1. Ligeti's Clocks and Clouds
2. Debussy's Trois Nocturnes: III. Sirenes
3. Ravel's Introduction and Allegro
4. Messiaen's Des Canyons aux Etoiles...: VIII. Les Ressuscités et le Chant de l'Etoile Aldébaran
5. Haydn's Symphony No. 93, movement II (even if it weren't for the bassoon joke at the end, it would be my favorite Haydn slow movement)
6. Feldman's Rothko Chapel
7. Ockeghem's Missa Prolationum
8. Bartok's Piano Concerto No. 2, movement II
9. Faure's Requiem
10. Ravel's Miroirs
Beauty you say?
1. Brahms Violin Sonata No. 1, Op. 78 - I. Vivace ma non troppo
2-6 in some order
Chopin Nocturne in A-flat Op. 32 no. 2
Brahms String Sextet No. 2, Op. 36 - I. Allegro non troppo
Vaughan Williams Symphony No. 5 in D - III. Romanza
Schubert Quintet D956 - II. Adagio
Mozart Piano Concerto No. 27, K. 595 (complete)
I can't think of anything else that deserves to be considered on the same level.
1 The Swan from Swan Lake
A few other random ones that spring to mind include Nymphes des Bois by Josquin, A couple short bits by Palestrina, Jack ( I think I have the right section) by Nyman, and the slow movement of PC 21.
Let me add Nate is a very lucky man. There is so much beautiful music for him to discover. Amw is less lucky: he has done an excellent job finding much of it already.
"beautiful"
What a loaded adjective.
Smetana - Moldau
Chopin - Berceuse
Chopin - Nocturne in C sharp minor, Op. posth.
Bill Evans - Peace Piece (improvisation)
Vaughan Williams - Symphony No. 5, III. Romanza
Grieg - Last Spring
R. Strauss - Four Last Songs
Mahler (arr. somebody) - the adagietto of Symphony No. 5 turned into a choral work (recorded by Accentus and Laurence Equilbey)
JS Bach - Slow movement from the Violin Concerto in E Major
Beethoven - variations, Op. 109
That's just off the top of my head right now, without looking at anybody else's lists. I'm sure tomorrow my list would be different.
Handel: What passion cannot music rise and quell (from Ode to St Cecilia)
Bach: Mache Dich, mein Herze, rein (from St Matthew)
Haydn: slow movement of the quartet op.76/5
Mozart: Piano concerto K 453, especially the slow mvtm
Beethoven: "Dankgesang" from op.132
Schubert: An die Musik
Chopin: Trio section from 2nd movement of b flat minor Sonata
Schumann: The last two or three pieces from Davidsbündlertänze (starting with "wie aus der Ferne")
Wagner: Wotan's farewell from Walküre
Brahms, Intermezzo op.117/1
Bruckner: Slow mvtm of 8th symphony
Mahler: Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen
Quote from: James on February 28, 2015, 05:17:38 PM
Six quick ones off the top of my head ..
JS Bach, Dona nobis pacem
Webern, Symphonie op.21
Bartók, String Quartet No. 6
Fauré, Piano Nocturne No. 13
Wagner, Tristan und Isolde Prelude
Strauss, Four Last Songs
I've heard everything on that list except the Faure nocturne.
Really? Webern's
Symphonie? Don't get me wrong -- I love it -- but it is filled with so much tension! Of course, I recognize that we all hear different things in music, so it isn't a criticism. Just a surprise.
'Beautiful' tends towards the lyrical side for me. Not so much music one admires for its architecture, but that moves and is associated with the effect of sun light. In that case:
Khatchatur Avetisyan, Oratorio in memoriam 1915
Samuel Barber, Second Essay for orchestra
Joly Braga Santos, Symphony No. 3
Claude Debussy, La Mer
Manuel de Falla , El Sombrero de Tres Picos
Arvo Pärt, Te Deum
Gabriel Pierné, Divertissements sur un thème pastoral
Manuel Ponce, Concierto del sur
Maurice Ravel, Le Tombeau de Couperin
Ottorino Respighi, Lauda per la Nativitá del Signore
Veljo Tormis, Unustatud rahvad (Forgotten Peoples)
Eduard Tubin, Symphony No. 4 `Lirica'
Ralph Vaughan Williams, A Pastoral Symphony & Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis
Fauré Pavane
Fauré Sicilienne from Pelléas et Mélisande
Kats-Chernin Green Leaf from Wild Swans
Brahms Symphony No.3 third movement Poco allegretto
Beethoven Piano Sonata No.8 "Pathétique" second movement Adagio cantabile
Mahler Symphony No.2 second movement Andante moderato
Mahler Symphony No.6 third movement Andante moderato
Mozart Piano Concerto No.21 K.467 second movement Andante
Mozart Sinfonia Concertante for Violin and Viola K.364
Schubert Der Leiermann from Winterreise
Wagner Winterstürme wichen dem Wonnemond and Du bist der Lenz from Die Walküre
Tchaikovsky The Nutcracker Pas de deux
Sarge
Quote from: sanantonio on February 28, 2015, 08:24:44 PM
4'33"
It is indeed beautiful when you can arrange it. Your duration may vary.
The first that come to mind (I really couldn't reduce it to less than 15 :-[ ):
Bach: "Zerfliesse, mein Herze" from Johannes-Passion
Beethoven: Second movement, "Scene by the brook", from the Sixth symphony
Boulez: Mémoriale
Debussy: Reflets dans l'eau from Images pour piano, first series
Enescu: Second movement, andantino cantabile, from Piano sonata Op. 24, No.3
Lully: "Dormons, dormons tous" (scène du someil) from Act 3 of Atys
Mahler: "Ich bin der Welt abanden gekommen" from the Rückert-Lieder
Monteverdi: "Pur ti miro, pur ti godo" (final duet) from Act 3 of L'Incoronazione di Poppea
Mozart: "Giunse al fin il momento"..."Deh vieni, non tardar" (Susanna's Act 4 aria) from Le Nozze di Figaro
Mozart: "Soave sia il vento" (Act 1 trio) from Così fan tutte
Ravel: Le Jardin féerique from Ma Mère l'Oye
Strauss: Finale (trio and duet) from Act 3 of Der Rosenkavalier
Stravinsky: Tempo di minuetto ("Pupillette, fiammette d'amore") and Finale: allegro assai from Pulcinella
Wagner: Quintet from Act 3 of Die Meistersinger.
Wagner: Good Friday spell from Act 3 of Parsifal
Quote from: Sergeant Rock on March 01, 2015, 03:34:53 AM
Fauré Pavane
Fauré Sicilienne from Pelléas et Mélisande
Kats-Chernin Green Leaf from Wild Swans
Brahms Symphony No.3 third movement Poco allegretto
Beethoven Piano Sonata No.8 "Pathétique" second movement Adagio cantabile
Mahler Symphony No.2 second movement Andante moderato
Mahler Symphony No.6 third movement Andante moderato
Mozart Piano Concerto No.21 K.467 second movement Andante
Mozart Sinfonia Concertante for Violin and Viola K.364
Schubert Der Leiermann from Winterreise
Wagner Winterstürme wichen dem Wonnemond and Du bist der Lenz from Die Walküre
Sarge
Plus 1 on K364, especially the first mvmt.
Quote from: springrite on March 01, 2015, 03:36:14 AM
It is indeed beautiful when you can arrange it. Your duration may vary.
As abonus you can play it at the same tiime as Nun wondre Maria by Hugo Wolf.
I'll try to make a list here of my Top 10 Most Beautiful Pieces, but it's going to be difficult. (In no particular order and limited it to one composer per work)
1. Elgar: Symphony No. 2
2. RVW: Flos Campi
3. Delius: Songs of Sunset
4. Ravel: Daphnis et Chloe
5. Sibelius: The Oceanides
6. Harrison: Seven Pastorales
7. R. Strauss: Four Last Songs
8. Bartok: Piano Concerto No. 3
9. Lydaov: Eight Russian Folksongs
10. Barber: Violin Concerto
...And I'm still not happy with only 10 choices! :)
Quote from: Jo498 on March 01, 2015, 12:08:31 AM
Brahms, Intermezzo op.117/1
Quote from: ritter on March 01, 2015, 04:29:28 AM
Debussy: Reflets dans l'eau from Images pour piano, first series
I feel silly for not remembering these. And the slow movement from Ravel's Piano Concerto in G! And Shostakovich's prelude and fugue, Op. 87 No. 7 in A major.
