# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pieces-of-music-just-really-do-it-for-you/459470/41 "2008-08-11T00:00:27Z")
[QUOTE=BrotherCadfael] 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). [/QUOTE] That was one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen. I had no idea that so many contemporary songs had the same chord structure, probably because I neither play cello nor guitar. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pieces-of-music-just-really-do-it-for-you/459470/42 "2008-08-11T01:05:50Z")
Gershwin. Rhapsody in Blue. ---
**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:** [August 11, 2008, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pieces-of-music-just-really-do-it-for-you/459470/43 "2008-08-11T03:05:48Z")
The slow movements of Rachmaninoff’s symphonies and concerti are often overlooked, compared to the other more popular movements. [Here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWRb90BRB5w) is the second movement from the Piano Concerto #2. I love how the piano is virtually making love with the woodwind section, one by one. ---
**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:** [August 11, 2008, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pieces-of-music-just-really-do-it-for-you/459470/44 "2008-08-11T03:17:03Z")
One of my favorite arias is “Dein is mein ganzes Hertz,” from Lehar’s \*Land of Smiles. \*Though it’s usually sung in the original German, [Here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iikzND6Hz54) is Pavarotti, singing it in Italian. It starts at 1:28. ---
**Author:** ![saddata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@saddata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saddata)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pieces-of-music-just-really-do-it-for-you/459470/45 "2008-08-11T04:30:01Z")
tiny dancer - elton john wish you were here - pink floyd 1979 - smashing pumpkins the whole _vegas_ cd by crystal method like a hurricane - neil young magnolia - jj cale biloxi - jimmy buffet ---
**Author:** ![unstrung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/a698b9/32.png) [@unstrung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unstrung)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pieces-of-music-just-really-do-it-for-you/459470/46 "2008-08-11T04:54:18Z")
[QUOTE=BrotherCadfael] 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). [/QUOTE] Holy crap, was that ever fantastic 🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Stealth\_Potato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Stealth\_Potato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stealth_Potato)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pieces-of-music-just-really-do-it-for-you/459470/47 "2008-08-11T07:49:25Z")
Powerful, thundering classical pieces are usually what really do it for me. You know, stuff that sends shivers down your spine while simultaneously kicking you in the stomach. Pieces like [the Dies Irae](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBBzsMqDnPE&NR=1) in Verdi’s Requiem and Tchaikovsky’s [Marche Slave](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tb8krRiA8o) are among my all-time favorites in this category. I’m also a huge fan of marching and martial music, and especially the choral stylings of the Red Army Choir. [Soldaty V Pohod](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJZiGsI7k3M) (a.k.a. “Off We Go!”, lit. “Soldiers, march!”) and [Dyen Pobyedy](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0CQB_tGn08) (Victory Day) usually leave me breathless. ---
**Author:** ![phil417](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6bbea6/32.png) [@phil417](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phil417)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pieces-of-music-just-really-do-it-for-you/459470/48 "2008-08-11T08:11:45Z")
My contribution to this OP is from Handel’s _Messiah_, the Hallelujah chorus at the end of the piece. I love two versions of this wonderful work, both the original (edit nt: a thousand pardons…I just regained my computer & the sound isn’t hooked up yet, so I have to rely on youtube.) [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnHksDFHTQI](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnHksDFHTQI). My other favorite is from _The Young Messiah_: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phhqYXTA5dA](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phhqYXTA5dA) I truly do rejoice. Love, Phil ---
**Author:** ![phil417](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6bbea6/32.png) [@phil417](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phil417)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pieces-of-music-just-really-do-it-for-you/459470/49 "2008-08-11T08:31:35Z")
10,001 aplolgies again, folks. I’m working between my newly re-enabled computer (no sound) & my husband’s laptop (has sound, is in another room). The “New Messiah Hallelujah Chorus” that makes me want to stand up & dance (while singing along at the top of my voice – not a good idea at 4:00 am) is: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJq97Lgfufw](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJq97Lgfufw) Never mind the video. When the soprano hits that final high note on “…and Lord of LORDS!” I’ve never stopped being thrilled. Love, Phil ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pieces-of-music-just-really-do-it-for-you/459470/50 "2008-08-11T08:58:40Z")
I’ve only recently started educating myself in classical music, and I’ve found that I seem oddly attarcted to late 19th-century Slavic types - Brahms, Tchaikovsky and especially Dvorak Of the latter, my favorite piece is probably the[2nd Movement](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeL0q8QoxcY) of his Serenade for Strings in E. Pretty much the textbook definition of “hauntingly beautiful.” Ignore the orchids. ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pieces-of-music-just-really-do-it-for-you/459470/51 "2008-08-11T12:49:10Z")
