Music that saddens

[schweitzeralan]

Immense topic indeed.  I purposely would not place the concept under 'What is The Saddest Music Composed over the Decades and Centuries."  Far too vast and far reaching.  There probably is a thread on this one; so many Romantic orchestral, instrumental, chamber works come to mind.  What I thought was what particular work or works affect one personally.  What are some of the saddest moments for me? I chose only very few:

Strauss's "Death and Transfiguration

Herbert Howell's "Threnody"

Transitional sections of Rimsky Korsakov's "Scheherazade" (somewhat unusual)

The "Vistula" theme from the symphonic poem of Lyatoshinsky


Just a very short personal list which I cold immediately think of.  There are so many emotive works; yet  many recognized and well known notable works may not affect me as they do others.

What makes a particular sad?  Or happy for that matter.  Is there any formuls, or thematic/harmonic structure or modal usage which would occasion a listener to respond emotionally? Again a vast subject.

[The new erato]

Shostakovich's viola sonata. Strauss' Metamorphosen.

[mahler10th]

Mahler 10 Adagio.  The sounds of a dying, heartbroken man.
Schmidt Symphony 4 - esecially the Metha version.

[DavidRoss]

What makes a particular sad?  Or happy for that matter.  Is there any formuls, or thematic/harmonic structure or modal usage which would occasion a listener to respond emotionally? Again a vast subject.

Traditionally, minor keys are associated with sadness, major keys with happiness.  Current research into the brain's responses to music interests some of us.  The following short student paper is most noteworthy for the bibliographic links at the end: http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro04/web2/gvaidya.html.  You might also be interested in the following information from a treatise written in 1806: http://www.gradfree.com/kevin/some_theory_on_musical_keys.htm.

To me the idea of sadness represented musically brings Elgar's cello concerto to mind.

[Mozart]

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/RrrEGfgz-rg

[Cato]

Mahler 10 Adagio.  The sounds of a dying, heartbroken man.

Not to mention any reconstruction of the Finale of the Tenth!

[schweitzeralan]

Traditionally, minor keys are associated with sadness, major keys with happiness.  Current research into the brain's responses to music interests some of us.  The following short student paper is most noteworthy for the bibliographic links at the end: http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro04/web2/gvaidya.html.  You might also be interested in the following information from a treatise written in 1806: http://www.gradfree.com/kevin/some_theory_on_musical_keys.htm.

To me the idea of sadness represented musically brings Elgar's cello concerto to mind.

Thanks for the uploads.  Always interested in music theory.  Many years ago I came across in an academic journal a document which studied the possibility of the element of sadness as it actually "inhabited" the music somehow..  It's been so long I don't remember the details.  The title of the article was: 'Does sadness live in music?" Perhaps all that is dated.

[val]

HAYDN:     Adagio of the Quartet opus 54/2

MOZART:   Adagio of the string Quintet K 516

BEETHOVEN:   Largo,from the piano Sonata opus 10/3

SCHUBERT:   2nd movement of the Trio opus 100

SCHUMANN:  Manfred Overture

SHOSTAKOVICH:   First movement of the 6th Symphony

DEBUSSY:   Pas sur la neige (Preludes)

RAVEL:    Le Gibet  (from Gaspard de la nuit)

[Wanderer]

I can't think of any music that actually saddens me (as opposed to sickens me:-). Even when I'm sad, a melancholic piece is more likely to uplift my spirits (as if someone is sharing the sorrow, so to speak) than bring me down.

[canninator]

Thanks for the uploads.  Always interested in music theory.  Many years ago I came across in an academic journal a document which studied the possibility of the element of sadness as it actually "inhabited" the music somehow..  It's been so long I don't remember the details.  The title of the article was: 'Does sadness live in music?" Perhaps all that is dated.

You might also be interested in this review of the subject, which is a more contemporary analysis of the field.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19338510?ordinalpos=3&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

If you don't have access to an academic library then drop me a line as I'm pretty sure the Annals of the NY Academy of Sciences is not open access online.