Ravel - "Trois Beaux Oiseaux du Paradis" from Trois Chansons
Koechlin - Vers la voûte étoilée (Towards the Starry Vault)
Bruckner - Symphony No. 5, 2nd movement
Cristobal de Morales - the Invitatorium from Officium Defunctorum
Mahler - Symphony No. 9, 4th movement
Bach - Sinfonia from BWV 106 "Actus Tragicus"
Sibelius - Symphony No. 7
Brahms - Ballades Op. 10, No. 4
Beethoven - String Quartet No. 15, Op. 132
Fauré - Piano Quintet No. 1
Ask me again in a month and I'm sure this list could change. But these are the pieces that came immediately to mind. I've even linked some YouTube performances of these pieces.
Enjoy!
Berlioz: Angus Dei from Requiem
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 22 in E Flat, K 482 - 3rd Mvt
Strauss: Metamorphosen
Wagner: Prelude to Parsifal
Biber: Violin Sonata No. 3
https://www.youtube.com/v/Dl9371sYxXo
Britten: Interlude for Harp from Ceremony of Carols
https://www.youtube.com/v/fOErlb9PO68
Glass: Knee Play No. 5 from Einstein on the Beach
https://www.youtube.com/v/BpoWWnR348M
des Prez: Deploratio Sur La Mort De Johannes Ockeghem
https://www.youtube.com/v/aJ_3horj9Gs
Preisner: Requiem for my Friendm Part 2 - Meeting
https://www.youtube.com/v/O7tiI65QXpo
Rameau: Entree de Polymnie from Les Boreades
https://www.youtube.com/v/dADCwS5jR9Q
Quote from: James on March 01, 2015, 07:13:30 AM
Perhaps your definition of beauty is a cliché or narrow one?
Not a chance. :)
Here's 20, off the top of my head, not in order of preference and without seeing previous posts:
Ravel: the opening of Daphnis & Chloé
Schreker: Prelude to Die Gezeichneten
Szymanowski: the opening of Król Roger
R.Strauss: Vier letzte Lieder
Zemlinsky: Eine florentinische Tragödie
Berlioz: Grande messe des morts (esp. Sanctus & Agnus Dei)
Beethoven: Missa Solemnis (esp. Sanctus, Benedictus & Agnus Dei)
Brahms: Ein deutsches Requiem
Debussy: Le martyre de Saint Sébastien
Alkan: Grand duo concertant for violin & piano
Medtner: Violin Sonata No.2
Vaughan Williams: The Pilgrim's Progress (esp. The House Beautiful & Act IV-Scene 3)
Sibelius: Symphony No.7
Schumann: Introduction & allegro concertante op.134
Mozart: Sinfonia concertante K.364(320d)
Wagner: Prelude to Lohengrin
Bantock: A Celtic Symphony
Britten: Festival Te Deum
Saint-Saëns: Samson et Dalila, "Mon cœur s'ouvre à ta voix"
Dohnányi: Piano Quintet No.1
Edit: substituted Korngold's Prelude to Violanta with Zemlinsky's Florentine Tragedy.
Quote from: amw on February 28, 2015, 04:44:53 PM
Beauty you say?
1. Brahms Violin Sonata No. 1, Op. 78 - I. Vivace ma non troppo
Yes!
Quote from: TheGSMoeller on March 01, 2015, 07:32:10 AM
Ask me again in a month and I'm sure this list could change. But these are the pieces that came immediately to mind. I've even linked some YouTube performances of these pieces.
Enjoy!
Berlioz: Angus Dei from Requiem
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 22 in E Flat, K 482 - 3rd Mvt
Strauss: Metamorphosen
Wagner: Prelude to Parsifal
Biber: Violin Sonata No. 3
https://www.youtube.com/v/Dl9371sYxXo
Britten: Interlude for Harp from Ceremony of Carols
https://www.youtube.com/v/fOErlb9PO68
Glass: Knee Play No. 5 from Einstein on the Beach
https://www.youtube.com/v/BpoWWnR348M
des Prez: Deploratio Sur La Mort De Johannes Ockeghem
https://www.youtube.com/v/aJ_3horj9Gs
Preisner: Requiem for my Friendm Part 2 - Meeting
https://www.youtube.com/v/O7tiI65QXpo
Rameau: Entree de Polymnie from Les Boreades
https://www.youtube.com/v/dADCwS5jR9Q
that's two votes for Nymphes des bois. Where's Sarge??
I'd probably put Strauss' oboe concerto op. 144 in there somewhere. Ridiculously beautiful music. :'(
Quote from: Ken B on March 01, 2015, 04:34:57 PM
that's two votes for Nymphes des bois. Where's Sarge??
I honestly posted without reading the previous posts, I generally like to create my lists without any influence.
But regarding the joint Nymphes des bois pics...card carrying club member, Dude.
Look! He comes from Langgaard's Sfærernes Musik
Händel's Cara sposa from Rinaldo
Dal mio Permesso from Monteverdi's L'Orfeo
Couperin's Les Barricades Mystérieuses
the middle of Haas' Wer, wenn ich schriee, hörte mich...
RVW's Tallis Fantasia
Hymn from Glass' Akhnaten
Pelēcis' Nevertheless
Smetana's Vltava (aka Moldau)
Pärt's Für Alina
Some nice lists with some surprising and interesting entries -- lots to explore. :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skJS-ozIyZk lovely music
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skJS-ozIyZk
Quote from: david johnson on March 03, 2015, 02:29:58 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skJS-ozIyZk lovely music
Hummel apparently knew Mozart's K.467 Andante ;D
Sarge
Bach: 'Ich habe genug,' BWV 82 - I. Aria
Berlioz: Roméo et Juliette - III. Scène d'amour
Brahms: Clarinet Trio in a minor, Op. 114
Chopin: Ballade no. 4 in f minor, Op. 52
Mozart: Piano Concerto in A major, K. 488
Rakhmaninov: All-night Vigil
Ravel: Piano Trio
Schumann: Piano Quintet in E flat major - II. In modo d'una marcia
Schubert: Piano Trio No. 2 in E flat major, D. 929 - II. Andante con moto
Sibelius: Symphony no. 6
To Gratiana, dancing and Singing: William Denis Browne (song)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MVZgDnhyHnQ
Sancta Civitas: Vaughan Williams
Dies Natalis: Finzi
Symphony 3 (Epilogue): Bax
The Trees so High: Patrick Hadley
Sospiri: Elgar
Essay for Orchestra No.2: Samuel Barber
Symphony 4: J. Braga Santos
Symphony 4: Eduard Tubin
Symphony 7 (last movement): Edmund Rubbra
In no particular order, mostly 2nd movements:
Mahler 6, Andante (sometimes the 2nd movement)
Mozart Clarinet Concerto, 2nd movement. Adagio.
Mozart PC 21, 2nd movement. Andante.
Mozart PC 23, 2nd movement. Adagio.
Schubert String Quintet, 2nd movement. Adagio.
Schubert Piano Trio #2, op.100. 2nd movement. Andante.
also:
Verdi, "Di Provenza"
Mahler 2
Chopin, Raindrop Prelude #15
Schubert Piano Duet D940
Quote from: sanantonio on March 04, 2015, 07:01:30 AM
I was thinking of this one, primarily because of the Lorraine Hunt-Lieberman recording.