So many of the things you’ve listed are so beautiful, but I wanted to mention one link in particular: [QUOTE=phil417] My contribution to this OP is from Handel’s _Messiah_, the Hallelujah chorus at the end of the piece. I love two versions of this wonderful work, both the original (edit nt: a thousand pardons..I just regained my computer & the sound isn’t hooked up yet, so I have to rely on youtube.) [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnHksDFHTQI](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnHksDFHTQI). My other favorite is from _The Young Messiah_: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phhqYXTA5dA](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phhqYXTA5dA) [/QUOTE] I’m not all that big on the jazzed up versions of The Hallelujah Chorus (they’re ok, but they just seem gimmicky to me), but your link to the original had sheet music to follow! I stood up and sang along for the first time in several years - and loved all 3 & 1/2 minutes of it. Thank you so much for finding that link - I added it to my favorites. Anyway, thank you all for contributing thus far, and I hope more of you will continue to join in - this has been fascinating, to me at least. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pieces-of-music-just-really-do-it-for-you/459470/52 "2008-08-12T17:23:04Z")
[QUOTE=Oy!] I’m not all that big on the jazzed up versions of The Hallelujah Chorus (they’re ok, but they just seem gimmicky to me) [/QUOTE] But have you heard the **Canadian Brass** ’s melding of the _Hallelujah Chorus_ and _When the Saints Go Marching In_? You would never think it could work, but it does - spectacularly. ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pieces-of-music-just-really-do-it-for-you/459470/53 "2008-08-12T18:02:11Z")
[QUOTE=BrotherCadfael] But have you heard the **Canadian Brass** ’s melding of the _Hallelujah Chorus_ and _When the Saints Go Marching In_? You would never think it could work, but it does - spectacularly. [/QUOTE] LINK PLEASE??? I really want to hear this! ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pieces-of-music-just-really-do-it-for-you/459470/54 "2008-08-12T19:31:32Z")
The one that does it for me is the Carnegie Hall version of _Sing Sing Sing_ by Benny Goodman. Accept no other version, the piano solo is in such beautiful contrast to the rest of the song it has made me cry since the first time I heard it, and it never fails to. Truly an incredible performance, and it’s an accident anyone kept a recording for me to hear. It only happened once. I can’t find a place you can hear the whole thing, but you can hear Benny’s solo and Jeff Stacy’s solo on it [here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdXJ2FO6d_I). I am listening to it now with tears streaming down my cheeks. I really can’t help myself. Go listen. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pieces-of-music-just-really-do-it-for-you/459470/55 "2008-08-12T19:37:38Z")
Here you go: [Saints Hallelujah](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiUCStr3XJQ). Enjoy! ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pieces-of-music-just-really-do-it-for-you/459470/56 "2008-08-12T19:54:04Z")
[QUOTE=scabpicker] The one that does it for me is the Carnegie Hall version of _Sing Sing Sing_ by Benny Goodman. Accept no other version, the piano solo is in such beautiful contrast to the rest of the song it has made me cry since the first time I heard it, and it never fails to. Truly an incredible performance, and it’s an accident anyone kept a recording for me to hear. It only happened once. I can’t find a place you can hear the whole thing, but you can hear Benny’s solo and Jeff Stacy’s solo on it [here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdXJ2FO6d_I). I am listening to it now with tears streaming down my cheeks. I really can’t help myself. Go listen. [/QUOTE] I certainly enjoyed the piano solo more than the rest of it. Although the virtuosity of all of it was impressive, only the piano solo was at all emotionally moving (IMO of course). But for me, even the piano was not as touching as it is to you. Very good, nonetheless. That was fun, **Brother Cadfael**! 😃 Thanks! ---
**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:** [August 12, 2008, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pieces-of-music-just-really-do-it-for-you/459470/57 "2008-08-12T22:53:32Z")
Many of the above. A special seconding of “Daphnis and Chloe”. Holst, Hymns from the Rig Veda, third group, for women’s chorus and harp. It has qualities similar to “Venus” and “Neptune” from “The Planets”. Randall Thompson - Alleluia; the Last Words of David Others far too numerous to mention. ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pieces-of-music-just-really-do-it-for-you/459470/58 "2008-08-13T04:52:12Z")
[QUOTE=rowrrbazzle] Randall Thompson - Alleluia [/QUOTE] When I was in high school, this was The Green Alleluia - the sheet music had a light green color. For many of us, it was our favorite piece. I have a Robert Shaw rendition on CD among a bunch of traditional choral Christmas corals. Sometimes I sing along with tears running down my face, same as with the Hallelujah Chorus. I never realized how much I loved that chorus until I didn’t have it anymore. I’ve joined a couple of semi-pro choruses (i.e. a few people are paid petty stipends, and the majority of us were singing for the pleasure of it) since, but it just wasn’t quite the same. Here’s a [link](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8J4J5kqyoTQ&feature=related) to a pretty good version on YouTube. Sorry for the religious still as the visual. ---
**Author:** ![eulalia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eulalia/32/457_2.png) [@eulalia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eulalia)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pieces-of-music-just-really-do-it-for-you/459470/59 "2008-08-13T07:02:33Z")
My all time favorite is _The Four Seasons_ by Vivaldi, particularly Pinchas Zuckerman’s version. I like a lot of other kinds of music also, but baroque is best. ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pieces-of-music-just-really-do-it-for-you/459470/60 "2008-08-13T13:55:02Z")
Over all I like baroque or Rennaissance music the best, but with a very few exceptions, the pieces that move me emotionally the most tend not to be baroque. Oddly, the individual works that really hit me are usually pieces that come from periods that, in general, I don’t really care for all that much. I suspect that’s because I’m not really looking for emotional punch in my music as a rule. Baroque pleases me because it’s inherently “right,” as does Rennaissance music. But when something does reach out and grab me by the throat, then it sticks with me. Those pieces have usually been later works. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pieces-of-music-just-really-do-it-for-you/459470.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pieces-of-music-just-really-do-it-for-you/459470.md?page=4)