# What pieces of music just really do it for you? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 10, 2008, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pieces-of-music-just-really-do-it-for-you/459470 "2008-08-10T03:12:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2008, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pieces-of-music-just-really-do-it-for-you/459470/21 "2008-08-10T18:17:25Z")
[QUOTE=Oy!] Are you sure you have the right symphony or the right movement? THat’s the [Jupiter symphony, 1st movement](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noAPeUlOjfc&feature=related). I’m not an expert, but it sounds major to me. Maybe it’s later in the movement or a different movement or symphony? [/QUOTE] [Gaak.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphony_No._40_(Mozart)) I mean the 40th, the “Great _G_ Minor.” Sorry, pre-caffeine . . . (I get confused because the two are so frequently released on the same disc, and I subconsciously associate the odd number 41 minor and the even number 40 with major.) ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2008, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pieces-of-music-just-really-do-it-for-you/459470/22 "2008-08-10T18:26:53Z")
[QUOTE=Lobsang] A Lark Ascending Requiem for a Dream (The tune used in the trailer for LotR Two Towers) [/QUOTE] It’s beginning to look as if I ought to finally watch LotR. :o That was beautiful. Was it composed for the movie, or is it an independent, pre-composed piece of music? I’ve done a lot of Ralph Vaughn Williams, which is the version of The Lark Ascending I ran across on YouTube (Links, dammit! :p), but since it’s not choral, I guess I haven’t done it. Very lovely nonetheless. ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2008, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pieces-of-music-just-really-do-it-for-you/459470/23 "2008-08-10T18:27:59Z")
[QUOTE=lissener] [Gaak.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphony_No._40_(Mozart)) I mean the 40th, the “Great _G_ Minor.” Sorry, pre-caffeine . . . (I get confused because the two are so frequently released on the same disc, and I subconsciously associate the odd number 41 minor and the even number 40 with major.) [/QUOTE] Makes perfect sense. Even numbers _should_ be major and minor numbers odd in a proper universe. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2008, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pieces-of-music-just-really-do-it-for-you/459470/24 "2008-08-10T18:32:06Z")
[QUOTE=Oy!] Makes perfect sense. Even numbers _should_ be major and minor numbers odd in a proper universe. [/QUOTE] See? I’m not crazy. As for the G/D disconnect, I think it’s because when I was taking piano lessons D minor was somehow my favorite chord. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2008, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pieces-of-music-just-really-do-it-for-you/459470/25 "2008-08-10T18:48:22Z")
[QUOTE=Oy!] It’s beginning to look as if I ought to finally watch LotR. :o That was beautiful. Was it composed for the movie, or is it an independent, pre-composed piece of music? I’ve done a lot of Ralph Vaughn Williams, which is the version of The Lark Ascending I ran across on YouTube (Links, dammit! :p), but since it’s not choral, I guess I haven’t done it. Very lovely nonetheless. [/QUOTE] Unfortunately the score isn’t in the final movie, it was pre-composed, and I am not sure by whom. But you should still watch the films. Anyone who hasn’t watched them and is thinking “ew, elves, hobbits, wizzards, sounds airy-fairy to me” is very much mistaken. The films are massive battles, very emotional scenes, friendship that will make your eyes well up, death, destruction. ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2008, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pieces-of-music-just-really-do-it-for-you/459470/26 "2008-08-10T19:10:55Z")
[QUOTE=Lobsang] Unfortunately the score isn’t in the final movie, it was pre-composed, and I am not sure by whom. But you should still watch the films. Anyone who hasn’t watched them and is thinking “ew, elves, hobbits, wizzards, sounds airy-fairy to me” is very much mistaken. The films are massive battles, very emotional scenes, friendship that will make your eyes well up, death, destruction. [/QUOTE] I worship the books. I just figured I’d hold out until the trilogy came out, and then by then I was unable to work and broke. But I’ve just ordered a used copy of the 12 disk Platinum edition on Amazon that I can’t afford. So I’ll eat less for a few weeks. I need to lose weight anyway. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2008, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pieces-of-music-just-really-do-it-for-you/459470/27 "2008-08-10T19:56:08Z")