Yes, and Carolyn Sampson with Suzuki is great as well. Peter Kooij with Herreweghe, too. :)
A few that come to mind (Puccini, Strass (Richard) and Mozart should be on the list, but they are so obvious in some ways, can't choose just one):
Brahms: Piano Trio #1 - opening movement is simply one of the most beautiful and moving pieces ever written in the history of music (for me anyway)
Bizet - Pearl Fishers Duet (Au fond du temple saint) -
Schumann - Kinderszenen - the last two 'scenes' are achingly beautiful (the second to last in particular)
Bach - Cello Suite - opening prelude
Chopin - Nocturne in G Minor, Op. 37, No. 1
Donizetti - Chi mi frena in tal momento? (THE sextet)
Debussy - Arabesque No.1 (sorry - i cannot help myself, just turn to mush :) )
Monteverdi - Lamento della ninfa
Verdi - Simon Boccanegra (opening is sooooooo beautiful)
Schubert - first Impromptu of D899
Out of many, perhaps 10, perhaps more--the ones I can think of now:
Bruckner: Mass in e minor, Kyrie.
Bach: Cantata #6 "Bleib bei uns," opening movement.
Bach: Mass in B minor, Dona nobis pacem.
Beethoven: Piano Sonata #32 in C minor, second movement/finale.
Beethoven: Symphony #9, first and third movements
Britten: Violin Concerto, finale
Bruckner: Symphony #7, first movement
Holst: The Planets, Neptune
Hovhaness: Symphony #50 "Mount St. Helens", finale
Mahler: Symphony #3, finale.
Mozart: Symphony #41 "Jupiter," second movement
Part: Magnificat
You'll notice that the list is all in alphabetical order except for the first listing. There's a reason for that. :)
Quote from: mc ukrneal on March 04, 2015, 07:46:25 AM
Debussy - Arabesque No.1 (sorry - i cannot help myself, just turn to mush :) )
Don't be sorry, Neal. It's a gorgeous work indeed.
Not to fill the entire list with Wagner, I'll choose only two pieces from his operas. :-X
Wagner: Siegfried, "Leuchtende Liebe, lachender Tod!".
Wagner: Tristan und Isolde, "O Wonne! Freude!".
Beethoven: Symphony No.9
Liszt: Chasse-Neige.
Mahler: Symphony No.6
Rachmaninov: Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini.
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No.6
R. Strauss: Eine Alpensinfonie, Der Anstieg.
Holst: The Planets, Neptune.
Ravel: Daphnis et Chloé, Part II.
Quote from: vandermolen on March 03, 2015, 11:18:01 AM
To Gratiana, dancing and Singing: William Denis Browne (song)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MVZgDnhyHnQ
Sancta Civitas: Vaughan Williams
Dies Natalis: Finzi
Symphony 3 (Epilogue): Bax
The Trees so High: Patrick Hadley
Sospiri: Elgar
Essay for Orchestra No.2: Samuel Barber
Symphony 4: J. Braga Santos
Symphony 4: Eduard Tubin
Symphony 7 (last movement): Edmund Rubbra
Not even
one choice that I don't share. :-[ 0:)
Quote from: Christo on March 04, 2015, 12:44:34 PM
Not even one choice that I don't share. :-[ 0:)
Much the same could be said about your choices (although where was Berkeley's Concerto for Two Pianos?) :o
Also I'm interested in the Khachaturian oratorio in your selection which I don't know at all and can't see a CD of it anywhere - shock/horror. ;D
I've thought of another one.
The last of Novak's Eight Nocturnes for Voice and Orchestra: 'Christchild's Lullabye'. Ideal late night listening; music of compassion and consolation:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TidkpYY_G68
From the good ole USA:
Barber: Piano Concerto: Canzone
Diamond String Quartet 3: Adagio
Barber: Knoxville Summer of 1915
Chanler: "Be Very Quiet Now" (47 seconds of magic)
Rorem: String Symphony: Berceuse
more later...
Quote from: vandermolen on March 04, 2015, 01:48:28 PMAlso I'm interested in the Khachaturian oratorio in your selection which I don't know at all and can't see a CD of it anywhere - shock/horror. ;D
Has to do with the many different transliterations of his name - Chatsatur Avetissian, Khatchatur Avetisyan, Khatchatour Avetissian, Khaçadur Avedisyan etc., yet to transliterate it as
"Khatchaturian" is very original to say the least ;). The most common English transliteration is
Khatchatur Avetisyan. I heard the oratorio, played by an orchestra with unique Armenian instruments and of course in Armenian, in a live performance, five years ago in Utrecht. But I've known recordings of it since the 1990s.
There are different CD releases, often by small Armenian record companies all over the world - with the consequential differences in the spelling of his name - of mostly the same 1989 recording. Here's one of them, from Turkey
(!):
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/519Ao3fH0iL._SS500_.jpg)
Okay, now confined to 'entirely beautiful' (*)
pieces and movements only:
Malcolm Arnold,
Serenade for guitar and strings Op. 50: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOgf8ulDw4Y
Einar Englund, Third movement 'Nostalgia' from Symphony No. 4 `Nostalgic' (1976): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETZXx8P9t80
Joly Braga Santos,
Variações Sinfónicas Sobre Um Tema Alentejano: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PTc-tcEwMQ
Maurice Ravel,
Adagio assai from the Piano Concerto in G (actually surprised it wasn't mentioned thus far): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ud6nbX5XKVk
Quote from: Rons_talking on March 04, 2015, 03:59:56 PMBarber: Knoxville Summer of 1915
Quote from: jochanaan on March 04, 2015, 07:47:53 AMHolst: The Planets, Neptune
Quote from: vandermolen on March 03, 2015, 11:18:01 AMDies Natalis: Finzi
Quote from: Wanderer on March 01, 2015, 01:39:05 PMBritten: Festival Te Deum
Quote from: Mirror Image on March 01, 2015, 05:58:07 AM2. RVW: Flos Campi
Quote from: Sergeant Rock on March 01, 2015, 03:34:53 AMFauré Pavane
Quote from: Jo498 on March 01, 2015, 12:08:31 AMBach: Mache Dich, mein Herze, rein (from St Matthew)
Quote from: Guido on April 19, 2007, 08:42:31 AMAny of Barber's slow movements. The obvious one is the Adagio for strings, but the slow movement from the violin concerto, or the more anguished cello concerto, or even the more mysterious piano concerto slow movements are all sumptuous.
Quote from: Christo on April 21, 2007, 05:54:07 AM
One of the 'most entirely beautiful' adagios ever composed must be, imho: the Molto Adagio from the posthumously discovered symphonic poem Türkiye by Turkish composer Cemâl Resit Rey, found on this CD:
(http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTM0MlgxNjAw/z/3d0AAOxy63FSxBhR/$_35.JPG)
Edit: (*) http://allpoetry.com/poem/8493075-Lullaby-by-W-H-Auden
Quote from: Christo on March 04, 2015, 11:28:45 PM
Maurice Ravel, Adagio assai from the Piano Concerto in G (actually surprised it wasn't mentioned thus far): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ud6nbX5XKVk(http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTM0MlgxNjAw/z/3d0AAOxy63FSxBhR/$_35.JPG)
Yes. Although I love the G major, I didn't totally appreciate the slow movement until I saw a live performance last November (Yuja Wang as soloist). It was magic.
I have yet to hear music more profound than
Clocks and Clouds (yes, I am 100% aware that I always talk about this piece -- but that's because it's so
good).
Quote from: Rons_talking on March 04, 2015, 03:59:56 PM
From the good ole USA:
Barber: Piano Concerto: Canzone
Diamond String Quartet 3: Adagio
Barber: Knoxville Summer of 1915
Chanler: "Be Very Quiet Now" (47 seconds of magic)
Rorem: String Symphony: Berceuse
more later...
The Knoxville is such a great choice and I'd add Copland's 'Quiet City' and the slow movement of Diamond's Third Symphony and Piston's Second Symphony as genuinely beautiful.
Berlioz - Les Troyens / Act 4: No.37 Duo: "Nuit d'ivresse et d'extase"
Beautiful, beautiful duo.
