Music to stir the emotions

[Dod101]

stewamax reminds me about Kathleen Ferrier singing Che farò:

Ferrier was dying of cancer, and in her final concert – when she was singing Orfeo under Sir John Barbirolli – her left leg partly disintegrated. She was discreetly propped up by other members of the cast and she carried on singing and even took curtain calls. She died eight months later at the age of 41.

Good choice.

Now that certainly stirs my emotions. It reminded me of Klaus Nomi singing the Cold Song from Purcell's King Arthur, which he chose before he died of AIDS totally alone (it was at a time before Princess Diana broke the barrier of touching an AIDS patient). Thoroughly haunting:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnkVgKzKPt8

Eb.

I find that Klaus Nomi leaves me (appropriately) cold.

I need something warm and cheerful not (with great respect to the dying) something for them to remember for how ever much time they may have left.

Dod

[Eboli]

fourgotusername mentions Górecki's Symphony of Sorrowful Songs:

Gorecky Symphony no.3 (Symphony of sorrowful songs) - bearing in mind what is happening today in Ukraine, the origins of this work provoke deep emotion. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphony_No._3_(Górecki) The second movement is based on the words of a child written on the wall of a Gestapo cell in WW2. For me, in the third movement (starts around 37 1/2 minutes) the soprano hits notes that bring tears to my eyes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mEWlGLkjIw

Another great choice.

You might be interested in a rare staged performance at the English National Opera for April/May 2023:

https://www.eno.org/whats-on/symphony-o ... ful-songs/

The box office is now open. I've got my tickets.

Eb.

[Lootman]

stewamax reminds me about Kathleen Ferrier singing Che farò:

Ferrier was dying of cancer, and in her final concert – when she was singing Orfeo under Sir John Barbirolli – her left leg partly disintegrated. She was discreetly propped up by other members of the cast and she carried on singing and even took curtain calls. She died eight months later at the age of 41.

Good choice. Now that certainly stirs my emotions. It reminded me of Klaus Nomi singing the Cold Song from Purcell's King Arthur, which he chose before he died of AIDS totally alone (it was at a time before Princess Diana broke the barrier of touching an AIDS patient). Thoroughly haunting:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnkVgKzKPt8

I find that Klaus Nomi leaves me (appropriately) cold.

I need something warm and cheerful not (with great respect to the dying) something for them to remember for how ever much time they may have left.

Yes, an old and close friend of mine died a couple of weeks ago, and I find myself wanting to recall the happy times rather than wallow in anything too maudlin.

Klaus Nomi always reminded me of the robotic Commander Data in Star Trek, New Generation in the way he looked and moved. But then I guess that shows my culture level.

[Eboli]

Re Klaus Nomi.

Dod remarks:

I find that Klaus Nomi leaves me (appropriately) cold. I need something warm and cheerful...

and

Lootman mentions:

Yes, an old and close friend of mine died a couple of weeks ago, and I find myself wanting to recall the happy times rather than wallow in anything too maudlin.

It's all a question of taste because I don't find the rendition of the Cold Song I posted maudlin at all, though it may not be warm for other reasons I think the physical movements, however, were not so much staged (Commander Data - esque) but rather consequential.

I'm sorry for your loss, Lootman, by the way.

Eb.

[Dod101]

stewamax reminds me about Kathleen Ferrier singing Che farò:

Ferrier was dying of cancer, and in her final concert – when she was singing Orfeo under Sir John Barbirolli – her left leg partly disintegrated. She was discreetly propped up by other members of the cast and she carried on singing and even took curtain calls. She died eight months later at the age of 41.

Good choice. Now that certainly stirs my emotions. It reminded me of Klaus Nomi singing the Cold Song from Purcell's King Arthur, which he chose before he died of AIDS totally alone (it was at a time before Princess Diana broke the barrier of touching an AIDS patient). Thoroughly haunting:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnkVgKzKPt8

I find that Klaus Nomi leaves me (appropriately) cold.

I need something warm and cheerful not (with great respect to the dying) something for them to remember for how ever much time they may have left.

