This should include any song in any style in the last 500 years.
In my opinion , "Air on a G string " or “Air” from Orchestral suite No. 3 in D major by Johann Sebastian Bach tops them all.
This should include any song in any style in the last 500 years.
In my opinion , "Air on a G string " or “Air” from Orchestral suite No. 3 in D major by Johann Sebastian Bach tops them all.
The most beautiful? Damn, that’s a tough one.
I’m not going to name just one. I’ll list Handel’s Messiah, Holst’s Jupiter, and Keiko Matsui’s ‘Light Above the Trees.’
Good question but they do kinda discourage posting the same one across forums. Since you’ve got one w/ an answer in Cafe, let me report this for ya.
Kabutomushi, by aiko.
First one that comes to mind is ‘Teardrop’ by Massive Attack.
A bit out of place in this thread(so far): Pink Floyd’s “Great Gig in the Sky”
It’s a shame this is such a short piece: Tchaikovsky’s “Coffee” (Arabian dance)
“Weak, Weak Man” by The Singing Loins.
Beautiful in the same way a busted-up, cauliflower-eared prizefighter is beautiful. It perfectly encapsulates the desperation and alienation of being the master of nothing but one’s own arrogance.
Depends on my mood. There’s a few dozen at least.
I’ll post this elsewhere
Lullaby, by The New Music of Reginald Foresythe.
It’s a toss-up between Leo Kottke’s version of “Jesu, Joy Of Man’s Desiring” and “The Lights Of Home” from Bela Fleck’s album, Drive.
Definitely Satie’s Gymnopedie 1!
At the end of Richard Wagner’s Das Rheingold the Rhinemaidens cry for their lost gold as the gods enter Valhalla. I weep when I hear it.
I don’t want to hear from you on this, Skald…
Well, I don’t have an answer that feels anywhere close to authoritative, and I know almost nothing about classical music.
But Bach’s Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring is so good it’s become a cliche and is still wonderful to hear almost anytime. An amazing amalgam of sad and happy. The first version I loved was Joy off the George Winston December album.
On a simpler level Alison Krauss’s version of I Will takes one of Paul McCartney’s prettiest melodies and makes it simpler and more ethereal.
Sarah McLachlan - In The Arms Of An Angel (video)
It’s so soft and beautiful, almost like a caress from someone who cares about you when you need it most. Always has the ability to take me away.
When I was nine, I was utterly convinced it was an unwinnable dead heat between Pachelbel’s Canon in D and “The Rose” as sung by Bette Midler. Though I thought really hard about adding “Music Box Dancer” to that match.
Nowadays, I’d tend more towards agreeing with deadindays, though of course that one makes me cry. Also, the Lakmé Flower Duet (not necessarily that particular recording). And most of the Puccini soprano arias loft me.
Is the most beautiful song teh one that makes me cry, or teh one that makes me laugh for joy?
De Libes’ Duet of the Flowers (the chorus at least) is up there for me.
Though if it can be instrumental only (as the air on Bach’s G String was), I’m going to be trite and say Pachelbel’s Canon, which is just damned near perfect.
In the past 100 years- The Maple Leaf Rag, the Beatles’ Eleanor Rigby, and Loreena McKennitt’s version of Tango to Evora come to mind.
I’d say “Ave Maria” by Schubert
*Is the most beautiful song teh one that makes me cry, or the one that makes me laugh for joy? *
One that makes you cry of course. It has to touch your soul. Below is an acapella version of my favorite that cuts right to my soul.
Ensemble Planeta(Classic Acappella Group) - Air on G String
Be patient, it doesnt start until :40