Quote from: Wanderer on March 01, 2015, 01:39:05 PM
Here's 20, off the top of my head, not in order of preference and without seeing previous posts:
Ravel: the opening of Daphnis & Chloé
Schreker: Prelude to Die Gezeichneten
Szymanowski: the opening of Król Roger
R.Strauss: Vier letzte Lieder
Zemlinsky: Eine florentinische Tragödie
Berlioz: Grande messe des morts (esp. Sanctus & Agnus Dei)
Beethoven: Missa Solemnis (esp. Sanctus, Benedictus & Agnus Dei)
Brahms: Ein deutsches Requiem
Debussy: Le martyre de Saint Sébastien
Alkan: Grand duo concertant for violin & piano
Medtner: Violin Sonata No.2
Vaughan Williams: The Pilgrim's Progress (esp. The House Beautiful & Act IV-Scene 3)
Sibelius: Symphony No.7
Schumann: Introduction & allegro concertante op.134
Mozart: Sinfonia concertante K.364(320d)
Wagner: Prelude to Lohengrin
Bantock: A Celtic Symphony
Britten: Festival Te Deum
Saint-Saëns: Samson et Dalila, "Mon cœur s'ouvre à ta voix"
Dohnányi: Piano Quintet No.1
Edit: substituted Korngold's Prelude to Violanta with Zemlinsky's Florentine Tragedy.
Great list. I was lucky enough to see Bantock's wonderful Celtic Symphony live at the Proms in London a while back. I have also twice seen The Pilgrim's Progress by Vaughan Williams live an incredibly moving experience.
Limiting to one per composer.
Verdi: Simon boccanegra's opening
Wagner: Wotan's farewell from Walküre
Sibelius: VC, adagio di molto
Debussy: La fille aux cheveux de lin
Richard Strauss: Tod und Verklärung
Brahms: Symphony 1, movement 4
Beethoven: Symphony 9, movement 4
Bruckner: Symphony 7, adagio
Puccini: Tosca
Mendelssohn: Piano trio op. 49, movement 4
Only ten is too cruel :(
10 more!
Stravinsky: Firebird
Tchaikovsky: Symphony 1, movement 2
Rachmaninov: The Rock
Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde, Das Trinklied vom Jammer der Erde
Bach: Goldberg variations
Grieg: Opening of Peer Gynt
Mozart: Don Giovanni
Schumann: Scenes from Goethe's Faust
Dvorak: Symphony 9, movement 4
Fauré: Berceuse for violin and piano
Wagner - Parsifal - middle of act 1, from "Vom Bade kehrt der Konig heim" through to where Titurel starts singing
Wagner - Meistersinger - act 3 quintet
Brahms - 3rd Symphony - 3rd movement
Beethoven - Tempest Sonata - 3rd movement
Beethoven - 7th Symphony - 2nd movement
Bach - St Matthew Passion - "Buss' und Reu'" and "Wir setzen uns mit Tranen nieder" (cheating a bit here)
Mahler - Das Lied von der Erde - "Der Abschied"
Puccini - Turandot - The death of Liu, from "Tu che di gel sei cinta" through at "Tu sei morta". By the way, Puccini really should have called this opera "Liu" and ended the opera there.
Verdi - Rigoletto - "Ah, veglia, o donna, questo fiore"
Faure - Requiem - "Sanctus"
A fine thread in which to make my first post... Music is everything, it's power and depth and intricacy and brilliance, yet to me Beauty triumphs over all.
Orchestral
Vaughan Williams: Symphony no. 5 - Romanza
Ravel: Ma Mère L'oye, complete ballet - Le jardin féerique
Choral
Brahms: Geistliches Lied
Grechaninov: Strastnaia Sedmitsa (Passion Week)
Howells: Hymnus Paradisi
Finzi: Lo, the full, final sacrifice and In terra pax
Durufle: Requiem
Stage
Borodin: String quartet no. 2 - Nocturne, adapted as "And this is my beloved" in Kismet by Wright & Forrest
Beethoven Symphony 9
Beethoven Missa Solemnis
Bach Mass in C
Bach Mathew's Passion
Handel Water music
Handel Messiah
Mozart Requiem
Mozart Symphony 41
Mozart Prague Symphony 38
Schubert Symphony 9
That's what comes to my mind now.
Quote from: sheri1983 on August 16, 2015, 05:27:42 AM
Beethoven Symphony 9
Beethoven Missa Solemnis
Bach Mass in C
Bach Mathew's Passion
Handel Water music
Handel Messiah
Mozart Requiem
Mozart Symphony 41
Mozart Prague Symphony 38
Schubert Symphony 9
That's what comes to my mind now.
Welcome! Love the
Prague Symphony! (Of course, everything on your list is lovely :) )
Quote from: karlhenning on August 17, 2015, 05:09:05 AM
Welcome! Love the Prague Symphony! (Of course, everything on your list is lovely :) )
One of the best, I think it has Bach influence on Mozart with it's Contrapuntal style.
Vaughn Williams---The Lark Ascending.
Quote from: USMC1960s on September 23, 2015, 10:38:42 AM
Vaughn Williams---The Lark Ascending.
Certainly a gorgeous work and it's a work that still manages to get under my skin after all these years of listening to it. Have tried Vaughan Williams'
Flos Campi? For me, this may be the single most beautiful work I've ever heard, although this is a bit of an exaggeration as there's so much beautiful music out there, but this one really takes the cake. Check this out whenever you get the time:
https://www.youtube.com/v/lEmpAzyamOc
That is beautiful indeed---thanks for posting that.
Quote from: USMC1960s on September 23, 2015, 04:23:15 PM
That is beautiful indeed---thanks for posting that.
You're welcome. :) I couldn't find my favorite performance of
Flos Campi (Lawrence Power/Brabbins on Hyperion) on YT, but it's good that this performance wasn't terrible. ;)
Quote from: Mirror Image on September 23, 2015, 03:07:31 PM
Certainly a gorgeous work and it's a work that still manages to get under my skin after all these years of listening to it. Have tried Vaughan Williams' Flos Campi? For me, this may be the single most beautiful work I've ever heard, although this is a bit of an exaggeration as there's so much beautiful music out there, but this one really takes the cake. Check this out whenever you get the time:
https://www.youtube.com/v/lEmpAzyamOc
Yay! I have lov d that since before John was born. Nice to see some Flos Campi love.
Quote from: Ken B on September 23, 2015, 07:07:22 PM
Yay! I have lov d that since before John was born. Nice to see some Flos Campi love.
Indeed +1
One of my all time favorite pieces is this. Absolutely beautiful. Normally I just listen to classical music, but this particular piece makes me toss my head back and forth like a conductor :)
Handel--Concerto Grosso # 6 in G Minor--Op.6/No.6--HWV 324--3. Musette: Larghetto.
Quote from: USMC1960s on September 24, 2015, 04:18:01 AM
One of my all time favorite pieces is this. Absolutely beautiful. Normally I just listen to classical music, but this particular piece makes me toss my head back and forth like a conductor :)
Handel--Concerto Grosso # 6 in G Minor--Op.6/No.6--HWV 324--3. Musette: Larghetto.
Yes, this is a favorite. A similar "dreamy pastoral" piece is the polonaise/polacca from op.6#3 e minor. I also love "La paix" from the Royal fireworks. Simple, but very moving.
I just listened to those after your post, did not recognize them by their descriptions. Two beautiful pieces.
