# What's the origin/name of that 'violin pity music?'

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-name-of-that-violin-pity-music/68190>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 9, 2001, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-name-of-that-violin-pity-music/68190 "2001-06-09T17:32:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2001, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-name-of-that-violin-pity-music/68190/1 "2001-06-09T17:32:14Z")

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The one you hear in movies/TV shows/cartoons. The one tha goes “neee NEEEEEEEE neeee nee-neeeeee neeeeee neeeeee.”

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**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2001, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-name-of-that-violin-pity-music/68190/2 "2001-06-09T20:40:09Z")

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I think it’s “Hearts and Flowers” by Theodore Tobani. There’s a MIDI of it on [this page](http://www.perfessorbill.com/index1.htm).

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**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2001, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-name-of-that-violin-pity-music/68190/3 "2001-06-09T22:04:17Z")

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It just occurred to me that it might be “None But The Lonely Heart” by Tchaikovsky. There’s a kinda upbeat version of it [here](http://cdnow.com/cgi-bin/mserver/SID=1906487910/pagename=/RP/CDN/FIND/album.html/ArtistID=HIMBER*RICHARD/ITEMID=161762)

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**Author:** ![Iguana\_Boy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@Iguana\_Boy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iguana_Boy)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2001, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-name-of-that-violin-pity-music/68190/4 "2001-06-09T23:45:05Z")

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I’m pretty sure **Manduck** was right first time - it’s “Hearts and Flowers”

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**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:** [June 9, 2001, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-name-of-that-violin-pity-music/68190/5 "2001-06-09T23:50:34Z")

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Manduck: the MIDI site you gave the link for is great! Thanks!

But re “None But The Lonely Heart”: I know that song well, and I’ve heard it used as background music, but I can’t remember the last time - years ago, at least.

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**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\
**Post date:** [June 10, 2001, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-name-of-that-violin-pity-music/68190/6 "2001-06-10T02:29:37Z")

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Thanks a bunch.

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**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\
**Post date:** [June 10, 2001, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-name-of-that-violin-pity-music/68190/7 "2001-06-10T07:50:45Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Manduck \*  
> \*\*I think it’s “Hearts and Flowers” by Theodore Tobani. There’s a MIDI of it on [this page](http://www.perfessorbill.com/index1.htm). \*\*

I screwed up that link. [try this](http://www.perfessorbill.com/pbmidi5.htm)

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**Author:** ![DVous\_Means](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@DVous\_Means](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DVous_Means)\
**Post date:** [June 10, 2001, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-name-of-that-violin-pity-music/68190/8 "2001-06-10T15:29:49Z")

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Has the question been answered yet?

If not, a very famous bit of violin-based “sad” music that is used often is Albinoni’s Adagio.

Perfect for those funereal times…