[vandermolen]

Mahler 10 Adagio.  The sounds of a dying, heartbroken man.
Schmidt Symphony 4 - esecially the Metha version.

Agree with these+

last movement of Pathetique Symphony by Tchaikovsky

The Trees so High by Patrick Hadley

Hymnus Paradisi by Herbert Howells

[Ten thumbs]

Indeed there is much sad music but what saddens is perhaps due to other associations.
Here is a little selection of my own:
Purcell: Dido - When I am laid to earth.
Schubert: C major quintet (what else?)
Bartok: 6th string quartet.

[71 dB]

Nothing saddens me more than Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet

[Sef]

Dvorak Cello Concerto
Bruckner 9 (end of)
Mahler 9 - 4th Movement
Shostakovich (lots, but end of 4th particularly)
Pettersson (Choose your weapon really - lets say end of 7th)
Tchaikovsky 6 - 4th Movement
Sibelius 4 and Swan of Tuonela
My favourite Strauss has been mentioned

[Diletante]

The saddest I know is the finale of Tchaikovsky's Sixth. Sometimes I have to stop listening after the third movement because that last movement is a bit draining.

[The new erato]

Indeed there is much sad music but what saddens is perhaps due to other associations.
Here is a little selection of my own:
Purcell: Dido - When I am laid to earth.
Schubert: C major quintet (what else?)
Bartok: 6th string quartet.

Could have been my choices as well. That strong feeling of aching nostalgia in Bartoks 6th is relly sad, and well observed.

Shostakovich's quartets should be mentioned, particularly no 15.

[Florestan]

Indeed there is much sad music but what saddens is perhaps due to other associations.

A very apt comment.

I can't think of any music that actually saddens me (as opposed to sickens me:-). Even when I'm sad, a melancholic piece is more likely to uplift my spirits (as if someone is sharing the sorrow, so to speak) than bring me down.

Another very apt comment.

Two picks off my head:

Schubert's Piano Sonata D 960 (first movement) --- IMO he's actually the most melancholy & saddening (in the above Wanderer-ian sense) composer ever

Mozart's Clarinet Concerto (second movement)

[jochanaan]

I can't think of any music that actually saddens me (as opposed to sickens me:-). Even when I'm sad, a melancholic piece is more likely to uplift my spirits (as if someone is sharing the sorrow, so to speak) than bring me down.

I'm with you.  Even such extreme examples as Tchaikovsky's Pathétique, Mahler's Sixth, Sibelius' Fourth and Shostakovich's Fourteenth, although they evoke strong "negative" emotions, leave me feeling cleansed rather than depressed.

Ironically, when I'm really depressed I have to avoid certain things like Strauss waltzes or Offenbach's Orpheus in the Underworld or other "light" music since it just gets me more depressed.  Not Mozart or Haydn, though: Mozart's music usually has hidden depths under the surface cheerfulness, and most of Haydn's music is so inventive and clever you just HAVE to smile!

[schweitzeralan]

I'm with you.  Even such extreme examples as Tchaikovsky's Pathétique, Mahler's Sixth, Sibelius' Fourth and Shostakovich's Fourteenth, although they evoke strong "negative" emotions, leave me feeling cleansed rather than depressed.

Ironically, when I'm really depressed I have to avoid certain things like Strauss waltzes or Offenbach's Orpheus in the Underworld or other "light" music since it just gets me more depressed.  Not Mozart or Haydn, though: Mozart's music usually has hidden depths under the surface cheerfulness, and most of Haydn's music is so inventive and clever you just HAVE to smile!

All interesting comments.  Surprising variety. I'm pleased that many posters were interested in an area which appears to be so obvious but then is quite evasive and subject to the individual's attention and sentiments.

[jochanaan]

...an area which appears to be so obvious but then is quite evasive and subject to the individual's attention and sentiments.

That describes music itself.  At least most good music.