Tarquinio Merula: Hor ch'é tempo di morire "canzonetta spirituale sopra alla nanna"
Bach: Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor
Beethoven: String Quartet in c sharp minor, Op. 131
Schubert: Fantasie in F minor, D. 940
Berlioz: Trio for two flutes & harp from L’enfance du Christ
Tchaikovsky - Piano Trio in a minor, Op. 50
Elgar: Sospiri for harp, organ & strings
Suk: About Mother
Sibelius: Symphony no. 5
Stravinsky: Symphony of Psalms
Vaughan Williams - Tallis Fantasia
Janáček: On an overgrown path - The Madonna of Frýdek
Ives: The Unanswered Question
Ravel: Ma mère l'oye
Berg: Violin Concerto
Silvestrov: Quiet Songs
Pärt: Stabat Mater
Korngold: Violin concerto
Berlioz: Benvenuto Cellini: "Si la terre aux"
Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde: Von der Schönheit
Schumann: Das Paradies und die Peri
Shostakovich: Golden age
Sibelius: Pohjola's daughter
Sibelius: Symphony 4, movement III
Dvorak: String quartet 3
Dvorak: Golden spinning wheel
Haydn: The creation
Schubert: Symphony 5, movement 1
Mozart: K563, movement 4
Quote from: Alberich on September 26, 2015, 12:30:01 PM
Shostakovich: Golden age
Interesting! I love The Golden Age ballet. I may not necessarily call it one of the most beautiful pieces I've heard, but certainly one of the most fun, thrilling and exciting. However, the Dance of the Diva Adagio in Act I, Scene II is indeed blissfully beautiful! :)
Quote from: ChamberNut on September 26, 2015, 12:46:47 PM
Interesting! I love The Golden Age ballet. I may not necessarily call it one of the most beautiful pieces I've heard, but certainly one of the most fun, thrilling and exciting. However, the Dance of the Diva Adagio in Act I, Scene II is indeed blissfully beautiful! :)
+1 8)
That's difficult, but lets try
Beethoven 9, 3rd movement
Beethoven op. 132 Heiliger Dankgesang
Bruckner 7, 2nd movement
Bruckner 8, 3rd Movement
Mahler 2, final Movement with chorus
Mahler 3, final movement
Mahler 9, final movement
Mahler Lied von der Erde, Der Abschied
Strauss, 4 letzte Lieder
Wagner, Parsifal, Vorspiel und Transformation scene
Schostakowitsch, VC 1, Passacaglia
upps.. already one to many, but I dont know which one to delete
Quote from: Wieland on September 27, 2015, 08:44:16 AM
upps.. already one to many, but I dont know which one to delete
That's how we tend to roll, in any case. 8)
Schnittke : Peer Gynt
Prokofiev : Piano Concerto no. 2
Beethoven : Piano Sonata op.109
Schubert : Piano Sonata D 845, op.42
Mozart : Piano Concerto no.23 K. 488
Bach : Concerto BWV 1052 in D minor
Tomas Luis de Victoria : Versa est in luctum (motet)
Shostakovich : Symphony no. 4
William Walton : Symphony no.1
Haendel : Dixit Dominus (1707) HWV 232
Quote from: amw on February 28, 2015, 04:44:53 PM
Beauty you say?
1. Brahms Violin Sonata No. 1, Op. 78 - I. Vivace ma non troppo
2-6 in some order
Chopin Nocturne in A-flat Op. 32 no. 2
Brahms String Sextet No. 2, Op. 36 - I. Allegro non troppo
Vaughan Williams Symphony No. 5 in D - III. Romanza
Schubert Quintet D956 - II. Adagio
Mozart Piano Concerto No. 27, K. 595 (complete)
I can't think of anything else that deserves to be considered on the same level.
Actually I thought of something else:
Schumann Davidsbündlertänze No. 14. Zart und singend
I'm going to squeeze this in to my list: Tchaikovsky Pas de deux from The Nutcracker.
https://www.youtube.com/v/hXcCwfymxaY
Sarge
Besides any 10 randomly picked works by Schubert, OTOMH
Bach - Goldberg Variations, Aria
Bach - The Well Tempered Clavier, Book I, Prelude I
Bach - Cantata BWV 208, Aria: Schafe können sicher weiden
Francois Couperin - Troisieme concert royal, Musette
Vivaldi - The Four Seasons (complete)
Mozart - Eine Kleine Nacht Musik (complete)
Mozart - Don Giovanni, Aria: La ci darem la mano
Mozart - Don Giovanni, Aria: Batti, batti, o bel Masetto
Mozart - Le Nozze di Figaro, Aria: Non piu andrai
Mozart - Le Nozze di Figaro, Aria: Voi che sapete
(to be continued)
Schubert Nachthelle
Scriabin Prelude and Nocturne for the Left Hand, Op.9
Tchaikovsky Méditation, Op.72 No.5
Szymanowsky Etude Op 4 No. 3
Chopin Nocturne Op. 27/1
Albeniz Iberia "Evocacion"
Albeniz/Godowski Tango
Bach - Cello Suite No 2 in D minor, BWV 1008 - Prelude
Granados Mazurka "Escenas Poeticas"
Beauty is indeed a quibblesome creature, but judging from the lists, there's not really that much quibble hereabouts.
Beauty means more or less "pretty."
I much prefer Rilke's sense of things:
"...beauty is nothing but the beginning of terror
which we are barely able to endure, and it amazes us so,
because it serenely disdains to destroy us."
Berlioz, Benvenuto Cellini
Mahler, symphony #6
Yoshihide, Turntable Solo
Bokanowski, L'étoile absinthe
Noetinger & eRikm - What A Wonderful World
Nielsen, symphony #4
Shostakovich, symphony #4
Neumann, inner piano (not a "piece," more like a "set." A video on youtube entitled "inner piano.")
Sachiko M, 1:2
Brümmer, La cloche sans vallees
Again, ten is a silly number.
Really really silly.
(Well, on further reflection, it's "most beautiful" that is truly silly.)
There is an abundance of beauty to be found within the creative outputs of many of the Greats, but to be selective ..
Bach, Dona nobis pacem
Wagner, Parsifal Prelude
Brahms, Ballades
Grieg, Lyric Pieces
Fauré, Nocturne no. 13
Strauss, Four Last Songs
Debussy, Sonata for flute, viola & harp
Stravinsky, Symphonies of Winds
Bartók, String Quartet no. 6
Webern, Symphony op. 21
Tippett, Piano Concerto
Stockhausen, Kontakte
Ligeti, Melodien
Gubaidulina, Offertorium
Viñao, Son Entero
Dutilleux, The Shadows of Time
Lansky, Ride
Quote from: James on April 16, 2016, 02:21:50 PM
Huh?
You realize, do you not?, that "Beauty means more or less 'pretty'" is not what I think, but a conclusion drawn from the pieces listed in previous posts.
Mostly, the word beauty is used to refer to things that are smooth, regular, pleasant, and (relatively) easy to understand.
But only mostly. There are plenty of people--me being one of them--who distinguish between beautiful and pretty, and who consequently see beauty in rough, irregular, harsh, and puzzling things.
Of course, and I wasn't gonna bring this up, again, being a wee bit shy about riding my hobby-horses to death, but "beauty" as I understand it is not a characteristic of objects nor is it, as the expression goes, in the eye of the beholder, but is an experience. It is what happens when an object and a perceiver enter into a relationship. It is not a quality (as in "a characteristic"); it is a consequence of a successful experience.
I'm not sure I determine things by "prettiness" in music, since I think of that as a visual quality. Beauty in music is for me the "quality" of how much the piece breaks my heart, haha. It's completely instinctual and, I find, favours pieces that are relatively static—beauty does not seem to be a very developmental thing.
At the same time, part of the reason that e.g. the first movement of Brahms's first violin sonata is for me the most beautiful piece of music ever composed lies in the irregularities, the holes, the way it's not quite enough on its own and one's mind needs to fill in the gaps. For example the main theme on its own is an unanswered whisper of heartache; but the potential "answers"—developments and consequents—one can imagine, but that Brahms never wrote, are more beautiful in the imagination than any actual music could be, in the same way our imagination supplies scarier monsters in horror films than could ever be shown on screen. Maybe that's a bit fanciful.
The same is true of e.g. the Schubert adagio, where we get a unique and deeply immersive texture, but with no melody except the one supplied by our imagination (perhaps derived from the broken, halting first violin phrases), or the Mozart piano concerto, always hinting at beautiful and dissonant things but never actually supplying them (also I think one of his most radical works) and etc. So I sort of get what you're saying, although I still find it really difficult to articulate why Brahms Op. 36/i is "more beautiful" than Op. 18/i or whatever >__>
Quote from: some guy on April 17, 2016, 01:55:53 AMYou realize, do you not?, that "Beauty means more or less 'pretty'" is not what I think, but a conclusion drawn from the pieces listed in previous posts. Mostly, the word beauty is used to refer to things that are smooth, regular, pleasant, and (relatively) easy to understand. But only mostly. There are plenty of people--me being one of them--who distinguish between beautiful and pretty, and who consequently see beauty in rough, irregular, harsh, and puzzling things.
