how does some music sound happy and sad at the same time?

[Justin Ignaz Franz Bieber]

What comes to mind is Leo Kottke's description of his track 'Ojo' which he said is happy & sad at the same time. He said when he's happy it makes him sad, and when he's sad it makes him happy. I don't know what the word would to describe it would be, my musical vocabulary isn't very big. Does anyone else even know what I'm talking about? What's that called.

[jochanaan]

The greater the music, the stronger and more complex the emotions it evokes.  So yes, good music can be happy, sad, fearful, angry, loving, all at once.

[karlhenning]

He said when he's happy it makes him sad, and when he's sad it makes him happy.

Spin, Leo, spin! 

[dtwilbanks]

Bittersweet?

[hornteacher]

Sad is happy for deep people.

[Mark]

Not the perfect word for it, but might 'ambivalence' do?

[DavidW]

Sad is happy for deep people.

I thought it was sad is happy for people in denial.

[hornteacher]

I thought it was sad is happy for people in denial.

That too.

Actually I swiped the line from a Doctor Who episode.  Its a great quote though.

[DavidW]

That too.

Actually I swiped the line from a Doctor Who episode.  Its a great quote though.

Ahaha I knew I heard it before, that's where!

[BachQ]

The greater the music, the stronger and more complex the emotions it evokes.  So yes, good music can be happy, sad, fearful, angry, loving, all at once.

Examples, please.

[DavidW]

Examples, please.

Brahms German Requiem.

[Novi]

Contrary?

[Mark]

Brahms German Requiem.

Strong example.

[Justin Ignaz Franz Bieber]

Bittersweet?

maybe...  This is what I mean:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/music/wma-pop-up/B00004Z3ZQ002001/ref=mu_sam_wma_002_001/002-2676169-1063200
it's in D major, which is supposed to be happy, but somehow Froberger made it sound sad
same with this one:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/music/wma-pop-up/B00004NK2H001013/ref=mu_sam_wma_001_013/002-2676169-1063200
maybe out of more better-known stuff what about the allemande from Bach's 6th cello suite?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/music/wma-pop-up/B000001GRZ002014/ref=mu_sam_wma_002_014/002-2676169-1063200

[BachQ]

Brahms German Requiem.

Good one.  There are several requiems that are girded in sadness but which have an uplifting quality ....... Faure's req. comes to mind ........

[rappy]

Mozarts well known A major piano sonata makes you cry when you are sad, being such a delightful and "optimistic" piece of music if you are in a good mood.

[jochanaan]

Examples, please.

Just about anything by J.S. Bach; Beethoven's symphonies, especially the Fifth and Ninth; most of Bruckner...

[Kullervo]

how does some music sound happy and sad at the same time?

People go to years of school to answer that question.

[DavidW]

People go to years of school to answer that question.

School = Corey's nervous breakdown.

[Kullervo]

School = Corey's nervous breakdown.

Hey, how'd you know about that? Heh heh... heh.