The most beautiful Adagio

[Thom]

I wonder what you rate as amongst the finest adagio's. My favourites are:

Mahler, Symphony 3 mvmnt 6
Bruckner, Symphony 7, mvmnt 2
Vaughan Williams, Symphony 5, mvmnt 3
Tippett, Concerto for Double String Orchestra, mvmnt 2
Arnold, Symphony 5, mvmnt 2
Atterberg, symphony 8, mvmnt 2

There must be many more!

X

[Brian]

Barber's.
and
Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6

[71 dB]

The 2nd movement of Elgar's Piano Quintet perhaps...

[Thom]

Interesting, I do not know Elgar's piano quintet, I am sorry to say although I love Elgar's music dearly. As it happened I listened today to Into the South and his first symphony, marvelous tunes. The British Empire in all its glory set to music.

X

[Anne]

This is from an opera so I don't know if it's called an adagio, but the Meditation of Thais is gorgeous!  I think you can find it separate from the rest of the opera Thais.  BTW there is no singing just all instrumental.

[71 dB]

Interesting, I do not know Elgar's piano quintet, I am sorry to say although I love Elgar's music dearly. As it happened I listened today to Into the South and his first symphony, marvelous tunes. The British Empire in all its glory set to music.

X

Don't worry XXXPawn, I haven't heard the symphonies you listed except Bruckner's. Unfortunately I don't remember anything about it. 

[Thom]

Don't worry XXXPawn, I haven't heard the symphonies you listed except Bruckner's. Unfortunately I don't remember anything about it. 

You mean 71 db you never heard the 3d symphony of Mahler? Amazing. A monumental work, even if mahler is not right up your ally.

X

[Florestan]

Off my head right now:

Schubert: String Quintet in C major
Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 20, 21, 24; Clarinet Concerto
Beethoven: Violin Concerto, Piano Sonata Pathetique
Brahms: pretty much any slow movement from his chamber music

[rappy]

Mendelssohn, Scottish Symphony
Mozart, P.C. KV488
Beethoven Hammerklavier Sonata
Grieg Piano Concerto

I must admit that I have trouble getting slow movements of the 20th century. Many modern pieces I like excel in impulsive rhythm and energy (Prokofiev and Shosta's 5th, the quick movements, although I enjoy the moderato of the Shosta 5th, or most of Bartok's work... although the slow movement of his 3thd P. C. and the introduction to the Concerto for Orchestra are quite beautiful)

[Florestan]

I must admit that I have trouble getting slow movements of the 20th century.

May I suggest the one from Bartok's Second Piano Concerto? It's really exquisite.

[PaulR]

Shostakovich: 7th Symphony 3rd Movement
Shostakovich: 11th Symphony 3rd movement
Shostakovich: 13th Symphony 1st and 4th movement.

and for the slower Largo:

Shostakovich: 5th Symphony 3rd Movement
Shostakovich: 8th Symphony 4th Movement

[rappy]

May I suggest the one from Bartok's Second Piano Concerto? It's really exquisite.

Thanks for the recommendation, I'll try it out. Yeah, the 3rd Movement of Shosta 7 is also quite beautiful... with the lovely oboe solo.
Maybe you have some ideas how to tackle a 20th century slow movement? Maybe we just take an example... the Shostakovich B flat minor string quartet (I read it as an recommendation somewhere on this forum) - what's beautiful in that long adagio? I just don't think that I understand it.

[hornteacher]

Dvorak's Cello Concerto!!!!!!!

[mahlertitan]

Shostakovich: 7th Symphony 3rd Movement
Shostakovich: 11th Symphony 3rd movement
Shostakovich: 13th Symphony 1st and 4th movement.

and for the slower Largo:

Shostakovich: 5th Symphony 3rd Movement
Shostakovich: 8th Symphony 4th Movement

as much as i am a big fan of Shostakovitch's music, i must disagree with you. I doubt that Dimitri wrote his symphonies for aesthetic reasons, in fact, he'll be offended if you think his symphonies are "beautiful".

[71 dB]

You mean 71 db you never heard the 3d symphony of Mahler? Amazing. A monumental work, even if mahler is not right up your ally.

X

I don't think so... ...but I am not sure. I though 5th was the monumental one. 

[mahlertitan]

I don't think so... ...but I am not sure. I though 5th was the monumental one. 

everyone of his symphonies is monumental in one way or the other.

[PaulR]

as much as i am a big fan of Shostakovitch's music, i must disagree with you. I doubt that Dimitri wrote his symphonies for aesthetic reasons, in fact, he'll be offended if you think his symphonies are "beautiful".

I see your point, but I think there are different type of beauty, at least in my eyes

[71 dB]

everyone of his symphonies is monumental in one way or the other.

Okay. Someday I try to explore them (in fact I almost bought 8th but I didn't).

[George]

Beethoven String Quartet Op. 131, opening movement*









_____________________________
* As played by the Vegh QT (Stereo)

[Novi]

Beethoven String Quartet Op. 131, opening movement*

Yup, and go one up on you for the Op. 132 third movement.

Does his Arietta count?

I think Mahler does beautiful slow movements as well. I remember a performance of the 4th that was particularly moving.

And Bruckner 8. Oh wow.