Man, you are so full of yourself.
Beauty is something we find very attractive .. it entails more than surface.
Quote from: Mirror Image on March 01, 2015, 05:58:07 AM
I'll try to make a list here of my Top 10 Most Beautiful Pieces, but it's going to be difficult. (In no particular order and limited it to one composer per work)
1. Elgar: Symphony No. 2
2. RVW: Flos Campi
3. Delius: Songs of Sunset
4. Ravel: Daphnis et Chloe
5. Sibelius: The Oceanides
6. Harrison: Seven Pastorales
7. R. Strauss: Four Last Songs
8. Bartok: Piano Concerto No. 3
9. Lydaov: Eight Russian Folksongs
10. Barber: Violin Concerto
...And I'm still not happy with only 10 choices! :)
Like I said, I'm still not happy!
1. Nielsen:
Symphony No. 3, "Sinfonia espansiva"2. Sibelius:
The Tempest3. Vaughan Williams:
Symphony No. 54. Elgar:
Sospiri5. Delius:
In a Summer Garden6. Debussy:
Sonata for Flute, Viola, & Harp7. Szymanowski:
Litany for the Virgin Mary8. Ravel:
Piano Concerto in G major9. Vasks:
Vox Amoris10. Tippett:
Concerto for Double String Orchestra...and I'm still not happy!
Quote from: James on April 17, 2016, 06:08:12 AM
Man, you are so full of yourself.
Who else would you suggest I be full of? :P
Quote from: James on April 17, 2016, 06:08:12 AMBeauty is something we find very attractive .. it entails more than surface.[/size][/font]
OK, so apparently you and I are in the same group on this one.
Quote from: some guy on April 17, 2016, 11:50:19 AMWho else would you suggest I be full of? OK, so apparently you and I are in the same group on this one.
8)
Quote from: amw on April 17, 2016, 02:34:51 AM
I'm not sure I determine things by "prettiness" in music, since I think of that as a visual quality.
I see your point (you see what I did there). But of course, there is an honored history of appropriating terms from other, more tangible media, for use in describing music 8)
QuoteMan, you are so full of yourself.
I believe the term for this is
projection (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychological_projection).
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
"pretty" has for me a connotation of neatness, neither sublime nor heart-wrenching. I'd call the romance from Eine kleine Nachtmusik pretty but not the Tristan prelude. Neither the adagio from the Schubert quintet or the Brahms violin sonata movement mentioned above.
The other aesthetic attribute that has been with us since the 18th century, "sublime" is often used to describe non-pretty aesthetic experiences. Kant claims that sublimity is always connected to an impression of infinity or at least immeasurability as this is probably the only way we finite beings can to some extent experience (as opposed to conceptualize it mathematically) infinity. The standard examples for the "sublime" are huge icy mountain peaks, sea storms, that is things that would easily crush us but are aesthetically impressive as long as we watch them from safety.
And especially the immensity of the starry heavens.
But even with sublime as a contrast, beautiful does not have to be exhausted by "pretty".
Quote from: Jo498 on April 18, 2016, 07:23:31 AM
But even with sublime as a contrast, beautiful does not have to be exhausted by "pretty".
No argument there.
Quote from: karlhenning on April 18, 2016, 03:48:07 AM
I believe the term for this is projection (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychological_projection).
Jeezis, what a bunch of gobbledygook.
No. Plain, simple language. One syllable words except for "believe," with is certainly comprehensible enough and the one technical term (one--hardly "excessive use of," which is a defining characteristic of gobbledygook).
And the statement itself is true enough, too. The action that Karl referred to is indeed called projection. You may not like that. You may not agree with the idea of projection. But that is what the action in question is called. And that is, simply and plainly, what Karl said.
No gobbledygook there, sorry.
Quote from: some guy on April 18, 2016, 11:42:15 PMNo. Plain, simple language. ..
The action that Karl referred to is indeed called projection. You may not like that. You may not agree with the idea of projection. But that is what the action in question is called.
Yea, a lot of language - you dig that though. You can buy into whatever you want.
Yes. Yes I can.
How right you are about that.
Quote from: some guy on April 18, 2016, 11:42:15 PM
No. Plain, simple language. One syllable words except for "believe," with is certainly comprehensible enough and the one technical term (one--hardly "excessive use of," which is a defining characteristic of gobbledygook).
Quote from: WestleyI'll explain, and I'll use small words so that you'll be sure to understand . . . .
Since most of the better-known pieces I would list have already been mentioned, I'll give 10 lesser-known pieces/movements/parts of movements that come to mind when I heard the word "beautiful":
Bax: Symphony no. 3 - Epilogue (ending of third movement)
Merikanto: Piano Concerto no. 3 - second movement (Pièta)
Hanson: Symphony no. 3 - second movement
von Sauer: Piano Concerto no. 1 - third movement
Atterberg: Symphony no. 1 - opening of fourth movement (or any of his slow movements really)
Herbert: Cello Concerto no. 2 - second movement
Braga Santos: Symphony no. 2 - second movement
Chausson: Piano Quartet in A major - second movement
Zemlinsky: Der Seejungfrau
Piston: Symphony no. 2 - second movement
Beautiful to me means these pieces:
Alwyn Lyra Angelica
Bantock A Celtic Symphony
Pizzetti Canti della stagione alta
Beethoven String quartet 15 (III mov.)
Bach Concerto for two violins, BWV 1043 (II mov.)
Mahler Symphony 6 (Andante moderato)
Bruckner Symphony 7
Strauss Death and Transfiguration (above all the heavenly ending)
Brahms Clarinet quintet
Finzi Cello concerto (II mov.)
Quote from: kyjo on October 01, 2017, 10:47:49 AM
Since most of the better-known pieces I would list have already been mentioned, I'll give 10 lesser-known pieces/movements/parts of movements that come to mind when I heard the word "beautiful":
Bax: Symphony no. 3 - Epilogue (ending of third movement)
Merikanto: Piano Concerto no. 3 - second movement (Pièta)
Hanson: Symphony no. 3 - second movement
von Sauer: Piano Concerto no. 1 - third movement
Atterberg: Symphony no. 1 - opening of fourth movement (or any of his slow movements really)
Herbert: Cello Concerto no. 2 - second movement
Braga Santos: Symphony no. 2 - second movement
Chausson: Piano Quartet in A major - second movement
Zemlinsky: Der Seejungfrau
Piston: Symphony no. 2 - second movement
Great list. Don't know Von Sauer or PC by Merikanto or Herbert. Totally agree with Bax and Piston suggestions and Hanson's Third Symphony which I rate very highly. I didn't make much of Atterberg's First Symphony but must listen again.
Quote from: SymphonicAddict on October 01, 2017, 01:49:31 PM
Beautiful to me means these pieces:
Alwyn Lyra Angelica
Bantock A Celtic Symphony
Pizzetti Canti della stagione alta
Beethoven String quartet 15 (III mov.)
Bach Concerto for two violins, BWV 1043 (II mov.)
Mahler Symphony 6 (Andante moderato)
Bruckner Symphony 7
Strauss Death and Transfiguration (above all the heavenly ending)
Brahms Clarinet quintet
Finzi Cello concerto (II mov.)
Certainly agree with the top two and the Finzi.
I think one list is not enough 8)
Duruflé Requiem
Vaughan Williams Serenade to music
Rachmaninov The Bells
Cras Quintet for flute, string trio and harp
Rheinberger Piano quartet
Atterberg Symphony 4 (II mov.)
Miaskovsky Symphony 17 (II mov.)
Langgaard Music of spheres
Sibelius Karelia Suite
Nielsen Hymnus Amoris
Quote from: vandermolen on October 01, 2017, 01:54:04 PM
Great list. Don't know Von Sauer or PC by Merikanto or Herbert. Totally agree with Bax and Piston suggestions and Hanson's Third Symphony which I rate very highly. I didn't make much of Atterberg's First Symphony but must listen again.
Atterberg's First isn't overall one of his best pieces (though it is still very good IMO), but I find the opening of the finale ethereally beautiful. I could've equally chosen any of the slow movements from his symphonies 4-8, however. Or the
Siciliana from his
Suite Barocco...
