# Recommend some sad instrumentals. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 22, 2006, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-sad-instrumentals/345565 "2006-02-22T01:48:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![born\_too\_late](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ba9def/32.png) [@born\_too\_late](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/born_too_late)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-sad-instrumentals/345565/61 "2006-02-28T06:49:26Z")
Vangelis’ “Memories of Green” gets me pretty emotional. The ambient sounds he uses in the song are suggestive and very melancholy. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-sad-instrumentals/345565/62 "2006-02-28T15:05:16Z")
“Love is Blue” by [Paul Mauriat](http://en.wikipedia.org/Paul_Mauriat) was pretty famous in its day. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-sad-instrumentals/345565/63 "2006-02-28T15:20:10Z")
Believe it or not, the normally upbeat ZZ Top has a very melancholy instrumental called _Asleep In The Desert_ that just might fit the bill for you. ---
**Author:** ![ddgryphon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8c91f0/32.png) [@ddgryphon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ddgryphon)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-sad-instrumentals/345565/64 "2006-02-28T17:00:39Z")
So many good ones mentioned: I’ll add the Gymnopede I, II, & III by Satie Solace by Scott Joplin The final piece from Jesus Christ Superstar (I believe it is called John 19:41) it is pretty much an instrumental based on Gethsemene (I only want to know) from the same show. Played properly, the first movement of the “Moonlight” Sonata is terribly sad and heart rending ---
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-sad-instrumentals/345565/65 "2006-02-28T17:07:56Z")
[The Inner Light Suite](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000009COK/104-0185247-9449577?v=glance&n=5174) from Star Trek: TNG. ---
**Author:** ![DaveRaver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daveraver/32/1078_2.png) [@DaveRaver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaveRaver)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2006, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-sad-instrumentals/345565/66 "2006-03-01T03:37:00Z")
On Pink Floyd’s “The Wall”, there is a beautiful melancholy instrumental piece in the second half of “Is There Anybody Out There?”. ---
**Author:** ![JoeSki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b487fb/32.png) [@JoeSki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoeSki)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2006, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-sad-instrumentals/345565/67 "2006-03-10T07:42:19Z")
“I Met Doris Blind” is probably going to be the saddest 45 second track I’ll ever hear in my life. It will sweep you away. Check it out [here](http://www.deccaclassics.com/music/soundtracks/manwhowasnt.html) ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/96bed5/32.png) [@Cat\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Jones)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2006, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-sad-instrumentals/345565/68 "2006-03-10T17:24:19Z")
> [@Bomzaway](#): > > Wow. I find this piece to be uplifting and joyous, far from sad. For me, and other Brits I guess, Nimrod is indelibly linked to our Rememberance Sunday commemorations (the Sunday closest to 11th Nov, Armistice day when we remember our dead from “all wars and armed conflicts”). It has the grandeur neede and I think I can see how it is upliftein - “enduring” I would say - the knowledge that triumph and victory always comes at a heavy cost. I can’t hear it without the eyes welling up. ---
**Author:** ![Boulter\_s\_Canary](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Boulter\_s\_Canary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boulter_s_Canary)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2006, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-sad-instrumentals/345565/69 "2006-03-10T23:35:15Z")
> [@kelly5078](#): > > I guess the saddest instrumental I know is “The Battle of the Somme” by Fairport Convention, on “Full House.” The Home Service’s version is even sadder - it closes their ‘Somme’ medley:- \*\*‘The Reaper’ \*\* (Song by Bill Caddick) _“Where are my sons?” The mother cries “Just hardly grown but gone away” “Away, away” the reaper sighs “Cut down like corn on an Autumn day…”_ \*\*‘My Bonny Boy’ \*\* (Trad tune) Used by George Butterworth as part of his ‘Shropshire Lad’ rhapsody. Butterworth was killed at the Somme, depriving Britain of a potentially great composer. **"Scarecrow"** (song by John Tams) _I see the barbed wire growing like a bramble on the land I see a farm turned to a fortress, a future turn to sand I see a meadow turned to mud and from it grows a hand Like a scarecrow that is fallen in the rain_ \*\* “Battle of the Somme”\*\* Starting on military bugle and finished by rock band -with brass section - in full cry, Home Service’s version goes from elegaic to angry in a few minutes. The whole medley runs for about eight minutes and is heartbreaking. It’s on their live album **‘Wild Life’** (Fledg’ling records FLED 3001). ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2006, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-sad-instrumentals/345565/70 "2006-03-11T02:44:51Z")
**The Lonely Man** by Joe Harnell. ---
**Author:** ![Headrush042](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a5b964/32.png) [@Headrush042](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Headrush042)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2006, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-sad-instrumentals/345565/71 "2006-03-11T06:04:48Z")
I was also going to recommend Barber’s _Adagio For Strings_ and Beethoven’s _Moonlight Sonata_, but I since I’m too late for that, I’ll add a few more to the mix: Clint Mansell’s _Winter: Lux Aeterna_ from the soundtrack for _Requiem For a Dream_ is absolutely haunting. There are many good, melancholy tracks on that album. When Beethoven was in Hildegestaat, he wrote the famous Hildegestaat letters. In these letters, he finally admits for the first time that he is indeed losing his hearing. During this time, he composed _Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major, Op. 58_. Check out the second movement, _Andante con moto_. With his failing hearing in mind, this is probably the most profound and depressing piece of music I’ve ever had the fortune to experience (he describes his deafness as a slow, dull throbbing that grows louder and more persistent, gradually overtaking the sweet sounds of the world – the interaction between the piano soloist and the orchestra (playing in unison in lower registers) underscores this perfectly). This may be a little outside of the purvue of the OP, but Lisa Gerrard’s solo work, as well as the songs she sings in Dead Can Dance are enchanting and wrenching (Lisa Gerrard is the voice behind the _Gladiator_ soundtrack). Even though she’s a vocalist, she doesn’t sing any actual lyrics – she uses her voice like an instrument, stringing non-word syllables together to give the songs her desired emotional “color.” If you can get ahold of Dead Can Dance’s _Within the Realm of a Dying Sun_, check out the last four tracks: “Dawn of the Iconoclast,” “Cantara,” “Summoning of the Muse,” and “Persephone (The Gathering of Flowers).” Also “Ariadne” from _Into the Labyrinth_. All very introspective and moving. If you like those, I encourage you to check out their other albums, too. The earlier stuff is darker and a bit industrial. ---
**Author:** ![Leechboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9fc348/32.png) [@Leechboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leechboy)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2006, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-sad-instrumentals/345565/72 "2006-03-12T03:18:45Z")
I recommend the later albums by the instrumental group The Dirty Three. The violinist from the group moonlights in N ---
**Author:** ![Leechboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9fc348/32.png) [@Leechboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leechboy)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2006, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-sad-instrumentals/345565/73 "2006-03-12T03:19:54Z")
I recommend the later albums by the instrumental group The Dirty Three. The violinist from the group moonlights in Nick Cave’s band. Also, Ketil Bjornstad’s The Sea I and II ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2006, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-sad-instrumentals/345565/74 "2006-03-12T03:21:49Z")
I am watching the 1944 movie **Laura**. I would add the song Laura to your list of sad instrumentals. ---
**Author:** ![Leechboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9fc348/32.png) [@Leechboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leechboy)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2006, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-sad-instrumentals/345565/75 "2006-03-12T12:22:56Z")
I forgot the Score to Takeshi Kitano’s Hana-Bi (Fireworks), beautiful, lush and very, very sad. The theme to Unforgiven by Mr Clint Eastwood also tugs at the heartstrings. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-sad-instrumentals/345565.md?page=3)