Since I was a teen, I’ve been in love with Brahms’ Sextet #1 in B-flat Major. I was blown away when _Star Trek: the Next Generation_ used a [brief excerpt](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YynPPWpfsg) of it in an episode involving Spock’s father, Sarek, having emotional reactions uncharacteristic of a Vulcan. Oddly, the sextet has been turned into a quartet, and the script misattributes it to Mozart. Never mind that. Like Sarek, I weep when I hear this exquisite piece of music. ---
**Author:** ![cactus\_waltz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@cactus\_waltz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cactus_waltz)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2008, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pieces-of-music-just-really-do-it-for-you/459470/28 "2008-08-10T20:36:53Z")
Just thought of something less obvious: Arvo Pärt’s **Spiegel Im Spiegel**. Very minimalistic but beautiful. ---
**Author:** ![unstrung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/a698b9/32.png) [@unstrung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unstrung)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2008, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pieces-of-music-just-really-do-it-for-you/459470/29 "2008-08-10T20:38:56Z")
For songs that “do it for me”, I don’t necessarily gravitate towards the classical music (as you’ll see). But, as far as I’m concerned, everything on my list is just brimming with awesome… -“She’s a Woman” by Jeff Beck (that song never ever fails to put me in a good mood) -“Washing of the water” by Peter Gabriel -“Missing the War” by Ben Folds Five -“Hallelujah” (Jeff Buckley’s rendition especially) -“Fred Jones Part 2” by Ben Folds -“Glory Bound” by Martin Sexton -“I Don’t Like the Way I am” by Martin Sexton -“Beautiful People” by Rusted Root -“Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World” by Israel Kamakawiwo Ole (he obviously didn’t write either of those songs, but he sings 'em real purty) -The earlier version of “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong -“Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word” by Elton John -“Willow weep for Me” originally by Wes Montgomery (I think?), but the solo Stanley Jordan version is really where its at -“Overjoyed” by Stevie Wonder -“They Won’t Go When I Go” by Stevie Wonder (George Michael did a pretty cool version of this too, but nobody does Stevie better than Stevie) -“Borrowed Tune” by Neil Young -“Smoke and Ashes” by Tracy Chapman -“Always with Me, Always with You” by Joe Satriani -“When I Fall” by Barenaked Ladies -“What a Good Boy” by Barenaked Ladies -“It’s so Hard to say Goodbye to Yesterday” by Boyz II Men (a lot of people laugh at me when I say I love this song, but I really don’t care) -“Santa Claus, True Love and Freedom” by Mofro -“Nobody Haunts Me Like You” by Reckless Kelly I could probably think of another couple hundred songs, but I’ll stop myself there… ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2008, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pieces-of-music-just-really-do-it-for-you/459470/30 "2008-08-10T21:01:02Z")
Links, please, folks! How are we supposed to hear all this beauty? If it’s good enough to list, it’s good enough to hunt down and link to if it’s possible, and to say it’s not if it’s not, please! ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2008, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pieces-of-music-just-really-do-it-for-you/459470/31 "2008-08-10T21:29:17Z")
Liszt’s Transendental Etudes, particularly No. 4 (Mazeppa). [This guy’s](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0i_ZmkYRe3U) not too shabby at giving it a go. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2008, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pieces-of-music-just-really-do-it-for-you/459470/32 "2008-08-10T21:42:47Z")
[QUOTE=Lobsang] A Lark Ascending [/QUOTE] Gahhhh noooo! That piece is like chewing tin foil!!! (I think so, anyway.) I’m sure the piece **Lobsang** meant 😉 was the [Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8c3XvNZ3ns4). ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2008, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pieces-of-music-just-really-do-it-for-you/459470/33 "2008-08-10T21:49:40Z")
Perhaps clichéd, but Mascagni’s Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana is one of my favourites. ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2008, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pieces-of-music-just-really-do-it-for-you/459470/34 "2008-08-10T22:02:27Z")