Yes, an old and close friend of mine died a couple of weeks ago, and I find myself wanting to recall the happy times rather than wallow in anything too maudlin.

Klaus Nomi always reminded me of the robotic Commander Data in Star Trek, New Generation in the way he looked and moved. But then I guess that shows my culture level.

Well as some will know, I have had two wives die on me, both around 60 years old. But we survivors cannot live in the past, and frankly I doubt that the deceased would want that anyway. We need to remember the happy times. However, 'music to stir the emotions' is clearly intensely personal so it is presumptuous and arrogant of any of us to try to comment about what is right or wrong. The opinions and likes/dislikes should all be seen in that light, at least, I think so.

Dod

[stevensfo]

This thread has reminded me of lots of pieces I'd forgotten as well of giving me some suggestions for more listening.

Yes, it's very personal. I have a particular love of Chopin, in particular his studies and preludes that are full of emotion - and apparently &%#!! difficult to play!!

A few other pieces that are worth mentioning:

Copland's 'Fanfare to the common man' and the theme for Thunderbirds, both short but great for waking me up.

Steve

PS Years ago, our youngest played something on his phone and said it was called The Gonk. The picture it formed in my mind was of little toddlers running around, falling over and having fun.
Then I learned that's it's from a zombie film!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0SHa6FuCeI

[terminal7]

Ravel's Pavane pour une infante défunte - always brings a tear to my eye as one looks back.

Brahms-Ein deutches Requiem - the only time I ever understand adherence to a religion.

Dylan's Not Dark Yet - as one gets older

Shadows are fallin' and I've been here all day
It's too hot to sleep and time is runnin' away
Feel like my soul has turned into steel
I've still got the scars that the sun didn't heal
There's not even room enough to be anywhere
It's not dark yet but it's gettin' there

T7

[nicodemusboffin]

Max Bruch's Violin Concerto No 1:

https://youtu.be/KDJ6Wbzgy3E

Or Vittorio Monti's Czardas:

https://youtu.be/IPYHy8k9Z34

[AleisterCrowley]

Music comes in many forms, from muzak to routine stuff that fills the radio waves to truly great works of art that can create great emotion.

Here are a few of mine in the latter category.

Nimrod, from Elgar's Enigma Variations
...
My dad's favourite. We played it at his funeral. It perfectly describes my dad's life, starting very quietly and gently, then slowly building in volume and confidence with a real richness of sound until a big climax, and then quickly fades away. Never fails to produce a tear or two and a lump in my throat. Happy tears, mind, he was a good, gentle lad, my dad. 21 years today since he died.


Pink Floyd's High Hopes


--kiloran

Nimrod, my grandfathers funeral - he was a choirmaster, and very keen on Elgar, and the Three Choirs Festival, and AE Housman... He was a very fine man and I wish I'd appreciated him more while he was alive. He gave me his 1928 Sherlock Holmes collected short stories , which I still have

High Hopes is my funeral song! I've instructed my mates to have it played , but outside church , probably in the pub: coming from a long line of vicars and churchgoers I'm a bit fussy about church music..despite my agnosticism

A few others that, some may be considered a bit naff, but I don't care

Chris Rea - Little Blonde Plaits
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIyYgplTfiE
I was a student in Plymouth and spent a lot of time on the beach, and not much in lectures. Why this off 'On The Beach' ? Well, there was this girl you see...

I think L'Enfant by Vangelis works very well in The Year of Living Dangerously (which has Sigourney in it )
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsBOxDM_Vek


On a completely different level ( mostly metallic) - how to start a song
GnR, Welcome to the jungle.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1tj2zJ2Wvg
Amazing how a bit of delay and distortion can grab one by the ears

Iron Maiden
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxnN05vOuSM
The phased main riff starting at 0:25 gets me every time !

Rammstein, same sort of thing with a German Industrial Metal twist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2rQzv8OWEY
Love the build up from whistle , to sequencer bass line at 0:10 to main riff at 0:20
Better than Wagner
(they do more traditional German music as well - see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thJgU9jkdU4)