If someone told you he would be going to commit suicide...

[Lilas Pastia]

C'mon, Eric, haven't you got there (and back) a few times already ? What would be YOUR choice?

[Monsieur Croche]

Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde.

No, I'm serious.  Anyone who's really suicidal won't respond to any "happy" music; it'd probably make him/her more determined to jump.  But Das Lied von der Erde is cathartic enough, it just might bring her/him back from the edge.

Finally I can mention Pettersson without having my tongue lodged in my cheek.

But if 'happier' music is called for, then I would perhaps go for Faure's Requiem. It has such a calming, soothing effect. The last movement in particular, In Paradisum, makes me feel as if all my troubles just melted away. Durufle's Requiem should do the job just as well. If those fail, there is still Messiaen's Éclairs sur l'au-delà.

[Kullervo]

I remember reading in a book about a man who was about to jump out of the window of his several story-high apartment, but was stopped by a strain of Brahms coming from the television, and decided that life was worth living.

[Anne]

Play a Mahler symphony.  It'll take so long that by the time its finished he will have forgotten he was going to kill himself.

[Symphonien]

I remember reading in a book about a man who was about to jump out of the window of his several story-high apartment, but was stopped by a strain of Brahms coming from the television, and decided that life was worth living.

I wonder what piece of Brahms it could have been...

[Opus106]

Play a Mahler symphony.  It'll take so long that by the time its finished he will have forgotten he was going to kill himself.

Which reminds me of a similar story from mathematical lore.

Yet another story, told in "The man who loved only numbers" by Mark Hoffman, tells that Wolf actually missed his supposed suicide time because he was in the library studying the Theorem. Upon realizing that, he concluded that the contemplation of mathematics was more rewarding than a beautiful woman so he decided not to kill himself. He bankrolled the Theorem because it "saved his life".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Wolfskehl

[The new erato]

For some members here I would play Petterson to make sure they went ahead and did it. For others; NOT. 

[Teresa]

Interesting, only one vote for Zarathustra yet.
IMO that piece is pure beauty, if you listen to it you can even feel how your body regenerates physically.

I agree and I just voted for Also Sprach Zarathustra as it's not just the pure beauty of the piece but also the triumphant feeling of exhilaration, of being on top of the world.  I cannot image anyone wanting to commit suicide after hearing this masterpiece.  So now there are 2 votes.

[jochanaan]

Play a Mahler symphony.  It'll take so long that by the time its finished he will have forgotten he was going to kill himself.

Better yet, start Der Ring des Nibelungen.

[PSmith08]

Boulez' Piano Sonata no. 2 (Pollini/DG)

Why? Well, I'm very fond of the work. If someone has told me that he is planning on killing himself and I haven't taken him seriously enough to get him both restrained and the proper medical attention, then I have clearly determined that he is crying for attention. I will gladly sit and talk a spell, but I will do so if he'll give me a little company for one of my favorite solo piano works. It's empowering or some such psychobabble.

[Symphonien]

Better yet, start Der Ring des Nibelungen.

Or John Cage's Organ²/ASLSP. He will already be dead before it is over, and will thus be unable to commit suicide.

[rappy]

I agree and I just voted for Also Sprach Zarathustra as it's not just the pure beauty of the piece but also the triumphant feeling of exhilaration, of being on top of the world.  I cannot image anyone wanting to commit suicide after hearing this masterpiece.  So now there are 2 votes.

Agreed! Now there's another vote (4 yet!).
That piece immediately comes to mind. And if there wasn't the Zarathustra, you could also pick the Don Juan. Or, if you want to combine beauty and the suggested lenght, take the Rosenkavalier!

[david johnson]

i picked webern.

[greg]

i picked webern.

and i picked my nose.

[jochanaan]

and i picked my nose.

That'snot funny.

[greg]

That'snot funny.

go blow your flute 

oh wow........ just realized this was my 4000th post.

[mikkeljs]

Or John Cage's Organ²/ASLSP. He will already be dead before it is over, and will thus be unable to commit suicide.

plus he would have to spent the rest of his life in chirch! 

[mikkeljs]

and well, since I have had it for years, I think my answer would by very qualified. Shostakovich and Pettersson! Doesn´t have to end with a huge thriumph, because the music that speaks to you the easiest way, is the music that appeal to your situation most possible.

[Symphonien]

plus he would have to spent the rest of his life in chirch! 

Haha, that too!

I've been thinking about music for this situation, and decided that it doesn't have to evoke strong emotions (whether happy or sad) but just be extremely beautiful, to remind the person why life is still worth living. For this reason, I think someone like Arvo Pärt might be one of the best choices, perhaps Spiegel im Spiegel. I don't listen to him very often, but when I do and properly focus on the music, it is truly transcendent.

[david johnson]

and i picked my nose.

i knew you would!!! 
we must acquire a nose picking smiley for this joint.

dj