# Slow, quiet and sad. Classical recommendations **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 11, 2013, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slow-quiet-and-sad-classical-recommendations/660688 "2013-06-11T02:03:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bodangus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c37758/32.png) [@bodangus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bodangus)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slow-quiet-and-sad-classical-recommendations/660688/1 "2013-06-11T02:03:42Z")
I don’t know much about classical music, but I know what I like when I hear it. Slow, quiet, sad and without words is what I want to listen to. I don’t want to be inspired in any way, or be reminded of some movie. I just want to feel melancholy and reflective. My aim is to have a library of about 3 hours of this type of music so I can just sink down into it and let it envelope me completely from time to time. If there are classical music scholars and/or enthusiastic fans in these parts and you know of pieces of classical music that can make a grown man cry then please chime in with your suggestions. I’m also of an age where locating, collecting and installing all on a flash drive for playback in my car is kinda over my head. So any help with this aspect would be appreciated. I hope you can help. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![R3d\_Anonymous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/aeb1de/32.png) [@R3d\_Anonymous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R3d_Anonymous)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slow-quiet-and-sad-classical-recommendations/660688/2 "2013-06-11T02:06:03Z")
Romance No. 2 in F Major is a Classical Romantic piece by Beethoven. This is what I performed yesterday in my recital by the way. I would recommend listening to a recording of Oistrakh playing the piece. He is really good. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slow-quiet-and-sad-classical-recommendations/660688/3 "2013-06-11T02:20:35Z")
Samuel Barber’s “Adagio for strings” is one of the all-time great downer pieces. ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slow-quiet-and-sad-classical-recommendations/660688/4 "2013-06-11T02:38:57Z")
More Beethoven. Richard Wagner, when reflecting on [Op. 131](http://youtu.be/fVN_eC5XzIg)’s first movement, said that it “[reveals the most melancholy sentiment expressed in music](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/String_Quartet_No._14_%28Beethoven%29#Summary_of_movements).” ---
**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slow-quiet-and-sad-classical-recommendations/660688/5 "2013-06-11T02:56:42Z")
More Beethoven: Symphony No. 7, 2nd mvt. Also, the 2nd mvt. of Bach’s Concerto for 2 Violins. I don’t know if this is objectively melancholy or it only feels that way to me because we played it at my grandfather’s funeral, but there it is. ---
**Author:** ![Flywheel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Flywheel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flywheel)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slow-quiet-and-sad-classical-recommendations/660688/6 "2013-06-11T04:36:33Z")
Górecki’s Symphony No. 3 (“Symphony of Sorrowful Songs”) should do the trick. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slow-quiet-and-sad-classical-recommendations/660688/7 "2013-06-11T04:46:59Z")
[Pavane, Opus 50](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpgyTl8yqbw) by Fauré. [Sicilienne, Opus 78](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5Y0uQLgriA), also by Fauré. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slow-quiet-and-sad-classical-recommendations/660688/8 "2013-06-11T08:07:46Z")
Beethoven’s Piano Sonata #14: First Movement (“Moonlight” Sonata). Rachmaninoff: Étude Tableau, Op.39 - No.2 In A Minor. Debussy: Suite Bergamasque #3: Clair de Lune. Saint-Saëns: Carnival of the Animals: The Swan ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slow-quiet-and-sad-classical-recommendations/660688/9 "2013-06-11T10:22:30Z")
The slow movement of [Mozart’s clarinet concerto](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsvgIW2YMWA) ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slow-quiet-and-sad-classical-recommendations/660688/10 "2013-06-11T13:02:07Z")
Ravel’s _Pavane for a Dead Princess_ ---
**Author:** ![eclectic\_wench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ac91a4/32.png) [@eclectic\_wench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eclectic_wench)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slow-quiet-and-sad-classical-recommendations/660688/11 "2013-06-11T14:40:17Z")
Albinoni’s [Adagio in G Minor](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMbvcp480Y4). ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slow-quiet-and-sad-classical-recommendations/660688/12 "2013-06-11T14:53:56Z")
Already said by\*\* Panache45\*\*: Beethoven - Piano Sonata No 14 Debussy Clair de Lune Adding: Tchaikovsky Symphony No 6 Pathetique Georges Bizet L Arlesienne Suite No 1,3 Adagietto Chopin Nocturne In E Flat Major Op9 No2 ---
**Author:** ![D18](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@D18](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D18)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slow-quiet-and-sad-classical-recommendations/660688/13 "2013-06-11T15:34:38Z")
25th variation of the Goldberg Variations, particularly as played by Glenn Gould in his second recording of them. The Prologue to Bach’s Saint Matthew Passion, as performed by Werner Klemperer. Everyone else does it fast. He does it slow. Achingly slow. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slow-quiet-and-sad-classical-recommendations/660688/14 "2013-06-11T16:03:05Z")
[Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fantasia_on_a_Theme_by_Thomas_Tallis), by Ralph Vaughan Williams. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slow-quiet-and-sad-classical-recommendations/660688/15 "2013-06-11T16:13:16Z")
> [@bodangus](#): > > I’m also of an age where locating, collecting and installing all on a flash drive for playback in my car is kinda over my head. So any help with this aspect would be appreciated. The _simplest_ way would probably be to find one or two compilation albums, like this one: [The 99 Most Essential Adagios](http://www.amazon.com/The-99-Most-Essential-Adagios/dp/B00530KATI/ref=sr_1_1?s=dmusic&ie=UTF8&qid=1370966184&sr=1-1&keywords=adagios), download it to your computer, and copy the tracks you like to a flash drive. Another approach is to find performances of pieces you like on YouTube (such as the ones other posters have linked to in this thread), download the audio portions, and copy them to the flash drive. If you want to go this route, hopefully someone can explain how. ---
**Author:** ![bodangus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c37758/32.png) [@bodangus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bodangus)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slow-quiet-and-sad-classical-recommendations/660688/16 "2013-06-11T16:39:45Z")
Just touching base to say thank you and I’ll check all the links out tonight. Some of these are definitely familiar and others are new to me. Thanks again. Don’t stop. ---
**Author:** ![Paladud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Paladud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paladud)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slow-quiet-and-sad-classical-recommendations/660688/17 "2013-06-11T17:36:48Z")
Chopin’s first piano concerto, first movement. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slow-quiet-and-sad-classical-recommendations/660688/18 "2013-06-11T17:43:41Z")
Shostakovitch 5th Symphony, third movement. ---
**Author:** ![Parenchyma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Parenchyma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Parenchyma)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slow-quiet-and-sad-classical-recommendations/660688/19 "2013-06-11T17:45:47Z")
Another extra-slow Bach is the Stokowski version of [Air on a G String.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=e2OoJamNLMQ) ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slow-quiet-and-sad-classical-recommendations/660688/20 "2013-06-11T18:30:49Z")
It’s in a major key, but is slow, quiet, and can make me cry, so I hope it fits your bill: [Chopin’s Prelude in F# Major](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLMjl3zDtLE) And here are two pieces of music whose first halves are very slow and beautiful, but then they pick up tempo (at which point, you can just switch to something else :)): [2nd movement of Ravel’s Concerto in G](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMOp-rB9XgA) [Copeland’s Concerto for Clarinet and Strings](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1EaFsVUk6Q) If there’s a heaven and I make it there, I’d like to be greeted with one of those two pieces playing in the background, thx in advance. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slow-quiet-and-sad-classical-recommendations/660688.md?page=2)