[QUOTE=Dr. PoopiePants] Liszt’s Transendental Etudes, particularly No. 4 (Mazeppa). [This guy’s](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0i_ZmkYRe3U) not too shabby at giving it a go. [/QUOTE] Now, to me, that’s a great example of a piece where someone can show off what a fantastic pianist s/he is, but not a bit of transcendent beauty. Interesting how taste varies, isn’t it? [QUOTE=Dr. PoopiePants] Perhaps clichéd, but Mascagni’s Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana is one of my favourites. [/QUOTE] Ah, the ultimate “Everything’s ok now” bit of [music](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OvsVSWB4TI). ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2008, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pieces-of-music-just-really-do-it-for-you/459470/35 "2008-08-10T22:09:06Z")
Sorry, that second quote was from **Capt. Ridley’s Shooting Party** , not **Dr. PoopiePants**. It’s your own fault, **Capt**. If you’d included a link, I wouldn’t have had to edit it! 😛 OK, Thomas Tallis is my new BFF. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2008, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pieces-of-music-just-really-do-it-for-you/459470/36 "2008-08-10T22:41:12Z")
Indeed, you are correct about varying tastes. I agree with your choices of Mozart’s Requiem and Beethoven’s 9’th (IMO the greatest music ever written, followed by the 5th and 7th…I just don’t care for his even numbered symphonies). But, I have a special affinity for virtuosity and Liszt and Chopin pieces can showcase that. Listening to either of their etudes, particularly in complete series, does allow me transcend to a place of beauty—and a technical virtuoso of Berezovsky’s caliber is my perfect portal. ---
**Author:** ![mutantmoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a87d85/32.png) [@mutantmoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mutantmoose)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2008, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pieces-of-music-just-really-do-it-for-you/459470/37 "2008-08-10T22:54:29Z")
Posted by GorillaMan > [@](#): > > I’m sure the piece Lobsang meant was the Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis. It’s interesting to hear the original “theme” upon which Vaughan Williams based his Fantasia and compare the two. He based it on the third verse of Tallis’s [Tunes for Archbishop Parker’s Psalter](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxpoTHCBk1M). The third verse starts at about 1:37. Kinda shows you how talented VW was to get his whole Fantasia out of that one short verse and bring the tune out. Listen to VW first and then to the Tallis original and you can hear basically the same melody but brought out. Also makes you realise how talented Tallis was - that he can have fantastic throwaway tunes in every short verse. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2008, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pieces-of-music-just-really-do-it-for-you/459470/38 "2008-08-10T23:53:03Z")
[QUOTE=Oy!] I used to love Pachelbel’s Canon In D, but then I was in the wedding of a dear friend stuck listening to it for about 15 minutes, and realized it was the same !@#$%^&-ing eight notes over and over and over! It’s highly decorated, but it never resolves. That was the end of my affair with Pachelbel, I’m afraid. [/QUOTE] I happen to love the Canon, but I understand why some do not. For one perspective, please enjoy the [Pachelbel Rant](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdxkVQy7QLM). ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2008, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pieces-of-music-just-really-do-it-for-you/459470/39 "2008-08-10T23:54:11Z")
[QUOTE=Dr. PoopiePants] Indeed, you are correct about varying tastes. I agree with your choices of Mozart’s Requiem and Beethoven’s 9’th (IMO the greatest music ever written, followed by the 5th and 7th…I just don’t care for his even numbered symphonies). [/QUOTE] Sort of like Star Trek movies.😃 I agree about the 9th, btw. Beethoven is not my favorite composer over all, but it’s hard for me to hear the 9th and not think it’s the great major work ever written. ---
**Author:** ![Linty\_Fresh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Linty\_Fresh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linty_Fresh)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2008, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pieces-of-music-just-really-do-it-for-you/459470/40 "2008-08-10T23:57:54Z")
Anything by the Pogues and Shane MacGowan, but most notably **If I Should Fall From Grace With God** and **The Long Lonesome Highway**. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pieces-of-music-just-really-do-it-for-you/459470.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pieces-of-music-just-really-do-it-for-you/459470.md?page=3)