Quote from: SymphonicAddict on October 01, 2017, 01:59:13 PM
I thing one list is not enough 8)
Duruflé Requiem
Vaughan Williams Serenade to music
Rachmaninov The Bells
Cras Quintet for flute, string trio and harp
Rheinberger Piano quartet
Atterberg Symphony 4 (II mov.)
Miaskovsky Symphony 17 (II mov.)
Langgaard Music of spheres
Sibelius Karelia Suite
Nielsen Hymnus Amoris
Great stuff - love the Durufle. Not a fan of 'Serenade to Music'. Cras was a great recent discovery thanks to this forum.
Quote from: vandermolen on October 01, 2017, 02:18:54 PM
Great stuff - love the Durufle. Not a fan of 'Serenade to Music'. Cras was a great recent discovery thanks to this forum.
I find the 16 vocal soloists version especially gorgeous. I was also thinking of
Tallis Fantasia or
Dona nobis pacem.
Quote from: kyjo on October 01, 2017, 02:06:28 PM
Atterberg's First isn't overall one of his best pieces (though it is still very good IMO), but I find the opening of the finale ethereally beautiful. I could've equally chosen any of the slow movements from his symphonies 4-8, however. Or the Siciliana from his Suite Barocco...
I agree. Atterberg's slow movements are strongly beautiful contenders.
My definition of beauty in music doesn't entail anything that can be described as pretty, nice or some such qualifyer. Rather, it entails a reach toward the sublime, the transcendent, even if only fleetingly. A quality that has the power to transport the listener to a higher plane of fulfillment and contentment.
Hence the following choices:
Vaughan Williams: The Lark Ascending
Vaughan Williams: Tallis Fantasia
Rautavaara: Cantus arcticus
Tchaikovsky: symphony no 1, 2nd movement
Bizet: Nadir's romance "Je crois entendre encore"
Delius: Nocturne (beginning of Part II, A Mass of Life)
Schubert: andantino, 2nd mvmt from sonata D.959
Verdi: Leonora's Act III aria, "d'amor sull'alli rosee"
Elgar: Dream of Gerontius, chorus of Angels "Praise to the Holiest"
Bruckner: 6th symphony, 2nd mvmt
Some more:
Wagner: Die Walküre, Act II, scene IV (Announcement of Death)
Puccini: love duet, Act I of Madama Butterfly
Brahms: symphony no 4, 1st mvmt
Beethoven: PC no 4, 2nd mvmt
Beethoven: SQ op 132, "Heiliger Dankgesang" mvmt
Quote from: André on October 01, 2017, 03:38:21 PM
My definition of beauty in music doesn't entail anything that can be described as pretty, nice or some such qualifyer. Rather, it entails a reach toward the sublime, the transcendent, even if only fleetingly. A quality that has the power to transport the listener to a higher plane of fulfillment and contentment.
Hence the following choices:
Vaughan Williams: The Lark Ascending
Vaughan Williams: Tallis Fantasia
Rautavaara: Cantus arcticus
Tchaikovsky: symphony no 1, 2nd movement
Bizet: Nadir's romance "Je crois entendre encore"
Delius: Nocturne (beginning of Part II, A Mass of Life)
Schubert: andantino, 2nd mvmt from sonata D.959
Verdi: Leonora's Act III aria, "d'amor sull'alli rosee"
Elgar: Dream of Gerontius, chorus of Angels "Praise to the Holiest"
Bruckner: 6th symphony, 2nd mvmt
Some more:
Wagner: Die Walküre, Act II, scene IV (Announcement of Death)
Puccini: love duet, Act I of Madama Butterfly
Brahms: symphony no 4, 1st mvmt
Beethoven: PC no 4, 2nd mvmt
Beethoven: SQ op 132, "Heiliger Dankgesang" mvmt
I like many of yours (bolded text). Did Verdi compose an opera called
Leonora? :P
Quote from: SymphonicAddict on October 01, 2017, 01:59:13 PM
I thing one list is not enough 8)
If you can do another one, then so can I ;D
Sibelius: Two pieces for cello and orchestra - I.
CantiqueJuon: Piano Trio no. 1 - mvt. 2
Schnittke: Cello Concerto no. 1 - mvt. 4
Dohnányi: Konzertstück for cello and orchestra
Delius:
AppalachiaFinzi:
Eclogue for piano and strings
Andreae: Symphony in F major - mvt. 2
Medtner: Piano Concerto no. 3
Miaskovsky: Symphony no. 22 - mvt. 2
Szymanowski: Etude in B flat minor, op. 4/3
Quote from: SymphonicAddict on October 01, 2017, 05:15:02 PM
I like many of yours (bolded text). Did Verdi compose an opera called Leonora? :P
No, and neither did Bizet compose one called Nadir :D
Das Rheingold
Das Rheingold
Das Rheingold
Das Rheingold
Das Rheingold
Das Rheingold
Das Rheingold
Das Rheingold
Das Rheingold
Das Rheingold
Never getting over the first work that really pulled me into the world of classical music.
Quote from: kyjo on October 01, 2017, 06:12:39 PM
Szymanowski: Etude in B flat minor, op. 4/3
I recall that etude in an orchestral arrangement (I haven't heard the original piano version yet :-[ ). Just mesmerizing, fascinating, a fine choice indeed.
Quote from: André on October 01, 2017, 06:40:41 PM
No, and neither did Bizet compose one called Nadir :D
Ah, but then Verdi DID write more than one opera in which Leonora is the heroine! :)
But there's only one in which Leonora sings THAT aria...
Quote from: α | ì Æ ñ on October 29, 2017, 09:08:05 PM
Brahms - Poco allegretto from the 3rd Symphony.
(Though the B section doesn't get me as much as the melody in the A section.)
Totally agree - a beautiful movement. It never fails to make me tear up a little :)
Quote from: α | ì Æ ñ on October 29, 2017, 09:08:05 PM
There actually aren't a lot of things in classical music that I feel fit this category actually (of any era) but one that always gets me like this, is:
Brahms - Poco allegretto from the 3rd Symphony.
(Though the B section doesn't get me as much as the melody in the A section.)
Quote from: kyjo on October 29, 2017, 10:02:48 PM
Totally agree - a beautiful movement. It never fails to make me tear up a little :)
Carlos Santana should have thought exactly the same... in fact he just stole that theme for his song
Love of My Life (from his album
Supernatural), without acknowledging it afaik ::)
Quote from: GioCar on October 30, 2017, 12:38:01 AM
Carlos Santana should have thought exactly the same... in fact he just stole that theme for his song Love of My Life (from his album Supernatural), without acknowledging it afaik ::)
And then, of course, there's
Georges Auric's arrangement ::) for the film
Aimez-vous Brahms... (a.k.a.
Goodbye Again):
https://www.youtube.com/v/Y08dR9s6h_0
I must admit I'm not a much of fan of
Brahms's original, of
Auric's retouching, or the
Carlos Santana song... :-[
A new list:
Alwyn - Concerto for harp and string orchestra Lyra Angelica
Arnesen - Magnificat
Johnston - String Quartet No. 4 Amazing Grace
Jongen - Concert à cing for flute, harp and string trio
Lajtha - String Trio No. 3 Transylvanian Nights
Respighi - Trittico Botticelliano
Sibelius - Symphony No. 7
Strauss - Ariadne auf Naxos
Tavener - The Protecting Veil
Vaughan Williams - Fantasia on a theme of Thomas Tallis
New list from me too! ;)
Miaskovsky: Two Pieces for String Orchestra (from Symphony 19). First one:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=E68o0xf0evA
Alun Hoddinott: 3 Welsh Folk Songs. No 2: Fair Lisa:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JeDcQEG1Hi4
Vaughan Williams: Five Variants on Dives and Lazarus
Bax: Harp Quintet
Rootham: Symphony No.2 (conclusion)
Rubbra: Symphony No.4 (opening)
Sibelius: Karelia Suite (middle movement)
Langgaard: Sinfonia Interna (opening)
Diamond: Symphony No.3 (slow movement)
Pettersson: Violin Concerto No2 (conclusion)
Quote from: kyjo on October 01, 2017, 10:47:49 AM
Since most of the better-known pieces I would list have already been mentioned, I'll give 10 lesser-known pieces/movements/parts of movements that come to mind when I heard the word "beautiful":
Bax: Symphony no. 3 - Epilogue (ending of third movement)
Merikanto: Piano Concerto no. 3 - second movement (Pièta)
Hanson: Symphony no. 3 - second movement
von Sauer: Piano Concerto no. 1 - third movement
Atterberg: Symphony no. 1 - opening of fourth movement (or any of his slow movements really)
Herbert: Cello Concerto no. 2 - second movement
Braga Santos: Symphony no. 2 - second movement
Chausson: Piano Quartet in A major - second movement
Zemlinsky: Der Seejungfrau
Piston: Symphony no. 2 - second movement
That 'Pieta' movement from Merikanto's Third Piano Concerto is very touching indeed. Thanks for alerting us to it Kyle.
