ ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2005, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cds-worth-of-dark-music/281250/36 "2005-01-02T06:55:19Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > Nick Cave: _The Mercy Seat_, _The Curse of Millhaven_, and plenty more… > [@dropzone](#): > > Hmmmm, guess Nick Cave’s “O’Malley’s Bar” wouldn’t really fit in here. > [@1920s Style "Death Ray"](#): > > A lot of Nick Cave’s stuff would be suitable (though not classical at all). > > Anything from “Murder Ballads”. LOL. Nick Cave was the first person i thought of when i read the thread title. I don’t have any classical suggestions, but in the popular music category i would nominate Gary Jules’s cover of _Mad World_. ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cds-worth-of-dark-music/281250/37 "2005-01-03T20:06:42Z")
> [@PookahMacPhellimey](#): > > Practically anything by Gorecki is heartbreaking. Górecki’s _Symphony No 3_ is a masterpiece of despair, being, as it were, a protest against the Soviet oppression of Poland. Very dark, very haunting, with just a touch of hope at the end. I visualize the piece as a portrait of a devestated city, with one brave flower poking its head out of the rubble. > [@GorillaMan](#): > > As long as it’s not the Rimsky-Korsakov version, which is disturbing for all the wrong reasons Very good point. Mussorgsky turned over his original score for _Saint John’s Night on Bald Mountain_ to his composer friends, who thought it much too…well, wild. Rimsky-Korsakov tamed it down a bit, and his arrangement is the version you usually find. It’s tough to locate a recording of Mussorgsky’s original version, but they do exist. I have one somewhere. Stakowski’s arrangement used in Disney’s _Fantasia_ is quite good, though the bridge he added to link the piece with Schubert’s _Ave Maria_ will ruin the dark tone. > [@Ranchoth](#): > > •Borodin’s Polovtsian Dances Can’t quite agree on this one. The _Polovtsian Dances_ (which, incidentally, is my all-time favorite piece of music), is not dark in tone. The lyrics are divided into two sections – the women of the Polovtsi camp singing fondly of their homeland, and the entire chorus praising their glorious leader, Khan Khonchak. And while the latter sections do get rather enthusiastic, it’s a portrayal of a wild victory celebration. If you do want something dark from the same opera, _Prince Igor_, track down a copy of Igor’s aria _Ni sna ni otdycha izmuchennoj duse!_. My own additions to the list: Grieg’s _In the Hall of the Mountain King_. A Haloween classic. The _Dies Irae_ from Verdi’s _Requiem_. It’s about what you’d expect when Italy’s greatest opera composer sets the Mass of Death to music. I’ve heard it used a lot on TV, especially (Og forbid) in commercials, so you’ll probably recognize it when you hear it. _Denn Alles Fleisch_ from Brahms’ _Ein Deutsches Requiem_. “For mortal flesh is as the grass / and all the comeliness of man / is as the grass’s flower.” Nice and foreboding in a German Protestant way, but the glory and trumpets ending does put a damper on the wonderful sense of doom and futility. _Painted Emblems of a Race_ and _When the Night Wind Howls_ from Gilbert and Sullivan’s _Ruddigore_. Dark melodramatic music from an unexpected source. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2005, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cds-worth-of-dark-music/281250/38 "2005-01-04T00:25:54Z")
> [@Kizarvexius](#): > > Can’t quite agree on this one. The _Polovtsian Dances_ (which, incidentally, is my all-time favorite piece of music), is not dark in tone. The lyrics are divided into two sections – the women of the Polovtsi camp singing fondly of their homeland, and the entire chorus praising their glorious leader, Khan Khonchak. And while the latter sections do get rather enthusiastic, it’s a portrayal of a wild victory celebration. If you do want something dark from the same opera, _Prince Igor_, track down a copy of Igor’s aria _Ni sna ni otdycha izmuchennoj duse!_. My apologies—I was referring to an excerpt from the Polovtsian Dances that I have on an old CD (_Classical Thunder III_, for the record), which seems “dark” enough—if only when heard without the context of the rest of the work. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cds-worth-of-dark-music/281250/39 "2005-01-07T02:37:56Z")
> [@Walloon](#): > > Mussorsky’s _Pictures at an Exhibition_ has two choice horror-movie selections: _Catacombae, sepulchrum romanum_ (Catacombs, Roman tomb), and _Con mortuis in lingua mortua_ (Among the dead in a dead language). Mussorsky of course also wrote _Night on Bald Mountain_, and at least two CDs come with both works on them. 2 mentions of Moussorgsky and nobody mentions “Baba Yaga”? The witch who lived in a house on chicken’s legs and flew around in a cauldron abducting children? That one’s creepy. I also found that suite’s “Gnomus” (The Gnome) to be fairly creepy as well. Not horrific, but creepy. ---
**Author:** ![Brufordesque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecc23a/32.png) [@Brufordesque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brufordesque)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cds-worth-of-dark-music/281250/40 "2005-01-07T15:12:07Z")
I’ll second the Lacrimosa from Mozart’s Requiem - one the the most hauntingly beautiful pieces ever written, and I’ll offer a couple pseudo-classical suggestions: Soundtrack to The Shining - especially the Wendy Carlos pieces, very creepy stuff. But good luck finding it. And someone mentioned Dead Can Dance. They did a song called “The Protagonist” on the “Lonely Is An Eyesore” 4AD complilation. Very powerful. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cds-worth-of-dark-music/281250.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cds-worth-of-dark-music/281250.md?page=3)