I quite dislike Auric's re-hash of the Brahms although I don't care much for the original either. It is probably my least favorite movement from all the Brahms symphonies. (The 3rd from the 4th is also irritating but there I think it is a necessary contrast and I do like the thwarting of expectations with a grotesquely triumphant scherzo-type mvmt and tragic finale. By far my favorite "symphonic scherzo" of Brahms' is the 2nd mvmt. in the 2nd piano concerto.)
Quote from: André on October 01, 2017, 03:38:21 PM
My definition of beauty in music doesn't entail anything that can be described as pretty, nice or some such qualifyer. Rather, it entails a reach toward the sublime, the transcendent, even if only fleetingly. A quality that has the power to transport the listener to a higher plane of fulfillment and contentment.
Hence the following choices:
Tchaikovsky: symphony no 1, 2nd movement
Bruckner: 6th symphony, 2nd mvmt
Wagner: Die Walküre, Act II, scene IV (Announcement of Death)
Brahms: symphony no 4, 1st mvmt
Beethoven: PC no 4, 2nd mvmt
Quote from: SymphonicAddict on October 01, 2017, 05:15:02 PM
I like many of yours (bolded text).
Quote from: Jaakko Keskinen on October 02, 2017, 05:15:25 AM
Das Rheingold
...
Never getting over the first work that really pulled me into the world of classical music.
AMEN!!! It is a wonder that the
Tchaikovsky is not stolen more, speaking of music stolen for other purposes! $:)
And there is never a good reason to "get over"
Das Rheingold !
A new list is allowed now and then, I would think! How about strictly voice(s) and orchestra?
Mendelssohn -
Die erste WalpurgisnachtRichard Strauss -
ElektraAlexander Zemlinsky -
Lyric Symphony
S. Rachmaninoff -
The Bells and
The Covetous KnightAlexander Scriabin -
Symphony #5 and via
Alexander Nemtin -
Universe, The Prefatory ActionF. Busoni -
Piano Concerto and
Doctor FaustPaul Hindemith -
Cardillac
Karl Amadeus Hartmann -
Symphony #1That's 10...I think! ;)
Quote from: Cato on November 09, 2019, 02:09:50 AM
Mendelssohn - Die erste Walpurgisnacht
Pounds the table!
Quote
Alexander Scriabin - Symphony #5
You sure?
Quote from:
Cato on Today at 03:09:50 AMQuoteMendelssohn - Die erste Walpurgisnacht
Quote from: Florestan on November 09, 2019, 02:32:02 AM
Pounds the table!
QuoteAlexander Scriabin - Symphony #5
QuoteYou sure?
Oh yes! ;D For a long time now (nearly 50 years!) it has been a favorite! 0:)
Quote from: Cato on November 09, 2019, 04:12:38 AM
Oh yes! ;D For a long time now (nearly 50 years!) it has been a favorite! 0:)
AfaIk, he wrote only 2 symphonies proper. ;)
Aaahh ...... beauty....... what does that really mean!? Quite and interesting question in the context of music I find. Lots of really interesting and good choices already but for me it is almost totally contextual so a single aching harmonic progression can put a piece onto my list. Also - and this I realise applies mainly to operatic or vocal music - the dramatic context of the passage in question can give something extraordinary beauty in the way that some kind of objective "analysis" of the passage alone might not suggest. A specific performance also lift a piece into the realm of remarkable beauty as well which other versions may not achieve....
So by that measure my first thoughts and why.....
Strauss Rosenkavalier - Closing Trio .... achingly sad and redemptive
Strauss - 4 Last Songs - the horn solo in "September".... was anything ever so nostalgic
Fidelio - Act 1 Quartet "Mir ist so wunderbar" .... simply radiant
RVW - 3 Shakespeare Songs .... No.2 "The cloud capp'd towers" the harmonic progressions opens doors onto the infinite
RVW - Romanza Symphony No.5... the context... Britain on the brink... and RVW writes music drawing on his Pilgrim's Progress opera which seems to embody faith and hope
Mozart - The Adagio from the Grand Partita/Serenade K.361. In the owrds of Salieri in Peter Shaffer's "Amadeus"......
"On the page it looked nothing. The beginning simple, almost comic. Just a pulse - bassoons and basset horns - like a rusty squeezebox. Then suddenly - high above it - an oboe, a single note, hanging there unwavering, till a clarinet took over and sweetened it into a phrase of such delight! This was no composition by a performing monkey! This was a music I'd never heard. Filled with such longing, such unfulfillable longing, it had me trembling. It seemed to me that I as hearing a voice of God.
Schubert - Ave Maria....... especially this version sung by Sumi Jo performed in memory of her father who was buried on the morning of this concert..... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqoP8rkNIsY
Schubert - String Quintet - 1st movement.... has there ever been a more beautiful tune
Elgar - Nimrod - BUT either as it appears in "The Music Maker's" (one man's vision) or in the choral setting as Lux Aeterna..... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSc02pHmyC8
Stanford - The Bluebird ....... such simplicity
Pachelbel - Canon ..... too easy to dismiss this piece because of its popularity.... stunningly perfect in every way
Delius - A Late Lark - the modulation at "so be my passing..." blows me away every time:
A late lark twitters from the quiet skies;
And from the west,
Where the sun, his day's work ended,
Lingers as in content,
There falls on the old, grey city
An influence luminous and serene,
A shining peace.
The smoke ascends
In a rosy-and-golden haze. The spires
Shine, and are changed. In the valley
Shadows rise. The lark sings on. The sun,
Closing his benediction,
Sinks, and the darkening air
Thrills with a sense of the triumphing night --
Night with her train of stars
And her great gift of sleep.
So be my passing!
My task accomplished and the long day done,
My wages taken, and in my heart
Some late lark singing,
Let me be gathered to the quiet west,
The sundown splendid and serene,
Death.
(William Henley)
as soon as I post this I will think of others I know! Sorry its 12 - can't eliminate any.......
Quote from: Roasted Swan on November 09, 2019, 04:24:59 AM
Strauss Rosenkavalier - Closing Trio .... achingly sad and redemptive
Strauss - 4 Last Songs - the horn solo in "September".... was anything ever so nostalgic
Definitely Strauss fits this thread very well. The charm on the closing moments in Der Rosenkavalier is simply moving in its beauty.
Quote from: Cato on November 09, 2019, 02:09:50 AM
Richard Strauss - Elektra
Alexander Zemlinsky - Lyric Symphony
I like these very much, having revisited the Lyric Symphony made me realise of its true grandeur. I would also add Die Seejungfrau.
Quote from: Florestan on November 09, 2019, 04:17:56 AM
AfaIk, he wrote only 2 symphonies proper. ;)
Le poème de l'extase and Promethée: Le poème du feu are sometimes considered his 4th and 5th symphonies respectively.
Quote from: Corey on March 02, 2015, 04:51:15 AM
Some nice lists with some surprising and interesting entries -- lots to explore. :)
I know, it's almost five years later, but I never looked at this thread until today. Bored, I guess.
Anyway, there were some surprising entries, not the least of which was the Cow of God. Really. Page one of the thread, even.